The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 20, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 04, 1999
Douglas R. Swanson, Kentwood, MI (US);
David E. Nestell, Spring Lake, MI (US);
Niall R. Lynam, Holland, MI (US);
Donnelly Corporation, Holland, MI (US);
Abstract
A method of preparing a vehicle panel assembly for attaching the panel to a vehicle is disclosed which provides a “ready-to-install” panel assembly. The panel assembly includes first and second spaced sides, with the bead of heat activated adhesive provided on the second side of the panel. The panel and bead are heated preferably by applying shortwave and longwave infrared radiation, with the shortwave infrared radiation being applied to an adhesive free side of the panel to heat the panel and, thereby, indirectly heat the bead of the heat activated adhesive. The longwave infrared radiation is applied to the adhesive side of the panel to directly heat the bead and thereby activate the adhesive. The ready-to-install adhesive may be applied on or adjacent to a gasket, such as a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) molding, a urethane molding, or the like. Optionally, either during or after heating, the substrate is cooled in order to ease handling of the panel assembly after the bead of adhesive is activate and ready for installation.