Granted Patent B2

US 7,108,311 · App. 10/376,043 · Granted Sep 19, 2006

Abstract

Claims (17)

1. A method of manufacturing a laminated vehicle trim panel comprising the steps of:

a. positioning a flexible first material within a mold cavity of a first mold portion;

b. forming a first hole in the flexible first material;

c. providing a pin extending from a surface of the first mold portion, wherein the flexible first material is positioned within the mold cavity of the first mold portion, such that the pin extends through the first hole in the flexible first material, thereby retaining the flexible first material in the mold cavity;

d. providing a second mold portion for closing the cavity of the first mold portion; and

e. introducing a second material into the mold cavity to form a substrate, such that the substrate and the first material form a laminated vehicle trim panel;

wherein a portion of the substrate between the outer peripheral edge of the substrate and a second portion of the substrate defines a brim;

wherein an outer peripheral edge of the first material extends outward of the outer peripheral edge of the substrate; and

wherein the brim includes an aperture aligned with the first hole in the flexible first material, such that the first hole and the aperture define a mounting feature for attaching the laminated vehicle trim panel to a second panel.

2. A method of manufacturing a vehicle trim panel comprising the steps of:

a. positioning a flexible first material within a mold cavity of a first mold portion;

b. forming a hole in the flexible first material;

c. providing a pin extending from a surface of the first mold portion, wherein the flexible first material is positioned within the mold cavity of the first mold portion such that the pin extends through the hole;

d. providing a second mold portion for closing the cavity of the first mold portion;

e. introducing a second material into the mold cavity to form a substrate, such that the substrate and the first material form a laminated panel, wherein a portion of the substrate inwardly from an outer peripheral edge of the substrate defines a brim including an aperture aligned with the hole in the flexible first material;

f. providing a panel having an opening formed therein and a stake extending outwardly from a back surface of the panel; and

g. attaching the laminated panel to the back surface of the panel such that the stake extends through the hole of the first material and the aperture of the substrate.

Assignments (21)