Method of forming a vehicle trim component

1 . A method of forming a vehicle trim component, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a first component layer formed from a first material and defining a substrate;

b. forming a second component layer from a second material adjacent a portion of a surface of the substrate; and

c. subsequent to step (b), covering the substrate and second component layer with a third component layer formed from a third material, thereby forming a vehicle trim component.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second component layer is formed from a second material relatively softer than the first material

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the covering step further includes wrapping the third component layer about the substrate and second component layer such that the second component layer is between the substrate and the third component layer.

4 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the covering step further includes attaching the third component layer to the substrate and second component layer.

5 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the covering step further includes attaching the third component layer to the second component layer with an adhesive.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of forming the second component layer adjacent a portion of a surface of the substrate is performed in situ with the step of providing a first component layer.

7 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the step of forming the second component layer adjacent a portion of a surface of the substrate includes forming the substrate and the second component layer in a two-shot molding process, the substrate and second component layer defining a substrate subassembly.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate and second component layer define a substrate subassembly, the substrate subassembly having a peripheral edge, and wherein the covering step further includes wrapping the third component layer about the substrate subassembly such that the second component layer is between the substrate and the third component layer and the third component layer covers at least a portion of the edge, and attaching the third component layer to the substrate subassembly.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , further including the step of forming the third component layer from at least two component panels joined together and defining a seam therebetween.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the step of forming a second component layer includes forming a channel in a surface thereof.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the step of covering the substrate and second component layer with a third component layer further includes wrapping the third component layer about the substrate and second component layer such that the second component layer is between the substrate and the third component layer, and further includes positioning the seam within the channel.

12 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the substrate and second component layer define a substrate subassembly, the substrate subassembly having a peripheral edge, and wherein the covering step further includes positioning the seam in the channel, wrapping the third component layer over the peripheral edge of the substrate subassembly and attaching a portion of the third component layer to the substrate subassembly, such that the seam remains in the channel.

13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the covering step further includes attaching the portion of the third component layer to the second component layer with an adhesive.

14 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the covering step further includes attaching the portion of the third component layer is stapled to the substrate subassembly.

15 . A method of forming a vehicle trim component, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a first component layer formed from a first material and defining a substrate;

b. providing a second component layer formed from a second material adjacent a portion of a surface of the substrate, the second component layer having a channel formed in a surface thereof;

c. providing a third component layer formed from at least two component panels of a third material, the panels joined together and defining a seam therebetween; and

d. subsequent to step (b), positioning the seam within the channel and covering the substrate and second component layer with the third component layer, thereby forming a vehicle trim component.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the second component layer is formed from a second material relatively softer than the first material.

17 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the substrate and second component layer define a substrate subassembly, the substrate subassembly having a peripheral edge, and wherein step (d) further includes wrapping the third component layer about the substrate subassembly such that the second component layer is between the substrate and the third component layer.

18 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the step (d) further includes attaching the third component layer to the substrate subassembly.

19 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the step (d) further includes attaching the third component layer to the substrate subassembly with an adhesive.

20 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the substrate subassembly has a peripheral edge, and wherein step (d) further includes wrapping the third component layer over the edge of the substrate subassembly and attaching a portion of the third component layer to the substrate subassembly such that the seam remains in the channel.