Granted Patent B2

US 12,304,123 · App. 17/677,116 · Granted May 20, 2025

Inventor: Pablo Baamonde Lorenzo (Liria, ES)

Assignee: SRG GLOBAL LIRIA, S.L.

B29C45/1679B29C45/02B60R13/00B60R13/04B29K2069/00B29K2075/00B29K2995/0025B29K2995/0026B29K2995/0082B29L2031/3005

Abstract

Claims (28)

1. A method of multi-shot injection molding of a decorative part for a front-end of a vehicle, the method comprising:

performing a first injection molding shot of a transparent plastic material to form an A-side portion of the decorative part; and

performing a second injection molding shot of an opaque elastomeric material to form a B-side portion of the decorative part, a surface area defined by a length and width of the B-side portion being the same as a surface area defined by a length and a width of the A-side portion,

wherein:

the opaque elastomeric material forming the B-side portion does not substantially increase a total thickness of the decorative part;

the transparent plastic material is polycarbonate (PC) and the opaque elastomeric material is a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE); and

the thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) has a thickness of approximately 2 millimeters.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the opaque elastomeric material defines a decoration of the decorative part without substantially increasing a rigidity of the decorative part above a rigidity of the A-side portion of the decorative part.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the decorative part is part of a front panel or grille of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the TPE is thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multi-shot injection molding comprises only two shots.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multi-shot injection molding comprises three or more shots.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the opaque elastomeric material increases at least an impact absorption of the decorative part, beyond that of the transparent plastic material alone.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polycarbonate (PC) has a thickness of approximately 3 millimeters and the decorative part has a total thickness of approximately 5 millimeters.

9. A multi-shot injection molded decorative part for a front-end of a vehicle, the part comprising:

an A-side portion formed by performing a first injection molding shot of a transparent plastic material; and

a B-side portion formed by performing a second injection molding shot of an opaque elastomeric material, a surface area defined by a length and width of the B-side portion being the same as a surface area defined by a length and a width of the A-side portion,

wherein:

the opaque elastomeric material forming the B-side portion does not substantially increase a total thickness of the decorative part defined by a combined thickness of the A-side portion and the B-side portion;

the transparent plastic material is polycarbonate (PC) and the opaque elastomeric material is a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE); and

the thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) has a thickness of approximately 2 millimeters.

10. The part of claim 9 , wherein the opaque elastomeric material defines a decoration of the decorative part without substantially increasing a rigidity of the decorative part above a rigidity of the A-side portion of the decorative part.

11. The part of claim 10 , wherein the decorative part is part of a front panel or grille of the vehicle.

12. The part of claim 9 , wherein the TPE is thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).

13. The part of claim 9 , wherein the multi-shot injection molding process to form the decorative part comprises only two shots.

14. The part of claim 9 , wherein the multi-shot injection molding process to form the decorative part comprises three or more shots.

15. The part of claim 9 , wherein the opaque elastomeric material increases at least an impact absorption of the part.

16. The part of claim 9 , wherein the polycarbonate (PC) has a thickness of approximately 3 millimeters and the decorative part has a total thickness of approximately 5 millimeters.

Assignments (2)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (212)