초록 ▼

A composite finishing cover for a component such as a vehicle instrument panel is provided by extruding a parison of inner and outer layers of different recyclable plastics having different characteristics but which are from the same family of plastics. The parison is injected with low pressure gas

A composite finishing cover for a component such as a vehicle instrument panel is provided by extruding a parison of inner and outer layers of different recyclable plastics having different characteristics but which are from the same family of plastics. The parison is injected with low pressure gas when forming dies are being closed thereover so that the plastics will fully conform to the forming surfaces of the die tooling cavity. The closing force of the dies cause the heat softened inner layers of the first plastics material to join at their interface to form a relatively thick core or substrate providing structural support for the relatively thin and flexible outer layer of the cover, also joined at their interface. The outer layer provides a finishing surface that exhibits a soft feel as when the human hand lightly contacts and moves across the surface thereof. Importantly, in this invention the finishing cover can be readily recycled as a unit without the necessity of separating the different plastics layers from one another since they are from the same family.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A unitized soft feel cover of a substantially constant thickness for finishing interior panels of an automotive vehicle comprising a support core of at least two flattened inner layers of a recyclable first plastic material, each layer being of a first thickness and dispo

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A unitized soft feel cover of a substantially constant thickness for finishing interior panels of an automotive vehicle comprising a support core of at least two flattened inner layers of a recyclable first plastic material, each layer being of a first thickness and disposed in a top and bottom relationship so as to have flattened interior surfaces in substantial full contact and fused to one another throughout the extent thereof, a flexible outer layer of a recyclable second plastic that is relatively thin with respect to each of said inner layers, said outer layer surrounding and in direct full contact with the outermost surfaces of said support core and integrally joined thereto at least at the interface thereof, said outer layer having an outer surface providing a soft feel to the physical touch thereof and being recyclable with said inner layers while all of said layers are joined together.