Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DECORA~IVE ~MOLDIP~G WITH B~ETALLIC
~PP:E:ARANCE
BACKGROV~D OF THE ~VENTION
The pPes~at ~D~rentiDn relates go an extruded
th~rmoplastlc decoratlve molding especially adap~ed for un~ In
automobile~: and having ~ oo:lDr~d ~netallic appearance ~hich sub~
~tantlally matches the exterios ~inlsh e~f the ~utomobile body~
~ unctlonall,~ shaped moldirl~s us~d vn automob;les. fo
e~caYnple to fra~ne the ~uarte~ iirind~r, Bre oonventiDnall~y ~de of
~Inted n~etal in sPde~ to match the Elppearance ~ ~he molding~ ~vlth
the automobile bod~. Th~ moldlngs aPe cc>nve~ionally ~ec~red to the
b~dy by ~:netallic clips which h~ve a tendenc,y t~ corrode during u3e.
Also the paint coatiog3 tend to chip during use, detract;ng frorn the
~appearance Or the n~olding. Fur~.heT~. ~hç paint bond often fails as the
paint age~.
Many of these pr~blems would be alleviated by a molding
for~ned ~rom a thermoplastic m~terial such as pol,~vlnyl chl~ride whlch
18 ~rgel,~ i~pe~vious to ~t ~nd ~orroston due to the elements. It
has besn ~ound diffioult, howevel. tb e~trude the Irregular ~hape
requl~d ~f such ~noldings and provide a unifoP~n distrlbutic)n ~1' rnetal-
llc plgment on the ~urfase ~f ~he m~lding which. ~ cour6e, 1~ requiPed
ln ~rder for the mtjldLng to match the Rutornobne bods~ In appearanoe ~>r
color as Pequlred oî ~ decoP~ttYe trimO When extrudiDg me~alllc plg~
ment-cont2lnlng thermcplastle ~nate~lal Into ~ molding ha~rlng an Irregu
larl,g-~haped cro~ sectlon, ~he die 3~equtred to glve ~he motding ~t~
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irregular shape apparently causes sllear forces which disturb
the flow and effect the uniformity of the distribution of
metallic pigment in the thermoplastic. The end result is
that the molding has streaks and presents a non-uniform
appearance. On the other hand, in a simple or plain extrusion,
a uniform finish can be ob-tained because the flow of plastic
during the extrusion is relatively smooth and undisturbed
resulting in a consistent and uniform distribution of the
pigment in the thermoplastic. However, a plain extrusion will
not provide a molding having the irregular shape required
of a functional molding.
Wherefore, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a decorative molding having an irregular cross section
and yet presenting a surface having a uniform, colored, metallic
appearance.
In one particular aspect the present invention provides
a decorative and protective molding comprising an elongated, thin
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B layer of extruded,lmetallic pigment-containing thermoplastic
material laminated onto an extruded elongated body characteriæed
by an irregularly shaped, complex cross section having at least
one channel therein.
- In another particular aspect the present invention provides
a decorative and protecting molding comprising an extruded
elongated body characterized by an irregularly shaped, complex cross section
h~ving at least one channel therein, an elongated, thin layer
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of extruded,¦metallic pigment-containing thermoplastic material
laminated onto said body, an elongated ridge laminated onto said
layer of thermoplastic material, and an elongated reflective,
decorative layer laminated onto said ridge.
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In a further particular aspect the present invention
provides the method of making an elongated molding comprising
f~l~ke cl
B the steps of: extruding a thin layer of/metallic pigment-
containing thermoplastic; extruding an elongated body having
an irregular, complex cross section having at least one channel
therein; and laminating said thin layer onto a portion of the
surface of said elongated body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Figure 1 is a perspective view, in section and broken
away, of a decorative molding made in accordance with the
present invention; and
Figure 2 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment
of a decorative molding made in accordance with the present
invention.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENl'ION
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The ~nolding of this invention serves a decoratlve
function by presen~ing a colored me~allic appearance which can be
~rther enhanced~ as sh~wn in both embodirnents illustrated in the
drawing, with a bright chrome-like strip ~long a portion the~eof~
~n addition, the molding also serves to protect the edge to which it
ls attached and when used around an automobile window can act as
a drip guide to prevent water from flowing down and into the win-
dowO The molding is particularly adapted or use as a decorative
and f~mctional molding for framing the rear portion of a quarter
wLndow of an automobile and the disclosure of the present inven-
tion is cast in terms appropriate for this contemplated use of the
present invention. E~ovvever, it will be readily apparent to those
skilled in the art that the molding of this irlvention can be advan-
tageously applied to other parts of automobiles or to vans or other
supporting structures such as appliances.
Nour x eferring to Figure 1, a molding of the present
invention, generally indicated by numeral 1, has a curved top and
sides and includes an elongated body 2 having an irregular CrosB
section. Elongated body 2 is characterized by channel 6, notch 7,
and cavity 4 defined by inrler surEace 8 of lip 10 ànd bottom 12 of
body 2. The structure of body 2 is thus characterized by a relatively
complex cross section such as is suitable to bond-onto, and be
retained by, a flange for example as can be found around a quarter
window of a conventional automobile. Of course, it will be apparent
to those ski'lled in ~e a1rt that-othe~esign3 having relatively
complex cross sectit>ns are u~ithin the broad scope OI the preseSlt
inven~ionO
L~aminated onto top surfa~e area 14 of bod,g 2 i~
ther~noplastic layer 16. Thermoplastic layer 16 contains naked
metallic pigment 29 which imparts color and a metallic appearance
theretoO Thu3, thermoplastic layer 16 has an appearance substantially
the same as metallic paint on an automobile body. Laminated onto
top surface area '15 of body 2 Is a decorative sandw;ch of a plastic
film layer 18 which has a bright, reflective decorativP layer 19 there-
on. Suitable layers 18 and 19 are provided by metallized plastic film ,,
such as a ~netalli~ed polyester film, for example Mylar~)film avail-
able from the duPont Company. Covering and protecting decorative
layer 19 is a clear layer 22 oî vinyl or other suitable transparent
material. Edges 24 and 26 of clear layer 22 are imbedded in thermo-
plastic layer 16 and body 2 respectively. It will be appreciated by
those skilled in the art that materiails vrhich can be used ~or decorative
layer 19 are subject to discoloration if exposed to weather elements.
Slnce'edges 28 and 30 of layers 18 and 19 lie underneath clear layer
22, they are protected from exposure to the elements and decorative
layer 19 is protected from resulting deteriorationO It is, ~f course,
contemplated that the ends oî the elongated molding 1 will also be pro-
tected or sealed against the elements to protect decorative layer 19 b~ -
covering each end with a proteotive material as by end-capping or end-
dipping each end~
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Optimally~ and not sho~vn in the :Figure~ an additional
acrylic layer can bP coated onto the clear vinyl layer to afford
protection against deterioration of decorati~re layer 19 due tD ~ltra~
violet radiationO Also~ of course~ it will be apparent to those
skilled in the art that other Iayers such as metal foil ~o~ld be
substituted for plastic film layer 18 and decorative la~er 1~.
In accordance with the method of the present in~rention
body 2 and thermoplastic layer 16 are both made by separately
but conventionally extruding suitable thermoplastic materials~ Then
thermoplastic layer 16 is laminated onto body 20 This could be done,
for example, bg simultaneously extruding both body 2 and thermo-
plastic layer 16 through separate dies and then immediately pressing
them together by passing between rollers to laminate one to the other
or by co-e~truding the body 2 and thermoplastic layer 16 through a
co-extrusion die, In order to provide a molding having suitable
flexibility and strength it has been found that body 2 can he made of
polyvinyl chloride having a durometer hardness of about 80 shore A
to 60 shore D, Oî course, body 2 is made by extruding through a
die having the desired irregular cross section~
Since body 2 is not exposed to view when in use, there
is no need to color the extrusion or to be concerned about streaking
should a pigrnent-conta.ning material be extruded. It is an
advantage of the present invention that body 2 can be made of
lower quality, less expensive material becarlse it is protected
by thermoplastic layer 16 and plastic film layer 18 having
decorative layer 19 and clear layer 22 thereon. ~c-r example,
lnhibitors conventionally used to prevent deterioration ~ a molding
~vhen exposed to ultraviolet light are not necessary in body 2 ~ince
body 2 is not exposed to such lightD
Thermoplastic layer 16, on the other hand, 1~
characterized by co~taining a flaked, met~llic pigment of a klnd
and in an amount sufficien~ to impart the desired color and metallic
appearance thereto. As can be seen in the drawing, thermoplastic
layer 16 is a relatively thin layer of flaked, ~netallic pigment-con-
tainlng thermoplastic material and can be conventionall~ extruded
through a simple die wlthout incurring streaking problems. 111ermo-
plastic layer 16 preEerably has a thickness of from about 0,1 to about
0. 5 millimeters,
Plastic film layer 18 and decorative layer i9 ar~
laminated onto body 2 in a conventtonal manner, For example, If
metaliized mylar is employed, the metallized mylar and body 2 c~n
be passed between rollers, with heat, k~ effect lamination.
Now referring to Figure 2, another embodiment of a
molding of the preseut invention Is generally indicated by the numeral
320 In this embodiment, thermoplastic layer 3~ containing flaked
metallic pigment 36 is laminated to top surface 3~ of elongated body
~0 which is characterized by a complex cross section. Molding 32.
like molding 1 of Figure 1, is adapted to be bonded onto and be retained
by a flange, for example, as can be found around the rear quarter win-
dow of a conventional automobileO
A portion of thermoplastic layer 34, generally
indicated at 42, has a ridge 44 laminated thereon. Similarly to
the eml)odiment of Figure 1, laminated to top surface 46 of
ridge 44 is a decorative sandwich of a plastic film layer 48 having
a reflective, decorative surface SO tliereon. Covering and protec$ing
decorative surface 50 is clear layer 52 of ~inyl or other suitable
transparent material. Clear layer 52 extends beyond and protects
edges 54 and 56 of the decorative surface 50 from exposure to the
elements and resulting deterioration. It is, of course, contemplated
that the ends of elongated molding 32 will also be protected or
sealed against the elements as by end-capping or end-dippingO
As in the method of making the embodiment shown
in lFigure 1, the method of making molding 32 involves conventionally
laminating a separately but conventionally extruded, or co extruded,
elongated `oody 40 and a thermoplastic, pigment-containing layer 34.
~idge 44 is bonded to thermoplastic, pigment-containing layer 34
~nd elongated body 40 by means of a suitable adhesive or by other
conventional means as by heating until the materials bond to each
other. Preferably ridge 44 is made of a relatively harder material
than body 40 so that ridge 44 provides structural strength to the
molding and a good foundation for plastic film layer 48 and
re~lective, decorative surface 50 while the use of softer material
for body 40 minimizes ost and contributes to the flexibility of
the molding. Plastic film layer 48 and reflective decorative
surface SO, of course, are laminated to ridge 44 in the same
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manner as in the previous embo~iment. Ridge 44 can be made
by conventionally extruding a thermoplastic materiaL
While a preïerred embodiment of the present invention
has been described and illustrated above, it is to be understood
that the invention may be varied within the scope of the appeDded
claims without departing irGm the spirit of the invention.
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