US2099989A - Trim panel construction - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 23, 1937. w. c. osBoRN 2,099,989

TRIM PANEL CONSTRUGT I ON Filed May ll, 1936 INVENTOR WILLIAM C. OSBORN ORNEY Patented Nov. 23, ,1937` PATENT OFFICE TRIM PANEL CONSTRUCTION william o. ostern, mma, Mien., mimo: u

The Murray Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application May 1l, 1938, Serlal'No. 78,985 s calmi.` (ci. 154-45.

This invention relates to inner trim panel constructions primarily intended for use in automotive vehicles. More particularly it relates to a novel and improved form of inner trim panel, which is of particularly simple construction and attractive appearance.

Inner trim panels of the type with which the invention of the present application is concerned, generally comprise a relatively stiif backing sheet member of cardboard of other similar. suitable, still sheet material, to'which is applied a substantially coextensive layer 0f fibrous, non- .,woven. loosely felted padding material. A section of cloth or suitable fabric finish trim material is stretchedtightlypver the "surface of the padding material and in its marginal edges is adhesively secured to the rear surface of the backing sheet, in order to retain the trim panel as a whole in assembled position and provide a unitary construction. It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a trim panel construction of this general type, in which apertures are provided in the padding material in order that the fabric finish material may be directly secured to the backing sheet at isolated points throughout its surface in order to more firmly retain the. padding material in proper position and at the same time provide a particularly attractive and unique finish appearance.

In accordance with the practice of the present invention, the backing sheets are blanked out by means of a conventional blanking press and the sections of padding material are blanked out from a section of felted material to provide an outer configuration substantially identical with the backing sheets. 'I'he present invention contemplates the provision of an inner trim panel construction in which the fabric iinish material provides substantially the sole means for securing the layer of padding material in predetermined, superimposed position with respect to the packing sheet with which it is associated.

Many other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become clearly apparent from the 44following speciilcation when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective viewl of a backin sheet particularly adaptable for use in the formation of the improved inner trim panels;v

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a section of padding material blanked out to form, for application to the backing sheet shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view o f a completely assembled inner trim panel. utilising the backing sheet and padding section shown in Figures land 2; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, illustrating 5 in detail the manner in which the respective parts in the improved inner trim panel construction 4are assembled.

It will be appreciated that inner trim panels, such as the specific embodiment illustrated in 10 the drawing, are primarily adapted for the purpose of providing an attractive surface finish for the interior portion of automotive vehicle bodies. While the present invention relates primarily to an inner trim panel construction, it will be read- 15 ily appreciated that certain features thereof will find wide and practical utility in other ilelds.

.. The inner trim panel construction shown in the drawing comprises a backing sheet 5. which, as is conventional in the art, is formed of cardzo board or other suitable relatively stiff sheet material, and, as is seen in Figure 1, this sheet is blanked out to a conguration the same as the configuration of the particular portion of the exterior of the vehicle which the nally com- 2o pleted inner trim panel is adapted to cover. In the specinc embodiment of the invention shown. the particular trim panel is of a shape adapted to cover the lower portion of an automobile door and consequently the cardboard backing sheet 80 I is shaped accordingly. As is conventional in constructions of this kind, the backing sheet is provided around its marginal edge with a plurality of holes l which holes are adapted to receive metallic fasteners used for the purpose of mount- 35 ing the inner trim panel in position upon the door of the vehicle with which it is later to be wassociated. In addition to the holes I adiav to secure the central portion of the sheet in position on the door, as may -be desired.

In addition, the backing sheet is preformed to provide a pair of holes 8 and l, respectively, which holes serve to permit the passage oi' the shafts for operating the door latch and window regulator mechanism, such as is conventional in vehicle door constructions.

' A layer of padding material il is provided 5 which is adapted to be superimposed upon the backing .sheet B. The padding material generally used for this purpose ispreferably iute and in the present instance, the padding material is generated by means of Garnett machines, which 5 provide a plurality of layers which are subsequently adhesively bonded together in order to give some rigidity and body to the pad thus formed, in order that it may be blanked out in a conventional die press to the desired form. It will be noted that the section of padding material I0 is blanked out to provide an outer configuration substantially identical with the outer configuration of the backing sheet 5 with whichv it is to be associated, and it is noted that the layer of padding material I0 is provided with holes II adapted to register with the holes 8 and 9 for the window regulator and' latch control mechanism. In addition to the holes II, the padding layer I0 is blanked out to provide a plurality of elongated apertures I 2, which apertures are shown in the drawing as extending in a vertical direction and substantially symmetrically arranged with respect to the padding material as a whole. In addition to the vertically extending apertures I2, the padding material may be blanked out to provide a horizontally extending aperture I3 extending transversely of the width of the padding material underneath the upper marginal edge thereof.

It will be readily appreciated that the apertures I2 and I3 may assume any desired form or arrangement in order to provide an attractive surface appearance to the finished panel, as will hereinafter be more clearly seen.

In the assembly of the improved panel, the layer of padding material I0, after it has been blanked out to substantially the finally desired form, is superimposed upon the coextensive backing sheet E and a section of fabric finish trim material I5 is stretched over the assembled backing sheet and padding.

The fabric finish trim material is preferably of cloth to provide an attractive exterior appearance to the panel as a whole and is preferably cut out to a form substantially similar in shape to the backing sheet and the padding layer only being formed sufficiently large so that a marginal edge is available for assembling the parts together. As will be clearly seen by reference to Figure 4, the marginal edge I6 of this fabric finish material is folded over and around the marginal edge of the padding material and backing sheet and is preferably adhesively secured to the rear surface of the cardboard backing sheet B. The fabric finish material may conveniently be adhesively secured to the face of the backing sheet 5 in the apertures I2 and I3, consequently forming the fabric finish material to substantially the surface configuration of the blanked out section of padding material. It will therefore be seen that the apertures I2 and'l3 stamped in the padding material provide surface irregularities in the fabric finish material which create a particularly attractive and effective appearance' in the completely assembled trim panel as a whole.

Further, it will be appreciated that the securement of the fabric finish trim material to the backing sheet in these apertures serves to provide means by which the fabric finishmaterial and the backing sheet may be secured together at a plurality of points throughout the surfaces thereof in order to accurately and permanently retain the relatively soft padding material in position with respect to the backing sheet. Moreover, it will be further appreciated that the securement of the padding material in these apertures tends to tension and stretch the same in order that the exterior appearance of the ,trim panel as a whole will be smooth and attractive.

It will be readily appreciated that the apertures I2 and I3 are merely illustrative of a certain specified form and arrangement of apertures which have been found to provide a trim panel of attractive appearance when completely assembled, and that very effective results may be obtained by a substantial departure from the specific arrangement of apertures shown.

While but one specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, many other and further embodiments thereof, falling within the scope of the subjoined claims, will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A trim panel construction including, in combination, a relatively stiff cardboard backing sheet, a layer of loosely felted non-woven padding material adhesively secured to said backing sheet, said padding material having a marginal configuration substantially congruent to said backing sheet, said padding being formed to provide an aperture therein, spaced inwardly from the marginal edge thereof, and a section of fabric finish material covering said padded backing sheet, the marginal edges of said fabric finish material being secured to said backing sheet, said fabric finish material being further secured to said backing sheet in said aperture.

2. A trim panel construction including, in combination, a relatively stiff cardboard backing sheet, a layer of loosely felt non-woven fibrous padding material adhesively secured to said backing sheet, said padding material having a marginal configuration substantially congruent to said backing sheet, said padding being formed to provide a plurality of spaced, separate apertures thereinand a. section of fabric finish material covering said padded backing sheet, the marginal edges of said fabric finish material being secured to said backing sheet, said fabric finishing being further secured to said backing sheet in said apertures to retain the padding material in position thereon.

3. A trim panel construction including, in combination, a relatively stiff backing sheet, a section of loosely felted fibrous padding material having a plurality of apertures therein adhesively secured to said backing sheet, and a section of fabric finish material having the marginal edges thereof secured to the side of said backing sheet, said fabric finish material being further secured to said. backing sheet in the apertures formed in said padding material thus serving to retain said fabric finish material in predetermined position on said backing sheet.

4. A trim panel construction including, in combination, a relatively stiff cardboard backing sheet, a layer of loosely felted non-woven fibrous padding material adhesively secured to one surface thereof, said padding material having a marginal configuration substantially congruent to said backing sheet, said padding material having strips cut therefrom along lines substantially parallel to the marginal edges of said backing sheet and spaced inwardly therefrom, and a section of fabric finish material secured over said padded backing sheet and secured to said backing sheet in the zones from which said padding material has been removed.

5. A trim panel construction including, in combination, a relatively stili' cardboard backing sheet, a preformed section of loosely felted nonwoven fibrous padding material secured thereto. said section of padding material having elongated apertures therein disposed substantially parallel to the marginal edges thereof and spaced inpadding material having a plurality oi' apertures wardly therefrom, and a section of fabric finish therethrough, said apertures being spaced inmaterial stretched over the surface of said padded wardly from the marginal edges of said section backing sheet and secured to said backing sheet of padding material and distributed throughout 5 in said elongated openings to retain the padding the surface thereof, and a section of fabric finish material in position with respect to said backing material tensioned over said padding material sheet. and adhesively secured to the backing sheet 6. Atrim panel construction including, in comthrough said apertures to retain said padding bination, a relatively stiff cardboard backing material in position thereon.

l0 sheet, a layer of loosely felted non-woven fibrous i padding material adhesively secured thereto, said WILLIAM C.' OSBORN.

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