US4446179A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trim strip for automobile bodies
Assignee: DL Auld Co
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Filing: 1983-02-28
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Granted: 1984-05-01
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Expires: 2003-02-28
Abstract
Abstract An elongate trim strip comprising an elongate moulding, said moulding having a flat surface for receiving adhesive or otherwise attaching the strip to the body of a vehicle, a longitudinal channel formed in said moulding, a decorative surface in said channel and a weather-resistant and impact-resistant plastic overlay having radiused edges which provides a lens effect to the decorative surface beneath. Also a trim strip consisting essentially of an elongate decorative foil member having an upper surface and a lower surface and sharply defined peripheral edges, said upper surface having thereon a weather-resistant and impact-resistant overlay having radiused edges and providing a lens effect to said foil member, said overlay being formed by overcoating said upper surface of said foil member with a fluent clear plastic material which flows to said sharply defined peripheral edges and forms a positive meniscus and curing said plastic material.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E. Waugh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:57
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B3/00; B32B3/10; B32B3/18; B32B3/20; B60; B60R; B60R13/00; B60R13/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/14; Y10T428/1438; Y10T428/1486; Y10T428/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A trim strip comprising: an elongate moulding, said moulding having a lower surface for receiving adhesive or otherwise attaching said trim strip to the body of a vehicle, an elongate channel formed in the upper surface of said moulding having a floor and two side walls or shoulders, an elongate decorative surface in said channel, and a weather-resistant and impact-resistant clear plastic cap cast over said decorative surface and having radiused edges providing a lens effect to said decorative surface beneath and thereby optically enhancing the appearance of said decorative surface as viewed through said clear plastic cap.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A trim strip comprising: an elongate moulding, said moulding having a lower surface for receiving adhesive or otherwise attaching said trim strip to the body of a vehicle, an elongate channel formed in the upper surface of said moulding having a floor and two side walls or shoulders, an elongate decorative surface in said channel, and a weather-resistant and impact-resistant clear plastic cap cast over said decorative surface and having radiused edges providing a lens effect to said decorative surface beneath and thereby optically enhancing the appearance of said decorative surface as viewed through said clear plastic cap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The trim strip of claim 1 wherein said clear plastic cap is an abrasion-resistant polyurethane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The trim strip of claim 2 wherein said clear plastic cap is flexible.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The trim strip of claim 3 wherein said decorative surface is a foil member selected from the group consisting of metal foil, plastic foil, or metallized plastic foil.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The trim strip of claim 1 wherein said channel has a rectangular cross section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The trim strip of claim 1 wherein said clear plastic cap is formed by casting a fluent plastic material into said channel to form a positive meniscus which when hardened provides said lens effect, said channel having a decorative foil member retained therein as said decorative surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The trim strip of claim 6 wherein said plastic substantially fills said channel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
96 words
A trim strip consisting essentially of an elongate decorative foil member having an upper surface and a lower surface and sharply defined peripheral edges and a weather-resistant clear plastic cap, formed by overcoating said upper surface of said foil member with a fluent clear plastic material which flows to said sharply defined peripheral edges and forms a positive meniscus and curing said plastic material to provide a lens effect to said decorative foil member and thereby optically enhance the appearance of said upper surface of said decorative foil member as viewed through said clear plastic cap.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
96 words
A trim strip consisting essentially of an elongate decorative foil member having an upper surface and a lower surface and sharply defined peripheral edges and a weather-resistant clear plastic cap, formed by overcoating said upper surface of said foil member with a fluent clear plastic material which flows to said sharply defined peripheral edges and forms a positive meniscus and curing said plastic material to provide a lens effect to said decorative foil member and thereby optically enhance the appearance of said upper surface of said decorative foil member as viewed through said clear plastic cap.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The trim strip of claim 8 wherein said foil member has a layer of adhesive on said lower surface for securing said trim strip to a body surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The trim strip of claim 9 wherein said clear plastic cap is an abrasion-resistant polyurethane.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The trim strip of claim 10 wherein said clear plastic cap is a flexible, abrasion-resistant polyurethane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The trim strip of claim 11 wherein said foil member is metal foil, plastic foil, or metallized plastic foil.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-05-01 | 1987-10-31 | 1988-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-05-01 | 1991-10-31 | 1992-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-05-01 | 1995-10-31 | 1996-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |