CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to United States Provisional Application No.

62/367,662 filed on July 28, 2016, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a molding for a vehicle and a method of attaching an accent strip to a molding for a vehicle.

2. Description of Related Art

[0003] Automotive vehicles often include one or more moldings for aesthetic purposes or to prevent dents or scratches to the vehicle. The molding and any accent pieces which are part of the molding need to be mounted precisely to avoid misalignments and visible gaps which detract from the decorative aspects of these pieces. Damage, such as scratches to the vehicle or molding, also needs to be avoided. Accent strips may be attached to the vehicle molding using adhesive or mechanical attachment mechanisms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

[0004] The present invention provides a body molding and accent strip, and a method for mounting an accent strip to the body molding, which are particularly suited for mounting a metal accent strip to a plastic molding structure.

[0005] In one embodiment there is provided an elongate base structure for receiving an accent strip for a vehicle molding, the elongate base structure includes an outward facing surface; top and bottom elongate grooves defined in the outward facing surface; a middle base portion between the top and bottom grooves, the middle base portion having an outward facing surface with at least one adhesive region for receiving an adhesive; at least one slot defined in one of the top groove or the bottom groove, the at least one slot being adjacent to and extending along the at least one adhesive region of the middle base portion; and an aperture defined by middle base portion, between the top and bottom grooves. In some embodiments, the elongate base structure further includes a first end; a second end; a first opening defined by the base structure, the first opening terminating the top and bottom grooves adjacent the first end; and a second opening defined by the base structure, the second opening terminating the top and bottom grooves adjacent the second end.

[0006] In another embodiment there is provided a method of mounting an accent strip for a vehicle to the elongate base structure described above, with the middle base portion the base structure having adhesive tape with a removable liner applied to the at least one adhesive region. The method includes removing a leading portion of the removable liner of the adhesive tape; threading the leading portion of the removable liner through the slot; placing the accent strip within the grooves of the elongate base structure; aligning the accent strip within the elongate base structure using the aperture; removing a remaining portion of the removable liner using the leading portion; and pressing the accent strip against the middle base portion to secure the accent strip to the elongate base structure. In some embodiments, placing the accent strip within the grooves of the elongate base structure includes inserting a first end of the accent strip into the first opening of the base; and rotating and sliding the accent strip to insert a second end of the accent strip into the second opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Advantages of the present disclosure will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0008] FIG I is a front view of an accent strip and a portion of a base structure of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0009] FIG 2 is a front view of FIG I , showing only the portion of the base structure. [0010] FIG 3 is enlarged view of FIG 2.

[0011] FIG 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG 1 taken along line A-A.

[0012] FIG 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG 3 taken along line A-A.

[0013] FIG 5 A is a cross-sectional view of FIG 3 taken along line B-B.

[0014] FIG 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the accent molding and base structure during assembly.

[0015] FIG 7 is a front view of a portion of the accent strip and base structure during assembly.

[0016] FIG 8 is a cross-sectional view of FIG 7 taken along line X-X.

[0017] FIG 9 is a flow chart of a method of mounting an accent strip and a base structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a base structure 100 according to an embodiment of the invention is shown. Directional references employed in the specification or claims, such as top, bottom, upper, lower, front, rear, first, second, right, left and the like, are employed for ease of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. It will be appreciated that the structures and methods described herein may be used in various orientations.

[0019] Described herein is a base structure for a vehicle molding which supports a rigid accent strip, such as a metal or metal plated accent strip, with the use of an adhesive tape. Specifically, a base structure 100 for a vehicle molding and an accent strip 105 are illustrated in FIG 1. The base structure 100 is typically made of plastic and may be a molding which is attached to a vehicle (not shown) for decorative or other purposes. In some embodiments, the base structure 100 is part of the vehicle. The accent strip 105 may be made of metal or chrome plated plastic. In some embodiments, the accent strip 1 05 may be made of other materials, such as a rigid plastic. Due in part to its rigidity, the accent strip 105 cannot be mounted to a traditional base structure (not shown) by traditional means. The base structure 100 described herein also conceals designed thermal gaps, unwanted misalignments between the accent strip 105 and the base structure 100, and sharp ends or edges of the accent strip 105.

[0020] The base structure 100 is an elongate structure having a first end 1 10 and a second end 1 15. As illustrated in FIGS 2 to 6, the base structure 100 defines two grooves, a top elongate groove 120 and a bottom elongate groove 125 in an outward facing surface 130 between the first and second ends 1 10, 1 15. A middle portion 135 of the base structure 100 extends from the top groove 120 to the bottom groove 125. The top and bottom grooves 120, 125 receive and conceal portions of the accent strip 105 which is mounted to and supported by the middle portion 1 35, as described in further detail below.

[0021] In some embodiments, the base structure 100 defines a first opening 140 in the first end 1 1 0 of the base structure 100 and a second opening 145 in the second end 1 15. In some embodiments, the openings 140, 145 are defined near the ends of the top and bottom grooves 1 20, 125. In other embodiments, as illustrated in FIG 2, the first opening 140 terminates the top and bottom grooves 120, 1 25 adjacent the first end 1 10 of the base structure, and the second opening 145 terminates the top and bottom grooves 120, 125 adjacent the second end 1 15 of the base structure. The first and second openings 140, 145 may receive and conceal first and second ends of the accent strip 105, as described in further detail below. For reference herein, the remaining portion of the base structure 100 beyond or outside of the top and bottom grooves 120, 125, and first and second openings 140, 145, is referred to as the outer portion 150 of the base structure 100. The base structure 1 00 and the outer portion 150 may be generally any size and shape desired for the vehicle molding.

[0022] The middle portion 135 of the base structure 100 has an outward facing surface 155. In some embodiments, as can be seen in FIGS 4 and 5, the middle portion 135 and outward facing surface 155 are recessed and sit below the outward facing surface 130 of the outer portion 140 of the base structure 100. As a result, once the accent strip 105 is mounted to the base structure 100, the accent strip 105 may be flush with or recessed slightly below the outward facing surface 130. Thus, the accent strip 105 may be protected by the base structure 100. In some embodiments, the outer portion 150, or the middle portion 135, or both the outer portion 150 and the middle portion 135 of the base structure 100 may be angled to provide the desired outward appearance and shape for the vehicle molding. In some embodiments, the base structure 100 may include one or more bosses, ribs, flanges, or combinations thereof, to ensure that the accent strip 105 is offset from the vehicle surface (not shown). An example of ribs 157 extending from the inward facing surface or inner side of the base structure 100 can been seen in FIGS 4, 5 and 5 A. The spacing created by the ribs 157 ensures that any sharp ends or edges of the accent strip 105 do not scratch of damage the surface of the vehicle to which the body structure 100 is mounted. It will be appreciated that the outward facing surface 130 of the base structure 100, and the outward facing surface 155 of the middle portion 135, refer to the side of the base structure 100 displaying the accent strip 105.

[0023] The middle portion 135 includes one or more areas or regions on the outward facing surface 155, referred to herein as adhesive regions 160, to which an adhesive may be applied for fastening the accent strip 105 to the base structure 100. The adhesive may comprise an adhesive foam tape 165 having a removable liner 170. For illustration purposes, multiple sections of adhesive tape 165 are shown in FIG 2 with the removable liner 170 removed from all sections except the section of adhesive tape 165 adjacent the second end 1 15 of the base structure 1 00. The removable liner 1 70 is used to conceal the adhesive component and prevent early sticking or bonding of the accent strip 1 05 to the base structure 100 during assembly. A leading portion 175 of the liner 170 may be removed from a small portion of the adhesive tape 165 during the mounting of the accent strip 105 to the base structure 100, as described below.

[0024] As illustrated in FIGS 4 and 6, the accent strip 1 05 has two opposing side walls, 1 80a, 180b which extend from a middle accent strip portion 185. Each side wall 180a, 180b may be the same height or each side wall 180a, 180b may have a different height depending on the desired geometry and appearance of the molding. As noted above, one side wall 180a is received within the top groove 1 20 and one side wall 1 80b is received within the bottom groove 125. In some embodiments, the side walls 1 80a, 180b extend at approximately right angles from the middle accent strip portion 185. The middle accent strip portion 185 is adhered to and supported by the middle portion 135 of the base structure 100.

[0025] Traditional mounting methods and base structures may result in the accent strip 105 being moved out of position resulting in aesthetic mis-alignment and/or damaging the base structure 100. The removable liner 170 of the adhesive tape 165 cannot be removed before the accent strip 105 is placed into position since adhesion of the accent strip 105 may occur prematurely. Due to the side walls 180a, 180b of the accent strip 105, and the grooves 120, 125 of the base structure 100, the removable liner 170 of the adhesive tape 165 cannot be removed from the top. The liner 170 also cannot be removed from the right or left side of this configuration (that is, from the first end 1 10 or the second end 1 1 5 of the base structure 100) without exhibiting tearing or stretching of the liner 1 70. To address these issues, the base structure 100 includes additional structural features for use when mounting the accent strip 105.

[0026] At least one slot 190 is defined by the base structure 100 in the top groove

120 or the bottom groove 125 to allow the liner 170 to be passed through the slot 190 as it is removed from the adhesive tape 1 65. In one embodiment, one slot 190 is defined in one of the top groove 120 or the bottom groove 125 adjacent each adhesive area 1 60. The slot 190 has a width greater than the thickness of the liner 170 and thus, the liner 170 may pass through the slot 190 as the liner 170 is removed from the adhesive tape 165. In some embodiments, the width of the slot 190 is greater than the thickness of the liner 170 but smaller than the width of the side wall 180b. The slots 190 allow the assembler to access and pull the sections of the liner 1 70 from the inward facing or back side of the base structure 100 rather than from the right or left side. The liner 1 70 thus can be safely peeled while exposing the acrylic adhesive portion of the tape 1 65.

[0027] The slots 190 may be defined in the top groove 120, the bottom groove 125, or combinations of the top and bottom grooves 120, 125. The location of the slots 190 may be based on the geometty of the base structure 100 and accent strip 105, and the desired direction for a vehicle production assembler to pull and remove the liner 170 from the adhesive tape 165. Each slot 190 may extend exactly the length of the adhesive region 160 and adhesive tape 165. In other embodiments, the slot 190 may extend slightly beyond one or both ends of the adhesive area 160 and adhesive tape 165 as shown in FIG 3. In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS 3, and 5A discrete slots 190 may be spaced along the base structure 100 within the bottom groove 125 and separated by bridge areas 195. The bridge areas 195 serve to maintain the thickness of the base structure 100 and connections between the middle portion 135 and outer portion 150 in order to maintain the structural rigidity and strength of the base structure 100. In other embodiments (not shown) each slot may extend along the length of multiple adhesive regions 160, or one long slot may be provided in the top groove 120 or bottom groove 125 to accommodate the removal of all of the sections of liner 170.

[0028] The middle portion 1 35 of the base structure 100 also defines at least one aperture 200 which may be used by the assembler when mounting the accent strip 105 to the base structure 100. In some embodiments, particularly if the middle portion 135 of the base structure 100 is recessed below the outward facing surface 130, not enough space is available for an assembler to hold and handle the accent strip 105 before it is secured to the base structure 100. The aperture 200 allows the assembler to hold and move the accent strip 105 along the length of the base structure 100 into the correct position between the first end 1 10 and the second end 1 15. The aperture 200 is sized to provide enough space for an assembler's hand, fingers, or tool to hold and move the accent strip 105. In one embodiment, the aperture 200 extends from the top groove 1 20 to the bottom groove 125. The aperture 200 also may be positioned adjacent one or more adhesive regions 160 to allow the assembler to best control the position of the accent strip 105. For example, as shown in FIG 2, the aperture 200 is positioned in the centre of the middle portion 135 between the centre two adhesive regions 160.

[0029] FIGS 7 and 8 are close up and cross-sectional views, respectively, of the second end 1 15 of the base structure 100 and the second opening 145 during mounting of the accent strip 105. A method 300 of mounting the accent strip 105 to the base structure 100 is set out in the flowchart of FIG 9. Specifically, to attach the accent strip 105 to the base structure 100, the method includes removing (action 31 0) a leading portion 175 of the liner 170 and threading (action 315) the leading portion 1 75 through the adjacent slot 190. These actions are repeated for each section of adhesive tape 165 and liner 1 70 which will be covered by the accent strip 105. As shown in FIGS 2 and 3, just a small corner of the liner 170 may be folded at the corner edge of the adhesive tape 165. Since only a small portion of the adhesive tape 165 is exposed, the chances of early sticking or bonding of the accent strip 105 to the base structure 100 are greatly reduced. In some embodiments, the method 300 may include an assembler first measuring, cutting and applying sections of adhesive tape 165 and liner 1 70 to the adhesive regions 160 of the middle portion 135 of the base structure 100.

[0030] The method 300 includes placing (action 320) the accent strip 105 in the base structure 100. In some embodiments, placing the accent strip 105 involves setting the side walls 180a, 180b of the accent strip 105 into the corresponding top and bottom grooves 120, 125. The accent strip 1 05 may then be supported and moved by an assembler through the use of the aperture 200 in order to align (action 325) the accent strip 105 into its correct final position in the base structure 100. The base structure 100 may include marked positions on its back or inner surface (not shown) to assist with the correct alignment of the accent strip 105.

[0031 ] In other embodiments, the base structure 100 includes first and second openings 140, 145, as described above, to conceal the ends of the accent strip 105. This hides and conceals unwanted misalignments between the accent strip 105 and the base structure 100. Any cosmetic imperfections at the ends of the accent strip 105, particularly the sharps ends of a metal accent strip 105, are also concealed behind the base structure 100. As well, for a metal accent strip 105, with the ends tucked in and nested inside the base structure 1 00 through the first and second openings 140, 145, the natural spring back behaviour of a metal accent strip 105 is trapped, thus preventing unwanted gapping and separation of the adhesive tape 165 between the accent strip 105 and the base structure 1 00. For this embodiment, placing (action 320) the accent strip 105 in the base structure 100 includes inserting each end of the accent strip 105 into the first and second openings 140, 145 of the base structure 100. Specifically, with reference to FIG S, one end, such as a second end 350 of the accent strip 105 is inserted into the second opening 145. The accent strip 105 is allowed to rotate, as shown by dashed lines in FIG 8, into the grooves 120, 125 until the accent strip 105 is in a proper position. As the accent strip 105 is being rotated, an assembler supports or holds the accent strip 105 through the aperture 200 and slides or moves the first end (not shown) of the accent strip 105 into the first opening 140 of the base structure. In other words, one end of the accent strip 105 may be over-inserted into one of the openings 140, 145, and then the accent strip 105 is rotated and moved into place through the use of the aperture 200 to conceal the opposite end of the accent strip 105 into the other opening of the base structure 100. The accent strip 105 is thus aligned (action 325) into the base structure 100. As illustrated in FIG 8, the middle portion 1 35 of the base structure 100 may include a bevelled end to facilitate mounting of the accent strip 105.

[0032] Once the accent strip 105 is placed and aligned into the proper position in the base structure 100, the method 300 includes removing (action 330) the remaining portions of the liner 1 70 for each section of adhesive tape 165. This is achieved by an assembler pulling the leading portions 175 of the liner 170 and removing the remaining portions through the slots 190. The method 300 ends with the assembler adhering (action 335) the accent strip 105 to the base structure 100, such as by pressing on the middle portion 185 of the accent strip 105 to ensure that it adheres properly to the sections of adhesive tape 165.

[0033] The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described. The subject matter described herein and in the recited claims intends to cover and embrace all suitable changes in technology.