A molded body, comprising a resin and cells, the cells having an average diameter of from 0.03 mm to 0.13 mm, and a number per unit area of the cells at a cross-section of the molded body being no less than 20 cells/mm.sup.2.

A dynamic ergonomic surface system for use in a motor vehicle includes an ergonomic surface that is inlayed in a surrounding surface and transitions between states, including: a neutral state in which the ergonomic surface is consistent with the surrounding surface, and at least one ergonomic support state in which the ergonomic surface provides ergonomic support for a user operating an input device. The dynamic ergonomic surface system also includes a sensor system that detects events triggering the transition between states, and a controller that controls the ergonomic surface to transition between the states in response to the detected events.

A dynamic ergonomic surface system for use in a motor vehicle includes an ergonomic surface that is inlayed in a surrounding surface and transitions between states, including: a neutral state in which the ergonomic surface is consistent with the surrounding surface, and at least one ergonomic support state in which the ergonomic surface provides ergonomic support for a user operating an input device. The dynamic ergonomic surface system also includes a sensor system that detects events triggering the transition between states, and a controller that controls the ergonomic surface to transition between the states in response to the detected events.

A vehicular interior component to be mounted on a vehicular metal member includes a wall member and a skin disposed on a portion of the wall member. The wall member includes a wall body portion having a plate shape and a mounting portion that extends from the wall body portion and along the vehicular metal member and is to be fixed to the vehicular metal member. The skin includes an electricity removal surface layer having static dissipative properties on a surface of the skin facing a vehicular exterior side. The skin includes a skin body portion that covers the wall body portion and a skin extended portion that extends from the skin body portion and covers a portion of the mounting portion. The electricity removal surface layer of the skin extended portion is to be directly contacted with the vehicular metal member.

A lock fastener that can be easily manufactured to have great fastening ability includes a touch fastener and a base member insert-molded to the touch fastener. The base member is formed with a space adapted to be filled with a resin material at a time of insert-molding, and the space includes an opening formed in a surface of the base member. The opening is surrounded by a peripheral wall part of the surface. The peripheral wall part is adapted to abut a base of the touch fastener at the time of insert molding and to serve as a bank for preventing the resin material filled into the space from leaking.

A covering device for fully or partially covering one or more of a recess, a flat portion, a curved portion, and a stepped portion of at least one of a vehicle body component and a vehicle part includes a cover element provided by a strip element or a cap element, and at least one lip element which is fixedly or detachably connected to the cover element on at least one of its longitudinal sides, the covering device is designed so that light from a lighting device can shine through at least a portion of the covering device, at least one of the cover element and the at least one lip element is made at least partly of a polymeric substrate which is coated with a chromium-based reflective coating material, and the polymeric substrate and the chromium-based reflective coating are at least partially translucent.

A covering device for fully or partially covering one or more of a recess, a flat portion, a curved portion, and a stepped portion of at least one of a vehicle body component and a vehicle part includes a cover element provided by a strip element or a cap element, and at least one lip element which is fixedly or detachably connected to the cover element on at least one of its longitudinal sides, the covering device is designed so that light from a lighting device can shine through at least a portion of the covering device, at least one of the cover element and the at least one lip element is made at least partly of a polymeric substrate which is coated with a chromium-based reflective coating material, and the polymeric substrate and the chromium-based reflective coating are at least partially translucent.

A clip is structured for coupling together a first component and a second component. The clip includes a body portion and an opposing wall residing opposite and spaced apart from the body portion. At least one connecting member spans a space between the body portion and the opposing wall to connect the body portion and the opposing wall. The at least one connecting member is structured to enable resilient movement of each of the body portion and the opposing wall with respect to the other one of the body portion and the opposing wall responsive to a force acting on the body portion and/or a force acting on the opposing wall.

A method for non-contact adhesive activation and securement of a decorative skin to a part, including: applying an adhesive to a top surface of the part; applying the decorative skin to the adhesive after it have been applied to the top surface of the part; locating an upper heating element or elements of an upper heating plate or platen adjacent to the top surface of the part; locating a lower heating element or elements of a lower heating plate or platen adjacent to a bottom surface of the part, the bottom surface of the part being opposite to the top surface of the part; activating an adhesive located on the top surface of the part via the upper heating element or elements of the upper heating plate or platen and the lower heating element or elements of the lower heating plate or platen when the upper heating element or elements and the lower heating element or elements are adjacent to the part, wherein the upper heating plate or platen and the lower heating plate or platen do not contact the part and the decorative skin; heating the decorative skin during the activating step without contacting the decorative skin with the upper heating plate or platen and the lower heating plate or platen; moving the upper heating plate or platen and the lower heating plate or platen away from the part after the activating step; and applying pressure to the decorative skin located on the top surface as well as the portion of the bottom surface of the part via an upper plate and a lower plate, wherein portions of the part on the top surface have a curved surface that is covered by the decorative skin, the curved surface being defined by a radius of curvature that is less greater than 0 and less than 25 mm.

A method for non-contact adhesive activation and securement of a decorative skin to a part, including: applying an adhesive to a top surface of the part; applying the decorative skin to the adhesive after it have been applied to the top surface of the part; locating an upper heating element or elements of an upper heating plate or platen adjacent to the top surface of the part; locating a lower heating element or elements of a lower heating plate or platen adjacent to a bottom surface of the part, the bottom surface of the part being opposite to the top surface of the part; activating an adhesive located on the top surface of the part via the upper heating element or elements of the upper heating plate or platen and the lower heating element or elements of the lower heating plate or platen when the upper heating element or elements and the lower heating element or elements are adjacent to the part, wherein the upper heating plate or platen and the lower heating plate or platen do not contact the part and the decorative skin; heating the decorative skin during the activating step without contacting the decorative skin with the upper heating plate or platen and the lower heating plate or platen; moving the upper heating plate or platen and the lower heating plate or platen away from the part after the activating step; and applying pressure to the decorative skin located on the top surface as well as the portion of the bottom surface of the part via an upper plate and a lower plate, wherein portions of the part on the top surface have a curved surface that is covered by the decorative skin, the curved surface being defined by a radius of curvature that is less greater than 0 and less than 25 mm.