A vehicle trim element is formed by a method that includes the steps of: applying a film on the front face of a layer of ligneous material, with the applied film having at least one engraved pattern; placing the layer of ligneous material together with the applied film in a forming tool, with the front face of the layer being turned towards a wall of the forming tool; pressing the layer of ligneous material together with the applied film against the wall such that the layer adopts the shape of the trim element to be produced and such that, during the pressing of the layer and applied film, the engraved pattern is transferred to the front face of the layer; and removing the film after the pressing of the layer of ligneous material in order to obtain the trim element having a front face with the engraved pattern.

An integrally formed cover part for a vehicle comprises a basic component and a soft component. The basic component is at least sectionally flat and made of a thermoplastic material. The soft component is firmly connected to the basic component and made of a thermoplastic elastomer. The basic component comprises a front side and a back side. The soft component forms at least one buffer that is an impact buffer, which is configured as a double buffer including a front buffer arranged on the front side and a rear buffer arranged on the back side. The basic component has an elevated support profile extending on the back side. The soft component forms a support surface on the front side, which is part of the front buffer. The soft component extends along the support profile towards the back side. The soft component forms a contact surface on the back side, which is part of the rear buffer.

The present invention relates to a customization previewing system for a component for a vehicle, such as a motorcycle. In one embodiment, the system comprises paintable scaled models or prototypes for OEM motorcycle components, such as fenders, fuel tanks, saddlebags and the like. The model prototypes are configured to be between 50 and 80 percent in size of the OEM motorcycle components to enable the owner to accurately preview or visualize a customization job before the same is performed on the actual OEM motorcycle component. Each of the model prototypes is also comprised of a mounting hook for mounting the prototype to a wall or other surface. A spray painter is used to spray the paint, decoration or graphic onto the prototype and change the color thereof based on the preferences of the user.

A finishing/covering element for a component in a vehicle passenger compartment has a front surface facing, in use, the inside of the passenger compartment and a rear surface facing, in use, the component on which the finishing/covering element is fitted; the finishing/covering element is manufactured by moulding a thermoplastic material in a mould, which has a first and a second forming surface facing one another; the first forming surface forms the outline of the front surface and is embossed so as to form a corresponding embossing on the front surface, without further treatments and/or coating operations and/or processing on the front surface after the moulding; at the same time, the moulded thermoplastic material comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane reinforced by reinforcement fibres.

A main body portion is disposed at a regular position by inserting a protrusion into an engaging portion formed in a leg portion of the main body portion in accordance with a forward movement of a sliding mold including the protrusion. Then, an injection molding mold is completely closed to cause at least a part of a mold surface of the sliding mold to come into contact with the main body portion.

A device and method for producing an interior covering part with a carrier component of a fiber molding material and a decorative film. The method may be carried out using the device and includes the steps of: in a first press tool with two tool halves, carrying out a first pressing together and forming of a semi-finished product provided for forming the substrate and of a semi-finished product provided for forming the decorative layer subject to forming a texture of a first surface of the decorative layer and because of this forming an intermediate product with a first forming state; cooling down a decorative layer portion of the intermediate product; and in a second press tool, forming a method end product with a second forming state.

A grommet has retention wings and a distal end of a barrel with pin retention pawls. The pin retention pawls include an inner retention tooth with a lead-in ramp surface facing toward the grommet head. A lead-out ramp surface is distal of the lead-in ramp surface and facing away from the grommet head. A pin includes a recess receiving the inner retention tooth, with a pin head facing surface positioned and designed to engage the lead-out surface and radially outwardly displace the pin retention pawls during removal of the pin from the grommet. A distal facing outer surface of the pin engages the lead-in surface and radially outwardly displaces the pin retention pawls during insertion of the pin into the grommet. A two-shot molding method of manufacturing is also provided.

A roof rail for a vehicle is provided that is made of only one piece and is solid across its length. The roof rail may be made using a co-injection molding process, a two-shot injection molding process or an extrusion molding process.

A component with a customized exterior surface and a method and tool for manufacturing the same are provided. The component may be formed via a plastic forming process with a forming tool, such that it has a surface texture formed on its exterior surface. The forming tool has at least one tool surface, which defines a mold cavity. The tool surface has a textured layer coupled thereto, such that the textured layer directly contacts a moldable material supplied to the mold cavity. The textured layer has a surface texture formed thereon resulting in the surface texture present on the textured layer being transferred to and formed on the exterior surface of the component during forming. The textured layer may be changeable or replaceable with respect to the at least one tool surface, such that a single tool may form components with different surface textures formed on the exterior surface thereof.

Provided is a bushing for manufacturing a three-dimensional composite preform using a tow made of a fiber reinforced polymer. The bushing includes a base plate in which one or more through-holes are formed, and a plurality of spools spaced apart from each other on the base plate. A flat top is formed at an end portion of the spools, and grooves are formed on outer surfaces of the plurality of spools in a circumferential direction thereof.