The invention relates to a multilayer body (100) for producing a decorated plastic article (50) having a surface relief (40). The multilayer body (100) comprises a relief film (1) with a first carrier film (2) and a structural layer (3), arranged on one side of the first carrier film (2). The multilayer body (100) also comprises a multilayer film (5) with a second carrier film (10) and at least one decorative layer (12, 14). The structural layer (3) is arranged here between the first carrier film (2) and the second carrier film (10). Furthermore, the multilayer body (100) has a film body (19) which comprises the relief film (1) and can be released from the at least one decorative layer (12, 14), and the at least one decorative layer (12, 14) is formed such that it can be deformed by the structural layer (3) formed as a stamped structure. The invention also relates to a process for producing such a multilayer body (100), and to two processes for producing a decorated plastic article (50) having a surface relief (40) by using such a multilayer body (100).

A trim component for a vehicle interior is disclosed. The trim component may comprise a fiber panel comprising a compression-formed component and a structure comprising a resin. The compression-formed component may provide a structural substrate. The structure may comprise a molded resin feature for the structural substrate formed in at least one hole of the fiber panel. The structure may reinforce the structural substrate. The structure may also comprise a border. The fiber panel may comprise structural fibers and a resin. The structural fibers may comprise at least one of natural fibers; synthetic fibers; glass fibers; carbon fibers; polymeric fibers. The resin may comprise at least one of thermoplastic resin; polypropylene; acrylonitrile butadiene styrene; polycarbonate; thermoset resin; epoxy; polyimide; polyester; vinylester. The component may comprise at least one of a center console; a floor console; a door panel; an instrument panel; a headliner; an overhead console; a sun visor.

A trim component for a vehicle interior is disclosed. The trim component may comprise a fiber panel comprising a compression-formed component and a structure comprising a resin. The compression-formed component may provide a structural substrate. The structure may comprise a border (e.g. edge, dimensionally accurate border, etc.); the structure may comprise a molded feature (e.g. rib, ridge, edge, ancillary component, etc.) configured to reinforce and/or support the fiber panel. The fiber panel may comprise a resin to bond the fibers; the structure comprising a resin (e.g. injection-molded plastic/material) may be bonded to the fiber panel. The trim component may comprise a cover for the structural substrate provided by the compression-formed component.

A method of making an iridescent, vehicular trim assembly is provided that includes: molding a polymeric base comprising an exterior surface; and over-molding an element over at least a portion of the exterior surface. The element comprises a polymeric, translucent material and an exterior surface with an integral diffraction grating having a thickness from 250 to 1000 nm and a period from 50 nanometers to 5 microns. Further, the molding can be conducted such that the polymeric base is molded with a tint. The method can also include forming a plated region over the exterior surface of the base. In addition, the method can also include cleaning the plated region with a plasma-etching process before the over-molding.

A component for a vehicle interior is disclosed. The component may comprise a structural substrate comprising a fiber panel with at least one hole and a resin-formed structure; and a cover coupled to the fiber panel or the resin-formed structure. The fiber panel may be formed into a compression-formed component; the resin-formed structure may comprise a molded feature formed in the hole of the fiber panel. The resin-formed structure may reinforce the structural substrate. The fiber panel and the resin-formed structure may provide a substantially continuous structure. The resin-formed structure may extend along a surface of the fiber panel to form the resin-formed structure to the fiber panel. The cover may be applied to the fiber panel during compression molding. The component may comprise a trim panel, instrument panel, door panel, or other interior trim part. A method of manufacturing a vehicle trim component is also disclosed.

A vehicle trim component is disclosed. The vehicle trim component may be prepared by a process comprising heating and placing a fiber panel into a mold cavity, compressing the fiber panel in the mold cavity to form a compression formed component providing a structural substrate having a thickness along an edge and injecting resin into the mold cavity with the structural substrate. A border may be formed along the thickness of the structural substrate by the injected resin; the border may provide dimensional accuracy at the edge of the structural substrate notwithstanding variations in the fiber panel. A resin feature (such as a part, component, connector, reinforcing element, weakened zone, shape, etc.) may be formed in or on the structural substrate by the injected resin (e.g. in a gap or void). The resin feature may comprise a rib to extend across an interface between the structural substrate and the border.

A component for a vehicle interior is disclosed. The component may comprise a structural substrate comprising a fiber panel with at least one hole and a resin-formed structure; and a cover coupled to the fiber panel or the resin-formed structure. The fiber panel may be formed into a compression-formed component; the resin-formed structure may comprise a molded feature formed in the hole of the fiber panel. The resin-formed structure may reinforce the structural substrate. The fiber panel and the resin-formed structure may provide a substantially continuous structure. The resin-formed structure may extend along a surface of the fiber panel to form the resin-formed structure to the fiber panel. The cover may be applied to the fiber panel during compression molding. The component may comprise a trim panel, instrument panel, door panel, or other interior trim part. A method of manufacturing a vehicle trim component is also disclosed.

A method of manufacturing a material strand (100), particularly for sealing, trimming or fastening of doors (11) or windows (12) of a motor vehicle (10), comprises the steps of: a) extrusion of an extruded strand (200); b) testing the extruded strand (200) after the extrusion, thereby identifying first segments (210) comprising manufacturing defects (211) and second segments (220) being free from manufacturing detects; c) cutting out the first segments (210) from the extruded strand (200), thereby causing faces (222) at the second segments (220); d) joining cut faces (222) of second segments (220) to obtain a joint (102) and to form a material strand (100), the joint (102) having a position within the material strand (100), wherein a minimum distance (d) is maintained between the positions of adjacent joints (102); e) identifying the position of each joint (102); and f) forming a transport unit (110) having a predetermined maximum length by winding the material strand (100).

A trim component for a vehicle interior is disclosed. The trim component comprises a fiber panel, a structure and a cover coupled to the fiber panel and/or the structure. The fiber panel may comprise fibers and a resin binder. The structure may comprise resin such as a molded plastic. The structure may provide a border formed on a periphery and/or an edge of the fiber panel. The structure may be on the cover or the fiber panel. The structure may reinforce a gap and/or tear in the fiber panel. The structure may comprise a molded feature. The feature may comprise the border, a rib, or a connector. The cover may be coupled to an outer surface of the fiber panel and/or the structure. The trim component may be a trim panel, an instrument panel, a door panel, or other interior trim part.

The invention relates to a method for producing a support element for a means of transport, wherein the method comprises: providing a polypropylene/natural fiber mat (106), wherein the mat (106) has a basis weight of less than 1150 g/m.sup.2, wherein the polypropylene/natural fiber mat (106) comprises a first type of natural fibers, preheating the mat (106), placing the mat (106) in a mold (100), wherein the mold (100) has a rib-shaped cavity (112), pressing the mat (106) into a predefined form by the mold (100), so that the thickness of the mat (106) after the pressing is less than 1.5 mmimmediately and directly after the pressing, insert molding the mat (106) by injecting a polypropylene-containing material into the rib-shaped cavity, wherein the insert molding has the effect that the material forms stiffening ribs (200) that are integrally bonded with the mat (106), demolding the mat (106) comprising the stiffening ribs (200).