Abstract: A body component for a transportation vehicle comprising an e-paper visible from a front side of the body component; a thermally protective material at least partially surrounding the e-paper; an injection molded body element located around at least a portion of the thermally protective film can be used on a transportation device to provide a digital image.

Abstract: Methods and systems for forming an injection molded part. The system includes a mold cavity housing having a first end and a second end and an opening passing through the housing from the first end to the second end, a lifter member having a first end and a second end, a plurality of attachment formation members, and a groove formed in an outside surface of the lifter member, a lifter guide having a guide member, wherein the rotary lifter translates within the opening in the mold cavity housing and rotates as the guide member travels along the groove in the lifter member.

Abstract: A method of forming an article attachable to an exterior surface of a vehicle includes heating a thermoplastic system to form a workpiece. The thermoplastic system includes a substrate having an end surface, and a film disposed on the substrate and having a distal surface adjoining the end surface. The workpiece has a first surface adjoining the distal surface to define a distal edge, and a second surface spaced opposite the first surface and adjoining the end surface to define a proximal edge between the second and end surfaces. The method includes disposing the workpiece between a mold surface and a pressure surface. After disposing, the method includes conforming the first surface to one of the pressure and mold surfaces to form a preform, and depositing an injection-moldable polymer onto the preform to form a protective layer thereon that contacts and covers the distal surface. An article is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of forming an article attachable to an exterior surface of a vehicle includes heating a thermoplastic system to form a preform. The preform has a first surface having an initial distinctness of image and an initial gloss, and a second surface spaced opposite from the first. The method also includes disposing the preform between a mold surface and a pressure surface spaced apart from the mold surface so that the first surface faces the mold surface, and the second surface faces the pressure surface. Further, the first surface and the mold surface define a first cavity therebetween, and the second surface and the pressure surface define a second cavity therebetween. After disposing, the method includes conforming the first surface to the mold surface to thereby form the article, wherein the article has the initial distinctness of image and the initial gloss.