Patents by Inventor Henry H. Smith

Henry H. Smith has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method of making a colored automotive trim product
    Patent number: 7005103
    Abstract: An automotive trim product is made as follows. A single or multiple layer sheet is extruded so as to include at least one color pigmented and/or metallized layer therein. The sheet is then thermoformed into a three-dimensionally shaped preform via vacuum forming or the like. The preform is placed into a cavity of an injection molding apparatus and heated semi-molten material is injected thereinto. The semi-molten material bonds to the preform in the cavity. After cycling, the molding apparatus ejects a final automotive trim part. Optionally, some processing (e.g. trimming) may be performed following ejection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Guardian Automotive Trim, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry H. Smith, John Sienkiewicz
  • Automotive trim with clear top coat and method of making same
    Patent number: 6602591
    Abstract: An exterior automotive trim product, and method of making the same. In certain embodiments, a color pigmented thermoplastic layer is provided. A transparent clear coat is calendared to the color pigmented layer to form a composite or laminate. The laminate is subsequently vacuum-formed into a three dimensional shape approximating the desired shape of a final trim product. The vacuum-formed laminate is then inserted into an injection molding device, and semi-molten resin injected into the mold cavity behind the laminate. The resin fuses with the vacuum-formed laminate with the result being the final automotive trim product. Thus, no spray painting or spraying of solvents is required, and burdensome dry paint transfer techniques may be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Guardian Automotive Trim, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry H. Smith
  • Extruded automotive trim and method of making same
    Publication number: 20020009594
    Abstract: An automotive trim product is made as follows. A single or multiple layer sheet is extruded so as to include at least one color pigmented and/or metallized layer therein. The sheet is then thermoformed into a three-dimensionally shaped preform via vacuum forming or the like. The preform is placed into a cavity of an injection molding apparatus and heated semi-molten material is injected thereinto. The semi-molten material bonds to the preform in the cavity. After cycling, the molding apparatus ejects a final automotive trim part. Optionally, some processing (e.g. trimming) may be performed following ejection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Applicant: Guardian Automotive Trim, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry H. Smith, John Sienkiewicz
  • Extruded automotive trim and method of making same
    Patent number: 6319438
    Abstract: An automotive trim product is made as follows. A single or multiple layer sheet is extruded so as to include at least one color pigmented and/or metallized layer therein. The sheet is then thermoformed into a three-dimensionally shaped preform via vacuum forming or the like. The preform is placed into a cavity of an injection molding apparatus and heated semi-molten material is injected thereinto. The semi-molten material bonds to the preform in the cavity. After cycling, the molding apparatus ejects a final automotive trim part. Optionally, some processing (e.g. trimming) may be performed following ejection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Guardian Automotive Trim, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry H. Smith, John Sienkiewicz
  • Automotive trim with clear top coat and method of making same
    Patent number: 6187233
    Abstract: An exterior automotive trim product, and method of making the same. In certain embodiments, a color pigmented thermoplastic layer is provided. A transparent clear coat is calendared to the color pigmented layer to form a composite or laminate. The laminate is subsequently vacuum-formed into a three dimensional shape approximating the desired shape of a final trim product. The vacuum-formed laminate is then inserted into an injection molding device, and semi-molten resin injected into the mold cavity behind the laminate. The resin fuses with the vacuum-formed laminate with the result being the final automotive trim product. Thus, no spray painting or spraying of solvents is required, and burdensome dry paint transfer techniques may be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Guardian Automotive Trim, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry H. Smith