Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include interior vehicle trim panel having a sprayed expanded polyurethane layer and method of making same. In at least one embodiment, the method of making the vehicle interior trim panel comprises providing a skin layer on a spray tool, spraying expandable polyurethane reactive components onto the skin layer to form a resilient layer, and securing a rigid substrate on the resilient layer, such that the resilient layer extends between and connects the skin layer with the substrate to form the vehicle interior trim panel.

Abstract: The present invention relates a vehicle interior trim panel. In at least one embodiment, the panel may be made by providing a spray mold having a mold surface, spraying colored polyurethane material proximate the surface of the tool to form a colored polyurethane skin layer, and spraying expandable polyurethane material onto the skin layer to form a resilient layer on the colored polyurethane skin layer. The colored polyurethane skin layer and the resilient layer form a colored composite skin which can be removed from the tool and secured to a substrate to form a vehicle interior trim panel.

Abstract: A method of making an article is disclosed in which an in-mold coating is applied to a mold over with a polyurethane forming mixture is applied. A fluorescent dye is mixed with a polyurethane forming mixture to form an ultraviolet enhanced mixture. After forming, the coated article is exposed to a source of ultraviolet light and inspected to identify areas not covered by the in-mold coating. An article of manufacture is disclosed that includes a polyurethane layer having fluorescent dye and an in-mold coating applied to the polyurethane layer. An interior trim part for a vehicle made according to the process is also disclosed.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method and system for making a composite polyurethane skin. In at least one embodiment, the method comprises providing a source of liquid polyol, providing a source of liquid isocyanate, providing a source of liquid low density foaming agent comprising blowing agent and low fogging surfactant, providing a spray mold tool having a mold surface, and providing a spraying device for spraying liquid material at the spray mold tool.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include interior vehicle trim panel having a sprayed expanded polyurethane layer and method of making same. In at least one embodiment, the method of making the vehicle interior trim panel comprises providing a skin layer on a spray tool, providing a source of polyol, and providing a source of isocyanate, wherein at least one of the sources contains a nucleated component. The method of this embodiment further comprises combining polyol and isocyanate from the respective sources to form expandable polyurethane reactive component, spraying the expandable polyurethane reactive component onto the skin layer to form a resilient layer, and securing a rigid substrate to the resilient layer to form the vehicle interior trim part.

Abstract: A method for forming a low density polyurethane skin for automobile interior applications is provided. The method of the invention comprises spraying an expandable polyurethane composition over a mold cavity surface or a mold cavity surface pre-coated with a primer polyurethane layer to form the low density polyurethane skin. A sufficient amount of the expandable polyurethane composition is sprayed so that the low density polyurethane skin has a thickness from about 0.5 to about 3 mils. The expandable polyurethane composition includes an isocyanate, a polyol, a blowing agent, an optional catalyst, and an optional surfactant. An article made by the method of the invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying differently colored polyurethane forming materials includes a source of isocyanate, a source of polyol, multiple colorant sources for supplying multiple colorants, and multiple premix chambers that are each connected to a respective colorant source and one of the source of isocyanate and the source of polyol. Each premix chamber has a mixing element for mixing a respective colorant and one of isocyanate and polyol to form a selectively colored material. The apparatus further includes a spray head in communication with the premix chambers and the other of the source of isocyanate and the source of poloyl, and a valve assembly disposed between the spray head and the premix chambers for selectively introducing selectively colored material from one of the premix chambers and the other of isocyanate and polyol to the spray head.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the present invention takes the form of a panel comprising a substrate, a cover layer, and foam disposed between at least a portion of the substrate and the cover layer. At least one of the cover layer or the substrate being is provided with an integrally formed member for sealing the cover layer to the substrate. The present invention also relates to a method for forming the panel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle interior trim panel. The panel may be made by providing a spray mold having a mold surface having a cavity having a portion having a height to depth (H/D) ratio of less than 1.0. Polyurethane material can be sprayed proximate the surface of the tool to form a polyurethane skin layer. Expandable polyurethane material can be sprayed onto the skin layer to form a resilient layer. The skin layer and the resilient layer can be removed from the tool and positioning in a mold in a spaced apart relationship from a substrate, with a foam material being introduced between the substrate and the resilient layer to form a foam layer therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for making a composite polyurethane skin, said method comprises providing a source of liquid polyol, providing a source of liquid isocyanate, providing a source of liquid blowing agent, providing a spray mold tool having a mold surface, providing a spraying device for spraying liquid material at the spray mold tool, directing polyol and isocyanate to the spraying device to form a polyurethane composition, spraying the polyurethane composition towards the spray mold tool to form a polyurethane skin layer on the spray mold tool, directing polyol, isocyanate and blowing agent to the spraying device to form an expandable polyurethane composition, and spraying the expandable polyurethane composition onto the skin layer to form a resilient expandable polyurethane layer on the skin.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include providing a method of making polyurethane composite skins for vehicle interior components, as well as providing the resulting skin. In at least one embodiment, the method comprises providing a clear coat having a show surface and a back surface, and providing a colored aromatic polyurethane skin on the back surface of the clear coat. In at least one embodiment, the clear coat is UV stabilized. In at least another aspect of the present invention embodiment, a method of forming a trim product is provided. The method comprises providing a relatively rigid substrate, securing a polyurethane composite skin made in accordance with the present invention to the substrate, and optionally, providing a foam layer between substrate and the composite skin.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include interior vehicle trim panel having a sprayed expanded polyurethane layer and method of making same. In at least one embodiment, the method of making the vehicle interior trim panel comprises providing a skin layer on a spray tool, spraying expandable polyurethane reactive components onto the skin layer to form a resilient layer, and securing a rigid substrate on the resilient layer, such that the resilient layer extends between and connects the skin layer with the substrate to form the vehicle interior trim panel.

Abstract: An apparatus for spraying polyurethane to form a skin on a mold. Polyurethane forming constituents are provided from a plurality of separate supply sources to separate recirculating fluid circuits. A mix head receives polyurethane constituents from the fluid circuits and mixes them to form a polyurethane mixture. A hydraulically operated valve controls the flow of the polyurethane constituents. The valve has a first position in which the polyurethane components are permitted to flow into the chamber of the mix head. The polyurethane mixture is then dispensed through a spray nozzle assembly. When the valve is in a second position, the polyurethane constituents are recirculated through the fluid circuits. A liquid solvent may be injected into the mix head under pressure to purge the mixture from the mix head and spray nozzle assembly in the second position.

Abstract: A system and method of making polyurethane skins for interior components is provided. In at least one embodiment, the method comprises providing at least one liquid colorant source, providing a polyol source, providing an isocyanate source, providing a spraying device and providing a mixing chamber between the polyol source and the spraying device. The method further comprises introducing a stream of polyol from the polyol source and a stream of colorant from the colorant source into the mixing device to form a stream of colorant/polyol, introducing the stream of colorant/polyol and a stream of isocyanate from the isocyanate source into the spraying device to form a colored polyurethane composition, and spraying the colored polyurethane composition onto a mold to form a first colored polyurethane skin.

Abstract: An in-mold applicator and method for spraying a coating on difficult-to-reach surfaces of a mold is disclosed. The applicator includes a spray head and a base portion at an oblique angle to each other. The outer dimensions of the body portion and the spray head are sufficiently small so that taken in combination with the oblique angle, the applicator and method can enhance the spraying of the coating to difficult-to-reach surfaces within the mold.

Abstract: A post-mix spray nozzle assembly is provided with a central nozzle forming a first hollow conical spray pattern and a coaxially aligned annular nozzle forming a second hollow conical spray pattern. The first and second hollow conical spray patterns intersect in space remote from the nozzle and form a hollow circular spray pattern.