Abstract: An automotive trim panel is made by using an apparatus and method that bond together two trim coverstock segments having different colors, gauges or textures and two rigid substrate components into a single trim panel with the two coverstock segments meeting along a finished joint line. The method includes joining the coverstock segments together to form a rough seam, supporting the substrate components on two spaced-apart movable mold components with each substrate component having a mating flange that extends into the space between the mold components, applying an adhesive layer to the substrate upper surfaces, heating the joined coverstock segments and vacuum or positive air pressure-forming them across the substrate upper surfaces with the rough seam lying midway between the spaced-apart mold components.

Abstract: An automotive trim panel is made by using an apparatus and method that bond together two trim coverstock segments having different colors, gauges or textures and two rigid substrate components into a single trim panel with the two coverstock segments meeting along a finished joint line. The method includes joining the coverstock segments together to form a rough seam, supporting the substrate components on two spaced-apart movable mold components with each substrate component having a mating flange that extends into the space between the mold components, applying an adhesive layer to the substrate upper surfaces, heating the joined coverstock segments and vacuum or positive air pressure-forming them across the substrate upper surfaces with the rough seam lying midway between the spaced-apart mold components.

Abstract: A covered article such as an automotive trim panel comprises a substrate having a front surface to be covered, a back surface and a plurality of holes extending through it for vacuum drawing a trim cover stock against the front surface. The substrate has sets of parallel saw-tooth holder grooves in a peripheral margin of the back surface adjacent to an edge of the substrate for mechanically interlocking with marginal portions of trim cover stock and transverse manifold grooves that communicate with the holder grooves. An adhesive is applied to the front surface and the peripheral margin and the substrate is supported on a vacuum buck so that the peripheral margin overhangs the buck and the manifold grooves communicate with a vacuum source of the buck.

Abstract: A covered article such as an automotive trim panel comprises a substrate having a front surface to be covered, a back surface and a plurality of holes extending through it for vacuum drawing a trim cover stock against the front surface. The substrate has sets of parallel saw-tooth holder grooves in a peripheral margin of the back surface adjacent to an edge of the substrate that is to be wrapped by the trim cover stock and transverse manifold grooves that communicate with the holder grooves. An adhesive is applied to the front surface and the peripheral margin and the substrate is supported on a vacuum buck so that the peripheral margin overhangs the buck and the manifold grooves communicate with a vacuum source of the buck. The trim cover stock is drawn against the front surface of the substrate and a marginal portion of the trim cover stock is simultaneously drawn against the peripheral margin of the back surface by vacuum to wrap the trim cover stock around the edge of the substrate.