GB2072103A

GB2072103A - Adhesive decorative strip

Info

Publication number: GB2072103A
Application number: GB8107869A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Pebra GmbH
Current assignee: Pebra GmbH
Priority date: 1980-03-21
Filing date: 1981-03-12
Publication date: 1981-09-30
Also published as: FR2478559B3; DE3010911A1; FR2478559A1

Abstract

A protective and/or decorative strip which can be adhered to the bodywork of a motor vehicle comprises a body member 10 preferably made of a thermoplastic synthetic material brought to the semi-hard condition. A layer of a contact-adhesive is provided on the surface of a resilient foamed structure 16 permanently joined to the body 10 and is protected by a removable covering tape 20. The body member 10 is lipped at 22 to protect and conceal the foamed structure 16. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Adhesive protective and/or decorative strip This invention relates to a protective and/or decorative strip for adhering to the bodywork of a motor vehicle.

It is known to secure impact-resisting strips, protective covering strips, decorative strips and the like directly to the bodywork of a motor vehicle by using adhesive tape. The adhesive tape usually consists of a support made of foamed material and coated on both faces with a contact adhesive, and this support enables the shape of the strip to be matched to that of the bodywork. The adhesive tape is often applied by hand to the prefabricated strip. This system involves considerable labour, which, in the case of a mass-produced article of this kind, has an appreciable effect on the cost of production or assembly.

Apart from this, the accurate location of the usually very long adhesive tape on the strip causes not inconsiderable difficulties. A further disadvantage of this method of attachment is regarded as consisting in the fact that the adhesive tape can be applied only to substantially flat surface portions of the strip, which portions, particularly in the case of smaller strips, are often not of adequate width and preclude additional shape-locking anchoring of the tape to the strip such as might be desirable for increasing the strength of the joint.

The object of the invention is to improve the known protective and decorative strips, attachable by adhesion, both as regards more economical production and/or assembly and as regards the strength and reliability of the joint.

The invention provides a protective and/or decorative strip for adhering to the bodywork of a motor vehicle, comprising a body member, a resilient foamed structure permanently joined to the body member and a layer of a contact adhesive on the surface of the foamed structure. Preferably the body member comprises a thermoplastic synthetic material broughtto a semi-hard condition.

A protective and/or decorative strip in accordance with the invention can be produced fully automatically in various ways and therefore in a very economical manner, and the invention also comprehends methods or producing the strip as follows: -co-extrusion of the body member and the foamed structure; ±separate production, e.g. by extrusion, of the body member and of the foamed structure, followed by joining; subsequent gelling of the foamed structure on to a prefabricated strip body member with the aid of plastisols; - subsequent application of the foamed structure to a prefabricated strip body member, e.g. on a continuous basis; - subsequent application, by injection, of the foamed structure to a strip body member produced by an injection-moulding process.

In all these cases, the adhesive layer is subsequently applied to the free surface of the foamed structure.

The connection interface between the body member of the strip and the foamed structure may have a curved or undercut shape, selected substantially as required. When use is made of prefabricated body members, it may be advantageous for the purpose of improving the permanent joint if the relevant surface zone of the body member is provided with an adhesion-promoting agent or an adhesionpromoting coating prior to application of the foamed structure.

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic cross-section of a preferred embodiment of a protective and/or decorative strip in accordance with the invention Referring to the drawing, the strip comprises a body member 10 preferably made of a thermoplastic synthetic material brought to a semi-hard condition, and carries a metal reinforcing band 12 on its inner face covered at the sides of the strip by bent-over lateral portions 11 of the body member. On its outer face the body member carries a decorative reinforcing band 14 also made of metal. At each end-face of its lateral portions 11, the body member is perma nentlyjoined to a resilient foamed structure 16 which carries an adhesive layer 18 consisting of a contact adhesive and protected by a removable covering tape 20.

All that is necessary for securing the strip to the bodywork of a motor vehicle is to remove the covering tape 20 and to press the adhesive faces of the strip thus exposed against the surface of the bodywork. Any uneven areas that may be present on the surface of the bodywork are offset by means of the resilient foamed structure. In the assembled condition, the two foamed structures 16 are covered on the exterior by lips 22 formed integrally with the lateral portions 11 and defining therein concave curved recesses in which the foamed structures are located such that the adhesive layers 18 project outwardly.

1. A protective and/or decorative strip for adhering to the bodywork of a motor vehicle, comprising a body member, a resilient foamed structure permanently joined to the body member and a layer of a contact adhesive on the surface of the foamed structure.

2. A strip according to Claim 1, wherein the body member comprises a thermoplastic synthetic material brought to a semi-hard condition.

3. A strip according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the body member has a lip which covers the outer face of the foamed structure.

4. A strip according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the foamed structure is located in a concave curved recess in the body member and its surface carrying the adhesive layer projects outwardly beyond the recess.

5. A strip according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the free surface of the adhesive layer is provided with a removable covering tape.

6. A strip according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the body member carries at least one metal band located outside the zone of the foamed structure.

7. A method of producing a protective and/or

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Adhesive protective and/or decorative strip This invention relates to a protective and/or decorative strip for adhering to the bodywork of a motor vehicle. It is known to secure impact-resisting strips, protective covering strips, decorative strips and the like directly to the bodywork of a motor vehicle by using adhesive tape. The adhesive tape usually consists of a support made of foamed material and coated on both faces with a contact adhesive, and this support enables the shape of the strip to be matched to that of the bodywork. The adhesive tape is often applied by hand to the prefabricated strip. This system involves considerable labour, which, in the case of a mass-produced article of this kind, has an appreciable effect on the cost of production or assembly. Apart from this, the accurate location of the usually very long adhesive tape on the strip causes not inconsiderable difficulties. A further disadvantage of this method of attachment is regarded as consisting in the fact that the adhesive tape can be applied only to substantially flat surface portions of the strip, which portions, particularly in the case of smaller strips, are often not of adequate width and preclude additional shape-locking anchoring of the tape to the strip such as might be desirable for increasing the strength of the joint. The object of the invention is to improve the known protective and decorative strips, attachable by adhesion, both as regards more economical production and/or assembly and as regards the strength and reliability of the joint. The invention provides a protective and/or decorative strip for adhering to the bodywork of a motor vehicle, comprising a body member, a resilient foamed structure permanently joined to the body member and a layer of a contact adhesive on the surface of the foamed structure. Preferably the body member comprises a thermoplastic synthetic material broughtto a semi-hard condition. A protective and/or decorative strip in accordance with the invention can be produced fully automatically in various ways and therefore in a very economical manner, and the invention also comprehends methods or producing the strip as follows: -co-extrusion of the body member and the foamed structure; ±separate production, e.g. by extrusion, of the body member and of the foamed structure, followed by joining; subsequent gelling of the foamed structure on to a prefabricated strip body member with the aid of plastisols; - subsequent application of the foamed structure to a prefabricated strip body member, e.g. on a continuous basis; - subsequent application, by injection, of the foamed structure to a strip body member produced by an injection-moulding process. In all these cases, the adhesive layer is subsequently applied to the free surface of the foamed structure. The connection interface between the body member of the strip and the foamed structure may have a curved or undercut shape, selected substantially as required. When use is made of prefabricated body members, it may be advantageous for the purpose of improving the permanent joint if the relevant surface zone of the body member is provided with an adhesion-promoting agent or an adhesionpromoting coating prior to application of the foamed structure. The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic cross-section of a preferred embodiment of a protective and/or decorative strip in accordance with the invention Referring to the drawing, the strip comprises a body member 10 preferably made of a thermoplastic synthetic material brought to a semi-hard condition, and carries a metal reinforcing band 12 on its inner face covered at the sides of the strip by bent-over lateral portions 11 of the body member. On its outer face the body member carries a decorative reinforcing band 14 also made of metal. At each end-face of its lateral portions 11, the body member is perma nentlyjoined to a resilient foamed structure 16 which carries an adhesive layer 18 consisting of a contact adhesive and protected by a removable covering tape 20. All that is necessary for securing the strip to the bodywork of a motor vehicle is to remove the covering tape 20 and to press the adhesive faces of the strip thus exposed against the surface of the bodywork. Any uneven areas that may be present on the surface of the bodywork are offset by means of the resilient foamed structure. In the assembled condition, the two foamed structures 16 are covered on the exterior by lips 22 formed integrally with the lateral portions 11 and defining therein concave curved recesses in which the foamed structures are located such that the adhesive layers 18 project outwardly. CLAIMS

7. A method of producing a protective and/or decorative strip as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the foamed structure is joined to the body member by a co-extrusion process, and the adhesive layer is then applied to the free surface of the foamed structure.

8. A method or producing a protective and/or decorative strip as specified in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the body member and the foamed structure are produced separately and are then united, whereafter the adhesive layer is then applied to the free surface of the foamed structure.

9. A method of producing a protective and/or decorative strip as specified in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the foamed structure is formed on a prefabricated body member, preferably on a continuous basis, and the adhesive layer is then applied to the surface of the foamed structure.

10. A method of producing a protective and/or decorative strip as specified in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the foamed material is gelled on to a prefabricated body member with the aid of a plastisol, and the adhesive layer is then applied to the free surface of the foamed structure.

11. A method of producing a protective and/or decorative strip as specified in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the body member is produced by an injection-moulding process, is coated with the foamed structure by subsequent injection, and the adhesive layer is then applied to the free surface of the foamed structure.

12. A method according to any one of Claims 8 to 10, wherein the prefabricated body member is provided, prior to the application of the foamed structure, with an adhesion-promoting agent or an adhesion-promoting coating in the surface zone concerned.

13. A protective and/or decorative strip for adher ing to the bodywork of a motor vehicle, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.