Patent ID: 9090003
Filing Date: 2015-07-28
Classification: B29C

Abstract:
1. A method for creating a molded-in-color vehicle panel, the method comprising: providing a mold having a first mold member and a second mold member wherein one of the first mold member and the second mold member has an appearance-forming surface for forming an appearance portion of the panel, and the other of the first mold member and the second mold member has a concealed-forming surface for forming a concealed portion of the panel; providing a translatable receiver in the first mold member movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, a receiver surface is adjacent the appearance-forming surface of the first mold member; providing a punch in the second mold member adjacent the concealed-forming surface; positioning the receiver in the first position in preparation of injection molding; injecting molded-in-color resin in the mold; partially cooling the molded-in-color resin into a solid molded-in-color interior vehicle panel; punching at least one aperture through the partially cooled molded-in-color resin in the mold with the punch; and receiving the punch in the receiver, wherein the receiver is provided with at least one shoulder to stop linear translation of the punch and the receiver is in the second position when the receiver receives the punch; wherein ideal surface characteristics of the appearance portion of the panel are maintained while forming the at least one aperture so that the appearance portion of the panel is generally free of visible appearance defects.