Patent ID: 6453970
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: B29C,Y10T

Abstract:
A pressure adhesive film backed automotive vehicle exterior body panel decal applicator tool for applying a decal to a surface of an automotive vehicle external body panel, wherein the applicator tool comprises:an applicator blade having two blade edge portions formed on opposite longitudinal edges of said applicator blade, said applicator blade including a central portion between said two blade edges portions of the applicator blade, said central portion including a pair of spaced parallel apart protrusions which extend along a longitudinal length of said central portion of said applicator blade substantially parallel to said longitudinal blade edges of said applicator blade, said applicator blade central portion having a valley between said spaced apart protrusions, said protrusions being on both sides of said applicator blade and said valley having a generally flat portion with a first thickness; and an extruded polymeric tubular member having a wall thickness between 3 to 6 mm with a slot of a second thickness which is no greater then half of said first thickless, said slot having opposing edge walls, said slot at an extreme end having an axially expanding tapered opening to receive said applicator blade valley and to wedge apart said opposing edge walls of said slot in said tubular member and cause said slot edge walls of said tubular member to compliantly engage said valley of said applicator blade to retain said applicator blade in a generally fixed position but to allow limited angular movement of said applicator blade with respect to said tubular member in response to a moment force engaging said applicator blade and wherein said edge walls of said slot return said applicator blade to a generally perpendicular orientation with respect to said tubular member upon removal of said moment force and wherein the applicator blade has a central portion wherein said valley flat portion is at least 2Â½ times in length than said wall thickness of said tubular member and wherein said blade portion can be laterally adjusted wherein alternately one of said protrusions will be contacting with said tubular member to selectively adjust the limited angular movement of said applicator blade with respect to said tubular member in response to a predetermined moment force engaging said applicator blade.