Abstract:
A gimp made of flexible, compressible material attaches an edge of a trim piece to a panel. The gimp is bonded to the panel without visual gaps between the gimp and the panel. The gimp has a slip connection to the trim piece. The slip connection is provided by a slot in the gimp slidably receiving the edge of the trim piece.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to gimps for mounting trim pieces on panels, and more particularly to a gimp having a hidden slip connection to an edge of the trim piece. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Trim pieces are often employed to enhance the appearance of an automotive vehicle. For example, a trim piece may be used to cover an edge of a body panel, such as a wheel housing. In the past, a gimp has been secured to an edge of the trim piece to give it a finished appearance. The gimp is not secured to the body panel but merely presses against the body panel so that the gimp can shift slightly when the vehicle is moving. However, in many cases the gimp will not contact the body panel uniformly and continuously along its full length, so that gaps appear. In addition to being unsightly, gaps allow car wash brushes to get in behind the gimp and rip both the gimp and the trim piece off the vehicle. When gaps are discovered, the vehicle owner will usually bring the vehicle in for repair service. In most cases, the trim piece and gimp are thrown away and replaced, at considerable expense to the vehicle owner or to the manufacturer if the vehicle is under warranty. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, the gimp is secured to the body panel rather than to the trim piece, so that there are no visual gaps between the gimp and the panel. Preferably, the gimp has a slip connection to the trim piece enabling the trim piece to move relative to the gimp. 
     In the embodiment described herein, the slip connection is provided by a slot in the gimp which slidably receives and conceals the edge of the trim piece. The slot is formed in a U-shaped portion of the gimp with spaced-apart walls defining opposite sides of the slot. 
     The gimp is bonded to the body panel by an adhesive. Preferably a protective strip initially covers the adhesive. The strip can be peeled away to expose the adhesive so that it can be bonded to the body panel. Preferably, a light adhesive film is provided between the edge of the trim piece and the walls of the slot. This film holds the gimp on the edge of the trim piece prior to installation, but readily breaks away after installation to free the edge and enable it to float in the slot. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a gimp for mounting a trim piece on a body panel having the foregoing features and capabilities. 
     Further, areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a fragmentary perspective view of an automotive vehicle having a trim strip applied to a wheel housing of a body panel by a gimp, all in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken on the line  2 — 2  in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlargement of a portion of  FIG. 2  within the circle  3 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one side of the gimp; and 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view taken of the opposite side of the gimp. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
     Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a trim piece  10  is shown attached to a body panel  12  of an automotive vehicle  14 . The trim piece may, for example, be made of a suitable plastic, such as ABS or polypropylene. The body panel  12  has a wheel housing  16  defined by an arcuate edge  18  of the body panel. The trim piece  10  is arcuate and follows the contour of the edge  18 . The trim piece  10  has a flange  20  along its inner edge. Fasteners  21  secure the flange  20  to the body panel near the edge  18 . The flange  20  is turned inward and is out of sight to the casual observer. A gimp  22  is attached to the outer edge  24  of the trim piece  10 . The gimp  22  is made of a flexible, compressible material, preferably a thermoplastic or elastomeric material such as natural or synthetic rubber or a suitable olefin. 
     The gimp  22  is an elongated member having the cross-section shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  throughout its entire length. In the exemplary embodiment, the gimp  22  has a body portion  26  and a generally U-shaped portion  28 . A continuous layer of adhesive  30  is applied to the body portion  26  along its entire length. An elongated protective strip  32  ( FIG. 5 ) covers the outer surface  34  of the layer of adhesive  30 . The strip  32  can be peeled away to expose the outer surface  34  of the layer of adhesive  30  so that the adhesive can be bonded to the body panel, as explained more fully hereinafter. 
     The U-shaped portion  28  of the gimp has spaced-apart walls  36  and  38  defining a slot  40  between the walls. The outer edge  24  of the trim piece  10  is adapted to be slidably received and to fit within the slot and to be concealed by the slot walls  36  and  38 . A light adhesive film  44  can be applied to the edge  24  of the trim piece and the walls of the slot  40 . The adhesive film  44  holds the gimp on the trim piece prior to installation on the vehicle, but readily breaks away after installation so that the edge  24  can float in the slot. 
     In use, the cover strip  32  is peeled away to expose the outer surface  34  of the layer of adhesive  30 . The outer edge  24  of the trim piece  10  is fitted into the slot  40  of the gimp  22  and a light adhesive film  44  is applied to the edge  24  and the walls  36  and  38  of the slot. The gimp  22  is pressed against the body panel  12  so that the outer surface  34  of the layer of adhesive  30  permanently bonds to the surface of the body panel, thereby affixing the gimp to the body panel. There are no gaps between the gimp  22  and the body panel  12  because of the continuous adhesively sealed contact between the two along the full length of the gimp. 
     The adhesive film  44  has only minimal holding power to temporarily hold the gimp to the trim piece. It will break away as soon as the vehicle is driven a short distance. The outer edge  24  of the trim piece  10  is capable of sliding in and out slightly while in the slot  40  as the vehicle moves along the highway. However, the outer edge  24  of the trim strip is completely concealed in the slot  40  so that there is a hidden slip zone between the outer edge of the trim strip and the gimp. 
     It will be appreciated that while the exemplary embodiment is described as using an adhesive layer  30  to attach the gimp to the vehicle, other alternative fastening arrangements, such as mechanical type fasteners, could be used as well. The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.