Patent ID: 8617446

Claim:
A method for production of subregions having different properties in molded plastic skins comprising the following steps: placing a mask on an area of a mold tool, said mask being configured as a separate energy self-sufficient mask; an interior space of the mask includes a support, pressure cylinders, a locking bolt having spring-loaded pressure balls disposed therein, and a centering bushing; wherein an edge of the mask is configured as a sealing edge provided with an inflatable seal, wherein part of the sealing edge is in a plane which is different from a plane of the centering bushing; centrally locking the mask in place with the locking bolt and a locking bushing, centering the mask with a centering pin that engages the centering bushing, wherein the locking action is effected via the spring-loaded pressure balls; sealing the masked area between the mask and the mold tool surface by inflating the seal with compressed air from one of the pressure cylinders, in a first forming step, depositing a first plastic material at an exposed surface area of the mold tool thereby forming a first molded skin, subsequently interrupting the forming process, unlocking the mask by releasing the spring-loaded pressure balls via the other pressure cylinder, and removing the mask, at a second surface area of the mold tool, depositing a second plastic material which is different from the first plastic material thereby forming a second molded skin in a second forming step, wherein the first and second plastic molded skins are bonding to a single molded skin having subregions with different properties.