Patent ID: 6841107

Claim:
A method for manufacturing at least two types of trim level pieces comprising the steps of: a. preparing a mold having a first piece including a first surface, a second piece including a second surface, and at least one injection port located in the second piece wherein the injection port has an outlet associated with the second surface wherein the mold first piece and second piece unite to form an internal cavity; and b. preparing at least two different trim level pieces using the mold each by a different method wherein the trim level pieces and the associated method are selected from the group consisting of; i. a first trim level piece prepared by injecting a resin into the mold and thereafter removing the cured first level trim piece from the mold and painting at least one surface of the molded trim piece; ii. a second trim level piece that is prepared by the further steps comprising: preparing a preformed skin having a first surface and a second surface wherein the preformed skin first surface has a shape complementary to the mold first surface; placing the preformed skin into the mold such that the preformed skin first surface contacts the mold first surface; closing the mold and injecting resin into the mold through the at least one injection port and into contact with the preformed piece second surface until the intemal cavity is filled with resin to form a second trim level piece; and removing the second trim level piece from the mold; iii. a third trim level trim piece that is prepared by the further steps comprising: preparing a shaped metal piece from flat metal stock wherein the shaped metal piece has a first surface and a second surface and wherein the shaped metal piece first surface has a shape complementary to the shape of the mold first surface; placing the shaped metal piece into the mold such that the metal sheet first surface is in contact with the mold first surface; closing the mold and injecting resin into the mold through the at least one injection port until the mold cavity is filled with resin to form a third trim level piece; and removing the third trim level piece from the mold; and iv. a fourth trim level piece that is prepared by the further steps comprising; preparing a wooden trim piece having a first surface and a second surface wherein the wooden trim piece first surface has a shape that is complementary to the shape of the mold first surface; placing the wooden trim piece into the mold such that the wooden trim piece first surface is in contact with the mold first surface; closing the mold and injecting a resin into the mold through the at least one injection port and into contact with the wood trim piece second surface until the mold cavity is filled with resin to form a fourth trim level piece; and removing the fourth trim level piece from the mold.