Patent ID: 7087199

Claim:
Process for the manufacture of an article comprising a rigid support element of which a “show” face is partially covered by a supple covering, the process comprising the following steps: connecting the covering to a relatively rigid holding element having its own shape and a strength such that it is not substantially deformed under predetermined foaming conditions, in order substantially to maintain the covering in a predetermined shape, placing the support element and the covering connected to the holding element in a foaming mould and, since the support element has a hollow region delimited by a peripheral rim, disposing a docking surface of the covering opposite the peripheral rim, introducing foam into the mould, between the support element and the covering, under the predetermined conditions, in order to connect the covering and the support element, wherein the holding element is thermoformable, and: the covering is connected to the holding element and, simultaneously, the holding element is thermoformed, in order to confer on the covering the predetermined shape, then the docking surface of the covering is placed opposite the peripheral rim of the support element, in the foaming mould.