US 12,390,963 B2
Tooling for manufacturing a vehicle panel and method of manufacture
Scott Farmer, Liberty, SC (US)
Assigned to Faurecia Interior Systems, Inc., Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed by Faurecia Interior Systems, Inc., Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed on Mar. 16, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/696,409.
Prior Publication US 2023/0294339 A1, Sep. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. B29C 44/12 (2006.01); B29C 44/34 (2006.01); B29L 31/30 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 44/351 (2013.01) [B29C 44/12 (2013.01); B29L 2031/3005 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. Tooling for manufacturing a vehicle panel having a substrate, a foam layer, and a decorative covering, comprising:
a tool base having a tool aperture; and
an insert having a sealing projection, the insert being located at least partially in the tool aperture, wherein the sealing projection is configured to create a seal between the substrate and the decorative covering at least partially around a substrate aperture in the substrate, wherein the substrate aperture is at least partially smaller than the tool aperture so as to form an overlapping seal area between the sealing projection of the insert and the substrate, wherein the substrate aperture is a locator hole for attaching a vehicle panel subcomponent, wherein the insert is a separate component from the decorative covering and the substrate.