Procedure for covering a rigid component with a supple/decorative layer, e.g. for vehicle interior trim, uses supporting frame and air extraction

摘要

The procedure consists of placing the rigid component (3) on a peripheral supporting frame (4) and sealing it round the edge, covering it with the supple layer (2) and sealing that to the supporting frame outside the periphery of the rigid component, and extracting the air from the gap (13) between the two by means of a suction apparatus. The supple layer is then welded to the rigid component by the application of heat or a laser beam, and the suction is stopped. The procedure can include a decorative intermediate layer between the rigid component and supple layer, or decoration in the form of hot transfer inks on the inner surface of the supple layer, transferred by heat applied through the back of the rigid component.