Abstract:
A striker assembly (40) for a vehicle door opening (12) comprising a base member (50) having a central embossed portion (52) provided with mounting holes (54) and fastener receiving holes above and below the embossed portion (52) and a striker member (58) having mounting elements (62) extending rearwardly therefrom constructed and arranged to pass through the mounting holes (54) with free ends deformed to extend over the embossed portion (52) to fixedly retain the striker member (58) to the base member (50). The striker member (58) has a mounting portion (60), a post portion (66) extending from the mounting portion (60), a connecting portion (70) extending from the end of the post portion (66) in generally parallel relation to the mounting portion (60) defining a latch receiving opening (74) and an inner end portion (68). Preferably, the striker assembly is mounted by resilient material (88) adhered between the interior surfaces of a mounting member (78) and the exterior surfaces of the base member (50) disposed therein to thereby resiliently cushion the tendency of the striker member (58) fixed to said base member (50) and extending outwardly of the mounting member (78) to be moved in any direction during operation.
Abstract:
A method of making an interior panel of a vehicle door having an exterior surface which is to face toward the interior of the vehicle when installed therein. The method includes the steps of heating a laminate sheet comprising 1) an outer layer of vinyl sheet (40) and 2) a layer of relatively soft foamed material (42) bonded thereto and vacuum forming the heated laminate sheet in a vacuum mold component oriented so that an arm rest portion of the laminate sheet is the vinyl sheet surface thereof engaged with the mold surface arm rest portion. Next, a preformed pad (46) of foamed elastomeric material having a density in the range of 30 to 45 pounds per cubic foot is mounted on the opposite surface of the arm rest portion of the heated laminate sheet. Thereafter a foamable polyurethane material (48) embedded within a reinforcing mat is heated and cured while all of the mold components to form a panel which includes 1) a substrate defining the opposite surface thereof, 2) an upwardly facing arm rest portion defined on its exterior surface by the vinyl sheet and backed up therebelow by the layer of relatively soft foamed material and the pad of foamed elastomeric material.