Molded-in-color vehicle panel and mold

Abstract

In one embodiment a mold for creating a molded-in-color vehicle panel is provided. The mold may have at least first and second mold members, each having a forming surface for forming a portion of the vehicle panel. One mold member is translatable relative to the other to collectively receive a heated resin with a molded-in-color to form the vehicle panel. At least one punch is provided within one of the first or second mold members. The at least one punch is actuatable to extend through the one forming surface of and is actuatable to extend through a nest to nest in the other forming surface for forming an aperture through a partially cooled vehicle panel.

1 . A mold for creating a molded-in-color vehicle panel, the mold comprising:
 a first mold member having a first forming surface for forming a portion of a vehicle panel;   a second mold member having a second forming surface for forming another portion of the vehicle panel, the second mold member being translatable relative to the first mold member to collectively receive a heated resin with a molded-in-color to form the vehicle panel; and   at least one punch provided within one of the first or second mold members, the at least one punch being actuatable to extend through the forming surface of the one of the first or second mold members and being actuatable to extend through a nest to nest in the forming surface of the other of the first or second mold members for forming an aperture through a partially cooled vehicle panel.   
   
   
       2 . The mold of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of punches provided within the one of the first mold member or second mold member, the plurality of punches extending through the forming surface of the one of the first or second mold member and nesting in the forming surface of the other of the first or second mold member for forming a plurality of apertures through the partially cooled vehicle panel. 
   
   
       3 . The mold of  claim 1  wherein the first mold member further comprises a core and the second mold member further comprises a cavity. 
   
   
       4 . The mold of  claim 1  wherein the at least one punch is provided within the second mold member, the at least one punch extending through the second mold member forming surface and nesting in the first mold member forming surface. 
   
   
       5 . The mold of  claim 1  further comprising at least one corresponding translatable receiver provided for forming at least a portion of the forming surface of the other of the first or second mold member, the corresponding moveable receiver receiving the at least a punch through the forming surface of the other of the first or second mold member. 
   
   
       6 . The mold of  claim 5  further comprising:
 a plurality of punches provided within the one of the first or second mold member, the plurality of punches extending through the forming surface of the one of the first or second mold member and nesting in the forming surface of the other of the first or second mold member for forming a plurality of apertures through the partially cooled vehicle panel; and   a plurality of corresponding receivers provided for nesting the plurality of punches in the forming surface of the other of the first or second mold member.   
   
   
       7 . A method for creating a molded-in-color vehicle panel in a mold, the method comprising:
 injecting molded-in-color resin in the mold;   partially cooling the molded-in-color resin; and   punching at least one aperture through the partially cooled molded-in-color resin in the mold.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising forming the resin into a sold molded-in-color interior vehicle panel. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 opening the mold; and   ejecting the molded-in-color vehicle panel from the mold.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising cooling the partially cooled molded-in-color resin to a solid vehicle panel. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 providing a receiver to receive a punch;   receiving the punch in the receiver.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising closing the mold before providing molded-in-color resin to the mold. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 7  wherein injecting molded-in-color resin further comprises injecting molded-in-color metallic resin. 
   
   
       14 . A molded-in-color vehicle panel formed in the steps comprising:
 injecting molded-in-color resin in the mold;   partially cooling the molded-in-color resin; and   punching at least one aperture through the partially cooled molded-in-color resin in the mold.   
   
   
       15 . The molded-in-color vehicle panel formed in the steps of  claim 14 , the steps further comprising forming the resin into a sold molded-in-color interior vehicle panel. 
   
   
       16 . The molded-in-color vehicle panel formed in the steps of  claim 14 , the steps further comprising:
 opening the mold; and   ejecting the molded-in-color vehicle panel from the mold.   
   
   
       17 . The molded-in-color vehicle panel formed in the steps of  claim 14 , the steps further comprising cooling the partially cooled molded-in-color resin to a solid vehicle panel. 
   
   
       18 . The molded-in-color vehicle panel formed in the steps of  claim 14 , the steps further comprising:
 providing a receiver to receive a punch;   receiving the punch in the receiver.   
   
   
       19 . The molded-in-color vehicle panel formed in the steps of  claim 14 , the steps further comprising closing the mold before providing molded-in-color resin to the mold. 
   
   
       20 . The molded-in-color vehicle panel formed in the steps of  claim 14  wherein injecting molded-in-color resin further comprises injecting molded-in-color metallic resin.