One-piece decorative trim bezel having plural unpainted finishes

Abstract

A one-piece trim bezel formed from multiple components. In the event of two co-molded components, the first co-molded part is composed of a polymerized material having an unpainted surface that may be a high gloss smooth surface or a textured low gloss surface and the second co-molded part, formed with the first part, is composed of a plateable plastic material. The second co-molded part is co-molded with the said first co-molded part to form a single piece trim bezel. The color of the polymerized material of the first co-molded part may be selected from a variety of colors. The plateable plastic material may be plateable with chrome. A multiple-shot injection molding process is used to form the one-piece trim bezel which joins the first co-molded part and the second co-molded part in one operation. The formed part is then subjected to a plating process during which time the chrome only deposits on the surface of the plateable plastic material of the second co-molded part while the surface of the first co-molded part remains unplated.

1 . A single piece trim bezel formed from multiple co-molded components comprising:
 a first co-molded part composed of an unplateable polymerized material having an unpainted surface;   a second co-molded part formed with said first part, said second co-molded part being composed of an unplateable polymerized material, said second co-molded part being co-molded with said first co-molded part to form a single piece trim bezel.   
     
     
         2 . The single piece trim bezel of  claim 1  further including a third co-molded part composed of a polymerized material. 
     
     
         3 . The single piece trim bezel of  claim 1  wherein said unpainted surface has a finished selected from the group consisting of high gloss and textured low gloss. 
     
     
         4 . The single piece trim bezel of  claim 1  wherein said unplateable polymerized material is piano black. 
     
     
         5 . The single piece trim bezel of  claim 1  wherein said co-molded parts are molded by two-shot injection molding. 
     
     
         6 . The single piece trim bezel of  claim 2  wherein said co-molded parts are molded by three-shot injection molding. 
     
     
         7 . A single piece trim bezel formed from multiple co-molded components comprising:
 a first co-molded part composed of a polymerized material having an unpainted high gloss surface;   a second co-molded part composed of a plateable polymerized material; and   a third co-molded part formed from a polymerized material having an unpainted textured low gloss surface, said co-molded parts being co-molded to form a single piece trim bezel.   
     
     
         8 . The single piece trim bezel of  claim 7  wherein said second co-molded part is composed of a plateable polymerized material selected from the group consisting of ABS or PC/ABS. 
     
     
         9 . The single piece trim bezel of  claim 7  wherein said unpainted polymerized material is selected from the group consisting of unplateable PC or an unplateable PC blend. 
     
     
         10 . The single piece trim bezel of  claim 7  wherein said unpainted polymerized material is a color selected from a variety of colors. 
     
     
         11 . The single piece trim bezel of  claim 10  wherein said polymerized material of said first co-molded part is piano black. 
     
     
         12 . The single piece trim bezel of  claim 11  wherein said injection molding is three-shot injection molding. 
     
     
         13 . A method for forming a single piece trim bezel including the steps of:
 forming a bezel mold having a first half and a second half, said bezel mold having a first injection port for a first polymerizable material and a second injection port for a second polymerizable material;   positioning said first half and said second half of said bezel mold next to one another;   injecting said first polymerizable material into said first injection port, said first polymerizable material being an unplateable material;   injecting said second polymerizable material into said second injection port, said second polymerizable material being plateable;   removing said single piece trim bezel from said bezel mold; and   subjecting said single piece trim bezel to a plating process whereupon plating material adheres only to said second polymerizable material.   
     
     
         14 . The method for forming a single piece trim bezel of  claim 13  wherein said injection of said first polymerizable material and said second polymerizable material is a two-shot injection process. 
     
     
         15 . The method for forming a single piece trim bezel of  claim 13  further including the step of forming a third injection port in said bezel mold and injecting a third polmerizable material into said bezel mold, said third polymerizable material being an unplateable material. 
     
     
         16 . The method for forming a single piece trim bezel of  claim 15  wherein said injection of said first polymerizable material, said second polymerizable material, and said third polymerizable material is a three-shot injection process. 
     
     
         17 . The method for forming a single piece trim bezel of  claim 13  wherein said bezel tool cavity is heated to between 80° C. and 180° C. prior to material injection and thereafter said bezel mold is subjected to a cool down after injection of said first and second polymerizable materials. 
     
     
         18 . The method for forming a single piece trim bezel of  claim 13  wherein said bezel includes an outer surface and wherein said first half of said mold includes a cavity defining said bezel surface. 
     
     
         19 . The method for forming a single piece trim bezel of  claim 18  wherein said cavity includes a first surface against which said first polymerizable material is injected and a second surface against which said second polymerizable material is injected, said second surface being a polished surface. 
     
     
         20 . The method for forming a single piece trim bezel of  claim 13  wherein said first polymerizable material forms an unpainted high gloss surface in said bezel mold.