Film trimming device and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12502822-B2
Application number	US-202218559103-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 4, 2022
Priority date	May 6, 2021
Publication date	Dec 23, 2025
Grant date	Dec 23, 2025

Abstract

Provided are devices and methods of applying a film ( 120 ) to a first panel of a vehicle wherein the first panel is connected to a second panel of the vehicle by a joint area containing a ditch portion ( 52 ) that is recessed relative to the first panel. The method includes the steps of placing into the ditch portion ( 52 ) an elongated jig ( 100 ) that comprises a shim ( 102 ) extending continuously along the length of the ditch portion ( 52 ), the shim ( 102 ) protruding above a height of the first panel, applying the film ( 120 ) to the first and second panels such that the film ( 120 ) extends over the elongated jig ( 100 ), and then using a tool ( 122 ) to apply pressure against the film ( 120 ) and toward a cutting edge of the shim ( 102 ) along the length of the shim ( 102 ) to trim the film ( 120 ) along a peripheral edge. The elongated jig ( 100 ) can then be removed from the ditch portion ( 52 ), and the peripheral edge of the film ( 120 ) adhered to the ditch portion ( 52 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of applying a film to a first panel of a vehicle wherein the first panel is connected to a second panel of the vehicle by a joint area containing a ditch portion that is recessed relative to the first panel, the method comprising:
placing into the ditch portion an elongated jig that comprises a shim extending continuously along the length of the ditch portion, the shim protruding above a height of the first panel; applying the film to the first and second panels such that the film extends over the elongated jig; using a tool to apply pressure against the film and toward a cutting edge of the shim along the length of the shim to trim the film along a peripheral edge; removing the elongated jig from the ditch portion; and adhering the peripheral edge of the film to the ditch portion.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cutting edge is oriented toward a direction away from the vehicle.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cutting edge of the shim has a convergence angle of from 60 degrees to 120 degrees.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the cutting edge of the shim has convergence angle of from 60 degrees to 90 degrees.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the cutting edge of the shim has convergence angle of from 80 degrees to 90 degrees.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the shim has a cross-section that is generally rectangular, the cross-section being defined perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shim.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cutting edge has a radius of from 10 micrometers to 400 micrometers.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the shim is metal.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ditch portion is also recessed relative to the second panel.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the elongated jig further comprises a plurality of discontinuous segments coupled to the shim.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of discontinuous segments are joined to each other only by the shim.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the discontinuous segments represent up to 50 percent of the overall length of the elongated jig.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the elongated jig is capable of being resiliently deflected along a bending radius down to 10 centimeters without permanent deformation.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the elongated jig has a bottom surface contour that is complemental to the contour of the ditch portion.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the tool has an engagement surface that has a shape complemental to the cutting edge of the shim.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the tool has an engagement surface with Shore D hardness greater than 70D.

17 . A jig for applying a film to a first panel of a vehicle that is connected to a second panel of the vehicle by a joint area containing a ditch portion that is recessed relative to the first panel, the jig comprising:
an elongated body having a convex bottom surface complemental to the ditch portion, the elongated body having a plurality of discontinuous segments; and a shim extending continuously along the length of the elongated body, wherein the shim has a cutting edge facing away from the elongated body and having a convergence angle of from 60 degrees to 120 degrees.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Company

Inventors

• Gilbertson Mark D
• Lu Jason Y
• Stiller Eric L

Classifications

• B29L2031/3005

  Body finishings · CPC title

• B29C63/02

  using sheet or web-like material (B29C63/26 {and B29C63/38} take precedence) · CPC title

• B29C63/0082

  Finishing the edges of holes or perforations in the lined product · CPC title

• B29C63/0004 Primary

  Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations · CPC title

• B29L2031/3055

  Cars · CPC title