GB2288556A - Method of refinishing vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of refinishing a vehicle body panel in which an adjacent panel is protected by introducing a protective strip 1 between the two panels, the strip having a web for entering into a gap 3 between the panel 4 to be refinished and an adjacent panel 5 and an upstanding portion 8 adapted to deflect any sanding or polishing action of the panel being refinished, thereby protecting the adjacent panel from damage. <IMAGE>

Description

METHOD OF REFINISHING VEHICLES This invention relates to a method of refinishing vehicles and, in particular, provides means for protecting neighbouring panels of a vehicle from accidental damage, e.g. by sanding or polishing when a vehicle panel is being prepared for repainting.

When parts of a vehicle are to be repainted, e.g.

after repair, it is conventional practice to mask off undamaged parts of the bodywork in order to prevent overspray from the part which is repainted. This method is generally adequate for prevention of overspray but does not satisfactorily protect the adjacent panels from mechanical damage. The latter can occur if, for example, the panel being refinished is sanded or abraded by hand or with a tool. The sanding or abrading operation can inadvertently touch the edge of a neighbouring panel and easily causes damage requiring restorative work to the neighbouring panel.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of refinishing a vehicle body panel in which an adjacent panel is protected by a protective strip, the strip having a web for entering into a gap between the panel to be refinished and an adjacent panel, and an upstanding portion adapted to deflect any sanding or polishing action of the panel to be refinished, thereby protecting the adjacent panel from injury.

Preferably, the protective strip is temporarily attached to the adjacent panel by an adhesive. The strip may incorporate an adhesive surface which extends generally at right angles to the web which is designed to enter the gap between the body panels. A profile which is currently preferred has a generally T-shaped crosssection, one arm carrying adhesive and lying generally at right angles to a web which can extend into the gap and in the opposite direct extends upwardly from the surface of the vehicle panels.

The invention also includes a protector strip for use in a vehicle refinishing operation which comprises an elongated flexible plastics strip having a web portion for extending into a gap between parts of a vehicle bodywork, an arm portion extending generally at right angles to the web and having means for temporarily attaching the strip to the bodywork and an upstand portion projecting above the surface of the bodywork.

Preferably, the strip has a generally 'T'-shaped profile.

The invention will be illustrated by the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view showing the strip in place between two vehicle panels, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the strip shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the strip comprises a length of plastics material 1, having 'T'-shaped crosssection. Various plastics materials may be used to make the strip. Thermoplastics are preferred because they can be readily extruded. Plasticised pvc is currently preferred.

Strip 1 includes a web portion 2 which is dimensioned to pass into and extend downwardly into a gap 3 between two vehicle panels 4 and 5. Panel 4 may be, for example, a vehicle door which is to be refinished, while panel 5 is an adjacent panel.

The strip 1 incorporates an arm 6 which extends substantially at right angles to the web 2. Arm 6 is coated with an adhesive track 7 which is preferably a pressure-sensitive adhesive. By means of the adhesive track, the arm 6 can be releasably bonded to the surface of panel 5.

As an alternative to adhesive, the arm 6 may be formed with one or more projections to grip the edge of a body panel.

As can be seen from Figure 1, the strip 1 also carries an upstand 8 which extends above the level of the panels. The function of the upstand is to protect the panel 5 from a tool used to prepare the surface of the panel 4, e.g. a rotary or orbital sander or abrading machine. The upstand should be of sufficient height and stiffness to deflect the machine or a manual sanding block being used to rub down or polish the panel 4. An upstand of about 10 mms is generally sufficient.

The arm portion 6 is flexible enough to follow the contours of the panel 5. A proper degree of flexibility and stiffness can be attained by selection of a plasticised thermoplastic, e.g. pvc, having the appropriate amount of plasticiser. The thickness of the elements of the profile of the strip need not be the same.

For example, the arm 6 may be thinner than the upstand 8 and the web 2. However, generally a thickness in the region of 2-4 mms is satisfactory. The web 2 is positioned and dimensioned so that if a sanding machine, for example, strikes the upstand 8, the web 2 will be deflected towards the panel 4, hinging about its connection to the arm 6, and its lower portion may impinge on the panel 4, thus preventing the strip from lifting out of the gap.

The adhesive will be formulated so that it has a higher affinity for the pvc strip than for the paint surface of the panel 5. This ensures that the strip may be lifted away from the panel 5 after use and be reusable. A second adhesive track 9 may be applied to the upper surface of the arm 6. This second track enables the strip to be reversible. Also, the track 9 can be used to bond the edge of a masking sheet or paper to the upper surface of the arm 6 of the strip.

It will be appreciated that the strip is of indefinite length and can be cut to length before use.

The strip is preferably flexible enough to be coilable for packaging.

Claims (6)

CLAIMS:

1. A method of refinishing a vehicle body panel in which an adjacent panel is protected by introducing a protective strip between the two panels, the strip having a web for entering into a gap between the panel to be refinished and an adjacent panel and an upstanding portion adapted to deflect any sanding or polishing action of the panel being refinished, thereby protecting the adjacent panel from damage.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the protective strip is removably attached to the adjacent panel with adhesive.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the protective strip has a generally 'T' shaped profile, the leg of the 'T' being attached to the adjacent panel and the head of the 'T' extending into the gap between the body panels.

4. An elongate protective strip for use in the refinishing of a vehicle body panel by protecting a panel adjacent to the panel to be refinished from accidental damage, said strip having a profile in crosssection which includes webs extending generally at right angles, at least one web being dimensioned to pass into a gap between said body panels and at least one web having an adhesive coating for removable attachment to the adjacent body panel, with the other web extending outwardly from the body panels to provide an upstanding portion adapted to deflect any sanding or polishing action by the panel being refinished.

5. A strip as claimed in claim 4 which is flexible lengthwise thereof so that the strip can follow a curve in the body panel.

6. A strip as claimed in claim 4 or 5 which has a generally 'T' shaped profile in cross-section.