Importance

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Abstract

A decorative film, such as a film of pigmented paint or other coating covered by a film of clear coat, has the outer (clear coat) surface protected by a removably fixed thermoformable first protective film layer. A flexible plastic film forming a second protective layer is removably fixed to the first layer. The underlying paint film may be laminated to a thin wall or thick wall thermoplastic formable sheet. The second protective layer is removed just prior to forming of the paint film or laminated decorative sheet, carrying with the protective film any surface damage marks or irregularities. Subsequent compression forming, as into a body panel or trim part, thus will not cause marking of the paint film from transfer of damage marks since the underlying first protective layer remains undamaged. The first protective layer may remain in place during assembly of the formed body panel or trim part into a vehicle, and thereafter until delivery of the vehicle by a dealer to a customer. The second layer may act as a carrier for the films and is stripped from the first protective layer before forming, so it may be made from nonformable material such as PET polyester.

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First Claim