Automotive trim parts, particularly body side moldings of various sorts have been known for many years. Such trim parts have both decorative and protective functions. Typically, there are at least three pieces horizontally aligned and attached on the side of a vehicle: a piece for the front fender; a piece for each door; and a piece for the rear fender.
One known type of molding is made of a polymer coextruded onto a metal carrier strip. The metal is typically aluminum, stainless steel or bimetal and a portion of the metal may be left exposed to enhance the appearance of the molding. The underlying metal carrier generally has an outwardly convex cross-section and its longitudinal edges are bent inwardly to form lips running the length of the piece. This arrangement thus yields a hollow molding which is generally fastened to a vehicle by clipping of the lips to the vehicle body. This type of hollow molding requires a member to be fastened at each of its ends. Such end members close off the hollow ends, precluding each end from undesirably snagging other objects and further enhancing the appearance of the molding by concealing section components. The end members are generally of polymer material and are often differently shaped from each other. For example, the design of certain automobiles requires the front end of a front door molding to be tapered so that it does not catch on the rear edge the of front fender when the door is opened. The rear end of a rear fender molding is often shaped to match the shape of the rear wheel well. In any case, this arrangement results in a trim piece made up of the extruded strip and end members, which must be assembled and fastened to each other during manufacture, and having aesthetically undesirable parting lines between the strip and end members. Its hollow construction is considered advantageous however, for its economical use of materials and light-weight aspect.
Another known type of molding comprises a extruded piece of solid plastic, possibly having a decorative metal strip coextruded as part of its exterior face. The molding is usually fastened to an automobile using an adhesive such as double-sided sticky tape. The extruded strip may be cut to obtain a blunt end during manufacture, but if section components are to be concealed, end members are required as with the hollow-type molding described above. Further, if a piece with shaped ends is desired, end members must generally be used because cutting of the extruded plastic to obtain, for example, a tapered shape results in a cut plastic surface exposed as part of the decorative face of the molding, and this is generally unacceptable in the automotive industry.
A trim piece of hollow construction, not requiring end members to be attached to its ends and which may be readily attached to a vehicle without the use of clips would be considered an improvement over these known types of moldings.