MULTILAYER COMPOSITE FILM MADE OF PLASTIC

Abstract

The invention relates to a multilayered composite film made of plastic and in the form of a surface coating for an article, wherein the composite film is at least partly transparent, i.e. is transparent in partial regions, has at least one outer transparent top layer which is optionally provided with a transparent coating, and has, on the rear side of the top layer, one or more further transparent plastic layers and also a transparent carrier layer, wherein arranged inside the layer composite is an opaque layer which is in the form of a sheet-like masking or diaphragm provided with openings and is transparent only in the openings of the masking or diaphragm, wherein the opaque layer adjoins the rear side of the top layer in the direction of the carrier layer, wherein the base material of the opaque layer is the same as that of the top layer.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A multilayered composite film made of plastic and in the form of a surface coating for an article, wherein the composite film is at least partly transparent and comprises an outer transparent top layer which is optionally provided with a transparent coating, and further comprises on the rear side of the outer transparent top layer, one or more further transparent plastic layers and also a transparent carrier layer, wherein arranged inside the composite film is an opaque layer which is in the form of a sheet-like masking or diaphragm provided with openings and is transparent only in the openings of the masking or diaphragm, wherein the opaque layer adjoins the rear side of the outer transparent top layer in the direction of the transparent carrier layer, wherein the base material of the opaque layer is the same as that of the outer transparent top layer.

12. The transparent multilayered composite film as claimed in claim 11, wherein the openings in the opaque layer are in the form of symbols, identifiers or alphanumeric characters.

13. The transparent multilayered composite film as claimed in claim 11, wherein the opaque layer has a pigmentation which differs from the pigmentation of the outer transparent top layer.

14. The transparent multilayered composite film as claimed in claim 13, wherein the outer transparent top layer, the transparent plastic layers, the transparent carrier layer and the opaque layer have such a pigmentation that, when light is incident on the composite film, a uniform and nontransparent color impression is produced by the surface of the composite film and that, in the case of backlighting, the outlines or the image of the openings of the opaque layer can be seen on the surface of the composite film.

15. The transparent multilayered composite film as claimed in claim 11, wherein a light-emitting or light-conducting layer, preferably an electroluminescent layer that can be activated via electrodes, is formed below the opaque layer in the direction of the transparent carrier layer.

16. A method for producing the multilayered composite film as claimed in claim 11 comprising the following steps: applying a topcoat that forms the outer transparent top layer and is made of a preferably pasty plastic material to a carrier film; applying a masking coat that forms the opaque layer to the outer transparent top layer, wherein the material of the masking coat corresponds to the material of the topcoat except in terms of pigmentation and viscosity; applying further plastic coats and/or plastic foam coats, forming the transparent plastic layers, as well as optionally transparent laminating or adhesive coats, applying the transparent carrier layer, preferably a textile carrier layer, to the existing layer composite, wherein, after sufficient gelling or drying of the multilayer composite, the carrier film is taken off and the underlying surface of the outer transparent top layer of the multilayer composite is optionally coated.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the masking coat forming the opaque layer is applied to the outer transparent top layer in a printing process, preferably in a screen printing process.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein, during the coating operation, the opaque layer has a viscosity which differs from the viscosity of the outer transparent top layer that exists during the coating operation.

19. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein both the topcoat and the masking coat are applied in the form of pasty polyvinyl chloride (plastisol).

20. The use of a multilayered composite film as claimed in claim 11 as a coating of an interior trim part for a motor vehicle.

Description

[0036] The single FIGURE, FIG. 1, schematically shows an enlarged view of a partial region of a multilayered composite film 1 according to the invention for an interior trim part of a central console of a motor vehicle during transillumination in the top part, and a section A-A through this partial region in the bottom part.

[0037] In this respect, the interior trim part has a top layer 3 which is made of a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and provided with an outer transparent coating layer 2. In this embodiment, the top layer 3 is for its part likewise transparent, specifically colored with pigments to an extent of only approximately 30%, and thus lets a certain percentage of the light incident on its rear side through.

[0038] Arranged inside the entire layer composite is an opaque, i.e. nontransparent layer 4, which is in the form of a sheet-like masking or diaphragm provided with openings and is only transparent in the openings 8 of the masking or diaphragm. The opaque layer 4 directly adjoins the rear side of the top layer 3 in the direction of the carrier layer 7. The base material of the opaque layer 4 consists of PVC and is the same as that of the top layer 3.

[0039] Arranged below the opaque layer 4 are a plurality of further transparent plastic layers, specifically a transparent/translucent plastic foam layer 5 and also a transparent adhesive layer 6.

[0040] Finally, adjacent in the downward direction is a transparent textile carrier layer 7, so that the multilayered composite film can be easily processed and sewed up like an artificial leather.

[0041] When there is backlighting from the rear side of the composite film, shown here by the arrow 9, a distinct and clear-cut image 8′ of the openings 8 incorporated in the masking or diaphragm is produced on the outer surface of the top layer 3 or the coating layer 2, here for example in the form of a symbol for a battery charge, as is shown by the detail illustrated in the top part of FIG. 1 of a view of the multilayered composite film according to the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(Part of the Description)

[0042] 1 Multilayered composite film [0043] 2 Coating layer [0044] 3 Top layer/Topcoat [0045] 4 Opaque layer/Masking or diaphragm [0046] 5 Plastic foam layer/Intermediate coat [0047] 6 Adhesive layer/Laminating coat [0048] 7 Textile carrier layer [0049] 8 Opening in the masking or diaphragm [0050] 8′ Image of the masking [0051] 9 Backlighting (in principle)