Method for producing a three-dimensional motor vehicle interior element through which light can shine, and a motor vehicle interior element

Abstract

A method for producing a three-dimensional motor vehicle interior element through which light can shine and which has an observer-side surface is produced in two steps. In a first step a three-dimensional transparent substrate is produced from a cross-linked polymer. In a second step the substrate is provided on an observer-side surface of the substrate with a coloring through which light can shine, at least in a subregion.

Claims

1. A method for producing a three-dimensional motor vehicle interior element through which light can shine and which has a rear-side surface and an observer-side surface, the motor vehicle interior element being produced in two steps, the method comprising: producing a three-dimensional transparent substrate having a first longitudinal elevated substrate region, a planar central region, and a second longitudinal elevated substrate region of the observer-side surface, wherein the substrate is made from a cross-linked polymer; and providing in at least a subregion, a coloring on an observer-side surface of the substrate through which light can shine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate is produced by mixing a first component and a second component.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first component is a polyol and the second component is an aliphatic polyisocyanate, wherein the cross-linked polymer is a polyurethane produced by a reaction of the polyol and the polyisocyanate.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the substrate is flooded on the observer-side surface with a colored, cross-linked polymer, thereby forming the coloring through which light can shine as a top layer on the observer-side surface of the substrate.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the substrate is flooded with the colored cross-linked polymer thereby forming a colored, top layer of a uniform layer thickness on the observer-side surface of the substrate.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the colored, cross-linked polymer forming the top layer is produced by mixing a first top-layer material component and a second top-layer material component, a scratch resistance of the top layer being set by a mixing ratio of the first top-layer material component and the second top-layer material component and/or by a selection of the first top-layer material component and the second top-layer material component.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the substrate is produced from a first cross-linked polymer and the colored top layer is produced from a second cross-linked polymer different from the first cross-linked polymer.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the substrate is immersed at least with the observer-side surface into a liquid dye and in that the liquid dye forms the coloring through which light can shine.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein during the flooding with the colored cross-linked polymer the substrate is masked in at least a subregion of the flooded surface of the substrate.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a side of the substrate facing away from an observer is connected to an indicating device in an optical bonding method step.

11. A motor vehicle interior element, the motor vehicle interior element comprising: a three-dimensional transparent substrate having a rear-side surface and an observer-side surface comprising a first longitudinal elevated substrate region, a planar central region, and a second longitudinal elevated substrate region, wherein the substrate is made of a cross-linked polymer and wherein the observer-side surface of the substrate has a colored top layer made of a cross-linked polymer in at least a subregion after an immersion of at least the observer-side surface of the substrate in liquid dye, wherein light can shine through the colored top layer.

12. The motor vehicle interior element of claim 11, wherein an indicating device is arranged on a side of the substrate that is facing away from an observer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1A shows a substrate of a motor vehicle interior element in a plan view,

(2) FIG. 1B shows the substrate as shown in FIG. 1A in a perspective view,

(3) FIG. 2 shows the substrate as shown in FIG. 1A in a sectional view,

(4) FIG. 3 shows the substrate as shown in FIG. 1A with a coloring in a plan view and

(5) FIG. 4 shows a substrate with a display in a sectional view.

(6) In all of the figures, respectively corresponding elements are provided with the same designations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) FIG. 1A shows a substrate 1 of a motor vehicle interior element 2 in a plan view (see FIG. 3). In the plan view, an observer-side surface 3 (compare FIG. 2) of the substrate 1 can be seen. The viewing direction corresponds here approximately to that of an occupant of the motor vehicle looking at the motor vehicle interior element 2 when it has been fitted in a motor vehicle.

(8) The substrate 1 has been produced as a three-dimensional transparent substrate 1 and generally from a cross-linked polymer, in this exemplary embodiment specifically from a thermoset. To illustrate the three-dimensional form of the substrate 1, it is represented in FIG. 1B in a perspective view, which corresponds to an oblique plan view.

(9) It can be seen in FIGS. 1A, 1B that the substrate 1 has a planar central substrate region 4 and, adjoining it in the region of a first longitudinal side 6 of the substrate 1, a first longitudinal elevated substrate region 8. In the region of a second longitudinal side 10 of the substrate 1 opposite the first longitudinal side 6 of the substrate 1, it has a second longitudinal elevated substrate region 12. The substrate 1 is consequently of a plastic form on its observer-side surface 3. A rear-side surface 11 facing away from an observer (compare FIG. 2) of the substrate 1 is of a planar form.

(10) For further illustration in particular of the three-dimensional, plastic form of the substrate 1, FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a section of the substrate 1 along a line I-I in FIG. 1A. The substrate 1 represents a one-piece transparent component, produced from one material, specifically a thermoset.

(11) In FIG. 3, the motor vehicle interior element 2 is shown in a plan view, the viewing direction corresponding here approximately to that of an observer, in particular an occupant of a motor vehicle who is looking at the motor vehicle interior element. Consequently, an observer-side surface of the motor vehicle interior element 2 can be seen in FIG. 3. The motor vehicle interior element 2 may for example be an operating and indicating element that is inserted into a recess, for example of a cockpit fairing.

(12) The substrate 1 (see FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2) is provided on its observer-side surface 3 with a coloring 14 through which light can shine, while thereby forming the motor vehicle interior element 2. For example, the substrate 1 is flooded on its observer-side surface 3 with a colored cross-linked polymer, in particular with a colored thermoset, thereby forming the coloring 14 through which light can shine as a top layer on the observer-side surface of the substrate 1. However, the substrate 1 may for example also be immersed at least with its observer-side surface 3 in a liquid dye, so that the liquid dye forms the coloring 14 through which light can shine.

(13) The coloring 14 is of a homogeneous form. With reference to the aforementioned examples, for this either the aforementioned top layer has a uniform, constant layer thickness over the entire observer-side surface 3 of the substrate 1 or the aforementioned liquid dye is distributed uniformly over the observer-side surface 3 of the substrate 1. Consequently, the contour of the motor vehicle interior element 2 corresponds to the contour of the substrate 1, so that the two elevated substrate regions 8, 12 are also formed in a way corresponding to the motor vehicle interior element 2.

(14) In further exemplary embodiments, it is also conceivable that the substrate 1 has the coloring through which light can shine on its entire surface, that is to say on all sides. The substrate 1 is then provided on its entire surface with the top layer forming the coloring through which light can shine or with the dye forming the coloring through which light can shine.

(15) FIG. 4 shows in a perspective view a section of a substrate 1, which corresponds for example to the substrate shown in the previous figures, of a motor vehicle interior element 2. On a side facing away from an observer, here specifically on the rear-side surface 11 of the substrate 1, an indicating device 16 is arranged. The indicating device 16, which in this exemplary embodiment is an electro-optical indicating device 16 and a display, is connected to the substrate 1, to be precise with the rear-side surface 11 thereof, by means of a connecting layer 18 comprising an optical bonding material.