COMPONENT FOR A VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SUCH A COMPONENT

Abstract

A vehicle component (1) includes at least one dimensionally stable component base body (2) and at least one plastic layer (3) which is connected to at least one subregion of the component base body (2) in a materially bonded and areal manner and forms a surface portion of the component (1). In order to provide a component (1) which can be produced in a rapid and cost-effective manner and which has at least one customizable surface portion, the plastic layer (3) comprises a proportion of a thermally activatable foaming agent which is configured in such a way that a temperature for producing the plastic layer (3) is lower than a temperature for activating the foaming agent.

Claims

1. A vehicle component comprising: at least one dimensionally stable component base body; and at least one plastic layer connected to at least one subregion of the component base body in a materially bonded and areal manner such that the at least one plastic layer forms a surface portion of the vehicle component, the at least one plastic layer including a proportion of a thermally activatable foaming agent, wherein a temperature for producing the at least one plastic layer is lower than an activation temperature for activating the foaming agent.

2. The vehicle component of claim 1, wherein the at least one plastics layer comprises a polyvinyl chloride or an olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer.

3. The vehicle component of claim 2, wherein the at least one plastics layer is adhesively bonded onto the component base body.

4. The vehicle component of claim 1, wherein the foaming agent is foamed in certain regions to form at least one alphanumeric structure or at least one graphical item on the vehicle component.

5. The vehicle component of claim 1, wherein the vehicle component is a lining component for a vehicle interior.

6. The vehicle component of claim 1, wherein the at least one plastics layer is adhesively bonded onto the component base body.

7. A method for producing a component for a vehicle comprising: producing a dimensionally stable component base body; producing at least one plastic layer including a proportion of thermally activable foaming agent; and arranging the at least one plastic layer on at least one subregion of the component base body to form a surface portion of the component in a materially bonded and areal manner, wherein a temperature for producing the at least one plastic layer is lower than a temperature for activating the foaming agent such that the at least one plastic layer is produced without foaming the foaming agent.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising producing the at least one plastic layer partially from a polyvinyl chloride or an olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising adhesively bonding the at least one plastic layer onto the component base body.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising foaming the foaming agent in certain regions to form at least one alphanumeric structure or at least one graphical item on the surface portion.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the foaming agent is foamed using laser beams.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the foaming is done subsequent to the arranging the at least one plastic layer.

13. A vehicle component comprising: at least one component base body; and at least one plastic layer including a proportion of a thermally activatable foaming agent, the at least one plastic layer being arranged on and connected to at least one subregion of the component base body in a materially bonded and areal manner such that the at least one plastic layer forms a surface portion of the vehicle component, the surface portion having certain regions foamed to define at least one alphanumeric structure or at least one graphical item on the vehicle component, wherein a temperature for producing the at least one plastic layer is lower than an activation temperature for activating the foaming agent.

14. The vehicle component of claim 13, wherein the at least one plastic layer further includes a polyvinyl chloride or an olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer.

15. The vehicle component of claim 13, wherein the at least one plastic layer is adhesively bonded onto the component base body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment for a component according to the invention, and for a method according to the invention for producing the component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] As required, detailed embodiments are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely representative and may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the claimed subject matter.

[0031] The invention relates to a component for a vehicle, comprising at least one dimensionally stable component base body and at least one plastics layer which is connected to at least one subregion of the component base body in a materially bonded and areal manner and forms a surface portion of the component. The invention also relates to a method for producing a component for a vehicle, wherein a dimensionally stable component base body is produced.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment for a component 1 according to the invention and for a method according to the invention for producing the component 1.

[0033] The component 1 comprises a dimensionally stable component base body 2, which has been produced using a thermoplastic and an injection-molding process.

[0034] Furthermore, the component 1 comprises a plastics layer 3, which has been produced partially from a polyvinyl chloride or an olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer. The plastic layer 3 forms a surface portion of the component 1. The plastic layer 3 has been arranged on a subregion of the component base body 2 in a materially bonded and areal manner. In particular, the plastic layer 3 has been adhesively bonded onto the component base body 2. The plastic layer 3 comprises a proportion of a thermally activatable foaming agent (not shown) which is configured in such a way that a temperature for producing the plastic layer 3 is lower than a temperature for activating the foaming agent.

[0035] In the right-hand part of FIG. 1, the foaming agent is foamed in certain regions in order to form an alphanumeric structure in the form of a name by foaming the foaming agent using laser beams 4 of a movable laser 5.

[0036] While representative embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the claimed subject matter. The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments that may not be explicitly illustrated or described.