EXTERIOR GLASS TRIM ELEMENT FOR VEHICLE

Abstract

An exterior trim element for a motor vehicle, including a glass cover disposed on a support member, the glass cover having an outer face and an inner face. A display system for projecting an image is integrated to a cover part on the inner face of the glass cover glass.

Claims

1. An exterior trim element for a motor vehicle, comprising a glass cover disposed on a support member, the glass cover having an outer face and an inner face wherein a display system for projecting an image is integrated to a cover part on the inner face of the glass cover glass.

2. The exterior trim element according to claim 1, wherein the display system projects an image towards an outside of the motor vehicle.

3. The exterior trim element according to claim 1, wherein the display system has an integrated light emitting diode projector.

4. The exterior trim element according to claim 1, wherein the display system has an integrated hybrid projector combining LEDs and laser diodes.

5. The exterior trim element according to claim 1, wherein the display system has an integrated laser phosphor projector.

6. The exterior trim element according to claim 1, wherein the display system has an integrated RGB laser beamer.

7. The exterior trim element according to claim 1, wherein the display system generates a light having at least one color selected from a group comprising red, green and blue or a mixture thereof.

8. The exterior trim element according to claim 1, wherein the glass cover is provided with comprises a zone transparent to visible light, the said and wherein a beamer is positioned being placed in said zone.

9. The exterior trim element according to claim 1, the trim element having on at least a part of its surface an opaque layer that is opaque to to the visible light.

10. The exterior trim element according to claim 9, wherein the opaque layer is a black ink, a black paint, or a black enamel.

11. The exterior trim element according to claim 9, wherein the opaque layer is on at least a part of the inner face of the glass cover.

12. The exterior trim element according to claim 1, further comprising an opening in which a beamer is placed.

13. The exterior trim element according to claim 1, wherein the glass cover is a thermal tempered or a chemical tempered glass.

14. The exterior trim element according to claim 1, wherein the glass cover is a laminated glass.

15. The exterior trim element according to claim 1, wherein the glass cover is a soda-lime, an aluminosilicate, or a borosilicate glass having a thickness of 0.1 to 5 mm.

Description

[0053] Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated with reference to the following accompanying drawings wherein:

[0054] FIG. 1 shows examples of possible locations of a trim element according to the present invention.

[0055] FIG. 2 shows an exterior trim element provided with a projecting device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] FIG. 3 shows an warning massage projected from the trim element according to the present invention.

[0057] FIG. 1 show an exterior trim element 1 according to the present invention applied in A-, B- and C-pillars; A- and B-pillars being separated by the front door glass and B- and C-pillars being separated by the rear door glass.

[0058] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the exterior trim element 1 comprises a glass cover 11 disposed on a support member 12, the glass cover 11 having an outer face 11a and an inner face 11b.

[0059] According to the present invention, a display system for projecting an image 13 is integrated to the glass cover 11 on the inner face 11b of the glass cover 11.

[0060] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the cover glass is made of semi-tempered or annealed glass with a thickness of 1.6 mm. the cover glass may be a laminated glass.

[0061] For an aesthetic aspect, the inner face 11b of the glass cover 11 is at least partially covered with a black print or a layer opaque to the visible light 14 except the zone 11c which is free of black print to allow the light from the display system 13 to project through this transparent zone 11c.

[0062] According to this example, the a display system for projecting an image 13 is an RGB laser projector. The display 13 is placed in order to project an image towards the outside of the motor vehicle. Thus, an image can be projected on the sidewalk or a wall or the road to be visible to people being outside the vehicle. The image may be an adverting, a warning message . . . .

[0063] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the display system 13 projecting an image may be provided into an opening providing in the glass cover 11.

[0064] The display system 13 has dimensions suitable to be integrated between the glass cover 11 and the car body.

[0065] The FIG. 3 shows a warning image projected on the floor of the road from the trim of the vehicle. The image is then visible by the other divers to prevent further accident.

[0066] Thus, the trim element (also called applique) may become the interface between vehicle and people being outside the vehicle.

[0067] According to the present invention, the support member may have additional functional properties to improve the resistance of the trim element. The support member may comprise all means to fix the trim element to the vehicle body and/or to seal the trim element.

[0068] The support may be as described in the published patent application WO2017158031.