Molded Part and a Method for Manufacturing Such a Molded Part

Abstract

A molded part can comprise a backing and a decorative layer. The decorative layer has a back side facing the backing and a visible front side. A transparent or translucent layer is provided on the front side of the decorative layer, with a light source being provided about the molded part. An optical fiber can be connected to the light source on the visible, front side of the decorative layer. The optical fiber(s) can run parallel to the front side of the decorative layer in one or more grooves in at least some sections on the front side of the decorative layer. The optical fiber(s) may be formed by a transparent or translucent filler material introduced into the groove(s), the refractive index of the filler material being greater than the refractive index of the high-gloss layer. Implementations further include a method of making the same.

Claims

1. A molded part, comprising: a backing and a decorative layer; wherein the decorative layer has a back side facing the backing and a front side designed as the visible side; wherein a transparent or translucent high-gloss layer is provided on the front side of the decorative layer; wherein at least one light source is provided in or on the molded part; wherein one or more optical fibers connected to the light source are provided on the front side of the decorative layer, which is designed as the visible side, wherein the optical fiber(s) run parallel to the front side of the decorative layer in one or more grooves provided to receive the optical fiber(s) in at least some sections in the front side of the decorative layer; wherein the optical fiber(s) is (are) formed by a transparent or translucent filler material introduced into or cast in the groove(s), wherein the refractive index of the filler material is greater than the refractive index of the high-gloss layer.

2. The molded part according to claim 1, wherein an additional layer is provided on the bottom surface and/or the side surfaces of the groove(s).

3. The molded part according to claim 2, wherein: the additional layer is designed to be reflective, and/or the refractive index of the additional layer is lower than the refractive index of the filler material of the optical fiber(s).

4. The molded part according to claim 2, wherein the additional layer is a paint layer.

5. The molded part according to claim 1, wherein: the optical fiber(s) have an output structure on their front side facing the visible side; and the output structure is formed by a second surface roughness of the filler material, which is different from the surface roughness of the additional filler material in the area of the output structure.

6. The molded part according to claim 1, wherein the filler material comprises cement or is formed by cement.

7. The molded part according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one light source is provided: on the back side of the molded part; or in a recess in the backing; or on the side of the molded part.

8. The molded part according to claim 1, wherein: the groove(s) extend into the decorative layer or completely through the decorative layer.

9. The molded part according to claim 1, wherein the groove(s) are designed to have a semicircular cross section, a parabolic cross section, or a rectangular cross section.

10. A method for producing a molded part comprising a decorative layer, comprising the steps of: providing a material for forming the decorative layer of the molded part; integrally molding the material provided to form the decorative layer by means of injection molding with a backing material to form the backing; forming at least one or more grooves on the front side of the decorative layer; casting a filler material into the groove(s) to form one or more optical fibers; overmolding the decorative layer and the optical fiber(s) with a high-gloss layer.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein an additional layer is provided: on the bottom surface; and/or on the side surfaces of the groove(s).

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein: the groove(s) is (are) milled or lasered or embossed on the front side of the decorative layer.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein: an output structure is provided on the front side, facing the visible side of the optical fiber(s); and the output structure is created by surface treatment of the filler material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The invention will also be explained below with regard to additional features and advantages on the basis of the description of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying schematic diagrams in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a top view of a first exemplary embodiment of a molded part according to the invention;

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a second exemplary embodiment of a molded part according to the invention, for example, along a sectional plane, as illustrated by sectional line A in FIG. 1; and

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a third exemplary embodiment of a molded part according to the invention, for example, along a sectional plane like that shown in FIG. 1, through the sectional line B.

[0027] Corresponding parts and components, even beyond the various exemplary embodiments, are each labeled with the same reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 show a decorative part and/or a paneling part designed as a molded part 10 for the automotive interior. Molded part 10 comprises a backing 12 made of plastic and a wooden veneer as a decorative layer 11.

[0029] The decorative layer 11 has a back side 13 facing the backing 12 and a front side 14 designed as the visible side, wherein a transparent or translucent high-gloss layer 19 of PUR is provided on the front side 14 of the decorative layer 11.

[0030] Furthermore, an LED is provided as the light source 15 on the molded part 10. The light source 15 is provided on the back side 18 of the molded part 10 and is connected to the optical fibers 16 by additional optical fibers 24 for input of light into the optical fibers 16.

[0031] Three optical fibers 16, which are connected to the light source 15, are provided on the front side 14 of the decorative layer 11, which is designed as the visible side. The optical fibers 16 run parallel to the front side 14 of the decorative layer 11 in three grooves 17 that are provided to receive the optical fibers 16 in the front side 14 of the decorative layer 11. The grooves 17 extend completely through the decorative layer 11 into the backing 12 orthogonally to the front side 14 of the decorative layer 11 and are designed with a rectangular cross section. The grooves 17 may be milled or lasered into the front side 14 of the decorative layer 11.

[0032] The optical fibers 16 are formed by a transparent or translucent filler material 20, which is cast into the grooves 17, wherein the refractive index of the filler material 20 is greater than the refractive index of the high-gloss layer 19. The filler material 20 is cement.

[0033] Furthermore, an additional layer 21 is provided on the bottom surface and on the side surfaces of the grooves 17. The additional layer 21 is designed to be reflective, with the refractive index of the additional layer 21 being lower than the refractive index of the filler material 20 of the optical fibers 16. The additional layer 21 is a white or silver paint layer applied by spray painting.

[0034] The optical fibers 16 have an output structure 23 in at least some sections on their front side 22 facing the visible side, wherein the output structure 23 is formed by a second surface roughness of the filler material 20, which is different from the surface roughness of the filler material 20. The output structure 23 is formed by surface treatment, for example, laser structuring of the filler material 20

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0035] 10 molded part [0036] 11 decorative layer [0037] 12 backing [0038] 13 back side [0039] 14 front side [0040] 15 light source [0041] 16 optical fiber [0042] 17 groove [0043] 18 back side of molded part [0044] 19 high-gloss layer [0045] 20 filler material [0046] 21 additional layer [0047] 22 front side [0048] 23 output structure [0049] 24 optical fiber [0050] A line of intersection [0051] B line of intersection