Illuminated inner trim for vehicles

Abstract

Illuminated inner trim for vehicles comprising a substrate, a decorative lining, and integrated between these a set of LEDs that can provide a decorative illumination such that when on they are visible through the decorative lining as well-defined points of light, while when off they are unseen. Specifically, when said LEDs are on and the vehicle occupants change their angle of vision with respect to the LEDs, a set of points of light will be seen with variable intensity due to the contrast between areas of direct light and areas of shade, causing a sparkling effect.

Claims

1. Illuminated inner trim for vehicles comprising: a substrate (2); a decorative lining (3) that covers one of the faces (2.1) of the substrate (2) comprising: a first layer (3.1) of knit fabric located nearest the substrate (2); a second layer (3.2) of knit fabric located farther away from the substrate (2); and an intermediate layer (3.3) formed by threads (3.3.1) that connect said first layer (3.1) and second layer (3.2); wherein said first layer (3.1), second layer (3.2) and intermediate layer (3.3) form a single three-dimensional knit fabric; a set of LEDs (4) placed between the substrate (2) and the decorative lining (3), wherein said LEDs (4) have a dimension a corresponding to the minimum width of the light emission surface of the LED (4); wherein the first layer (3.1) includes opaque threads (3.1.1) knitted to one another to form orifices (3.1.2) with a maximum dimension b that is smaller than the dimension a; wherein the threads (3.3.1) that form the intermediate layer (3.3) are opaque; and wherein the LEDs (4) are in contact with the first layer (3.1).

2. Illuminated inner trim for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein the LEDS (4) have an emission angle under 145.

3. Illuminated inner trim for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein the second layer (3.2) includes threads (3.2.1) knitted to one another to form orifices (3.2.2) with a minimum dimension c that is larger than the dimension a.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) This specification is supplemented with a set of drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment, which are never intended to limit the invention.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an inner trim in an on state, also showing the various areas of shade and direct light emission from a point of light.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view along the line AA represented in FIG. 1, corresponding to a cross section of the inner trim.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a detail of FIG. 2 revealing the structure of the decorative lining and the arrangement of a LED with respect to the same.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a detail of FIG. 2 showing the dimensions of the orifices of the decorative lining and the LED.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a detail D of FIG. 2 showing the various areas of shade and direct light emission from a point of light.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) FIG. 1 shows an illuminated inner trim (1) for vehicles in an on state, where there is a set of well-defined points of light.

(8) Specifically, FIG. 1 shows a headliner by way of example; however, the inner trim (1) of the invention could be any other type of inner vehicle trim, such as a door panel, a side trim element, a dashboard, a trunk lining or a sun visor.

(9) FIG. 2 shows the structural configuration of the illuminated inner trim (1) and specifically the integrated arrangement of the set of LEDs (4) between the substrate (2) and the decorative lining (3) that form said inner trim (1).

(10) Specifically, the inner trim (1), as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 comprises: a substrate (2) that include the rigid part of the inner trim (1) with a primarily structural function, that is, supporting the loads typical of an inner trim (1) first during handling and then during the lifetime thereof when assembled on the vehicle, a translucent decorative lining (3) that covers one of the faces of the substrate (2) comprising: a first layer (3.1) of knit fabric located nearest the substrate (2), a second layer (3.2) of knit fabric located farther away from the substrate (2), and an intermediate layer (3.3) formed by threads (3.3.1) that connect said first layer (3.1) and second layer (3.2), wherein said first layer (3.1), second layer (3.2) and intermediate layer (3.3) form a single three-dimensional knit fabric, a set of LEDs (4) placed between the substrate (2) and the decorative lining (3), wherein said LEDs (4) have a dimension a corresponding to the minimum width of the light emission surface of the LED (4), wherein the first layer (3.1) includes opaque threads (3.3.1) knitted to one another to form orifices (3.1.2) with a maximum dimension b that is smaller than the dimension a, wherein the threads (3.3.1) that form the intermediate layer (3.3) are opaque, and wherein the LEDS (4) are in contact with the first layer (3.1).

(11) The described configuration allows, when the LEDs (4) are on, generating well-defined light points (7).

(12) Said light points (7) comprise a portion of the light emission surface of the LEDs (4) that is delimited by the opaque threads (3.3.1) knitted to each other to form the orifices (3.1.2) of the first layer (3.1) of the decorative lining (3), such that the rest of the light-emitting surface of the LEDs (4) is covered.

(13) As shown in FIG. 1, depending on the position of an occupant M with respect to the light point (7), the occupant's view will be from a first position M1 with an angle of vision of the light point (7) with respect to the main axis s of the LED (4), an area of direct light emission (5) formed by the light emitted directly by the light points (7) and transmitted through the second layer (3.2), or from a position M2 with an angle of vision of the light point (7) with respect to the main axis s of the LED (4), an area of shade (6) formed by the light emitted by the light points (7) and obstructed by the strands (3.3.1) that form the intermediate layer (3.3), as shown in the detail D of FIG. 5.

(14) Thus, when the occupants change their angle of vision with respect to the point of light, a set of points of light will be seen with variable intensity due to the contrast between areas of direct light and areas of shade, causing a sparkling effect.

(15) Therefore, the movement of the occupant M with respect to the light point (7) results in the sparkling effect perceived as a set of light points (7) with variable intensity due to the contrast between the areas of direct light (5) and areas of shade (6).

(16) In a specific case, the second layer (3.2) includes threads (3.2.1) knitted to one another to form orifices (3.2.2) with a minimum dimension c that is larger than the dimension a. This allows increasing the sparkling effect caused by the combination of areas of direct light (5) and areas of shade (6) due to the presence of opaque threads (3.3.1) in the intermediate layer (3.3), as the occupant M can see a greater number of areas of direct light emission (5) and areas of shade (6) through the orifice (3.2.1) of the second layer (3.2).

(17) In a specific case and in order to define further the light point, the LEDs (4) used have an emission angle under 145, allowing to concentrate the light emitted by said LEDs (4) thereby contributing to improving the definition of the light point (7), enhancing the contrast between the areas of direct light and the areas of shade and consequently the sparkling effect perceived.

(18) In a specific case, the LEDs (4) are of the SMD (surface mounted device) type, due to the small size thereof, allowing the improvement of their integration between the substrate and the decorative lining, concealing their presence when said LEDs (4) are off.