ILLUMINATED TRIM PART OF OR FOR A VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SUCH AN ILLUMINATED TRIM PART

Abstract

The present invention relates to an illuminated or illuminable trim part of or for a vehicle. The trim part includes a light source for providing light, a transparent or translucent carrier layer, and a foil. At least one opaque component is applied to the carrier layer or is integrated into the carrier layer, and/or at least one painted layer is applied to the carrier layer. The foil comprises printed areas and/or has at least one cut-out through which light provided by the light source can penetrate. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing such a trim part.

Claims

1. An illuminated or illuminable trim part of or for a vehicle, comprising: a light source for providing light; a transparent or translucent carrier layer, at least one component applied to the carrier layer, or at least one painted layer applied to the carrier; and a foil, the foil comprising printed areas or having at least one cut-out through which the light provided by the light source can penetrate.

2. The illuminated or illuminable trim part according to claim 1, wherein: the opaque component or the painted layer are applied such that at least one blank area on the carrier is formed that is covered neither by the opaque component nor the painted layer; and the foil is transparent or translucent to light provided by the light source and arranged in the blank area.

3. The illuminated or illuminable trim part according to claim 1, wherein the printed areas are translucent or opaque to the light provided by the light source.

4. The illuminated or illuminable trim part according to claim 1, wherein the carrier layer has an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface facing the light source, wherein the opaque component or the painted layer or the foil is arranged in the inner surface.

5. The illuminated or illuminable trim part according to claim 1, wherein the printed areas comprise ink or paint.

6. The illuminated or illuminable trim part according to claim 1, further comprising a transparent or translucent layer applied to the outer surface of the carrier layer.

7. The illuminated or illuminable trim part according to claim 1, wherein a transparent or translucent anti-fog layer is applied on the foil.

8. The illuminated or illuminable trim part according to claim 1, wherein the painted layer comprises void areas through which the light can penetrate.

9. The illuminated or illuminable trim part according to claim 1, wherein a further painted layer is arranged on the painted layer.

10. A method for producing the illuminated or illuminable trim part of claim 1, comprising: printing the printed areas on the foil; inserting the foil into an injection mold; and molding the transparent carrier layer and thereby overmolding the foil.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising forming the foil by high pressure forming between the steps of printing and inserting.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising producing the carrier layer and the opaque component in two-component injection molding.

13. A vehicle, comprising a trim part according to claim 1.

14. A vehicle, comprising a trim part manufactured by the method of claim 10.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] The present invention is described in detail with reference to the drawings attached wherein:

[0037] FIG. 1A shows the front of a vehicle that comprises an illuminable trim part, in this case a grille, according to the invention, the trim part not being illuminated;

[0038] FIG. 1B shows the vehicle shown in FIG. 1A, however, the trim part being illuminated;

[0039] FIG. 2A shows an isolated front view of a first embodiment of the grille shown in FIG. 1A;

[0040] FIG. 2B shows a sectional view of the grille along the cutting plane A-A defined in FIG. 2A;

[0041] FIG. 3A shows an isolated front view of a second embodiment of the grille shown in FIG. 1A;

[0042] FIG. 3B shows a sectional view of the grille along the cutting plane B-B defined in FIG. 3A; and

[0043] FIG. 4 a view along the lines with FIGS. 2B and 3B of a third embodiment of the grille.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT

[0044] FIGS. 1A and 1B show a front view of a vehicle 10 that comprises a first embodiment of an illuminated or illuminable trim part 121 according to the present invention. The trim part 121 is embodied as a front grille 14 that extents between a left headlamp 16 and a right headlamp 16 of the vehicle 10.

[0045] The grille 14 has different patterns 18 that may be illuminated, namely a number of hexagons, and a logo 20 that may be the logo 20 of the vehicle manufacturer. In FIG. 1A the grille 14 is not illuminated while it is illuminated in FIG. 1B. The different illumination statuses are illustrated by the logo 20 only. In the non-illuminated state shown in FIG. 1A the logo 20 is black while in the illuminated state as shown in FIG. 1B the logo 20 is white with only its contour remaining black.

[0046] In FIGS. 2A and 2B the trim part 121 of the vehicle 10 of FIGS. 1A and 1B is separately shown by different views. FIG. 2B is a sectional view along the cutting plane A-A defined in FIG. 2A. However, it is noted that the Figures are only of principle nature. Therefore, FIG. 2B only approximately represents the illuminated trim part 121 of FIG. 2A.

[0047] The trim part 121 comprises a transparent carrier layer 22, sometimes also referred to as lens, which approximately has a U-shape and forms an inner surface 24 and an outer surface 26. Moreover, the trim part 121 is provided with a number of light sources 28. The inner surface 24 of the carrier layer 22 is facing the light sources 28 while the outer surface 26 is directed to the surroundings of the vehicle 10.

[0048] A number of opaque components 30 are arranged on the inner surface 24. They may be provided in the same injection molding step as the carrier layer 22 using two component injection molding. However, they may also be connected to the carrier layer 22 in a different manufacturing step, e.g., by glueing.

[0049] On the lateral areas 31 of the trim part 121 the opaque components 30 form a fastening section 32 by which the trim part 121 can be connected to a housing 34 or support elements of the vehicle 10. Moreover, the opaque components 30 prevent light from entering and exiting the trim part 121 at the lateral areas 31.

[0050] Towards the center of the trim part 121, the opaque components 30 form hexagonal openings 37 through which the light provided by the light source 28 can pass and enter the surroundings of the vehicle 10, thereby providing the grille 14 with the respective illuminated pattern 18. Moreover, the opaque components 30 to not extend to a central blank area 36 of the carrier layer 22 (see FIG. 2A).

[0051] A foil 38 is located in the blank area 36 and may be overmolded by the carrier layer 22. The foil 38 as such is transparent and comprises printed areas 40 in which an ink or paint is applied to the foil 38. The printed areas 40 are either opaque or translucent. In the first case the light cannot pass through the foil 38 while in the second case the color and/or the intensity of the light is changed compared to the remaining foil 38. In both cases graphics can be projected to the surrounding having a significantly higher complexity compared to the shapes provided by the opaque components 30. As mentioned, graphics of high complexity may be the logo 20 of the vehicle manufacturer as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

[0052] According to the present invention the use of the foil 38 is restricted to graphics of high complexity. As the use of foils 38 typically incurs higher manufacturing costs compared to the opaque components 30, the grille 14 can be provided with the desired illumination at lower costs compared to an embodiment in which all the graphics to be illuminated are provided by the foil 38.

[0053] A transparent anti-fog layer 41 is applied to the opaque components 30, to the foil 38 and the inner surface 24 of the carrier layer 22 to avoid the accumulation of condensed water that may have a detrimental effect on the light propagation through the trim part 121 and to the surroundings of the vehicle 10.

[0054] FIGS. 3A and 3B show a second embodiment of the trim part 122 in which FIG. 3B is a sectional view along the cutting plane B-B defined in FIG. 3A. FIG. 3A only approximately represents the illuminated trim part 122 of FIG. 3A. The construction of the trim part 122 according to the second embodiment is to a large extend similar to the one of the first embodiment of the trim part 122. Therefore, only the main differences are described in the following.

[0055] The foil 38 as such is opaque or translucent and comprises cut-outs 42 through which the light provided by the light source 28 may be penetrate. The cut-outs 42 may be produced by laser ablation.

[0056] Moreover, a painted layer 44 instead of the opaque components 30 is applied to the inner surface 24 of the carrier layer 22. The painted layer 44 forms void areas 46 through which the light can penetrate. The void areas 46 may be provided by laser ablation.

[0057] In FIG. 3B the housing 34 is not shown. However, the carrier layer 22 can be provided with fastening sections 32 as shown in FIG. 2B to connect the trim part 122 with a housing 34 or with support element of the vehicle 10 (not shown).

[0058] FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the trim component 123 that is to a large extend similar to the second embodiment of the trim part 123 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The main difference is that a further painted layer 48 is applied to the painted layer 44. In the third embodiment, the further painted layer 48 completely covers the painted layer 44. However, the further painted layer 48 may only partially cover the painted layer 44. The color and the intensity of the light penetrating the painted layer 44 and the further painted layer 48 can be changed to achieve specific light effects. Not shown is an example in which not only one but two or more further painted layers 48 are applied on the painted layer 44.

[0059] Moreover, on the lateral areas 31, opaque components 30 are arranged on the further painted layer 48 and thus at least indirectly connected to the carrier layer 22. As in the first embodiment, the opaque components 30 at the lateral area 31 are forming fastening sections 32 to connect the trim part 123 with a housing 34 or with support elements of the vehicle 10 (not shown).

[0060] Beyond that, a protective layer 50 is applied to the outer surface 26 of the carrier layer 22. The protective layer 50 primarily serves for protecting the trim part 123 from external influences like UV-radiation and stone chipping. The protective layer 50 may be made of PUR (Polyurethane).

[0061] The foil 38 and the carrier layer 22 may be made of PC (Polycarbonate), while the opaque components 30 may be made of PC (Polycarbonate) and/or ABS (Acrylnitril-Butadien-Styrol-Copolymer).

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0062] 10 Vehicle [0063] 121 to 123 trim part [0064] 14 grille [0065] 16 headlamp [0066] 18 pattern [0067] 20 logo [0068] 22 transparent carrier layer [0069] 24 inner surface [0070] 26 outer surface [0071] 28 light source [0072] 30 opaque component [0073] 31 lateral area [0074] 32 fastening section [0075] 34 housing [0076] 36 blank area [0077] 37 opening [0078] 38 foil [0079] 40 printed area [0080] 41 anti-fog layer [0081] 42 cut-out [0082] 44 painted layer [0083] 46 void area [0084] 48 further painted layer [0085] 50 protective layer

[0086] The above description is that of current embodiment of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention. This disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive description of all embodiments of the invention or to limit the scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated or described in connection with these embodiments. Any reference to elements in the singular, for example, using the articles a, an, the, or said, is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.