Flexible interior component
View Patent ↗There is disclosed a vehicle console trim component. The trim component can include an articulated door with a plurality of slats, a substrate, and a flexible layer including a pattern for decoration disposed on and supported by the substrate. The flexible layer will maintain the pattern for decoration as the articulated door is cycled. The pattern for the vehicle trim component may be a photographic image. An overcoat also can be disposed on the flexible layer.
1. A vehicle console in a vehicle including a vehicle floor and two spaced apart seats, the vehicle console comprising:
a structure including a front wall, a rear wall and two opposed side walls coupled to the front wall and rear wall, wherein an interior space is defined, and an opening in communication with the interior space; and
an articulated door coupled to the structure and configured to close the opening, the articulated door comprising:
a plurality of slats;
a substrate connecting the plurality of slats, and
an ink layer disposed on the substrate and that provides an appearance differing from the appearance of the substrate, wherein the ink layer is a flexible layer that is configured to substantially maintain the appearance as the substrate is cycled.
2. The vehicle console of claim 1 wherein the substrate is formed from a flexible polymer material.
3. The vehicle console of claim 1 wherein the appearance provided by the ink layer provides a decorative pattern.
4. The vehicle console of claim 1 wherein the appearance provided by the ink layer provides a reproduction of a photographic image.
5. The vehicle console of claim 1 further comprising a substantially flexible clear layer disposed on the ink layer.
6. The vehicle console of claim 5 wherein the substantially flexible clear layer is an overcoat of at least one of acrylic, urethane, and a combination of acrylic and urethane.
7. The vehicle console of claim 1 wherein the structure is configured to couple to the vehicle floor between the two seats.
8. The vehicle console of claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises a surface on which the ink layer is disposed that is substantially smooth.
9. The vehicle console of claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises a surface on which the ink layer is disposed that includes a plurality of grooves.
10. The vehicle console of claim 9 wherein the ink layer is applied within the plurality of grooves and conforms to the shape of the substrate.
11. The vehicle console of claim 9 wherein the ink layer provides a substantially smooth surface by substantially concealing the plurality of grooves.
12. The vehicle console of claim 1 wherein the ink layer comprises a promoter, the promoter being an adhesive configured to promote adhesion between the ink layer and the substrate.
13. The vehicle console of claim 1 wherein the ink layer comprises a promoter, the promoter being a paint.
14. The vehicle console of claim 1 wherein the ink layer is a substantially continuous layer that covers an entire outer surface of the substrate.
15. The vehicle console of claim 1 wherein the ink layer is disposed on only intermittent portions of an outer surface of the substrate.
16. The vehicle console of claim 1 wherein the ink layer provides the articulated door with the appearance of having a metallic finish.
17. The vehicle console of claim 1 wherein the ink layer provides a substantially smooth surface for the articulated door.
18. The vehicle console of claim 1 wherein the articulated door further comprises a handle configured to be grasped by a user.
19. The vehicle console of claim 18 wherein the handle is a protrusion outwardly extending near an end of the articulated door.