IN MOLD FORMING OF AN INDICATOR PANEL AND ARTICLES THEREOF

1 . A method of manufacturing comprising:

introducing a first polymeric material to a mold, wherein the first polymeric material resists metallization;

introducing a second polymeric material to the mold, wherein the second polymeric material accepts metallization;

molding an article from the first polymeric material and the second polymeric material, wherein the second polymeric material extends along a surface portion of the article;

coupling a metallic material to the surface portion of the article to form a part having a metallic surface finish by exposing the article to the metallic material in a metallizing process, wherein the metallic material is not coupled to the first polymeric material.

2 . A vehicle component formed by the method of claim 1 .

3 . The vehicle component of claim 2 , wherein the vehicle component is chosen from a grille, a door handle, an interior trim component, an exterior trim component, a component of an indicator panel, a component of a dashboard display, a component of a gear shifter, a component of a console, a glove compartment handle, a vehicle logo, a vehicle badge, a vehicle emblem, a fascia, a hubcap, an antenna cover, a light surround, a light reflector, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

4 . A method of manufacturing comprising:

applying an ink to a back side of a film to create an image;

placing the film into a mold;

forming a face plate shape into an area of the film having at least a portion of the image;

forming a registration feature into the film or applying a registration feature onto the film;

aligning the image with a protrusion by using the registration feature to position the film in a mold;

molding a polymeric material adjacent to the back side of the film to form an indicator panel, wherein the polymeric material covers at least a portion of the image and forms the protrusion on the front side of the film, wherein the protrusion aligns with the image.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein molding comprises pushing a portion of the film from the back side of the film with the polymeric material to form the protrusion.

6 . The method of claim 4 , comprising forming a hole through the film.

7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein forming the registration feature comprises indenting the film, wherein the registration feature can be used to position the film in a processing tool.

8 . The method of claim 4 , wherein applying the ink comprises screen printing, pad printing, membrane image transfer printing, transfer printing, ink jet printing, robotic dispensing, spraying, offset printing, sublimation printing, digital printing, or a combination of at least one of the foregoing.

9 . The method of claim 4 , wherein applying the ink comprises applying the ink to a side of the film while the film is flat.

10 . The method of claim 4 , wherein applying the ink comprises applying the ink to the front side of the film.

11 . The method of claim 4 , wherein forming a face plate shape further comprises forming two or more face plate shapes.

12 . The method of claim 4 , comprising exposing the indicator panel to a metallic material in a metallization process to couple the metallic material to a portion of a surface of the indicator panel.

13 . An indicator panel comprising:

a film having a front side and a back side;

an ink disposed on the back side of the film, wherein the ink forms an image;

a face plate shape formed into an area of the film having at least a portion of the image;

a first polymeric material disposed adjacent to the back side of the film and covering at least a portion of the image; and

a protrusion extending from the front side of the film, wherein the protrusion comprises the polymeric material.

14 . The indicator panel of claim 13 , wherein the first polymeric material is disposed only on the back side of the film.

15 . The indicator panel of claim 13 , comprising a hole through the film, and wherein the protrusion extends through the hole in the film, and wherein the protrusion consists of the first polymeric material.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the hole has the shape of a scale mark and/or a character.

17 . The indicator panel of claim 13 , further comprising a hole through the indicator panel and a movement mechanism extending through the hole in the indicator panel, wherein a pointer is in mechanical communication with the movement mechanism such that the pointer can be moved adjacent to the front side of the film.

18 . The indicator panel of claim 13 , wherein the film comprises a polymeric material and the polymeric material of the film is the same polymeric material as the first polymeric material

19 . The indicator panel of claim 13 , wherein the film is transparent, and wherein the image comprises a light transmitting ink and an opaque ink.

20 . A vehicle dashboard comprising the indicator panel of claim 1 .