IP Library Granted Patent US 10,836,329
Granted Patent B2
US 10,836,329 · App. 16/247,873 · Granted Nov 17, 2020

Trim for a motor vehicle

Inventors: Ralf Gerndorf (Finnentrop, DE); Jochen Schulze Zur Wiesche (Cologne, DE); Norfried Bittner (Witten, DE); Axel Nüsken (Altena, DE); Martin Schulte (Balve, DE)
B60R13/04B60R13/02B60R13/025B60R13/0243B60R25/01B60R25/23B62D25/04B60R2011/0071B60R2013/0287
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,836,329
App. No.
16/247,873
Granted
Nov 17, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A trim made of plastics for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprises a first component ( 7 ) made of plastics and a second component ( 8 ) made of plastics. To improve such trim, the first component ( 7 ) is at least partly transparent or semi-transparent. The second component ( 8 ) includes one or more recesses ( 10, 11, 12 ) for a display element and/or for an input element(FIG. 2 ).

Claims (27)

1. A vehicle trim for supporting an illuminable electronic element, the vehicle trim comprising:

a first component formed of an at least semitransparent first material, the first component having a continuous outer surface defining a portion of an exterior of the vehicle trim; and

a second component formed of a second material less transparent than the first material, the second component disposed on the first component and defining an inner surface of the vehicle trim, the second component defining a recess that is free from the second material and having a frame protruding from a rear portion of the second component proximal to the recess, and wherein the first component extends over the recess, and wherein the recess is configured to receive the illuminable electronic element.

2. The vehicle trim of claim 1 wherein the second component is formed directly on the first component and the second material substantially covers the rear portion of the first component.

3. The vehicle trim of claim 1 wherein the frame includes edges that define the recess.

4. The vehicle trim of claim 1 wherein the frame extends entirely circumferentially around the recess.

5. The vehicle trim of claim 1 wherein the frame has a U-shaped configuration surrounding a substantial portion of the recess.

6. The vehicle trim of claim 1 wherein the frame extends substantially perpendicular to the rear portion of the second component.

7. The vehicle trim of claim 1 further comprising a housing connected to the second component for attaching the illuminable electronic element to the second component.

8. The vehicle trim of claim 7 wherein the housing covers the recess and locates the illuminable electronic element in the recess.

9. The vehicle trim of claim 7 wherein housing locates the illuminable electronic element directly adjacent to a rear surface of the first component in the recess of the second component.

10. The vehicle trim of claim 7 wherein the housing completely conceals the recess when viewed from the rear surface of the vehicle trim.

11. The vehicle trim of claim 7 wherein the housing further comprises a circumferentially-extending edge arranged to enclose the frame.

12. The vehicle trim of claim 11 further comprising a circumferential seal disposed between the circumferentially-extending edge and the frame.

13. The vehicle trim of claim 11 wherein the housing includes a circumferential groove and the frame is disposed within the circumferential groove.

14. The vehicle trim of claim 1 further comprising a hook spaced apart from an edge of the second component that defines recess, the hook molded to the second plastic component layer and protruding from the second plastic component layer to attach to the illuminable electronic device.

15. A vehicle trim comprising:

a first component formed of an at least semitransparent first material, the first component having a continuous outer surface defining a portion of an exterior of the vehicle trim;

a second component formed of a second material less transparent than the first material, the second component disposed on the first component and defining an inner surface of the vehicle trim, the second component defining a recess that is free from the second material, and wherein the first component extends over the recess; and

an illuminable electronic element disposed within the recess.

16. The vehicle trim of claim 15 wherein the illuminable electronic element includes a display element and an input element.

17. The vehicle trim of claim 16 wherein the input element is spaced away from the first component.

18. The vehicle trim of claim 16 wherein the input element is in contact with the first component.

19. The vehicle trim of claim 15 wherein the illuminable electronic element is visible only upon activation.

20. The vehicle trim of claim 15 further comprising:

a frame disposed proximal the recess and extending from a rear portion of the second component; and

a housing disposed overtop the frame, the housing configured to support the illuminable electronic element within the recess.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 20, 2022
From: DUS OPERATING INC.; DURA AUTOMOTIVE HOLDINGS U.K. LTD; DURA AUTOMOTIVE BODY & GLASS SYSTEMS GMBH
To: PLASMAN US HOLDCO LLC
Reel/Frame 061476/0893 →
RELEASE OF PATENT AND TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 10, 2022
From: BLUE TORCH FINANCE LLC
To: DURA AUTOMOTIVE HOLDINGS U.K., LTD; DURA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS GMBH; DUS OPERATING, INC.
Reel/Frame 058671/0253 →
PATENT AND TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 5, 2021
From: DURA AUTOMOTIVE HOLDINGS U.K., LTD; DURA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS GMBH; DUS OPERATING INC.
To: BLUE TORCH FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055224/0756 →