IP Library Granted Patent US 11,772,576
Granted Patent B2
US 11,772,576 · App. 17/226,691 · Granted Oct 3, 2023

Interior trim part for a motor vehicle and method of its manufacture

Inventors: Huib Seegers (Eindhoven, NL); Henk Rijpkema (Baarlo, NL); Carter Scott Cannon (Munich, DE)
Assignee: International Automotive Components Group GmbH
B60R13/02B60K35/00B60K37/06B60Q3/14B60Q3/54B60Q3/745B60Q3/80B60R11/0235B60K2370/1438B60K2370/152B60K2370/27B60K2370/28B60K2370/339B60R2013/0287
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,772,576
App. No.
17/226,691
Granted
Oct 3, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosure relates to an interior trim part for a motor vehicle, which comprises: a support component and a cover layer on a visible side of the support component, wherein the support component has an opening which is covered by the cover layer, and an insert, which is received in the opening and has a top side which is covered by the cover layer, wherein the insert receives an electrical function module or is coupled to the same, which function module is equipped in order to emit and/or receive light and/or signals through the surface of the insert and the cover layer.

Claims (45)

1. An interior trim part for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a cover comprising a decorative layer;

wherein the decorative layer is a plastic skin;

a plastic body comprising a top side, a back side and a cover plate;

wherein the top side of the plastic body at the cover plate underlies the plastic skin and is disposed adjacent the plastic skin;

an electrical function module equipped to emit and receive light through the cover plate of the plastic body and the plastic skin;

wherein the electrical function module comprises a proximity sensor and/or a motion sensor, which is activated by approaching the proximity sensor and/or the motion sensor, or which is activated by a swiping motion over the proximity sensor and/or the motion sensor;

wherein the electrical function module including the proximity sensor and/or the motion sensor underlies the cover plate region of the plastic body and the electrical function module is disposed adjacent the back side of the plastic body; and

wherein the plastic skin and the cover plate of the plastic body are light transmissive to light emitted from the electrical function module.

2. The interior trim part according to claim 1 , wherein a foam surrounds the cover plate of the plastic body.

3. The interior trim part according to claim 2 , wherein the cover plate of the plastic body is disposed in a recess in the foam.

4. The interior trim part according to claim 2 , wherein the foam is not disposed between the plastic skin and the cover plate of the plastic body.

5. The interior trim part according to claim 1 , wherein the plastic skin is formed of at least one of PVC, PU, TPU, TPE and TPO.

6. The interior trim part according to claim 1 , wherein the plastic skin is at least one of transparent and semi-transparent to light emitted from the electrical function module.

7. The interior trim part according to claim 6 , wherein the plastic skin is transparent to light emitted from the electrical function module.

8. The interior trim part according to claim 1 , wherein the cover plate of the plastic body is formed of at least one of MMA, PC, PU, ABS and PP.

9. The interior trim part according to claim 1 , wherein the cover plate of the plastic body is at least one of transparent and semi-transparent to light emitted from the electrical function module.

10. The interior trim part according to claim 9 , wherein the cover plate is transparent to light emitted from the electrical function module.

11. The interior trim part according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical function module comprises at least one of an illumination device and a display device.

12. The interior trim part according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical function module comprises at least one of a control device, a switch, a transmitter and a receiver.

13. The interior trim part according to claim 1 , wherein, in the cover plate of the plastic body, the top side of the plastic body adjoins the plastic skin.

14. The interior trim part according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a support component; and

wherein the plastic body is provided as an insert;

wherein the support component has an opening which is covered by the plastic skin;

wherein the insert is received in the opening; and

wherein the insert receives the electrical function module.

15. An interior trim part for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a cover comprising a decorative layer;

wherein the decorative layer is a plastic skin;

a plastic body comprising a top side, a back side and a cover plate;

wherein a foam is disposed between the plastic skin and the plastic body, including the cover plate;

an electrical function module equipped to emit and receive light through the cover plate of the plastic body, the foam and the plastic skin;

wherein the electrical function module comprises a proximity sensor and/or a motion sensor, which is activated by approaching the proximity sensor and/or the motion sensor, or which is activated by a swiping motion over the proximity sensor and/or the motion sensor;

wherein, in the cover plate of the plastic body, the electrical function module including the proximity sensor and/or the motion sensor underlies the cover plate of the plastic body and the electrical function module is disposed adjacent the back side of the plastic body; and

wherein the plastic skin, the foam, and the cover plate of the plastic body are light transmissive to light emitted from the electrical function module.

16. An interior trim part for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a cover comprising a decorative layer;

wherein the decorative layer is a plastic skin, wherein the plastic skin is formed of at least one of PVC, PU, TPU, TPE and TPO;

a plastic body comprising a top side, a back side and a cover plate;

wherein the top side of the plastic body at the cover plate underlies the plastic skin and is disposed adjacent the plastic skin;

an electrical function module equipped to emit and receive light through the cover plate of the plastic body and the plastic skin;

wherein the electrical function module comprises a proximity sensor and/or a motion sensor, which is activated by approaching the proximity sensor and/or the motion sensor, or which is activated by a swiping motion over the proximity sensor and/or the motion sensor;

wherein the electrical function module including the proximity sensor and/or the motion sensor underlies the cover plate of the plastic body and the electrical function module is disposed adjacent the back side of the plastic body; and

wherein the plastic skin and the cover plate of the plastic body are light transmissive to light emitted from the electrical function module.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 067006/0846. Recorded Jun 6, 2025
From: BLUE TORCH FINANCE LLC
To: INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS GROUP NORTH AMERICA, INC.; INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS GROUP GMBH
Reel/Frame 071494/0946 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 057569/0893. Recorded Jun 6, 2025
From: BLUE TORCH FINANCE LLC
To: INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS GROUP NORTH AMERICA, INC.; INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS GROUP GMBH
Reel/Frame 071494/0829 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 063121/0799. Recorded Jun 6, 2025
From: BLUE TORCH FINANCE LLC
To: INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS GROUP NORTH AMERICA, INC.; INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS GROUP GMBH
Reel/Frame 071494/0928 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 12, 2025
From: INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS GROUP GMBH
To: INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS GROUP NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 070188/0332 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Feb 10, 2025
From: AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS GROUP GMBH
To: AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS GROUP GMBH
Reel/Frame 070167/0268 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 20, 2023
From: INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS GROUP GMBH
To: BLUE TORCH FINANCE LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 063121/0799 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 3, 2021
From: SEEGERS, HUIB; RIJPKEMA, HENK; CANNON, CARTER SCOTT
To: INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS GROUP GMBH
Reel/Frame 057065/0972 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2016 114 272.7 · Aug 2, 2016 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15665588 · Aug 1, 2017
Related Publication 20210300266A1 · Sep 30, 2021