IP Library Granted Patent US 8,777,466
Granted Patent B2
US 8,777,466 · App. 13/060,625 · Granted Jul 15, 2014

Automobile ornament panel including an icon and a light-transmitting material

Inventors: Jean-Francois Oeuvrard (Cergy Pontoise, FR); Godefroy Beau (La Garenne Colombes, FR)
Assignee: Faurecia Interieur Industrie
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,777,466
App. No.
13/060,625
Granted
Jul 15, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A panel includes at least one icon area ( 8 ), the area ( 8 ) being illuminated by a light source ( 10 ) placed under the ornament panel, the ornament panel ( 1 ) including a translucent skin ( 2 ) forming the outer surface ( 6 ) of the ornament panel and a substrate layer ( 4 ) placed against the skin ( 2 ), the substrate layer ( 4 ) including an opening ( 14 ) placed at least between the light source ( 10 ) and the icon area ( 8 ). A light-transmitting material ( 18 ) is placed in at least part of the opening ( 14 ), the material ( 18 ) being placed in a translucent substrate element ( 20 ) placed in the opening ( 14 ) between the material ( 18 ) and the light source ( 10 ).

Claims (30)

1. A trim panel ( 1 ) for a motor vehicle, comprising: at least one pictogram area ( 8 ), said area ( 8 ) being illuminated by a light source ( 10 ) arranged under the trim panel, the trim panel ( 1 ) including a translucent skin ( 2 ) forming the outer surface ( 6 ) of the trim panel and a substrate layer ( 4 ) arranged against the skin ( 2 ), said substrate layer ( 4 ) including an opening ( 14 ) arranged at least between the light source ( 10 ) and the pictogram area ( 8 ),

wherein a light-transmitting material ( 18 ) is arranged in at least part of said opening ( 14 ), said material ( 18 ) being arranged in a translucent substrate member ( 20 ) arranged in the opening ( 14 ) between said material ( 18 ) and said light source ( 10 ),

wherein the light transmitting material ( 18 ) is a gel, and

wherein the substrate member ( 20 ) is hollow such that the gel is poured inside the substrate member.

2. The trim panel according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate member ( 20 ) is bowl shaped.

3. The trim panel according to claim 2 , wherein the substrate member ( 20 ) is made from a smooth transparent material.

4. The trim panel according to claim 2 , wherein the light-transmitting material ( 18 ) is a transparent polyurethane or silicone gel.

5. The trim panel according to claim 2 , wherein the light-transmitting material ( 18 ) completely fills the opening ( 14 ) between the substrate element ( 20 ) and the translucent skin ( 2 ), said skin ( 2 ) being applied directly on said material ( 18 ).

6. The trim panel according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate member ( 20 ) is made from a smooth transparent material.

7. The trim panel according to claim 1 , wherein the light-transmitting material ( 18 ) is a transparent polyurethane or silicone gel.

8. The trim panel according to claim 1 , wherein the light-transmitting material ( 18 ) completely fills the opening ( 14 ) between the substrate element ( 20 ) and the translucent skin ( 2 ), said skin ( 2 ) being applied directly on said material ( 18 ).

9. A method for making a trim panel according to claim 1 , comprising the following steps:

making a substrate member ( 20 )/light-transmitting material ( 18 ) assembly by pouring said material ( 18 ) in said substrate member ( 20 );

arranging said assembly against the translucent skin ( 2 ) opposite the pictogram area ( 8 ); and

making the substrate layer ( 4 ) around said assembly.

10. The production method according to claim 9 , wherein the step for making the substrate member ( 20 )/light-transmitting material assembly ( 18 ) comprises a step of depositing a film ( 24 ) on the surface ( 22 ) of the transmitting material ( 18 ) intended to be in contact with the translucent skin ( 2 ), said film ( 24 ) protecting said material ( 18 ) and being removed before arranging the assembly against the translucent skin ( 2 ).

11. The production method according to claim 7 , wherein the step of making the substrate member ( 20 )/transmitting material assembly ( 18 ) comprises a step of arranging a protective member ( 26 ) against the face ( 28 ) of the substrate member ( 20 ) intended to be positioned opposite the light source ( 10 ).

12. The production method according to claim 11 , wherein the step of making the substrate layer ( 4 ) comprises a foaming step on the skin ( 2 ) around the substrate member ( 20 )/transmitting member assembly ( 18 ), the foam then being pierced opposite the assembly up to the protective member ( 26 ), the protective member then being removed so as to obtain the trim panel ( 1 ).

13. The production method according to claim 9 , wherein the step of making the substrate member ( 20 )/transmitting material assembly ( 18 ) comprises a step of arranging a protective member ( 26 ) against the face ( 28 ) of the substrate member ( 20 ) intended to be positioned opposite the light source ( 10 ).

14. The production method according to claim 13 , wherein the step of making the substrate layer ( 4 ) comprises a foaming step on the skin ( 2 ) around the substrate member ( 20 )/transmitting member assembly ( 18 ), the foam then being pierced opposite the assembly up to the protective member ( 26 ), the protective member then being removed so as to obtain the trim panel ( 1 ).

15. A motor vehicle comprising a trim panel ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , said panel being applied against at least one portion of a cab of the vehicle.

16. A trim panel ( 1 ), for a motor vehicle, with at least one pictogram area ( 8 ) to be illuminated by a light source ( 10 ), the trim panel ( 1 ) comprising:

an outer surface ( 6 ) formed of a translucent skin ( 2 );

a substrate layer ( 4 ) arranged against the translucent skin ( 2 ), said substrate layer ( 4 ) having an opening ( 14 ) therein arranged between the light source ( 10 ) and the pictogram area ( 8 );

a hollow translucent substrate member ( 20 ) arranged inside the opening ( 14 ) and between the light source ( 10 ) and the pictogram area ( 8 ), the hollow translucent substrate member ( 20 ) forming a barrier that divides the opening ( 14 ) into two portions; and

a light-transmitting material ( 18 ) arranged inside a space enclosed by the hollow translucent substrate member ( 20 ) between the hollow translucent substrate element ( 20 ) and the translucent skin ( 2 ),

wherein the light transmitting material ( 18 ) is a gel that is poured inside the hollow translucent substrate member ( 20 ).

17. The trim panel according to claim 16 , wherein the hollow translucent substrate member ( 20 ) is bowl shaped.

18. The trim panel according to claim 17 , wherein the light-transmitting material ( 18 ) completely fills the opening ( 14 ) between the hollow translucent substrate element ( 20 ) and the translucent skin ( 2 ), said translucent skin ( 2 ) in direct contact with said light-transmitting material ( 18 ).

19. The trim panel according to claim 16 , wherein the light-transmitting material ( 18 ) completely fills the opening ( 14 ) between the hollow translucent substrate element ( 20 ) and the translucent skin ( 2 ), said translucent skin ( 2 ) in direct contact with said light-transmitting material ( 18 ).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 1, 2011
From: OEUVRARD, JEAN-FRANCOIS; BEAU, GODEFROY
To: FAURECIA INTERIEUR INDUSTRIE
Reel/Frame 025880/0315 →
Priority Claims (1)
FR 08 55818 · Aug 29, 2008 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110157906A1 · Jun 30, 2011