Cold formed glass applique

1. An applique assembly comprising:

a substrate comprising a first non-planar surface and a second surface, the first non-planar surface comprising a groove defining a recess, the groove extending at least partially around an edge of the recess; and

a glass sheet having a thickness of less than about 3 mm and located within the recess;

wherein the groove has a depth substantially equal to the thickness of the glass sheet,

wherein the glass sheet is formed into the recess via a cold-forming process to conform to the first non-planar surface, the glass sheet comprising a bending stress that is imparted by the cold-forming process, at least a portion of the glass sheet being retained by the groove, and

wherein the second surface of the substrate is configured to attach to an exterior surface of a vehicle such that the applique assembly covers at least part of a structural frame of the vehicle.

2. The applique assembly of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a plastic substrate, a molded plastic substrate, an extruded plastic substrate, or a metal substrate.

3. The applique assembly of claim 1 , wherein the assembly does not comprise an adhesive layer attaching the substrate to the glass sheet.

4. The applique assembly of claim 1 , wherein the glass sheet is selected from the group consisting of an aluminosilicate glass, an alkali-aluminosilicate glass, a borosilicate glass, an alkali-borosilicate glass, an aluminoborosilicate glass, and an alkali-aluminoborosilicates glass.

5. The applique assembly of claim 1 , wherein the glass sheet is chemically strengthened.

6. The applique assembly of claim 1 , wherein the glass is chosen from clear, colored, and opaque glasses.

7. The applique assembly of claim 1 , wherein the glass sheet has a thickness ranging from about 0.1 mm to about 2 mm.

8. The applique assembly of claim 1 , wherein the glass sheet has a thickness ranging from about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm.

9. The applique assembly of claim 1 , wherein the glass sheet has a compressive stress greater than about 100 MPa and a depth of layer of compressive stress greater than about 10 microns.

10. The applique assembly of claim 1 , wherein the glass sheet has a compressive stress greater than about 700 MPa and a depth of layer of compressive stress greater than about 40 microns.

11. The applique assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second surface is attached to a pillar of the vehicle.

12. The applique assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional layer that is selected from the group consisting of clear and colored anti-splinter films, adhesive films, and decorative films.

13. The applique assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional element that is selected from the group consisting of a light source, touch sensor, antennae, and combinations thereof.

14. An applique assembly comprising:

a substrate comprising a first non-planar surface and a second surface, the first non-planar surface comprising a groove defining a recess, the groove extending at least partially around an edge of the recess; and

a strengthened glass sheet having a thickness of less than about 3 mm and located within the recess;

wherein the groove has a depth substantially equal to the thickness of the glass sheet,

wherein the glass sheet is formed into the recess via a cold-forming process to conform to the first non-planar surface, the glass sheet comprising a bending stress that is imparted by the cold-forming process, at least a portion of the glass sheet being retained in the groove by frictional forces,

wherein the strengthened glass sheet comprises a compressive stress greater than about 100 MPa and a depth of layer of compressive stress greater than about 10 microns,

wherein the second surface of the substrate is configured to attach to an exterior surface of a vehicle, and

wherein the applique assembly is a decorative cover to cover at least part of a structural or functional element of the vehicle from view.

15. The applique assembly of claim 14 , wherein the substrate comprises a metal or a plastic.

16. The applique assembly of claim 14 , wherein the substrate has a thickness substantially equal to or greater than the thickness of the glass sheet.

17. The applique assembly of claim 14 having a thickness in the range from about 0.2 mm to about 10 mm.