Illuminated trim assembly

• US 10,023,100 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2015
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Surman, James J., Buttolo, Pietro, Maciuca, Dragos
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Anh
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, GLENN D
• Application Number:
  US14/968,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20170166107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 362511, 362512, 362551, 362581
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0017 Devices integrating an element dedicated to another function
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2615 mounted on the vehicle body, e.g. with magnets
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/326 on or for wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/04 External Ornamental or guard strips; Ornamental inscriptive devices thereon fastening strips or bars to sheets or plates by means of clips F16B5/12
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/14 the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements, reflectors and refractors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/32 characterised by the arrangement of the photoluminescent material
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/38 Combination of two or more photoluminescent elements of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/40 with provision for controlling spectral properties, e.g. colour, or intensity
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/001 the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0051 Diffusing sheet or layer

Abstract

A vehicle trim assembly is disclosed herein. The vehicle trim assembly includes a member having a transmissive member portion therein. A light source is configured to emit light through the light transmissive portion. A first photoluminescent structure is disposed within the member. A second photoluminescent structure is separated from the member and operably coupled with the light source. The first and second photoluminescent structures are configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source.

Claims

1. A vehicle trim assembly, comprising:

a seal disposed around a periphery of a member, the member defining a light transmissive portion disposed between a first, opaque portion vehicle outward of the transmissive portion and a second, opaque portion vehicle downward of the transmissive portion;

a light source operably coupled to a light guide, wherein the light guide transmits light along the member and the seal prevents light leakage between the member and a body panel; and

a first photoluminescent structure disposed on the light guide.

2. The vehicle trim assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of printed LEDs.

3. The vehicle trim assembly of claim 1, wherein the first photoluminescent structure comprises at least one photoluminescent material configured to down convert an inputted light received from at least a portion of the light source into a visible light that is outputted to a viewable portion.

4. The vehicle trim assembly of claim 1, wherein the member extends around a wheel-well opening of a vehicle, wherein the first portion of the member extends substantially upwardly along a vertical portion of a body panel and the second portion extends substantially horizontally into the wheel-well opening of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle trim assembly of claim 1, wherein the light guide is integrally formed with the member such that the member.

6. The vehicle trim assembly of claim 3, wherein the inputted light comprises one of blue light, violet light, and UV light.

7. The vehicle trim assembly of claim 4, wherein the light guide includes an exterior surface, the photoluminescent structure disposed in a first portion of the exterior surface and a second portion of the exterior surface is free from the photoluminescent structure such that inputted and outputted light are emitted from the member.

8. A trim assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a member having a light transmissive portion, disposed between a first portion extending substantially upwardly along a body panel and a second portion extending substantially horizontally into a wheel-well, the light transmissive portion having a substantially uniform thickness with the first and second portions;

a light source configured to emit light through the light transmissive portion; and

a luminescent structure operably coupled with the light transmissive portion.

9. The trim assembly for a vehicle of claim 8, wherein the luminescent structure is disposed within the light transmissive portion.

10. The trim assembly for a vehicle of claim 8, wherein the light source comprises a printed LED.

11. The trim assembly for a vehicle of claim 9, wherein the luminescent structure is disposed on an exterior portion of the light transmissive portion such that inputted light and outputted light are emitted from separated locations of the light transmissive portion.

12. The trim assembly for a vehicle of claim 9, wherein a light guide is operably disposed between the light source and the light transmissive portion.

13. The trim assembly for a vehicle of claim 10, wherein the printed LED includes a viewable portion that correlates to the light transmissive portion of the member, wherein the printed LED and viewable portion are integrally formed with the member.

14. A vehicle trim assembly, comprising:

a member having a light transmissive portion therein, the light transmissive portion disposed laterally outward of a wheel well;

a light source configured to direct light in a vehicle upward direction and through the light transmissive portion;

a first photoluminescent structure disposed within a portion of the member and configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source; and

a second photoluminescent structure disposed within the wheel well and configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light from the light source.

15. The vehicle trim assembly of claim 14, wherein the light sources comprise a plurality of printed LEDs.

16. The vehicle trim assembly of claim 14, wherein the light transmissive portion is configured as a light guide that is operably coupled with the light source.

17. The vehicle trim assembly of claim 14, wherein the member extends circumferentially around a vehicle wheel-well and the second photoluminescent structure is disposed on a vehicle wheel.

18. The vehicle trim assembly of claim 14, wherein the light source emits a first wavelength of an inputted light to excite the first photoluminescent structure and a second wavelength of inputted light to excite the second photoluminescent structure.

19. The vehicle trim assembly of claim 15, wherein the first and second photoluminescent structures each comprise at least one photoluminescent material configured to down convert an inputted light received from at least a portion of the light sources into a visible light.

20. The vehicle trim assembly of claim 19, wherein the inputted light comprises one of blue light, violet light, and UV light.