Vehicle trim components

• US 10,035,473 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2016
• Issued: 07/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2016
• 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., Musleh, Michael A., Myszka, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess, Bruce H
• Application Number:
  US15/343,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20180126922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 428 31, 4281951
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/005 Manufacturers' emblems, name plates, bonnet ornaments, mascots or the like; Mounting means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/02 Internal Trim mouldings ; Internal Ledges; Wall liners for passenger compartments; Roof liners B60R13/01 takes precedence ; padded linings for the vehicle interior B60R21/04; arrangements or adaptations of floor mats or carpets in vehicles B60N3/04; internal lining for trains B61D17/18
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0256 Dashboard liners
• 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

Abstract

A vehicle includes an instrument panel. A trim piece is positioned on the instrument panel and includes a surface defining a pattern. The pattern includes a body portion and a border portion. A diffraction grating is positioned within the boarder portion. The diffraction grating has a thickness of between about 250 nm to about 1000 nm.

Claims

1. A trim piece positioned on an instrument panel, comprising:

a surface defining a pattern, the pattern defining a body portion and a border portion, wherein the border portion includes a plurality of sections separating the body portion into first and second portions; and

a diffraction grating integrally defined by the border portion, wherein the diffraction grating has a thickness of between about 250 nm to about 1000 nm.

2. The trim piece positioned on an instrument panel of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the diffraction grating is between about 500 nm and about 750 nm.

3. The trim piece positioned on an instrument panel of claim 2, wherein a period of the diffraction grating is between about 50 nm and about 5 microns.

4. The trim piece positioned on an instrument panel of claim 1, wherein the diffraction grating extends over a length of the border portion to outline the pattern.

5. The trim piece positioned on an instrument panel of claim 4, wherein the body portion is substantially free of the diffraction grating.

6. The trim piece positioned on an instrument panel of claim 1, further comprising:

a photoluminescent structure positioned proximate the pattern.

7. The trim piece positioned on an instrument panel of claim 1, wherein the pattern defines at least one of a logo and a simulated material.

8. The trim piece positioned on an instrument panel of claim 7, wherein the pattern repeats across the trim piece.

9. An exterior trim component, comprising:

a surface defining a pattern, wherein the pattern comprises a body portion having first and second sections and a border portion separating the first and second portions of the body portion; and

a diffraction grating externally positioned within the border portion, wherein the diffraction grating comprises a plurality of ridges having a thickness of between about 250 nm to about 1000 nm and a period of the diffraction grating is between about 50 nm and about 5 microns.

10. The exterior trim component of claim 9, wherein the diffraction grating extends over a length of the border portion to outline the pattern.

11. The exterior trim component of claim 9, wherein the body portion is substantially free of the diffraction grating.

12. The exterior trim component of claim 9, further comprising:

a photoluminescent structure positioned proximate the pattern.

13. The exterior trim component of claim 9, wherein the pattern defines a logo.

14. The exterior trim component of claim 9, wherein the pattern defines a simulated material.

15. A vehicle trim component, comprising:

a surface defining a pattern, wherein the pattern comprises a body portion and a border portion, the border portion comprising first and second border sections that intersect at an offsetting angle to at least partially define the body portion; and

a diffraction grating positioned within the border portion, wherein the diffraction grating extends over a length of the border portion to outline the pattern.

16. The trim component of claim 15, wherein the body portion is substantially free of the diffraction grating.

17. The trim component of claim 16, wherein the diffraction grating is configured to diffract incident light.

18. The trim component of claim 17, wherein the pattern defines a logo.

19. The trim component of claim 18, wherein the diffraction grating comprises a plurality of ridges having a thickness of between about 250 nm to about 1000 nm and a period of the diffraction grating is between about 50 nm and about 5 microns.

20. The trim component of claim 17, wherein the pattern defines a simulated material.