Lining element for the interior of a vehicle

• US 20050242607A1
• Filed: 08/14/2003
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Neumann, Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/525,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20050242607A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/39.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/64 for a single lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/745 using lighting panels or mats, e.g. electro-luminescent panels, LED mats
• 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 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories

Abstract

In a lining element (1) for the interior of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, a base part (2) is provided, on its surface side facing the interior (4) of the vehicle and suitable for the output of light, with a translucent covering layer (3). According to the invention, to improve the haptic properties, the covering layer (3) is designed to be elastically compressible and preferably translucent. The base part (2) can be designed, for example, as a plate-like optical conductor (10) which is operationally associated with a separate light generator (7), for example a light-emitting diode (8). Alternatively, it is also possible to form the base part (2) directly as a light generator (7), for example by applying an electroluminescent film (18).

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A lining element for the interior of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, a base part;

a surface side facing the interior of the vehicle and suitable for emitting light; and

a translucent covering layer wherein the covering layer is designed to be elastically compressible.

17. The lining element as claimed in claim 16, wherein the base part is a light generator.

18. The lining element as claimed in claim 17, wherein an elastomer has an at least partially foamed structure.

19. The lining element as claimed in claim 18, wherein the gel-like substance is arranged between two plastic films.

20. The lining element as claimed in claim 17, wherein the base part comprises at least electroluminescent film organic light-emitting diode and poly light-emitting diode.

21. The lining element as claimed in claim 20, wherein the translucent covering layer comprised of an elastomer that is at least one of EPDM, silicone and polyurethane.

22. The lining element as claimed in claim 21, wherein the elastomer has a hardness of 20 to 70 Shore A.

23. The lining element as claimed in claim 16, wherein the base part is designed as a plate-like optical conductor, which is operationally associated with a light generator.

24. The lining element as claimed in claim 23, wherein the optical conductor is comprised of at least one of PMMA and PC, and having a structure allowing an output of light on the surface side of the optical conductor facing the interior.

25. The lining element as claimed in claim 16, wherein the covering layer comprises a layer of a gel-like substance covered toward the interior of the vehicle by a plastic film.

26. The lining element as claimed in claim 25, wherein the plastic film on the side of the interior has a thickness of 0.1 to 1.5 mm.

27. The lining element as claimed in claim 26, wherein the covering element has a thickness overall of 1.0 to 5.0 mm.

28. The lining element as claimed in claim 25 wherein the gel-like substance has a dynamic viscosity of 0.01 to 10 Pa·

s.

29. The lining element as claimed in claim 16, wherein the covering layer is designed to be translucent.

30. The lining element as claimed in claim 29, wherein the translucent covering layer has an optical transmissivity in the visible spectral range of 1 to 25%.

31. A lining element comprising:

a base part;

a surface side facing the interior of the vehicle and suitable for emitting light; and

a covering layer.

32. The lining element as claimed in claim 31, wherein the covering layer is elastically compressible.

33. The lining element as claimed in claim 31, wherein the covering layer translucent.

34. The lining element as claimed in claim 33, wherein the translucent covering layer has an optical transmissivity in the visible spectral range of 5 to 10%.

35. The lining element as claimed in claim 33, wherein the translucent covering layer comprises an elastomer comprised of an at least partially formed structure.

36. The lining element as claimed in claim 35, wherein the elastomer comprises at least one of EPDM, silicone and polyurethane.

37. The lining element as claimed in claim 35, wherein the elastomer has a hardness of approximately 40 Shore A.

38. The lining element as claimed in claim 31, wherein the covering layer comprises a layer of a gel-like substance covered toward the interior of the vehicle by means of a film.

39. The lining element as claimed in claim 38, wherein the film is comprised of plastic.

40. The lining element as claimed in claim 38, wherein the gel-like substance has a dynamic viscosity of approximately 0.1 to 1 Pa·

s.

41. The lining element as claimed in claim 38, wherein the gel-like substance is arranged between two plastic films.

42. The lining element as claimed in claim 41, wherein the plastic film has a thickness of approximately 0.5 mm to approximately 1.0 mm.

43. The lining element as claimed in claim 31, wherein the covering layer has a thickness overall of approximately 2.0 mm to approximately 3.0 mm.

44. The lining element as claimed in claim 31, wherein the base plate is a plate-like optical conductor comprised of at least one of PMMA and PC.

45. The lining element as claimed in claim 31, wherein the base part is a light generator comprised of at least one of electroluminescent film, organic light-emitting diode and poly light-emitting diode.