Assembly for the illuminated display of a logo

• US 20080090031A1
• Filed: 10/11/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Hirzmann, Guido
• Granted Patent: US 7,866,858 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/31
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/005 Manufacturers' emblems, name plates, bonnet ornaments, mascots or the like; Mounting means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21543 with emblems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21656 Steering wheel covers or similar cup-shaped covers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/227 Electroluminescent displays for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles

Abstract

An assembly for the illuminated display of a logo (12) in a motor vehicle includes a support (14) and at least one light source (24) which is arranged behind or adjacent to the support (14). The logo (12) can be represented by means of an emblem (10), particularly an opaque emblem.

Claims

1. An assembly for illuminated display of a logo in a motor vehicle, the assembly including a support and at least one light source which is arranged behind or adjacent to the support.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, comprising an emblem representing the logo.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein the emblem is opaque.

4. The assembly according to claim 3, further comprising a photoconductor having light deflection surfaces which direct light of the light source onto a rear side of the emblem.

5. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the photoconductor has a light outlet area which lies opposite rear edge regions of the emblem.

6. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein the light outlet area does not project laterally over the rear edge regions of the emblem.

7. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein edge regions of the emblem do not directly adjoin the photoconductor.

8. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the support is an opaque article produced by injection molding around the photoconductor.

9. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the light source is arranged on a printed circuit board which is held in a base of the assembly.

10. The assembly according to claim 4, comprising a diffusor for scattered coupling in of light of the light source into the photoconductor.

11. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein the light source is arranged centrally under the logo, the diffusor being arranged directly over the light source.

12. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light source includes an electroluminescence foil, the support being arranged between the electroluminescence foil and the logo and being transparent.

13. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein a surface of the support facing the logo is coated with an opaque enamel, the enamel having gaps at specific sites.

14. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein a transparent plastic injection-molded member is arranged over the logo, into which light of the light source is coupled in.

15. The assembly according to claim 14, wherein the light of the light source is coupled in at least one of a) laterally past the logo and b) between logo structures into the transparent plastic injection-molded member.

16. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein the transparent injection-molded member has light-deflecting bevels.

17. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the support is transparent and structured on a side facing the logo corresponding to one of the logo and an emblem representing the logo.

18. The assembly according to claim 17, wherein an opaque emblem lies on the transparent support.

19. The assembly according to claim 17, wherein the support has elevated structures on the side facing the logo.

20. The assembly according to claim 17, wherein the side of the support facing the logo is partially printed.

21. The assembly according to claim 17, wherein light of the light source is coupled in laterally into the support.

22. The assembly according to claim 17, wherein a surface of the support facing the logo is coated with one of a reflection foil and a reflecting enamel.

23. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein the emblem is arranged partially behind the support and is transparent.

24. The assembly according to claim 23, wherein the support is opaque.

25. The assembly according to claim 24, wherein the emblem has elevated structures which are raised up from the support.

26. The assembly according to claim 24, wherein the emblem is partially PVD-coated.

27. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the support is transparent and has structures representing the logo.

28. The assembly according to claim 27, wherein the support is one of printed and coated so as to be opaque on a side facing an observer, with exception of the structures.

29. The assembly according to claim 27, wherein the structures are transparent and one of printed and coated so as to be colored.

30. The assembly according to claim 27, wherein the support is injection-molded around with a transparent plastic.

31. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein a visible transparent part of the assembly is at least partially PVD-coated.

32. An airbag cover in a motor vehicle, comprising an assembly for illuminated display of a logo in a motor vehicle, the assembly including a support and at least one light source which is arranged behind or adjacent to the support.