LASER ETCHED GRAPHIC FOR A DECORATIVE SURFACE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of etching a graphic onto a surface comprising the steps of:
- applying a graphic coating onto a base surface;
applying a transparent layer over the graphic coating;
applying a background coating over the transparent layer; and
removing portions of the background coating and the transparent layer in a desired shape of the graphic to create a path for light through the graphic coating and the transparent layer.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A disclosed vehicle instrument panel includes a control panel having illuminated buttons formed with an illuminatable decorative surface. The disclosed decorative surface includes a translucent layer disposed between a background layer and a graphic layer. Material is removed from the background layer to reveal the underlying translucent and graphic layers. The depth within which material is removed is determined to fall within a thickness of the translucent layer such that any variation in depth is accommodated within the translucent layer.
8 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of etching a graphic onto a surface comprising the steps of:
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applying a graphic coating onto a base surface; applying a transparent layer over the graphic coating; applying a background coating over the transparent layer; and removing portions of the background coating and the transparent layer in a desired shape of the graphic to create a path for light through the graphic coating and the transparent layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An illuminated backlit structure comprising:
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a graphic layer that is illuminatable; a background layer that blocks the transmission of light, wherein the background layer includes a shaped opening through which the graphic layer is visible; a transparent layer disposed between the graphic layer and the background layer; and a light source for illuminating the graphic layer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A backlit decorative structure comprising:
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a substrate; a first color layer coated onto the substrate; a graphic layer disposed over the first color layer; a second color layer coated over the graphic layer; a background layer coated over the second color layer, the background layer including removed portions through which the second color layer is visible to define a desired graphic; and a light source for illuminating the desired graphic. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification