LUMINOUS INTERIOR TRIM MATERIAL

• US 20100084575A1
• Filed: 11/07/2007
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auria Solutions Uk I Ltd.
• Original Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Inventors: Simmons, Sean, Whitesell, Mitchell, Wilson, Ernie
• Granted Patent: US 8,408,766 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/492.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/20 for lighting specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments; mounted on specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments lighting for dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/30 for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/68 using ultraviolet light

Abstract

The present invention relates to surfacing material which may emit radiation in response to exposure to a given light source. Such surfacing material may be polymeric based, and e.g., fiber based, and may be used in relatively low-light areas, including low-light areas as applied to vehicular applications. The fiber-based or molded materials may emit radiation in response to exposure to a selected light source and may be used in relatively dimly lit areas. The materials may also provide a visible contrast to other objects located adjacent their surface which do not emit radiation. Optical brighteners and luminous particles may be included in the materials to make them luminous.

Claims

1. A system for illuminating an area in a vehicle, comprising:

a source of ultraviolet light wherein said source of ultraviolet light illuminates at wavelengths of about 4 nm to 400 nm and has a wattage of 1.5 to 30; and

a surfacing material which has been treated with one of an optical brightener or whitening agent that emits radiation when exposed to said ultraviolet light source, wherein said surfacing material is placed 10-60 inches from said ultraviolet light source.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said surfacing material comprises one or more of fibers, yarn, a non-woven, a knit, a web, flock and carpet.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said optical brightener comprises a stilbene, a coumarin or a pyrazoline brightener.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said whitening agent comprises 2,2′

-(2,5-thiophenediyl)bis(5-tert-butylbenzoxazole).

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said whitening agent comprises sulphonated distyryl biphenyl.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said optical brightener or said whitening agent is present at about 0.1-5.0% by weight of said surfacing material.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said surfacing material is positioned in one or more of a vehicle trunk, vehicle foot well, vehicle door sill, vehicle door handle or vehicle storage area.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein source of ultraviolet light illuminates at 320-400 nm.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said surfacing material comprises a plurality of fibers which have been treated with one of an optical brightener or whitening agent and a plurality of fibers which have not been treated with one of an optical brightener or whitening agent.

10. A system for illuminating an area in a vehicle, comprising:

a source of ultraviolet light wherein said source of ultraviolet light illuminates at wavelengths of about 4 nm to 400 nm and has a wattage of 1.5 to 30; and

a surfacing material which has been treated with one of an optical brightener or whitening agent that emits radiation when exposed to said ultraviolet light source, wherein said surfacing material is placed 10-60 inches from said ultraviolet light source, wherein said surfacing material comprises one or more of fibers, yarn, a non-woven, a knit, a web, flock and carpet and wherein said optical brightener or said whitening agent is present at about 0.1-5.0% by weight of said surfacing material

11. A method of illuminating a dark area in a vehicle, comprising:

providing a source of ultraviolet light, wherein said ultraviolet light source illuminates at wavelengths of about 4 nm to 400 nm and has a wattage of 1.5 to 30;

providing a surfacing material which and treating with one of an optical brightener or whitening agent that emits radiation when exposed to said ultraviolet light source wherein said surface material;

placing said surfacing material 10-60 inches from said ultraviolet light source.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said treating of said surface material comprises spraying said one of an optical brightener or whitening agent onto said surfacing material.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said optical brightener comprises a stilbene, a coumarin or a pyrazoline.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said whitening agent comprises 2,2′

-(2,5-thiophenediyl)bis(5-tert-butylbenzoxazole).

15. The method of claim 11 wherein said whitening agent comprises sulphonated distyryl biphenyl.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said surfacing material comprises one or more of fibers, yarn, a non-woven, a knit, a web, flock and carpet and wherein said surfacing material is dyed in a dye bath and said dye bath includes one of an optical brightener or whitening agent.