Illuminated Bezel of Charge Port for Electric Vehicle

• US 20100246198A1
• Filed: 03/25/2010
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: HOOK, Richard R., Dingman, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,317,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/459
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/00 Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor for lighting vehicle interior B60Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2661 mounted on parts having other functions on wheels B60Q1/326
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A pocket assembly is provided for mounting at a recess of a vehicle body where a charge port of the vehicle is located, the pocket assembly has a body mountable to a vehicle, wherein the body has a base portion and a bezel portion, at least one outer layer established at an outer surface of said bezel portion, wherein the at least one outer layer is viewable at the side of the vehicle when the charge port is being accessed by a user of the vehicle and an illumination source disposed at or behind said bezel portion, and an illumination source being operable to illuminate indicia established at or on the bezel portion.

Claims

1. A pocket assembly for mounting at a recess of a vehicle body where a charge port of the vehicle is located, said pocket assembly comprising:

a body mountable to a vehicle, wherein said body comprises a base portion and a bezel portion;

at least one outer layer established at an outer surface of said bezel portion, wherein said at least one outer layer is viewable at the side of the vehicle when the charge port is being accessed by a user of the vehicle; and

an illumination source disposed at or behind said bezel portion, said illumination source being operable to illuminate indicia established at or on said bezel portion.

2. The pocket assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of said bezel portion and said at least one outer layer comprises a translucent colored material and wherein said indicia is illuminated by transmitting illumination through said translucent colored material.

3. The pocket assembly of claim 1, wherein said body comprises a colored polymeric material and wherein said at least one outer layer comprises an opaque coating with said indicia formed therethrough, whereby said indicia is illuminated in the color of said body when said illumination device is activated.

4. The pocket assembly of claim 3, wherein said at least one outer layer comprises a dark opaque coating established on an outer surface of said bezel portion and a lighter coating established on said dark opaque coating, and wherein said indicia is established through said dark opaque coating and said lighter coating.

5. The pocket assembly of claim 4, wherein said at least one outer layer comprises a translucent outer protective coating established over said lighter coating.

6. The pocket assembly of claim 3, wherein illumination from said illumination source is transmitted along and within said body portion to illuminate an inner end of said body portion opposite said bezel portion.

7. The pocket assembly of claim 1, wherein said body comprises a clear polymeric material and wherein said at least one outer layer comprises a translucent colored layer with at least one opaque coating established over said translucent colored layer and with said indicia formed through said at least one opaque coating, whereby said indicia is illuminated in the color of said translucent colored layer when said illumination device is activated.

8. The pocket assembly of claim 7, wherein said at least one opaque coating comprises a dark opaque coating established on an outer surface of said translucent colored layer and a lighter coating established on said dark opaque coating, and wherein said indicia is established through said dark opaque coating and said lighter coating.

9. The pocket assembly of claim 8, wherein said at least one outer layer comprises a translucent outer protective coating established over said lighter coating.

10. The pocket assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one outer layer comprises an appliqué

that is attached to said bezel portion, and wherein said appliqué

has said indicia established at least partially therethrough.

11. The pocket assembly of claim 10, wherein said body is insert molded to said appliqué

.

12. The pocket assembly of claim 10, wherein said appliqué

comprises a translucent substantially clear material and wherein said body comprises a translucent colored material.

13. The pocket assembly of claim 10, wherein said appliqué

comprises a translucent colored material.

14. The pocket assembly of claim 10, wherein said appliqué

is adhered to an outer surface of said bezel portion.

15. The pocket assembly of claim 10, wherein said body comprises a stamped metallic body, and wherein said appliqué

is molded over said bezel portion.