NON-ELECTRICAL METHODS FOR ILLUMINATION OF AIRBAG EMBLEMS

• US 20120001406A1
• Filed: 02/09/2009
• Published: 01/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Paxton, Donald J., Nebel, Raimund, Bokhari, Nadeem
• Application Number:
  US13/148,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20120001406A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.3
• 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: G09F 13/20 with luminescent surfaces or parts luminescent compositions C09K11/00; light sources using luminescence F21K2/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles

Abstract

Methods for illuminating (backlighting) an emblem on a steering wheel cover or other indicia within a vehicle include the use of a material that is self-illuminated without electricity. This can involve using self-luminous microspheres or phosphorescent additive materials. Such materials will not be illuminated during the daylight, but when night falls (or other periods of relative darkness), they will illuminate the emblem or other indicia. These materials may be added directly to the plastic that is used to make the emblem.

Claims

1. An airbag apparatus comprising:

an emblem comprising a metallic layer;

self-luminous microspheres that illuminate the emblem.

2. An airbag apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the emblem is made of a plastic material, wherein the self-luminous microspheres are added to the plastic material.

3. An airbag apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the amount of the self-luminous microspheres is less than 20% of the total composition of the plastic.

4. An airbag apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the self-luminous microspheres are added to a paint that has been added to the emblem.

5. An airbag apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the emblem is added to a steering wheel cover.

6. An airbag apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the metallic layer hides the illumination of the self-luminous microspheres during daylight hours.

7. An airbag apparatus as in claim 6 wherein the metallic layer is a translucent chrome layer.

8. A vehicle component comprising a plastic material, the plastic material including a quantity of self-luminous microspheres that illuminate the plastic material during periods of relative darkness.

9. A vehicle component of claim 8 further comprising a translucent metallic layer positioned over the microspheres, the translucent metallic layer hiding the illumination of the self-luminous microspheres during daylight hours.

10. A vehicle component of claim 9 wherein the translucent metallic layer comprises translucent chrome.

11. A vehicle apparatus comprising:

an indicia comprising a plastic material;

one or more phosphorescent additives added to the plastic material, the additives operating to absorb light during periods of daylight and to emit light during periods relative of darkness, wherein the emission of light operates to illuminate the indicia.

12. An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the indicia is added to an airbag cover.

13. An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the indicia further comprises a coating on the indicia that gives the indicia a metallic look during the periods of daylight.

14. An apparatus as in claim 13 wherein the coating is a translucent metallic layer.

15. An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein two or more phosphorescent materials are used, thereby giving the indicia a multi-colored appearance when illuminated.

16. An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the indicia is a telltale.

17. An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the indicia is an emblem.

18. A vehicle indicia comprising a plastic material, a quantity of self-luminous microspheres or phosphorescent material that is added to the plastic material that illuminates the plastic material without electricity during periods of relative darkness.

19. An indicia as in claim 18 wherein the self-luminous material is added to a paint that is applied to the plastic material.

20. An indicia as in claim 18 wherein the self-luminous material comprises self-luminous microspheres.

21. An indicia as in claim 18 where in the self-luminous material comprises a phosphorescent additive.