Decorative covering for an interior trim component

• US 7,159,914 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grupo Antolin-Irausa, S.A.
• Original Assignee: Intier Automotive, Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Svenson, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Kiran B.
• Application Number:
  US11/093,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20050225113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 296/1.08, 296/39.1, 296/146.7, 527/165, 428/31, 428/187, 428/204, 428/195.1, 428/192
• US Class Current: 296/1.08
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/02 Internal Trim mouldings ; Internal Ledges; Wall liners for passenger compartments; Roof liners B60R13/01 takes precedence ; padded linings for the vehicle interior B60R21/04; arrangements or adaptations of floor mats or carpets in vehicles B60N3/04; internal lining for trains B61D17/18
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0281 made of a plurality of visible parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories

Abstract

A decorative covering for an internal trim component for a vehicle comprises an outer surface that includes a gradient characteristic when referenced to an adjacent trim component. The gradient characteristic may comprise a plurality of texture gradient zones and/or a plurality of color gradients. A method of manufacturing the decorative covering and the internal trim component with the decorative covering is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system to associate a surface of an interior vehicular trim component with a surface adjacent vehicular components, said system comprising:

an interior trim component having a surface covering defining an outer surface having a color and a texture; and

a second vehicular component having an outer surface, wherein said outer surface of said second vehicular component is adjacent to said outer surface of said interior trim component,

wherein said outer surface of said outer surface covering of said interior trim component includes one or both of (a) a color gradient characteristic that transitions the color between first and second different colors, wherein said second color is arranged on a portion of said outer surface that is most proximate to said outer surface of said second vehicular component and is generally the same as a color of a portion of said outer surface of said second vehicular component that is most proximate to said outer surface of said interior trim component, and (b) a texture gradient characteristic that transitions the texture between first and second different textures, wherein said second texture is arranged on a portion of said outer surface that is most proximate to said outer surface of second vehicular component and is generally the same as a texture of a portion of said outer surface of said second vehicular component that is most proximate to said outer surface of said interior trim component.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the gradient characteristic is a texture gradient characteristic that comprises a plurality of texture gradient zones.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of texture gradient zones transition from a first texture gradient zone having a first texture to a second texture gradient zone having a second, different texture.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the gradient characteristic is a color gradient characteristic that comprises a plurality of color gradients.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of color gradients transition from a first color gradient having a first color to a second color gradient having a second, different color.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface covering is integrally formed with the interior trim component.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface covering is adhered to an outer surface of the interior trim component.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic is a texture gradient characteristic and the transition between said first and second different textures is uniform.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the transition is linear.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic is a color gradient characteristic and the transition between said first and second different color is uniform.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the transition is linear.