Plastic component having visible part and light source

• US 7,985,008 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2006
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ems-Chemie AG (Emesta Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Ems-Chemie AG (Emesta Holding AG)
• Inventors: Hala, Ralf, Kaisser, Michael, Kägi, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Ward; John A
• Application Number:
  US11/542,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20070091614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,756 Days
• Field of Search: 362/241, 362/370, 362/368, 362/403, 362326-329
• US Class Current: 362/328
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/14 lighting through the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/54 Lighting devices embedded in interior trim, e.g. in roof liners
• 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 13/04 External Ornamental or guard strips; Ornamental inscriptive devices thereon fastening strips or bars to sheets or plates by means of clips F16B5/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/014 Stabilisers against oxidation, heat, light or ozone
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2201/08 Stabilised against heat, light or radiation or oxydation
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2205/02 containing two or more polymers of the same C08L -group
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 77/00 Compositions of polyamides obtained by reactions forming a carboxylic amide link in the main chain of polyhydrazides C08L79/06; of polyamideimides or polyamide acids C08L79/08; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 77/02 Polyamides derived from omega-amino carboxylic acids or from lactams thereof C08L77/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 77/06 Polyamides derived from polyamines and polycarboxylic acids C08L77/10 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates to a plastic component having a visible part that is made in one single layer from a plastic molding compound and that comprises a transparent or translucent matrix, and having a light source that comprises one or more lamp elements, situated under the surface of the visible part. The visible part is implemented as essentially opaque in relation to daylight and transparent or translucent in relation to the light emitted by the lamp elements. The visible part also contains admixed effect pigments and defines a surface appearance image which, when the light source is inactive, essentially corresponds to the surface appearance image of the remaining wall of an object in which the plastic component is installed and which, when the light source is active, is essentially determined by the light source activity. The plastic component according to the invention is characterized in that the lamp elements are selected from a group which comprises light-emitting diodes, organic light-emitting diodes, and fiber-optic light systems, the lamp elements at least partially being embedded in the plastic molding compound of the visible part. The manifold uses of this plastic component comprise installation in vehicles, paneling elements, and furniture, as well as in housings of greatly varying devices.

Claims

1. A plastic component having a visible part that is made in one single layer from a plastic molding compound and that comprises a transparent or translucent matrix, and having a light source that comprises one or more lamp elements, situated under the surface of the visible part, the visible part being implemented as essentially opaque in relation to daylight and transparent or translucent in relation to the light emitted by the lamp elements, the visible part containing admixed effect pigments and defining a surface appearance image which, when the light source is inactive, essentially corresponds to the surface appearance image of the remaining wall of an object in which the plastic component is installed and which, when the light source is active, is essentially determined by the light source activity,

wherein the lamp elements are selected from a group which comprises light-emitting diodes, organic light-emitting diodes, and fiber-optic light systems, the lamp elements at least partially being embedded in the plastic molding compound of the visible part.

2. The plastic component according to claim 1,

wherein the lamp elements are light-emitting diodes.

3. The plastic component according to claim 1,

wherein the visible part is produced through injection molding or through a special method of injection molding and has a visible face as well as an injection face facing away therefrom having at least one injection point.

4. The plastic component according to claim 1,

wherein the visible part additionally has a transparent or translucent surface layer without effect pigments on the visible face.

5. The plastic component according to claim 1,

wherein the visible part comprises on its rear a recess or recesses that is/are provided for receiving the lamp element or the lamp elements.

6. The plastic component according to claim 1,

wherein the plastic component comprises an additional base part, which may differ in its composition and physical and chemical plastic properties from the visible part, the base part of the plastic component being injection molded on at least one part of the injection face of the previously solidified visible part.

7. The plastic component according to claim 6,

wherein the plastic molding compound for the base part comprises a polymer which is identical to a polymer contained in the molding compound for the visible part.

8. The plastic component according claim 1,

wherein the lamp elements are at least partially materially bonded and/or form fitted in the plastic molding compound of the visible part.

9. The plastic component according to claim 3,

wherein the plastic component is installed in the wall of an object having its visible face flush with the surface of the object'"'"'s wall.

10. The plastic component according to claim 1,

wherein the light source is implemented as a signaling light source, this signal being selected from a group which comprises blinking lights as well as the display of stationary or moving images.

11. The plastic component according to claim 1,

wherein the light source comprises light-emitting diodes which are situated in an LED module and are activated by a computer or electronic control unit.

12. The plastic component according to claim 1,

wherein the plastic molding compound for the visible part comprises at least one transparent polymer which is selected from a group of polymers which comprises aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, and/or aromatic monomers comprising polyamides, cyclic olefin copolymers, polymethyl methacrylate, polymethyl methacrylimide, polyester, polycarbonate as well as polycarbonate copolymers and their blends, polystyrene and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene polymers, styrene acrylonitrile, acrylonitrile styrene and other styrene copolymers and their blends, cellulose ester, polyimides and polyether imides, polysulfones and polyethersulfones, polyphenylenes, polyacrylates, and mixtures or blends of these polymers.

13. The plastic component according to claim 1,

wherein the plastic molding compound for the visible part comprises at least one transparent polymer, which is selected from a group of polymers, which comprises polyamides or copolyamides and/or their mixtures or blends which are produced from monomers selected from the following group:

branched or unbranched aliphatic diamines having 6 trough 14 C atoms;

cycloaliphatic diamines having 6 trough 22 C atoms;

araliphatic diamines having 8 trough 22 C atoms;

branched or unbranched aliphatic dicarboxylic acids having 6 trough 22 C atoms;

cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acids having 6 through 22 C atoms;

araliphatic dicarboxylic acids having 8 through 22 C atoms;

aromatic dicarboxylic acids having 8 through 22 C atoms;

dimerized fatty acids having up to 44 C atoms;

lactams having 6 through 12 C atoms and/or corresponding ω

-amino carboxylic acids.

14. The plastic component according to claim 1,

wherein the plastic molding compound for the visible part comprises at least one transparent polymer which is selected from a group of polymers which comprises PA MACM 12, PA PACM 12, PA 12/MACMI, and PA MACM/PACM 12 as well as mixtures thereof.

15. The plastic component according to claim 12,

wherein the plastic molding compound for the visible part comprises at least one additive which is selected from the group of UV stabilizers, UV absorbers, and their mixtures.

16. The plastic component according to claim 1,

wherein the effect pigments are selected from a group which comprises metallic pigments—

particularly uncolored or colored aluminum glitter or aluminum bronze or gold bronze pigments—

, interference pigments, nacreous pigments, mineral mica, and mixtures thereof.

17. The plastic component according to claim 6,

wherein the plastic molding compound for the base part comprises at least one polymer which may be injection molded, which is selected from a group of polymers comprising polyamides, polyester, polycarbonates, polyolefins, as well as thermoplastic elastomers, styrene block copolymers, silicones, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene polymers, PVC, as well as their blends or recycling products.

18. A plastic component having a visible part that is made from a plastic molding compound and that comprises a transparent or translucent matrix, and having a light source that comprises one or more lamp elements, situated under the surface of the visible part, said lamp elements are selected from a group which comprises conventional light-emitting diodes, organic light-emitting diodes, and fiber-optic light systems, the visible part containing admixed, incident electromagnetic waves influencing effect pigments,

wherein:

the visible part is made in one single layer;

the effect pigments of the visible part are selected and arranged according to their type, size, and current concentration or distribution in such a way that, when the light source is inactive, the visual effect of the plastic component essentially corresponds to the visual effect of the remaining wall of an object in which the plastic component is installed;

said plastic molding compound of the visible part optionally comprises admixed colorants tailored to the wall of the object;

when the light source is active, the visual effect of the plastic component is essentially determined by the light source activity; and

the lamp elements are at least partially embedded in the plastic molding compound of the visible part.