Luminous molded part, in particular a decorative part and/or trim part for a vehicle interior

• US 8,016,465 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2008
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novem Car Interior Design GmbH (Cofra Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Novem Car Interior Design GmbH (Cofra Holding AG)
• Inventors: Wagner, Michael, Egerer, Gerhard, Abach, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Jong-Suk (James)
• Assistant Examiner(s): Neils; Peggy A.
• Application Number:
  US12/266,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20090129107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 362/509, 362/545, 362/236, 362/84, 362/488, 362/489, 362/23, 362/231, 362/510
• US Class Current: 362/489
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/54 Lighting devices embedded in interior trim, e.g. in roof liners
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/64 for a single lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/68 using ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/745 using lighting panels or mats, e.g. electro-luminescent panels, LED mats
• 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: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00

Abstract

The invention relates to a molded part, in particular a decorative part and/or a trim part for a vehicle interior. According to the invention, the molded part comprises at least one excitation source for emitting electromagnetic waves and at least one luminescent material which is excitable or excited by the electromagnetic waves emerging from the excitation source or sources to emit light in the visible range.

Claims

1. A molded trim part for a vehicle interior, comprising:

at least one excitation source for emitting electromagnetic waves;

at least one carrier layer;

at least one luminescent material incorporated or integrated into the carrier layer, the at least one luminescent material being excitable or excited by the electromagnetic waves emitted from the at least one excitation source to emit light in the visible range;

one or more dyes incorporated or integrated in the carrier layer which impart a specific hue to the light that is emitted by the luminescent material in the visible range; and

at least one decorative layer coupled to the carrier layer;

wherein the at least one excitation source is connected to a voltage source of the vehicle via an on-board electrical system of the vehicle.

2. The molded trim part as claimed in claim 1, wherein the luminescent material is a fluorescent material.

3. The molded trim part as claimed in claim 1, wherein the luminescent material includes luminescent minerals or luminescent dyes.

4. The molded trim part as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic waves emitted from the excitation source are a UV radiation in the non-visible range.

5. The molded trim part as claimed in claim 1, wherein the excitation source is a UV light source.

6. The molded trim part as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one excitation source is arranged in the carrier layer.

7. The molded trim part as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

at least one section of the carrier layer is at least partly transparent or translucent to the exciting waves emitting from the at least one excitation source.

8. The molded trim part as claimed in claim 1, wherein the decorative layer comprises one or more of the following:

a wood veneer;

a metal sheet;

a plastic or metal film;

a textile sheet;

or

a fabric.

9. The molded trim part as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one excitation source is electrically connected to a control device for electrically driving the excitation source.

10. The molded trim part as claimed in claim 1, wherein the luminescent material is a phosphorescent material.

11. The molded trim part as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more dyes included in the carrier layer are directly integrated into the carrier layer by mixing or blending the dye with material forming the carrier layer.

12. The molded trim part as claimed in claim 5, wherein the UV light source is one or more of the following:

a UV lamp, a UV LED strip, or a UV electroluminescent film.

13. The molded trim part as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one excitation source is arranged at a distance from the carrier layer.

14. The molded trim part as claimed in claim 1, wherein the luminescent material is integrated into the carrier layer by mixing or blending the luminescent material with the material forming the carrier layer during the formation of the carrier layer.

15. The molded trim part as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one section of the carrier layer is at least partly transparent or translucent for the light that is emitted by the luminescent material.