Light for vehicles
First Claim
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1. A method of fabricating an illuminated vehicle component, the method comprising:
- providing a sheet of light-transmitting polymer material having opposite side surfaces;
coating at least a portion of a first opposite side surface of the sheet of light-transmitting material with a substantially opaque material;
cutting the sheet of light-transmitting material to form a member having a peripheral edge having a predefined contour; and
removing at least a portion of the opaque material utilizing a laser such that the first opposite side surface includes a first region that is coated with the opaque material and a second region wherein the opaque material has been removed.
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Abstract
An illuminated component for motor vehicles and the like includes a light source that may comprise one or more LEDs. A sheet of light-transmitting material has a first side surface that is coated with ink or other opaque material. Some of the opaque material is removed to form areas that may be illuminated by the light source. The opaque material may be removed utilizing a laser-engraving/etching process according to a specific pattern or design provided by a customer from a remote location.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of fabricating an illuminated vehicle component, the method comprising:
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providing a sheet of light-transmitting polymer material having opposite side surfaces; coating at least a portion of a first opposite side surface of the sheet of light-transmitting material with a substantially opaque material; cutting the sheet of light-transmitting material to form a member having a peripheral edge having a predefined contour; and removing at least a portion of the opaque material utilizing a laser such that the first opposite side surface includes a first region that is coated with the opaque material and a second region wherein the opaque material has been removed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A light assembly, comprising:
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an electrically conductive circuit; at least one LED mounted to the circuit;
a light-transmitting thermoplastic polymer body encapsulating the LED and at least a portion of the circuit and defining inner and outer side faces, wherein the polymer body includes smooth surface portions configured to internally reflect light from the LED, and irregular surface portions that disperse light from the LED such that the light from the LED escapes from the polymer body;a layer of substantially opaque material disposed on the outer side face of the polymer body and covering selected portions of the outer side face and substantially blocking escape of light from the polymer body at the selected portions, the layer of substantially opaque material defining open areas on the outer side face of the polymer body, wherein the open areas are illuminated by light from the LED and form a lighted pattern. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification