Illuminated vehicle trim

• US 9,738,219 B1
• Filed: 05/11/2016
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Lince, Alex, Surman, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jason Moon
• Application Number:
  US15/151,530
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 362488, 362490, 362509-510
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/51 for mounting lighting devices onto vehicle interior, e.g. onto ceiling or floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/54 Lighting devices embedded in interior trim, e.g. in roof liners
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/68 using ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/74 for overall compartment lighting; for overall compartment lighting in combination with specific lighting, e.g. room lamps with reading lamps general lighting mounted on specific fittings B60Q3/20; general lighting for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/43
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/82 Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/30 Elements containing photoluminescent material distinct from or spaced from the light source shades F21V1/17; globes, bowls or cover glasses F21V3/08, F21V3/12; refractors F21V5/10; reflectors F21V7/26, F21V7/30; elements with provision for controlling the spectral properties or intensity F21V9/40

Abstract

A trim assembly for a vehicle is provided herein. The trim assembly includes a backing panel defining a void therethrough. A foam panel is attached to the backing panel on a first side and is attached to a cover on a second opposing side. The foam panel and the cover are light transmissive. A light source is disposed within the void and is configured to emit excitation light. A photoluminescent structure is disposed on an inner periphery of the void and the first side of the foam panel and is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source. A bumper extends into the void to a position past a bottom surface of the light source.

Claims

1. A trim assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a backing panel defining a void therethrough;

a foam panel attached to the backing panel on a first side and attached to a cover on a second opposing side, wherein the foam panel and the cover are light transmissive;

a light source disposed within the void and configured to emit excitation light;

a photoluminescent structure disposed on an inner periphery of the void and the first side of the foam panel and configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source; and

a bumper extending into the void to a position past a bottom surface of the light source.

2. The trim assembly for a vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a switch configured to actuate a control output of the light source.

3. The trim assembly for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the bumper includes a retainer coupled thereto.

4. The trim assembly for a vehicle of claim 3, wherein the retainer is configured to extend upwardly of an electrical connector disposed on an upward side of the backing panel.

5. The trim assembly for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the photoluminescent structure includes at least one photoluminescent material therein configured to convert an excitation light received from the light source into a visible converted light.

6. The trim assembly for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed on a printed circuit board (PCB) such that the light source is encapsulated between the PCB, the backing panel and the foam panel.

7. The trim assembly for a vehicle of claim 6, wherein the PCB is integrally coupled to the backing panel during a multistep molding process.

8. A vehicle, comprising:

a headliner including a backing panel, a foam panel, and a cover;

a light source disposed within a void defined by the backing panel;

an at least partially transparent bumper extending into the void; and

a photoluminescent structure disposed on the foam panel and configured to luminesce in response to excitation by a light source.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising a controller for selectively activating the light source.

10. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein light source is configured as a light-producing assembly that includes LED sources dispersed in a printed LED arrangement.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the LED sources are dispersed in a variable concentration along the light-producing assembly.

12. The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising:

a switch disposed within the void and configured to actuate a control output of the light source.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, further comprising:

indicia disposed on the cover to indicate a location of the switch.

14. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the photoluminescent structure comprises at least one photoluminescent material configured to perform an energy conversion on an excitation light received from at least a portion of the light source into a visible, converted light that is outputted through a viewable portion.

15. A headliner for a vehicle, comprising:

a backing panel defining a void;

a light source disposed within the void;

a first photoluminescent structure disposed at one end of the void;

a bumper disposed within the void, the bumper extending a first distance beyond the light source in a neutral state and a second, shorter distance beyond the light source in a compressed state; and

a retainer coupled to the bumper extending above the backing panel.

16. The headliner for a vehicle of claim 15, wherein the retainer further includes a noise dampening feature on a distal portion thereof.

17. The headliner for a vehicle of claim 16, further comprising:

a foam panel having the first photoluminescent structure thereon that is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source.

18. The headliner for a vehicle of claim 17, wherein the first photoluminescent structure comprises at least one photoluminescent material configured to perform an energy conversion on an excitation light received from at least a portion of the light source into a visible, converted light that is outputted to a viewable portion.

19. The headliner for a vehicle of claim 17, further comprising:

a cover disposed on a bottom surface of the foam panel having indicia thereon.

20. The headliner for a vehicle of claim 19, wherein the indicia includes a second photoluminescent structure having a long persistence phosphorescent material therein.