Vehicle trim element

• US 9,767,942 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2015
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faurecia Interieur Industrie (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Faurecia Interieur Industrie (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Oeuvrard, Jean, Beau, Godefroy
• Primary Examiner(s): Jimenez, Anthony R.
• Application Number:
  US14/670,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20150279523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 200511, 200181, 200510, 200520, 200293, 2002931, 200294, 2003021, 200303, 2003321, 200341, 200 5 A, 200333
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/00 Indexing scheme associated with groups B60K35/00 or B60K37/00 relating to details of instruments or dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/339 Translucent dashboard skins
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/00 Dashboards as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/20 Dashboard panels
• 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 2013/0281 made of a plurality of visible parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 10/12 by changing surface pressure between resistive masses or resistive and conductive masses, e.g. pile type
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/182 Illumination of the symbols or distinguishing marks H01H9/181 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9625 using a force resistance transducer
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96015 Constructional details for touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96042 with illumination

Abstract

A vehicle trim element that includes at least one supporting layer having an internal face and an external face, and a skin having an internal face and an external face. The internal face of the skin covers the external face of the supporting layer in at least one detection area. The supporting layer has a through-orifice extending from the internal face to the external face of the supporting layer. At least one detection element is located in the through-orifice. The detection element is in constant contact with the portion of the internal face of the skin covering the through-orifice of the supporting layer.

Claims

1. A vehicle trim element comprising:

at least one supporting layer, comprising an internal face and an external face, and

a skin, comprising an internal face and an external face, the internal face of the skin covering the external face of the supporting layer,

at least one detection area, wherein the supporting layer comprises a through-orifice extending from the internal face to the external face of the supporting layer, and

at least one detection element placed in the through-orifice,

wherein the detection element is placed in constant contact with a portion of the internal face of the skin covering the through-orifice of the supporting layer;

wherein the detection element comprises an external face and an internal face, the external face of the detection element being in contact with the portion of the internal face of the skin covering the through-orifice of the supporting layer, and a flexible element being placed in contact with the internal face of the detection element, the flexible element positioned under the detection element; and

wherein the internal face of the detection element is opposite to the external face of the detection element.

2. The trim element according to claim 1, wherein the detection area is deformable between an active position, in which at least one portion of the skin covering the through-orifice extends inside the through-orifice and an inactive position, in which the skin is outside the through-orifice, the detection element being in constant contact with the portion of the internal face of the skin covering the through-orifice, in the active position and in the inactive position.

3. The trim element according to claim 1, wherein the skin is flexible.

4. The trim element according to claim 1, wherein the trim element comprises a light source positioned facing the through-orifice of the supporting layer on the side of the internal face of the supporting layer, the skin and the detection element being translucent.

5. The trim element according to claim 1, wherein the trim element comprises an ink layer applied on the internal face of the skin, the ink layer comprising at least one aperture defining a pictogram facing the through-orifice.

6. The trim element according to claim 1, wherein the flexible element is a translucent foam.

7. The trim element according to claim 1, wherein the flexible element bears against a rigid supporting element.

8. The trim element according to claim 1, wherein the detection element is a resistive sensor.

9. The trim element according to claim 1, wherein the supporting layer is opaque.

10. The trim element according to claim 1, wherein the detection element is not attached to the skin.

11. The trim element according to claim 1, wherein the flexible element is in constant contact with the internal face of the detection element in the active position and in the inactive position.

12. A vehicle trim element comprising:

at least one supporting layer, comprising an internal face and an external face, and

a skin, comprising an internal face and an external face, the internal face of the skin covering the external face of the supporting layer,

at least one detection area, wherein the supporting layer comprises a through-orifice extending from the internal face to the external face of the supporting layer, and

at least one detection element placed in the through-orifice,

wherein the detection element is placed in constant contact with a portion of the internal face of the skin covering the through-orifice of the supporting layer;

wherein the detection element comprises an external face and an internal face, the external face of the detection element being in contact with the portion of the internal face of the skin covering the through-orifice of the supporting layer, and a flexible element being placed in contact with the internal face of the detection element;

wherein the internal face of the detection element is opposite to the external face of the detection element; and

wherein the detection element is not attached to the skin.