Decorative panel

• US 20040021961A1
• Filed: 03/13/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John McGavigan Limited
• Original Assignee: John McGavigan Limited
• Inventors: Munro, Alastair
• Granted Patent: US 7,396,147 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/843
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/005 Manufacturers' emblems, name plates, bonnet ornaments, mascots or the like; Mounting means therefor
• 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 13/10 Registration, licensing, or like devices

Abstract

There is disclosed an automotive vehicle component such as a side mirror comprising a panel having an obverse side and a reverse side, wherein, in use, when viewed from the obverse side the panel has a first appearance when not illuminated from the reverse side, but has a second appearance when illuminated from the reverse side, and further, wherein means are provided for reducing effects upon the panel caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

Claims

1. An automotive vehicle component having a panel, the panel having an obverse side and a reverse side, wherein, in use, when viewed from the obverse side the panel has a first appearance when not illuminated from the reverse side, and has a second appearance when illuminated from the reverse side, and wherein further means are provided for reducing effects upon at least part of the panel caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

3. An automotive vehicle component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component comprises a side mirror, a bumper, a light closure or cluster or part of any of such.

4. An automotive vehicle component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the panel comprises a substrate layer, at least one ink layer and an ultraviolet reducing layer.

5. An automotive vehicle component as claimed in claim 4, wherein the substrate layer comprises a polycarbonate material and the at least one ink layer comprises a polycarbonate based ink.

6. An automotive vehicle component as claimed in claim 4, wherein the substrate layer provides a light diffusing means.

7. An automotive vehicle component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet reducing means comprises polyvinyldifluoride or a material based thereon.

8. A panel such as formed panel adapted for use in the automotive vehicle component of claim 1.

53. A method for manufacturing a panel or decorative panel according to any of claims 1, 9 or 28, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a polymer film;

coating the film with a layer of material for reducing the effects of ultraviolet radiation; and

decorating the film either prior to, or after coating the film,

wherein the coating material acts as a barrier to ultraviolet light.

54. A method as claim in claim 53, wherein the coating is applied as a composition of an ultraviolet light absorbing material in a carrier.

55. A method as claimed in claim 54, wherein the ultraviolet light absorbing material is polyvinyl-difluoride.

56. A method as claimed in claim 54, wherein the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, colloid, or solution.

57. A method as claimed in claim 54, wherein the composition is in the form of a solution with a solvent, and after applying the solution, the solvent is removed to provide the coating.

58. A method as claimed in claim 57, wherein the solvent used is acetone.

59. A method as claimed in claim 53, wherein the film is coated under an atmosphere of nitrogen gas and wherein the coating material is polyvinyldifluoride dissolved in acetone solvent.

60. A method as claimed in claim 53, wherein the film to be coated has a thickness of 250 μ

m to 500 μ

m.

61. A method as claimed in claim 53, wherein the decoration is provided by ink coating at least a part of the panel.

62. A method as claimed in claim 61, wherein the ink is a high temperature resistant ink comprising polycarbonate.

63. A method as claimed in claim 61, wherein the ink is applied by a print process comprising screen printing.

64. A method as claimed in claim 61, wherein the color of the ink is chosen to match surrounding colors or to contrast with surrounding colors.

65. A method of claim 64, wherein the color is semi-transparent or opaque to achieve a desired color effect.

66. A method as claimed in claim 53, wherein a plurality of color layers are provided which completely or partially overlap.

67. A method as claimed in claim 66, wherein the color layers are optionally provided with a further layer thereon, such as a transparent laminate formed from a polycarbonate bonded with a heat activated adhesive, such as polyurethane.

68. A method as claimed in claim 67, wherein the further layer mitigates disturbance of the color or ink layer/film in further processing steps, including melt flow of an injection molding resin.

2. An automotive vehicle component as claimed in claim l, wherein the automotive component comprises at least part of an external automotive vehicle component, and the panel comprises a formed panel.

9. A panel having an obverse side and a reverse side, wherein, in use, when viewed from the obverse side the panel has a first appearance when not illuminated from the reverse side, but has a second appearance when illuminated from the reverse side, and further, wherein means are provided for reducing effects upon the panel caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

10. A panel as claimed in claim 9, wherein the means for reducing the effects of ultraviolet light exposure is provided in the form of a coating.

11. A panel as claimed in claim 10, wherein the coating is applied to at least a portion of the panel.

12. A panel as claimed in claim 9, wherein the coating is applied to at least part of an outermost surface of the panel which optionally is a surface of the obverse side.

13. A panel as claimed in claim 10, wherein the coating has a thickness of at least 25 μ

m.

14. A panel as claimed in claim 9, wherein the means for reducing ultraviolet radiation effects comprises polyvinyldifluoride or a material based thereon.

15. A panel as claimed in claim 9, wherein the panel is made from a polymer material such as a transparent/translucent polymer film.

16. A panel as claimed in claim 15, wherein the polymer film is selected from one of polycarbonate, acrylic, polyester or other similar thermoplastic materials.

17. A panel as claimed in claim 15, wherein the thickness of the polymer film is about 250 μ

m to about 500 μ

m.

18. A panel as claimed in claim 9, wherein the panel is a decorative panel.

19. A panel as claimed in claim 9, wherein the panel comprises a plurality of layers, said layers including a first, at least partially transparent, layer, and a second layer, at least selected areas of said second layer having a degree of contrast in opacity and/or color, said first and second layers being associated with a substrate layer having an obverse surface and a reverse surface, wherein means are provided for furnishing said substrate layer with a partially transparent tinted appearance, wherein said first layer comprises a coating comprising a transparent carrier in which are supported non-opaque particulate light-splitting or light-frequency modifying materials, said materials being capable of causing light-splitting effects when viewed in light falling in the direction of the obverse surface of said substrate layer, and wherein said second layer provides said at least selected areas rearwardly of said first layer which are of predetermined size and shape, the construction and arrangement being such that the light-splitting or modifying effect caused by said particulate material in said first layer and visible in ambient light is suppressed by the passage of light from a source located at the reverse side of the panel so that the presence of said at least selected areas become visible from the obverse side of the panel.

20. A panel as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first layer comprises an at least substantially transparent carrier containing particulate semi-transparent color producing material.

21. A panel as claimed in claim 20, wherein the material is flaked, iridescent material of the kind exemplified by mica.

22. A panel as claimed in claim 21, wherein the mica flakes are pre-coated with ultra-thin layers of pigment such as oxides of metals such as titanium or iron.

23. A panel as claimed in claim 19, wherein the visual effect of the presence of the pigment is varied according to the thickness of the pre-coating.

24. A panel as claimed in claim 23, wherein variations of the pigment can be observed in accordance with the base color of the substrate layer and the degree of translucency thereof.

25. A panel as claimed in claim 19, wherein the second layer is provided as graphics in the form of information symbols applied in a discontinuous layer of an opaque or substantially opaque pigment.

26. A panel as claimed in claim 25, wherein the pigmented material is printed pigmented ink or the like.

27. A panel as claimed in claim 19, wherein the second layer is color tinted in a contrasting hue so that the color tint is visible only on the passage of light from a source located at a reverse side of the panel.

28. A panel such as a decorative panel comprising a substrate layer and a coating layer applied to an obverse surface of the substrate layer, said coating layer comprising non-opaque particulate light-frequency modifying materials entrained in a carrier therefor, said particulate materials being capable of causing light splitting effects when viewed in light falling upon the coated obverse surface, wherein said substrate layer is non-opaque except where provided with a layer comprising opaque or substantially opaque areas which are of predetermined size and shape, the construction and arrangement being such that the light-splitting or modifying effect caused by the particulate material and visible in ambient light is suppressed by the passage of light from a source located at the reverse side of the panel so that the presence of the opaque areas become visible from the obverse side of the panel, the panel further comprising means for reducing effects upon the panel caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

29. A panel as claimed in claim 28, wherein the panel comprises a partially-transparent panel substrate which is smoke-colored.

30. A panel as claimed in claim 29, wherein the color is imparted to the panel in a third layer which is applied by a printing technique.

31. A panel as claimed in claim 29, wherein the color is obtained by the inclusion of pigment in a plastics film or other material of the panel substrate.

32. A panel as claimed in claim 31, wherein the visual effects are obtained with the use of pigments of a relatively dark hue.

33. A panel as claimed in claim 28, wherein the coating layer is provided by coating the substrate layer with a layer including ultra-thin flakes of mica that have been pre-coated with titanium dioxide.

34. A panel as claimed in claim 33, wherein the coated flakes are capable of splitting light into visible component colors, an apparent color depending upon the thickness of the titanium dioxide layer on the mica.

35. A panel as claimed in claim 34, wherein a thickness of the titanium dioxide layer varies from 40 to 160 nm giving a range of color from silver-white through copper-red, lilac, vivid blue, turquoise and green.

36. A panel as claimed in claim 33, wherein color changes are seen according to an angle from which the coated mica flakes are observed, interference color being visible only at a glancing angle.

37. A panel as claimed in claim 36, wherein colors seen at other angles differ.

38. A panel as claimed in claim 32, wherein the positioning of a light source behind the panel allows light from that source to penetrate the panel and the pigmented coating of the first layer.

39. A panel assembly adapted to provide a variable visual appearance to a decorative panel constructed in accordance with either of claims 9 or 28, said assembly comprising a support device mounting said panel, and a source of light positioned behind the reverse surface of the panel and adapted to provide light arranged to pass through the panel wherever an opacity thereof permits.

40. A shaped or molded member or body formed from a panel according to either of claims 9 or 28.

41. A shaped member as claimed in claim 40, wherein forming takes place after coating with the material for reducing the effects of ultraviolet light and/or after decorating the panel.

42. A shaped member as claimed in claim 40, wherein a forming technique is selected from:

high pressure forming, vacuum forming or match metal forming.

43. A shaped member as claimed in claim 40, wherein following forming the shaped panel is subjected to further processing steps selected from one or more of:

cutting, injection molding and insert molding.

44. A shaped member as claimed in claim 43, wherein the molding process is performed as either single or multi-shot.

45. A shaped member as claimed in claim 43, wherein the material to be injected comprises a material selected from polycarbonate, acrylonitrite-butadiene-styrene co-polymer (ABS) or mixtures thereof.

46. A shaped member as claimed in claim 40, wherein the shaped member is adapted to be used with or as part of an automotive vehicle selected from:

a side mirror casing, a bumper, a light closure or cluster for a turn signal, side light, headlight, foglight, or internal cabin or courtesy light or part of any of such.

47. An apparatus having a shaped or formed member or body according to claim 40.

48. An apparatus as claimed in claim 47, wherein the apparatus is an automotive vehicle.

49. An external automotive vehicle display component wherein means are provided for reducing effects upon the component caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

50. An automotive vehicle comprising an external automotive vehicle display component according to claim 49.

51. A decorative panel wherein means are provided for reducing effects upon the panel caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

52. A shaped member or body formed from the panel according to claim 51.