COLD FORMED GLASS APPLIQUE

• US 20170197561A1
• Filed: 07/10/2015
• Published: 07/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Inventors: McFarland, Michael James
• Granted Patent: US 10,549,704 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/061 of metal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10018 comprising only one glass sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/1077 containing polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10788 containing ethylene vinylacetate
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 5/005 comprising inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 5/0407 containing glass elements
• 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: Y10T 428/315 Surface modified glass [e.g., tempered, strengthened, etc.]

Abstract

Disclosed herein are applique assemblies (200) comprising a substrate (210) comprising a first non-planar surface defining a recess and a glass sheet (230) having a thickness of less than about 3 mm, wherein the glass sheet is configured to fit within the recess, and further wherein the glass sheet is cold formed to conform to the first non-planar surface. The applique assembly may include a chemically strengthened or non-chemically strengthened glass sheet having a thickness ranging from about 0.1 mm to about 2 mm. The applique assembly may be used to cover structural elements on the exterior of a vehicle.

Claims

1. An applique assembly comprising:

a substrate comprising a first non-planar surface defining a recess; and

a glass sheet having a thickness of less than about 3 mm configured to fit within the recess;

wherein the glass sheet is cold formed to conform to the first non-planar surface.

2. The applique assembly of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a plastic substrate, a molded plastic substrate, an extruded plastic substrate, and a metal substrate.

3. The applique assembly of claim 1, wherein the recess comprises a groove having a depth substantially equal to the thickness of the glass sheet.

4. The applique assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly does not comprise an adhesive layer attaching the substrate to the glass sheet.

5. The applique assembly of claim 1, wherein the glass sheet is selected from the group consisting of an aluminosilicate glass, an alkali-aluminosilicate glass, a borosilicate glass, an alkali-borosilicate glass, an aluminoborosilicate glass, and an alkali-aluminoborosilicates glass.

6. The applique assembly of claim 1, wherein the glass sheet is chemically strengthened.

7. The applique assembly of claim 1, wherein the glass is chosen from clear, colored, and opaque glasses.

8. The applique assembly of claim 1, wherein the glass sheet has a thickness ranging from about 0.1 mm to about 2 mm.

9. The applique assembly of claim 1, wherein the glass sheet has a thickness ranging from about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm.

10. The applique assembly of claim 1, wherein the glass sheet has a compressive stress greater than about 100 MPa and a depth of layer of compressive stress greater than about 10 microns.

11. The applique assembly of claim 1, wherein the glass sheet has a compressive stress greater than about 700 MPa and a depth of layer of compressive stress greater than about 40 microns.

12. The applique assembly of claim 1, wherein the substrate has a second surface, the second surface being configured so as to attach to an exterior surface of a vehicle.

13. The applique assembly of claim 12, wherein the second surface is attached to a pillar of the vehicle.

14. The applique assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional layer chosen from clear and colored anti-splinter films, adhesive films, and decorative films.

15. The applique assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional element chosen from a light source, touch sensor, antennae, and combinations thereof.

16. An applique assembly comprising:

a substrate comprising a first non-planar surface defining a recess; and

a strengthened glass sheet having a thickness of less than about 3 mm configured to fit within the recess;

wherein the glass sheet is cold formed to conform to the first non-planar surface, and the strengthened glass sheet comprises a compressive stress greater than about 100 MPa and a depth of layer of compressive stress greater than about 10 microns.

17. The applique assembly of claim 16, wherein the substrate a second surface that is attached to an exterior surface of a vehicle.

18. The applique assembly of claim 16, wherein the substrate comprises a metal or a plastic.

19. The applique assembly of claim 16, wherein the substrate has a thickness substantially equal to or greater than the thickness of the glass sheet.

20. The applique assembly of claim 16, having a thickness in the range from about 0.2 mm to about 10 mm.