Textured coherent reflection component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10988094-B2
Application number	US-201916451874-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2019
Priority date	Jun 26, 2018
Publication date	Apr 27, 2021
Grant date	Apr 27, 2021

Abstract

A trim component, such as a grill of a vehicle, includes a substrate having a 3-dimensional shape and defining a disrupted reflective surface including a plurality of facets over a curved surface. Each of the facets is configured to reflect an incident light beam in a common direction, for example, toward a given target. A reflective coating, such as a chrome plating layer, overlies the disrupted reflective surface. The facets may have similar shapes and/or be arranged in a repeating pattern, but with one or more irregular features. The sizes, shapes, and/or orientation direction of the facets may varying in a gradient based on the curvature of the curved surface. The trim component also includes a light source to illuminate the disrupted reflective surface. The light source may be hidden so it is not directly visible to a viewer, but instead is reflected by the disrupted reflective surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A trim component comprising:
a substrate having a 3-dimensional shape with at least one curved surface, the at least one surface defining a disrupted reflective surface;
a plurality of facets formed over the at least one curved surface;
at least some of the plurality of facets having different characteristics such that the plurality of facets are configured to reflect an incident light beam in a common direction toward a target;
a reflective coating overlying the disrupted reflective surface.

2. The trim component of claim 1 , wherein the facets are irregular; and
wherein the facets are arranged in a size gradient based on a curvature of the at least one curved surface for reflecting the incident light beam in the common direction toward the target.

3. The trim component of claim 1 , wherein the facets are irregular; and
wherein the facets each have an orientation direction that is dependent on a desired diffusion of light reflected therefrom and on an orientation of a curvature of the at least one curved surface thereunder for reflecting the incident light beam in the common direction toward the target.

4. The trim component of claim 1 , further including a light source configured to illuminate the disrupted reflective surface.

5. The trim component of claim 4 , wherein the light source is configured to be not directly visible to a viewer.

6. The trim component of claim 4 , wherein the light source is configured to be directly visible to a viewer.

7. The trim component of claim 4 , wherein the light source is recessed within the substrate.

8. The trim component of claim 4 , wherein the light source is a diffuse light source.

9. The trim component of claim 4 , wherein the light source is a focused light source.

10. The trim component of claim 4 , wherein the light source is configured to vary in at least one of intensity or color over time according to a sequence.

11. The trim component of claim 1 , wherein the reflective coating comprises an electroplated chrome.

12. The trim component of claim 1 , wherein the reflective coating comprises a Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) coating.

13. The trim component of claim 1 , wherein the reflective coating comprises a hot-stamp film.

14. The trim component of claim 1 , wherein the reflective coating comprises an insert-molded film.

15. The trim component of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a material selected from a group including ABS, PC-ABS, ABS-PC, Polyamide, and Aramid.

16. A trim component comprising:
a substrate having a 3-dimensional shape with at least one curved surface, the at least one surface defining a disrupted reflective surface;
a plurality of facets formed over the at least one curved surface;
at least some of the plurality of facets having different characteristics such that the plurality of facets are configured to reflect an incident light beam in a common direction toward a target; and
a light source recessed within the substrate and configured to illuminate the disrupted reflective surface.

17. The trim component of claim 16 , wherein the light source is configured to be not directly visible to a viewer.

18. The trim component of claim 16 , wherein the light source is recessed within the substrate of the trim component and configured to project an incident light beam through an aperture in the trim component and upon the disrupted reflective surface.

19. The trim component of claim 16 , wherein the facets are irregular; and
wherein the facets are arranged in a size gradient based on the curvature of the at least one curved surface.

20. The trim component of claim 16 , further comprising a reflective coating overlying the disrupted reflective surface.

21. The trim component of claim 20 , wherein the reflective coating comprises one of an electroplated chrome or a Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) coating or a hot-stamp film or an insert-molded film.

22. A method of making a trim component comprising:
forming a disrupted reflective surface including a plurality of facets in a curved surface of a substrate, with at least some of the plurality of facets having different characteristics such that the plurality of facets are configured to reflect an incident light beam in a common direction toward a target; and
forming a reflective coating overlying the disrupted reflective surface.

23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising:
projecting the incident light beam upon the disrupted reflective surface by a light source within the substrate.

24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising:
diffusing the incident light beam by an optical element disposed between the light source and the disrupted reflective surface.

25. The method of claim 22 , wherein the reflective coating overlying the disrupted reflective surface comprises one of an electroplated chrome or a Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) coating or a hot-stamp film or an insert-molded film.

Assignees

• Lacks Entpr Inc

Inventors

• Walters David
• Hawkins Thomas

Classifications

• B60Q3/00 Primary

  Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors · CPC title

• B60R19/52 Primary

  Radiator or grille guards {; Radiator grilles (cooling aspects B60K11/08)} · CPC title

• B60Q3/54

  Lighting devices embedded in interior trim, e.g. in roof liners · CPC title

• B60R2013/0287

  integrating other functions or accessories · CPC title

• F21V7/048

  with facets structure · CPC title