Automotive workpiece with direct and indirect lighting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12498102-B2
Application number	US-202418897183-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 26, 2024
Priority date	Dec 23, 2022
Publication date	Dec 16, 2025
Grant date	Dec 16, 2025

Abstract

A decorative automotive component includes a structure having a textured surface with a plurality of light-reflecting facets. The textured surface is selectively metallized, such as via electroplating, such that a plurality of openings are defined through the metal material and which expose the underlying substrate. A first light source, hidden from view, is disposed above the textured surface and directs light onto the reflective textured surface, such that light is reflected outwardly therefrom. A second light source is disposed within the structure and below the substrate, and directs light through substrate and directly into and through openings, such that the openings are illuminated and visible. The light sources can be activated individually or at the same time to combine the lighting effect.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A decorative component for an automotive vehicle, comprising:
a first structure having a visible surface and a non-visible surface; a second structure adjacent the first structure and having a visible surface and a non-visible surface; a reflective surface disposed on the visible surface of the second structure; a first light source disposed in the first structure and oriented to project light toward the reflective surface of the second structure; a plurality of openings defined in the reflective surface, wherein the plurality of openings expose an underlying substrate of the second structure; a second light source disposed within the second structure and oriented to project light through the underlying substrate and through the openings to the visible surface of the second structure; wherein, when both the first and second light sources are activated, light projected by the first light source onto the reflective surface combines with light projected through the plurality of openings to define a combined lighting scheme for the visible surface of the second structure.

2 . The decorative component of claim 1 , wherein the first structure includes a concealed surface, wherein the first light source is disposed above the concealed surface and is not directly visible from above the first structure.

3 . The decorative component of claim 2 , wherein the concealed surface includes at least one aperture through which light from the first light source projects toward the reflective surface of the second structure.

4 . The decorative component of claim 3 , wherein the second structure is disposed below the first structure.

5 . The decorative component of claim 4 , wherein the second light source is disposed below the substrate and projects light upward toward the substrate.

6 . The decorative component of claim 1 , wherein the second structure includes a plurality of facets that define a textured surface of the reflective surface, wherein the facets reflect light from the first light source transverse to the first light source and outwardly from the reflective surface, wherein the reflective surface is a metal surface.

7 . The decorative component of claim 6 , wherein the facets are formed on a curved portion of the substrate, wherein the curved portion is convex facing the visible direction.

8 . The decorative component of claim 1 , wherein the first structure also includes an additional reflective surface on the visible surface thereof and reflects light from an additional light source.

9 . The decorative component of claim 8 , wherein the first structure also includes an additional light source therein directed toward a plurality of openings formed in the additional reflective surface of the first structure.

10 . The decorative component of claim 1 , wherein the visible surface of the second structure is electroplated with a metal material and the non-visible surface is unplated and free from metal material.

11 . A method of illuminating a decorative automotive component, the method comprising the steps of:
activating a first light and projecting light toward a structure having a visible reflective surface and a non-visible surface, wherein the reflective surface includes a plurality of openings therethrough that expose an underlying substrate; and activating a second light source and projecting light into the substrate and through the plurality of openings; wherein light from the both the first light source and the second light source is outwardly visible on the structure.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first and second light sources are individually activatable and when activated at the same time define a combined lighting scheme on the structure.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first light source is hidden within an adjacent structure above the structure.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the second light source is hidden within the structure below the substrate and the reflective surface.

15 . A decorative component for an automotive vehicle, comprising:
a structure having a visible surface and a non-visible surface; a first light source disposed outside of the structure and oriented to project light toward the visible surface; a plurality of openings defined in the visible surface, wherein the plurality of openings expose an underlying substrate of the structure; a second light source disposed within the structure and oriented to project light through the underlying substrate and through the openings to the visible surface of the structure; wherein the visible surface is a reflective surface, wherein, when both the first and second light sources are activated, light projected by the first light source onto the visible surface is reflected and combines with light projected through the plurality of openings to define a combined lighting scheme for the visible surface of the structure.

16 . The decorative component of claim 15 , wherein the first and second light sources are individually activatable, wherein, when the first light source is activated, light from the first light source is reflected by the reflective surface outwardly from the reflective surface toward a target, and wherein, when the second light source is activated, light is projected directly from the plurality of openings in the reflective surface.

17 . The decorative component of claim 15 , wherein the first and second structures are integrally formed as part of the same substrate.

18 . The decorative component of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of openings are arranged in a gradient pattern.

19 . The decorative component of claim 15 , wherein light from the first light source is projected generally downwardly and vertically and is reflected by facets of the reflective surface in a direction generally horizontally therefrom.

20 . The decorative component of claim 15 wherein the reflective surface is a reflective metal surface and is electroplated, and the second structure is formed from a plateable substrate.

21 . The decorative component of claim 20 , wherein the plateable substrate is transparent or translucent and light-transmissive.

Assignees

• Lacks Entpr Inc

Inventors

• Hawkins Thomas

Classifications

• F21W2104/00

  Exterior vehicle lighting devices for decorative purposes · CPC title

• F21Y2113/00

  Combination of light sources · CPC title

• F21S43/31

  Optical layout thereof · CPC title

• F21S43/14

  Light emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• F21V7/0008 Primary

  providing for indirect lighting · CPC title