Method for creating multiple electrical current pathways on a work piece

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016333491-A1
Application number	US-201514712702-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 14, 2015
Priority date	May 14, 2015
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for plating a work piece. An electroless layer of material is applied to the work piece using an electroless plating process. The method includes creating a barrier in electrical conductivity in the work piece to divide the work piece into a first segment and a second segment which are substantially electrically insulated from one another, prior to electroplating the work piece. A plurality of methods are disclosed for dividing the work piece into the first and second segments.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of creating a part having multiple decorative surfaces, comprising:
providing a plastic work piece; creating at least one barrier in electrical conductivity in the work piece to divide the work piece into multiple segments, wherein the at least one barrier is formed on at least a front side of the work piece; rendering at least the front side of the work piece conductive; creating a first metal surface on a first segment of the plastic work piece; creating a second metal surface on a second segment of the plastic work piece; wherein the first metal surface and the second metal surface are constructed of different materials such that the work piece has the appearance of multiple surfaces.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of rendering at least the front side of the work piece conductive includes forming the plastic work piece from a conductive material.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of rendering at least the front side of the work piece conductive includes forming the plastic work piece of a non-conductive material and further comprising:
applying an electroless layer of material to the work piece using an electroless plating process.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of creating at least one barrier in the work piece includes creating a front side barrier on the front side of the work piece and the back side barrier on a back side of the work piece.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the front side barrier and the back side barrier are substantially in alignment such they reside in substantially the same plane.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
creating a different visual effect at the at least one barrier than a visual effect provided by each of the first metal surface and the second metal surface.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of creating a different visual effect at the at least one barrier includes employing a light source adjacent the back side of the work piece which is configured to emit light through the at least one barrier.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of creating a different visual effect at the at least one barrier includes forming the work piece of a colored plastic.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
creating a plurality of barriers in at least the front side of the work piece to allow for application of more than two different metal surfaces to the front side.

10 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of creating at least one barrier in electrical conductivity includes applying a plating resistant coating on the work piece.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the plating resistant coating is selected from at least one of the following: a polyvinyl chloride and a polycarbonate.

12 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of creating at least one barrier in electrical conductivity includes molding a non-platable material on the work piece through a molding process.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the molding process is selected from at least one of the following: a multi-shot injection molding process, a transfer molding process and an over-molding process.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the non-platable material is selected from at least one of the following: polyvinyl chloride or polycarbonate.

15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
depositing an intermediate layer on the work piece before application of the first metal surface.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the intermediate layer is formed of an acid copper material.

17 . A method for plating a work piece using a power source having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, said method comprising:
creating a barrier in electrical conductivity in the work piece to divide the work piece into at least a first segment and at least a second segment, which is substantially electrically insulated from one another; applying an electroless layer of material to the work piece using an electroless plating process; connecting the positive terminal of the power source to a first anode; connecting the negative terminal of the power source to the first segment of the work piece; immersing the work piece in a first aqueous solution containing the first anode; positively charging the first anode; applying a negative charge to the first segment of the work piece to cause a first material in the first aqueous solution to be deposited onto the first segment of the work piece to form a first layer thereon; immersing the work piece in a second aqueous solution containing a second anode; positively charging the second anode; connecting the negative terminal of the power source to the second segment of the work piece; and applying a negative charge to the second segment of the work piece to cause a second material in the second aqueous solution to be passed onto only the second segment of the work piece to form a second layer thereon.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the first layer formed on the first segment of the work piece is a first electrophoretic coating.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the second layer formed on the second segment of the work piece is a second electrophoretic coating;
wherein the first electrophoretic coating is different than the second electrophoretic coating.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the first layer formed on the first segment of the work piece is a first metal layer.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the second metal layer formed on the second segment of the work piece is a second metal layer.

22 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
creating multiple barriers in electrical conductivity in the work piece.

23 . The method of claim 17 wherein said step of creating a barrier in electrical conductivity on or into the work piece includes applying a plating resistant coating on the work piece.

24 . The method of claim 23 wherein the plating resistant coating is selected from at least one of the following: a polyvinyl chloride and a polycarbonate.

25 . The method of claim 17 wherein said step of creating a barrier in electrical conductivity on or into the work piece includes molding a non-plateable material on the work piece through a molding process.

26 . The method of claim 25 wherein the molding process is selected from at least one of the following: a multi-shot injection molding process, a transfer molding process, and an over-molding process.

27 . The method of claim 25 wherein the non-platable material is selected from at least one of the following: a polyvinyl chloride and a polycarbonate.

28 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising:
depositing an intermediate layer on the work piece before application of the first metal layer.

29 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the intermediate layer is formed of at least one of the following: an acid copper material and a Semi-Bright Nickel layer.

30 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
creating a different visual effect at the barrier than a visual effect provided by each of the first layer and the second layer.

31 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the step of creating a different visual effect at the barrier includes employing a light source adjacent a back side

Assignees

• Lavallee Michael
• Lacks Entpr Inc

Inventors

• Lavallee Michael

Classifications

• C23C18/1653

  Two or more layers with at least one layer obtained by electroless plating and one layer obtained by electroplating · CPC title

• C25D13/02

  with inorganic material · CPC title

• C25D13/12

  characterised by the article coated · CPC title

• C25D5/022 Primary

  using masking means · CPC title

• C23C18/1605

  by masking · CPC title