Iridescent vehicle applique

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9688215-B1
Application number	US-201615152095-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	May 11, 2016
Priority date	May 11, 2016
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

A vehicle is provided that includes a vehicle surface and a vehicle applique in direct contact with the vehicle surface. The applique includes a polymeric substrate and an over-mold positioned on the substrate. The over-mold comprises a diffraction grating integral with the over-mold, the grating having a thickness from about 250 nm to 1000 nm and a period from 50 nm to 5 microns.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle having a vehicle applique in contact with a vehicle surface, the applique comprising:
a polymeric substrate; and
an over-mold positioned on the substrate, wherein the over-mold comprises a diffraction grating integral with the over-mold, the grating having a thickness from about 250 nm to 1000 nm and a period from 50 nm to 5 microns.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the over-mold comprises a silicone material.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the substrate comprises a phosphorescent material configured to emit light through the over-mold.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the diffraction grating defines an indicia.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the indicia includes at least one of text and a symbol.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the diffraction grating is defined on an exterior surface of the over-mold and the vehicle surface is an exterior surface.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the diffraction grating substantially covers the exterior surface of the over-mold.

8. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the grating has a thickness from 500 nm to 750 nm and a period from 150 nm to 400 nm.

9. An iridescent vehicle applique, comprising:
a polymeric substrate; and
a translucent over-mold positioned over the substrate defining an exterior surface, the over-mold comprising silicone and defining at least one diffraction grating integrally defined on the exterior surface of the over-mold.

10. The applique of claim 9 , wherein a period of the at least one diffraction grating varies across the diffraction grating.

11. The applique according to claim 9 , wherein the period of the diffraction grating varies between two to five discrete values within the at least one diffraction grating.

12. The applique according to claim 9 , wherein the applique is positioned on at least one of a trunk lid, rear quarter panel and door panel of a vehicle.

13. The applique according to claim 12 , wherein the over-mold comprises a plurality of diffraction gratings, the diffraction gratings positioned in a spaced apart configuration.

14. The applique according to claim 13 , wherein the polymeric substrate of the applique comprises phosphorescent material configured to emit light from the over-mold between the plurality of diffraction gratings.

15. A method of making an iridescent vehicular applique, comprising:
forming a mold with mold surfaces;
ablating at least one of the mold surfaces to form a diffraction grating mold surface;
forming a substrate within the mold; and
over-molding a liquid polymer over the substrate, wherein the liquid polymer penetrates the diffraction grating.

16. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising the step:
heating the diffraction grating mold surface prior to injection of the liquid polymer.

17. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising the step:
solidifying the liquid polymer to form an over-mold on the substrate, wherein the over-mold defines a diffraction grating in an exterior surface of the over-mold.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the liquid polymer comprises a silicone material.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the diffraction grating is shaped to form an indicia.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the silicone material has viscosity of less than about 2000 pa·s when over-molded onto the substrate.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Dellock Paul Kenneth
• Karmo Talat
• Salter Stuart C
• Musleh Michael
• Surman James J

Classifications

• B29C33/3842

  Manufacturing moulds, e.g. shaping the mould surface by machining · CPC title

• B60R13/005 Primary

  Manufacturers' emblems, name plates, bonnet ornaments, mascots or the like; Mounting means therefor · CPC title

• B29K2105/0094

  having particular viscosity · CPC title

• Y10S428/914

  Transfer or decalcomania · CPC title

• B29K2083/005

  LSR, i.e. liquid silicone rubbers, or derivatives thereof · CPC title