Vehicle trim element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9767942-B2
Application number	US-201514670406-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2015
Priority date	Mar 28, 2014
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

A vehicle trim element that includes at least one supporting layer having an internal face and an external face, and a skin having an internal face and an external face. The internal face of the skin covers the external face of the supporting layer in at least one detection area. The supporting layer has a through-orifice extending from the internal face to the external face of the supporting layer. At least one detection element is located in the through-orifice. The detection element is in constant contact with the portion of the internal face of the skin covering the through-orifice of the supporting layer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle trim element comprising:
at least one supporting layer, comprising an internal face and an external face, and
a skin, comprising an internal face and an external face, the internal face of the skin covering the external face of the supporting layer,
at least one detection area, wherein the supporting layer comprises a through-orifice extending from the internal face to the external face of the supporting layer, and
at least one detection element placed in the through-orifice,
wherein the detection element is placed in constant contact with a portion of the internal face of the skin covering the through-orifice of the supporting layer;
wherein the detection element comprises an external face and an internal face, the external face of the detection element being in contact with the portion of the internal face of the skin covering the through-orifice of the supporting layer, and a flexible element being placed in contact with the internal face of the detection element, the flexible element positioned under the detection element; and
wherein the internal face of the detection element is opposite to the external face of the detection element.

2. The trim element according to claim 1 , wherein the detection area is deformable between an active position, in which at least one portion of the skin covering the through-orifice extends inside the through-orifice and an inactive position, in which the skin is outside the through-orifice, the detection element being in constant contact with the portion of the internal face of the skin covering the through-orifice, in the active position and in the inactive position.

3. The trim element according to claim 1 , wherein the skin is flexible.

4. The trim element according to claim 1 , wherein the trim element comprises a light source positioned facing the through-orifice of the supporting layer on the side of the internal face of the supporting layer, the skin and the detection element being translucent.

5. The trim element according to claim 1 , wherein the trim element comprises an ink layer applied on the internal face of the skin, the ink layer comprising at least one aperture defining a pictogram facing the through-orifice.

6. The trim element according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible element is a translucent foam.

7. The trim element according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible element bears against a rigid supporting element.

8. The trim element according to claim 1 , wherein the detection element is a resistive sensor.

9. The trim element according to claim 1 , wherein the supporting layer is opaque.

10. The trim element according to claim 1 , wherein the detection element is not attached to the skin.

11. The trim element according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible element is in constant contact with the internal face of the detection element in the active position and in the inactive position.

12. A vehicle trim element comprising:
at least one supporting layer, comprising an internal face and an external face, and
a skin, comprising an internal face and an external face, the internal face of the skin covering the external face of the supporting layer,
at least one detection area, wherein the supporting layer comprises a through-orifice extending from the internal face to the external face of the supporting layer, and
at least one detection element placed in the through-orifice,
wherein the detection element is placed in constant contact with a portion of the internal face of the skin covering the through-orifice of the supporting layer;
wherein the detection element comprises an external face and an internal face, the external face of the detection element being in contact with the portion of the internal face of the skin covering the through-orifice of the supporting layer, and a flexible element being placed in contact with the internal face of the detection element;
wherein the internal face of the detection element is opposite to the external face of the detection element; and
wherein the detection element is not attached to the skin.

Assignees

• Faurecia Interieur Ind

Inventors

• Oeuvrard Jean
• Beau Godefroy

Classifications

• H03K2217/96015

  Constructional details for touch switches · CPC title

• H01C10/12 Primary

  by changing surface pressure between resistive masses or resistive and conductive masses, e.g. pile type · CPC title

• H03K17/9625

  using a force resistance transducer · CPC title

• H03K2217/96042

  with illumination · CPC title

• H01H9/182

  Illumination of the symbols or distinguishing marks (H01H9/181 takes precedence) · CPC title