Decorative material composite
By using a multi-layer chrome foil structure to cover a three-dimensional structure in a decorative material composite, the expensive PVD process and high-precision molding are avoided, achieving a visually appealing three-dimensional decorative effect and low-cost production, thus simplifying the manufacturing process.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- MERCEDES BENZ GRP
- Filing Date
- 2022-11-28
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-19
Smart Images
Figure CN118510654B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to a decorative material composite according to the preamble of claim 1, the decorative material composite comprising a flat, translucent decorative material having a visible surface and a back surface opposite to the visible surface. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle having such a decorative material composite illuminated by a lighting device. Background Technology
[0002] A similar decorative material compound, particularly for use in the interior of motor vehicles, is known from DE 10 2020 104 078 A1. This decorative material compound comprises a flat decorative material that is translucent and has both a visible surface and a back surface opposite to the visible surface. A printable diffuser is arranged on the back surface of this decorative material, wherein a layer at least substantially opaque is applied, for example, printed, on a portion of the diffuser on the side opposite the decorative material. Areas left blank in this opaque layer can represent visually prominent information, patterns, or symbols, provided that the decorative material compound is backlit using a light-emitting device, and that a portion of the light from the light-emitting device passes through the blank areas to reach the visible surface of the decorative material.
[0003] To visually highlight the three-dimensional structure illuminated by backlighting, such as in the case of a so-called star-shaped panel with three-dimensional decoration (stars), the desired color of the star panel can be applied to the flat back of the decorative material composite, for example, by first painting followed by laser etching, or by locally transferring the paint film. Then, the chrome appearance of the 3D decoration (stars) is applied in a subsequent PVD process. This PVD process is carried out under vacuum, and in most cases at temperatures between 150°C and 500°C. In the case of physical vapor deposition, a thin vacuum-based coating can be created. However, this PVD process is relatively expensive. The applied PVD layer must then be protected, for example, by covering it with another layer to protect it from environmental influences.
[0004] Of course, other possibilities for color design can also be considered, such as spraying a film that retains the body color, with the film partially displaying a chrome finish in the decorative areas. However, to accurately achieve a three-dimensional finish, this film must be molded with extremely high precision, requiring deep drawing in this case. This is very difficult, especially for larger components such as star panels, as they need to be molded with precision within a tenth of a millimeter, making it complex and expensive. Summary of the Invention
[0005] Therefore, the present invention aims to solve the problem of providing an improved or at least alternative implementation of the same type of decorative material compound, which has both an attractive appearance and low cost manufacturability.
[0006] According to the invention, this problem is solved by the subject matter of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.
[0007] This invention is based on the general idea that a relatively simple and cost-effective method of covering the open areas forming the three-dimensional decoration replaces the previously required precise molding process of chrome foil. The decorative material composite according to the invention comprises a flat, translucent decorative material having a visible surface and a back surface opposite to it. An opaque layer with open areas is disposed on the back surface. According to the invention, a three-dimensional structure is now disposed on the back surface of the decorative material in these open areas, or the three-dimensional structure is shaped into the decorative material. Furthermore, a chrome foil / chrome film is disposed on the opaque layer, which merely covers the open areas and, where appropriate, deforms them into the open areas by heat treatment. However, the previously required precise molding is no longer necessary. The chrome foil is designed as a sandwich structure with a translucent PVD layer and a diffuser layer facing away from the decorative material, and can be backlit to visually highlight the three-dimensional decoration, such as stars. Using the decorative material composite according to the invention, a visually appealing chrome appearance for 3D decoration can be achieved simply by applying chrome foil directly, for example, by pasting it onto the flat back of the decorative material. Thus, the pasting, i.e., the flat contact, is done only in the unreserved areas of the decorative material. Therefore, the chrome foil only covers the recessed three-dimensional structure (stars), rather than precisely following the shape of that three-dimensional structure, but still maintains a glossy chrome appearance on the front side of the decorative material composite, i.e., on the visible surface of the decorative material. However, for the covering, it is not necessary to form the chrome foil using high-precision processes (such as the HPF method); simple thermoforming is sufficient if necessary. Due to the multi-layered structure of the chrome foil, it also has a diffuser layer for a backlighting system. This can be achieved, for example, by the film itself not being composed of transparent thermoplastics such as PC (polychlorinated polyamide), PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), or PA12 (polyamide), but rather of an opaque or translucent variant of one of these plastics. Furthermore, an additional diffuser layer can be applied to the back and / or front side of the chrome foil by screen printing. This avoids the need for an additional diffuser panel behind the star panel (i.e., behind the decorative material in this case), which would create additional structure for the entire system in the thickness direction of the decorative material composite.
[0008] In summary, the decorative material composite according to the invention avoids the previously required and expensive PVD process, as well as the complex and high-precision molding of chrome foil. Furthermore, the multi-layered chrome foil used now (which only covers the open areas) can also serve as a diffuser layer for backlighting schemes, thereby enabling an overall solution with optimized structural space for illuminated star panels with uniformly luminous stars. In general, this results in a visually appealing, cost-effective, and easily manufactured decorative material composite.
[0009] Suitablely, the diffuser layer is applied by screen printing. Today, screen printing is a common, inexpensive, and time-tested method for applying various layers, thus enabling the chrome foil itself to be produced at low cost.
[0010] Appropriately, three-dimensional structures (decorative, star-like features) extend into the decorative material. Overall, these three-dimensional structures are thus recesses, producing a particularly high degree of three-dimensionality, thereby creating a visually appealing impression.
[0011] Suitablely, the opaque layer is designed as a paint film. It is feasible to design the paint film to match the vehicle body color, thereby creating a particularly consistent and therefore visually appealing impression across the vehicle. Of course, it is also conceivable to design the opaque layer to be a different color from the vehicle body.
[0012] In another advantageous embodiment of the decorative material composite according to the invention, the chrome foil is thermoformed into a three-dimensional structure in the open area. This allows the chrome foil to undergo three-dimensional deformation, resulting in a particularly attractive overall visual impression. The chrome foil, through three-dimensional deformation, can also create highly effective three-dimensional images.
[0013] The present invention is further based on the general idea of equipping the motor vehicle with a decorative material composite that is illuminated by a lighting device, particularly backlit, according to the foregoing paragraph. Thus, compared to previously known star panels, a significantly lower cost, yet at least visually equivalent, overall visual impression of the motor vehicle can be achieved.
[0014] Other important features and advantages of the invention are derived from the dependent claims, the drawings, and the description of related drawings based on the drawings.
[0015] It should be understood that the above features and the features to be explained below can be used not only in their respective specified combinations, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0016] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings and described in detail in the following description. Attached Figure Description
[0017] The only appendix Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a feasible structure of a decorative material composite according to the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation
[0018] according to Figure 1 The decorative material composite 1 according to the invention comprises a flat, translucent decorative material 2 having a visible surface 3 and a back surface 4 opposite to the visible surface 3. An opaque layer 5 is disposed on the back surface 4 of the decorative material 2, the opaque layer having open areas 6. According to the invention, at least in some of these open areas 6 on the back surface 4 of the decorative material 2, three-dimensional structures 7 are arranged, these three-dimensional structures according to… Figure 1 It extends into the decorative material 2. Furthermore, a chrome foil 8 is arranged on the opaque layer 5, covering the open area 6. The chrome foil 8 has a translucent PVD layer 9 and a diffuser layer 10 facing away from the decorative material 2.
[0019] In addition, the entire decorative material composite 1 can be illuminated or backlit by the lighting device 11.
[0020] The diffuser layer 10 can be applied to the translucent PVD layer, for example, by screen printing. Thus, the application of the diffuser layer is feasible at a low cost and with great flexibility.
[0021] In addition, the opaque layer 5 can be designed as a loading surface. The color of the motor vehicle 12 is specifically designed to use the decorative material compound 1 according to the invention.
[0022] The chrome foil 8 itself covers the empty areas 6, but it can also be deformed into these empty areas, for example by thermoforming, so that the PVD layer 9 and its chrome surface extend into the grooves 6. It is conceivable that it extends only partially into the grooves, or completely abuts against the negative shape of the three-dimensional structure 7.
[0023] Using the decorative material composite 1 according to the invention, it is no longer necessary to directly coat the three-dimensional decorative geometry (structure 7) with a PVD coating or deep-drawn chrome foil in the decorative material composite 1. The high chrome appearance of the three-dimensional structure 7 can be achieved by applying, for example, attaching chrome foil 8 to the opaque layer 5. The chrome foil 8 only covers the "recessed" three-dimensional structure 7, but does not need to be precisely shaped to follow the shape of the three-dimensional structure. Nevertheless, they have a bright chrome appearance on the side facing the decorative material 2, thus creating a particularly visually appealing three-dimensional effect. However, for the covering, it is not necessary to form the chrome foil 8 with a high-precision process (such as the HPF method), but rather simple thermoforming or simply applying it directly is sufficient.
[0024] Due to the multi-layered structure of the chrome foil 8, it can also serve as a diffuser layer for the backlighting device 11. Furthermore, the decorative material composite 1 according to the invention has a relatively low height in the X direction.
[0025] Using the decorative material composite according to the invention, even without subsequent and expensive PVD processes, it is possible to achieve the chrome plating effect of a three-dimensional structure 7 (e.g., a star), and to achieve an overall scheme for optimizing the structural space of the illuminateable decorative material composite 1 with a uniformly luminous three-dimensional structure 7.
Claims
1. A decorative material composite (1), the decorative material composite comprising - A flat, translucent decorative material (2), the decorative material having a visible surface (3) and a back surface (4) opposite to the visible surface (3). - An opaque layer (5) is arranged on the back side (4), the opaque layer having a void area (6). Its features are, -A three-dimensional structure (7) is arranged in the blank area (6) on the back side (4) of the decorative material (2). - A chromium foil (8) is arranged on the opaque layer (5), and the chromium foil covers the empty area (6). - The chrome foil (8) has a translucent PVD layer (9) and a diffuser layer (10) facing away from the decorative material (2).
2. The decorative material composite according to claim 1, Its features are, The diffuser layer (10) is applied by screen printing.
3. The decorative material composite according to claim 1 or 2, Its features are, The three-dimensional structure (7) extends into the decorative material (2).
4. The decorative material composite according to any one of the preceding claims, Its features are, The opaque layer (5) is designed as a paint film.
5. The decorative material composite according to any one of the preceding claims, Its features are, The chromium foil (8) is deformed into the three-dimensional structure (7) in the empty area (6) by thermoforming.
6. A motor vehicle (12) having a decorative material composite (1) according to any one of the preceding claims that is illuminated by a lighting device.