Vehicle component with an aesthetic decorative effect

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a vehicle component (2) comprising the following steps, implemented in succession: a) preparing a decorative film (8), wherein a first area (10) comprising at least one decorative pattern and a second area (12) comprising a transparent or translucent window (14) throughout the thickness of the decorative film are provided on the decorative film; b) assembling the decorative film (8) with an electronic paper (6) so that the electronic paper (6) extends at least partially to the opposite face of the transparent or translucent window (14) of the decorative film (8); c) joining the assembly of the decorative film (8) with the electronic paper (6) to a base body (4) molded from a plastic material.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a motor vehicle component, and more specifically, to a method for manufacturing a vehicle component with a vehicle exterior decorative effect, and to a vehicle component obtained by implementing the method. Background Technology

[0002] Motor vehicles comprise numerous components that form their external body, which largely determine the vehicle's overall aesthetic design. The outer surfaces of these components can be treated to enhance their appearance. Patent document FR3099714A1 discloses a method for manufacturing a vehicle component. In this method, multiple layers of paint are first applied to a transparent component. Then, laser radiation is used to locally irradiate certain areas of the paint layers, creating a pattern on the paint and revealing a portion of the transparent component. A light source is then positioned behind the transparent component, allowing the emitted light to pass through the pattern on the paint layers and be seen.

[0003] While the aforementioned methods can enhance the aesthetics of vehicles, they have certain drawbacks. The aesthetic effect of the vehicle components produced by this method is achieved through a light source, thus requiring the consumption of electrical energy to maintain this effect, which is something the art aims to avoid. Furthermore, the methods described in the literature require all steps to be completed in the presence of the transparent component. Therefore, all processes (steps) of this method must be completed in the same location, such as within the same factory, and all components of the vehicle component must be present, making the implementation of this method inflexible.

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to solve the above-mentioned technical problems and propose a manufacturing method for vehicle components with aesthetic decorative effects. This method is more flexible to implement than the prior art and can reduce the energy consumption impact of the vehicle component. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a method for manufacturing a vehicle component, characterized by comprising the following steps:

[0006] a) Prepare a decorative film, wherein a first region and a second region are provided on the decorative film, the first region including at least one decorative pattern, and the second region including a transparent or translucent window extending through the entire thickness of the decorative film;

[0007] b) Assemble the decorative film with the electronic paper such that the electronic paper extends at least partially to the opposite side of the transparent or translucent window of the decorative film;

[0008] c) Join (fix) the decorative film and electronic paper components to a substrate molded from plastic material.

[0009] Therefore, the aesthetic effect of the vehicle component of the present invention is mainly achieved by electronic paper, eliminating the need for a light source as required by prior art vehicle components. Electronic paper displays text or images without consuming electrical energy, only consuming energy when changing the displayed text or images. Thus, the energy consumption of the vehicle component of the present invention is significantly reduced compared to prior art vehicle components.

[0010] Furthermore, since the assembly of the decorative film and electronic paper does not require a substrate as a support, the steps of the method of the present invention can be implemented at different locations and times. Therefore, the embodiments of the present invention are highly flexible and can be adapted to meet the requirements of actual industrial production.

[0011] Preferably, the assembly of the decorative film and the electronic paper is achieved by lamination, gluing or bonding.

[0012] The above method enables the decorative film and electronic paper to form a firmly bonded assembly, thereby improving the durability of vehicle components.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the present invention, step c) includes overmolding or molding the decorative film and electronic paper components onto an in-situ molded substrate, the substrate being molded, for example, by injection molding of a plastic material, preferably polypropylene or polycarbonate.

[0014] According to another embodiment of the invention, step c) includes bonding or adhesively fixing the decorative film and electronic paper components to a pre-made substrate, the substrate being molded, for example, by injection molding of a plastic material, preferably polypropylene or polycarbonate.

[0015] The substrate can be manufactured using mature processes, and the bonding and fixing of decorative films and electronic paper components to the substrate can also be achieved using mature processes.

[0016] Preferably, the electrical connector is connected to the electronic paper before performing step b).

[0017] Thus, an electrical connector is integrated into the vehicle component, which connects the electronic paper to the control components to modify the content displayed on the electronic paper. In other words, this arrangement facilitates subsequent integration of the vehicle component with the vehicle's electronic system.

[0018] Preferably, the edge of the electrical connector or electronic paper is located directly opposite the first area of ​​the decorative film, and not directly opposite the transparent or semi-transparent window.

[0019] By using the edges of transparent or semi-transparent windows, the edges of electrical connectors or electronic paper can be shielded, preventing them from negatively impacting the aesthetics of vehicle components.

[0020] Preferably, before implementing step c), the decorative film and electronic paper assembly is pre-formed so that the electronic paper has a planar or curved shape in a single direction.

[0021] Electronic paper is usually quite rigid and cannot withstand or maintain large or complex deformations. Furthermore, the display effect will be affected when deformation occurs in multiple axes. The preforming process described above can overcome this limitation of electronic paper.

[0022] Preferably, the method of the present invention further includes step d), wherein, after step c), a transparent protective coating is applied (coated) on the decorative film.

[0023] This step can improve the protective performance of vehicle components. The transparent protective coating can be, for example, a mechanical protective coating that provides mechanical protection such as scratch resistance to vehicle components; or an optical protective coating that provides optical protection such as resistance to solar ultraviolet radiation to vehicle components.

[0024] Preferably, the vehicle component is a vehicle body component.

[0025] Preferably, the vehicle body component forms part of the vehicle tailgate, bumper, door, or any decorative trim component of the vehicle.

[0026] Thus, this vehicle component enables the vehicle to achieve an aesthetic decorative effect.

[0027] The present invention also provides a vehicle component comprising:

[0028] - A decorative film having a first region and a second region, the first region including at least one decorative pattern, and the second region including a transparent or translucent window extending through the entire thickness of the decorative film;

[0029] - Electronic paper, which is assembled with a decorative film and extends at least partially to the opposite side of a transparent or translucent window of the decorative film;

[0030] - A substrate made of molded plastic material, on which the decorative film and electronic paper components are bonded (fixed).

[0031] Preferably, the vehicle component also includes a transparent protective coating applied (coated) to the decorative film.

[0032] Preferably, the vehicle component is a vehicle body component, such as a tailgate, bumper, door, or any decorative trim component of the vehicle. Attached Figure Description

[0033] The invention will be more clearly understood in conjunction with the following exemplary description and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0034] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle component according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the components of the decorative film and electronic paper in the vehicle part shown.

[0036] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle component according to another embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0037] Figure 1 The invention illustrates a vehicle component 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the vehicle component is a vehicle body component, such as a component of a vehicle tailgate or door. The invention can also be applied to other types of vehicle components.

[0038] Vehicle component 2 includes a plastic substrate (base or base plate) 4. In this embodiment, the substrate 4 is made of polycarbonate (PC) or polypropylene (PP), which is only an example. Both of these plastics are easy to mold by injection molding.

[0039] Vehicle component 2 also includes an electronic paper 6 attached (connected and fixed) to the substrate 4. The electronic paper 6 is configured to display text and / or images, and the displayed content can be modified by applying a momentary voltage. It employs the same display technology as an e-reader. For this purpose, vehicle component 2 also includes an electrical connector 7 connected to the electronic paper 6. The electrical connector 7 is configured to connect to an electronic control unit (not shown) located outside vehicle component 2.

[0040] The vehicle component 2 also includes a decorative film 8 that is fixedly connected to both the electronic paper 6 and the substrate 4, the decorative film 8 completely covering the electronic paper 6.

[0041] Figure 2The electronic paper 6, electrical connector 7, and decorative film 8, separate from other components of vehicle component 2, are shown. The decorative film 8 includes a first region 10, which in this embodiment is opaque, and has at least one decorative pattern, such as that made of paint (varnish) or other materials. The first region 10 can be made of a solid-color opaque paint, and can also be provided with colored or non-colored shapes, logos, or text as needed, serving both to display vehicle-related information and to enhance the vehicle's aesthetics. The decorative film 8 also includes a second region 12, which has a transparent window 14 extending through the entire thickness of the decorative film 8, through which at least a portion of the electronic paper 6 can be seen from outside the vehicle. Therefore, the second region 12 of the decorative film 8 is not made of opaque material. According to another embodiment of the invention, the window 14 can also be made semi-transparent instead of transparent. The shape of the transparent window 14 is configured to match (adapt) the shape of the electronic paper 6, such that at least part of the edge of the electronic paper 6 is obscured by the edge of the transparent window 14, especially the electrical connector 7, which is completely obscured by the edge of the transparent window 14. In this embodiment, the electronic paper 6 is housed (embedded) within the thickness layer of the decorative film 8.

[0042] Vehicle component 2 also includes a protective coating 16 applied (coated) to the decorative film 8. This protective coating 16 is transparent. The protective coating 16 can be, for example, a varnish-like protective coating, which can serve as a mechanical protective coating to provide mechanical protection such as scratch resistance to the vehicle component, or as an optical protective coating to provide optical protection such as resistance to solar ultraviolet radiation to the vehicle component.

[0043] Along the stacking axis (e.g.) Figure 1 (As shown in the vertical direction), vehicle component 2 in the first region 10 includes the following continuous layered structure in sequence: substrate 4, part of the edge of electronic paper 6, decorative film 8, and protective coating 16. And along the stacking axis, vehicle component 2 in the second region 12 includes the following continuous layered structure in sequence: substrate 4, electronic paper 6, transparent window 14 of decorative film 8, and protective coating 16.

[0044] The following describes a method for manufacturing vehicle component 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] According to the manufacturing method, step a) is first performed: a decorative film 8 is prepared, wherein a first region 10 having at least one decorative pattern and a second region 12 having a transparent window 14 extending through the entire thickness of the decorative film 8 are provided on the decorative film 8. The transparent window 14 is processed on the decorative film 8 by laser etching, cutting, or applying a mask. Subsequently, an electronic paper 6 is fitted onto the decorative film 8, corresponding to the transparent window 14 (directly facing each other), and then an electrical connector 7 is connected to the electronic paper 6.

[0046] Next, step b) is performed: the decorative film 8 is assembled with the electronic paper 6 such that the electronic paper 6 at least partially extends to the opposite side of the transparent window 14 of the decorative film 8. This assembly process is achieved by lamination, gluing, or bonding, thereby fixing the electronic paper 6 and the electrical connector 7 to the decorative film 8 to form a shape as shown in the image. Figure 2 The components are shown. Furthermore, the components of the decorative film 8 and the electronic paper 6 are pre-formed so that the electronic paper 6 presents a planar or curved shape in a single direction, ensuring that the electronic paper 6 and even the vehicle component 2 achieve optimal performance after the manufacturing process is completed.

[0047] Then, step c) is performed: the component of the decorative film 8 and the electronic paper 6 is connected (fixed) to the substrate 4. According to one embodiment of the invention, step c) includes placing the component of the decorative film 8 and the electronic paper 6 into an injection mold for overmolding or insert molding, wherein the constituent material of the substrate 4 (e.g., polycarbonate or polypropylene) is injected into the mold. According to another embodiment of the invention, step c) includes bonding the component of the decorative film 8 and the electronic paper 6 to the substrate 4, wherein the substrate 4 can be a preform or can be independently molded in step c) and then bonded to the component. In step c), the shape of the substrate 4 is designed to form the shape of a vehicle body component, i.e., in this embodiment, a component of a vehicle tailgate or door as described above.

[0048] Finally, step d) is performed: a transparent protective coating 16 is applied (coated) onto the decorative film 8 to obtain the finished vehicle part.

[0049] Figure 3 A vehicle component 2 according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown. The difference between this vehicle component and the one described above is that the electronic paper 6 is embedded within the stepped structure of the substrate 4, rather than within the stepped structure of the decorative film 8. The components and manufacturing method of this vehicle component 2 are consistent with those of the vehicle component described above.

[0050] This invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and those skilled in the art can easily conceive of other embodiments.

[0051] List of reference numerals

[0052] 2: Vehicle components

[0053] 4: Matrix

[0054] 6: Electronic paper

[0055] 7: Electrical connectors

[0056] 8: Decorative film

[0057] 10: First Zone

[0058] 12: Second Zone

[0059] 14: Transparent or semi-transparent windows

[0060] 16: Protective coating.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a vehicle component (2), characterized in that, Includes the following steps: a) Prepare a decorative film (8), wherein a first region (10) and a second region (12) are provided on the decorative film (8), the first region (10) including at least one decorative pattern, and the second region including a transparent or translucent window (14) extending through the entire thickness of the decorative film (8). b) Assemble the decorative film (8) with the electronic paper (6) such that the electronic paper (6) extends at least partially to the opposite side of the transparent or translucent window (14) of the decorative film (8); c) The decorative film (8) and electronic paper (6) are bonded to the substrate (4) molded from plastic material.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The assembly of the decorative film (8) and the electronic paper (6) is achieved by lamination, gluing or bonding.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, Step c) includes overmolding or molding the decorative film (8) and electronic paper (6) onto a molded substrate (4), the substrate being molded, for example, by injection molding of a plastic material, preferably polypropylene or polycarbonate.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, Step c) includes bonding or gluing the decorative film (8) and the electronic paper (6) components to a prefabricated substrate, which is formed, for example, by injection molding of a plastic material, preferably polypropylene or polycarbonate.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, Before implementing step b), connect the electrical connector (7) to the electronic paper (6).

6. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein, The edge of the electrical connector (7) or electronic paper (6) is located directly opposite the first area (10) of the decorative film, and not directly opposite the transparent or semi-transparent window (14).

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, Before implementing step c), the components of the decorative film (8) and the electronic paper (6) are pre-formed so that the electronic paper (6) is in a planar or curved shape in a single direction.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising step d), wherein, After step c), a transparent or translucent protective coating (16) is applied to the decorative film (8).

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The vehicle component (2) is a vehicle body component.

10. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein, The vehicle body components constitute part of the vehicle tailgate, bumper, door, or any decorative trim component of the vehicle.

11. A vehicle component (2), characterized in that, It includes: - Decorative film (8), the decorative film having a first region (10) and a second region (12), the first region including at least one decorative pattern, and the second region including a transparent or translucent window (14) extending through the entire thickness of the decorative film. - Electronic paper (6), which is assembled with decorative film (8) and extends at least partially to the opposite side of the transparent or translucent window (14) of decorative film (8); - A substrate (4) made of molded plastic material, on which the decorative film (8) and the electronic paper (6) are bonded.

12. The vehicle component (2) according to the preceding claim, comprising a transparent or translucent protective coating (16) applied to the decorative film (8).

13. The vehicle component (2) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein, The vehicle component is a vehicle body component, such as a tailgate, bumper, door, or any decorative trim component of the vehicle.

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