Method for producing a raised embossing and automotive interior covering with a raised embossing

Abstract

Method for producing an embossing (4) on a motor vehicle interior cover (2), wherein in one embossing step the embossing (4) is produced, which extends in relief away from a visible surface (6) of the vehicle interior covering (2), and In a subsequent stabilization step, the produced embossing (4) is stabilized on an inner surface (10) of the vehicle interior covering (2) facing away from the visible surface (6), in which a filler (16) in liquid state is filled into a cavity (18) bounded by the embossing (4), wherein the filler (16) fills the cavity (18) up to a fill level (20) and hardens in the filled state, characterized in that the embossing (4) is backlit from the inner surface (10) and the filler (16) directs the light from a light source (24) to the embossing (4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for producing a raised embossing on a vehicle interior cover according to the preamble of claim 1, and to a vehicle interior cover with such a raised embossing. The vehicle interior cover serves to cover a dashboard element, a seat, a headrest, a door, a steering wheel, a gearshift lever, or another vehicle part in the interior of a vehicle. In the method for producing the raised embossing, an embossing is created on the vehicle interior cover in an embossing step, which extends in a raised manner away from a visible surface. In a subsequent stabilization step, the produced embossing is stabilized on an inner surface of the vehicle interior cover facing away from the visible surface. In this stabilization step, a filler in liquid form is filled into a cavity defined by the embossing.The filler completely fills the cavity up to a certain level and hardens in this filled state. Filling the cavity provides excellent internal stability and support for the embossed design. This allows for optimal distribution of forces acting on the visible surface, resulting in a particularly durable and high-quality embossed design. Furthermore, the stabilization process can be completed in a single step by simply filling the cavity with the filler. This method achieves stabilization with minimal effort.

[0002] German patent DE102006021919B4 discloses a method for forming an embossed mark on the upholstery of a vehicle seat. In this method, a barrier lining is first attached to the area of ​​the upholstery to be embossed. After the mark is embossed in a second step, the barrier lining is treated in a third step with a lacquer, which is partially absorbed by the barrier lining and hardens.

[0003] A disadvantage of the known method is that applying the blocking material before embossing is relatively costly, yet only provides relatively little stabilization of the resulting embossing. With repeated mechanical stress on the visible surface, such as can occur repeatedly with embossing on a seat, headrest, dashboard, door, steering wheel, or gearshift lever, deformation, fading, or at least partial disappearance of the embossing can occur.

[0004] DE 10 2015 209 332 A1 describes a method for producing an embossed design on a vehicle upholstery cover. The embossing is designed to be raised, and the resulting cavity on the reverse side is filled with an insert. This insert is made of a foam material that is poured into the cavity.

[0005] EP 4 019 313 A1 describes a backlit molded part that is attached to a vehicle door panel and is made of a light-emitting material.

[0006] The object of the invention is to avoid the aforementioned disadvantages in a generic manufacturing process for a raised embossing and to ensure simple and permanently high stability of the produced embossing as well as to achieve a special optical effect.

[0007] This problem is solved by a manufacturing process with the features of claim 1. In this process, the embossing is backlit from the inner surface to achieve a special optical effect. In particular, the illumination can create a special color effect and further enhance the three-dimensional effect of the raised embossing. When the light source is switched on, the filler material acts as an optical element, through which a predetermined transmission or scattering of the generated light occurs to illuminate the embossing. In particular, by selecting a suitable light color for the light source, a special color effect can be created and the three-dimensional effect of the raised embossing can be further enhanced.

[0008] It is particularly advantageous if the filler level is flush with the inner surface of the vehicle interior upholstery. This allows the hardened filler to be directly and evenly supported by the respective interior surface it covers, such as the dashboard, seats, headrests, doors, or other surfaces in the vehicle's interior. In this way, external forces acting on the embossing can be absorbed particularly effectively.

[0009] Advantageously, the filler is formed from a hardening plastic in order to ensure good processing and predeterminable material properties of the hardened filler.

[0010] It is advantageous if the curing plastic is formed using an adhesive, such as a two-component adhesive. This allows the curing filler to be provided cost-effectively and in high quality using a commercially available adhesive. Alternatively, the curing plastic can be formed using any known and suitable synthetic resin.

[0011] It is also advantageous if the filler contains polyurethane, for example to be able to adjust a preferred density of the filler.

[0012] Furthermore, it is advantageous to incorporate a perforation into the vehicle interior covering in the area of ​​the embossing to be produced or already produced, either before or after the stabilization step, in order to generate an additional optical effect.

[0013] Furthermore, the aforementioned problem is solved by a vehicle interior covering with a raised embossing produced using one of the methods described above, wherein the embossing preferably includes a marking, such as a brand, lettering, in particular a name or model designation of the vehicle, or a decorative or design element. The embossing can be backlit from the inner surface to create a special optical effect. In particular, the illumination can produce a special color effect and further enhance the three-dimensional effect of the raised embossing. In this way, the markings commonly used in vehicle interiors can be reproduced in a particularly high-quality manner.

[0014] The raised embossing is preferably applied to leather or a leather-like material. This allows for a high-quality and durable embossing to be integrated into the interior of a vehicle, for example, on the dashboard, seats, headrests, or doors. Alternatively, the embossing can be applied to a single- or multi-layered textile or woven material.

[0015] Advantageously, the filler is positioned near a light source located on the inner surface of the vehicle interior trim. In this way, the filler can not only stabilize the embossing but also function as an optical element, thereby generating a predetermined transmission or scattering of light from the respective light source along the embossing.

[0016] The light source can be formed by a light guide plate arranged on the inner surface of the vehicle interior covering and connected to a power supply, which allows for a particularly flat installation under the vehicle interior covering.

[0017] Preferably, the vehicle interior upholstery can further feature additional perforation in the area of ​​the raised embossing, comprising several material cutouts on one end face and / or side face of the embossing. Depending on the shape and size of the material cutouts, the light generated by the light source can exit more or less directly through the perforation, thereby creating an additional optical effect.

[0018] It should be noted that all the features of the object according to the invention described above are interchangeable or combinable with each other, provided that such an exchange or combination is not excluded for technical reasons.

[0019] The figures illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention. They show: Fig. 1 a cutaway view of a vehicle interior covering for the production of an embossing, Fig. 2 a cutaway view of the vehicle interior according to Fig. 1 during the application of embossing agents in an embossing step, Fig. 3 a cutaway view of the vehicle interior according to Fig. 2 after filling a cavity with a filler in a stabilization step and Fig. 4 a cutaway view of the vehicle interior according to Fig. 3 in the installed state on a vehicle part.

[0020] Fig. Figure 1 shows a vehicle interior covering 2 made of a material suitable for covering a dashboard element, a seat, a headrest, a door, a steering wheel, a gearshift lever, or any other vehicle part in the interior of a vehicle. The material is also suitable for producing an embossing 4 (see Figure 1). Fig. 2) Plastically deformable and in particular made of leather or a leather-like material. Alternatively, the vehicle interior covering can also be made of any other known and suitable single- or multi-layered textile or woven material that allows the incorporation of the embossing 4.

[0021] To produce the embossing 4, the vehicle interior covering 2 is used, as shown in Fig. Figure 2 shows that in an embossing step, for example, the material is subjected to pressure by tempered embossing media, which have a die 8 that can be applied to a visible surface 6 of the vehicle interior cover 2 and a male die 12 that can be applied to an inner surface 10 facing away from the visible surface 6. Alternatively, the embossing step can also be carried out using embossing media that produce the embossing 4 by partial deep drawing of the vehicle interior cover 2 (not shown).

[0022] In any case, the embossing means define an embossing shape 14, which is transferred to the vehicle interior covering 2 during the embossing step, producing the embossing 4 that extends in relief from the visible surface 6. The produced embossing 4 preferably includes a marking, such as a trademark, a type designation, or other inscription. Alternatively or additionally, the embossing can also include a decorative element or a design contour.

[0023] After the embossing step, a stabilization step takes place, in which, according to Fig. 3. A filler 16 in a liquid or viscous state is introduced from the inner surface 10 into a cavity 18 defined by the embossing 4 in order to harden therein. The filler 16 can, for example, be a curing plastic, such as a particularly two-component adhesive or another synthetic resin. Preferably, the filler comprises polyurethane in order to achieve a preferred density.

[0024] As from Fig. As can be seen from section 3, the filler 16 is preferably filled into the cavity 18 in the stabilization step up to a fill level 20, which is flush with the inner surface 10. After curing, the filler 16 supports the shape of the embossing 4 from the inside and thereby ensures its stabilization, particularly against mechanical stresses applied to the visible surface 6.

[0025] After this stabilization of the raised embossing 4, the vehicle interior reference 2 can be applied according to Fig. 4 can be used to cover a vehicle part 22, for example, a dashboard. In this installed state of the vehicle interior covering 2, the visible surface 6 is freely visible. Preferably, a light source 24 is arranged in the area of ​​the embossing 4 on the inner surface of the vehicle interior covering 2, by means of which the embossing 4 can be backlit. For this purpose, the light source 24 is, for example, formed by a relatively flat light guide plate 26, which is embedded in the respective vehicle part 22 and connected to a power supply 28 of the respective vehicle.

[0026] As from Fig. As can be seen from Figure 4, the hardened filler 16 of the embossing 4 is in contact with the light source 24. When the light source 24 is switched on, the filler 16 can thus function as an optical element, through which a predetermined transmission or scattering of the generated light occurs to illuminate the embossing 4. In particular, by selecting a suitable light color for the light source 24, a special color effect can be created and the 3-dimensional effect of the raised embossing 4 can be further enhanced.

[0027] As in Fig.As further shown in Figure 4, an additional perforation 30 can optionally be provided in the area of ​​the raised embossing 4, which can be incorporated into the vehicle interior upholstery before or after the stabilization step. This perforation can, for example, have several material recesses 36 on an end face 32 and / or on a side face 34 of the embossing 4, through which the light generated by the light source 24 can exit the vehicle interior upholstery more or less directly, depending on the selected shape and size of the material recesses 36, in order to generate an additional lighting effect.

[0028] It should be noted that all the elements and features described above of the various embodiments of the object according to the invention are interchangeable or combinable with each other, provided that such an exchange or combination is not excluded for technical reasons.

Claims

[1] Method for producing an embossing (4) on a motor vehicle interior cover (2), wherein in one embossing step the embossing (4) is produced, which extends in relief away from a visible surface (6) of the vehicle interior covering (2), and In a subsequent stabilization step, the produced embossing (4) is stabilized on an inner surface (10) of the vehicle interior covering (2) facing away from the visible surface (6), in which a filler (16) in liquid state is filled into a cavity (18) bounded by the embossing (4), wherein the filler (16) fills the cavity (18) up to a fill level (20) and hardens in the filled state, characterized by , that the embossing (4) is backlit from the inner surface (10) and the filler (16) directs the light from a light source (24) to the embossing (4). [2] Manufacturing process according to claim 1, characterized by, that the fill level (20) of the filler (16) is flush with the inner surface (10) of the vehicle interior covering (2). [3] Manufacturing process according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the filler (16) is formed by a hardening plastic. [4] Manufacturing process according to claim 3, characterized by that the hardening plastic is formed by an adhesive. [5] Manufacturing process according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by , that the filler (16) contains polyurethane. [6] Manufacturing process according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that a perforation (30) is incorporated into the vehicle interior covering (2) before or after the stabilization step. [7] Automotive interior upholstery with a raised embossing produced by a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by, that the raised embossing (4) includes a marking and can be backlit from the inner surface (10), wherein the hardened filler 16 of the embossing 4 is in contact with the light source 24. [8] Vehicle interior cover according to claim 7, characterized by , that the raised embossing (4) is produced on a leather or leather-like material. [9] Vehicle interior cover according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by , that the filler (16) is in contact with a light source (24) which is located on the inner surface (10) of the vehicle interior covering (2). [10] Vehicle interior cover according to claim 9, characterized by , that the light source (24) is formed by a light guide plate (26) connected to a power supply (28). [11] Vehicle interior covering according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized by , that the vehicle interior covering (2) has an additional perforation (30) in the area of ​​the raised embossing (4).

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