Trim element comprising a backlit element on an opaque surface

Abstract

Trim element comprising a backlit element on an opaque coating The present invention relates to a vehicle trim element (10) comprising an opaque coating layer (25) extending between a lower surface (27) and an upper surface (29) separated from the lower surface (27) along a thickness direction (E), the upper surface (29) forming a visible surface of the trim element (10) from inside the vehicle. The filling element (10) comprises a translucent transmission element (38) extending along the thickness direction (E) through the coating layer (25), the transmission element (38) comprising a visible external surface (40) opening onto the upper surface (29) of the coating layer (25) and comprising a projecting portion (42) extending outward from the lower surface (27) of the coating layer (25) along the thickness direction (E). Figure for the abbreviation: 1

Description

Title of the invention: Trim element comprising a backlit element on an opaque coating

[0001] The present invention relates to a trim element of the type comprising at least one opaque coating layer extending between a lower surface and an upper surface separated from the lower surface in a thickness direction, the upper surface forming at least a part of a surface visible from inside the vehicle.

[0002] Passenger transport vehicles offer users a wide range of features to modify certain vehicle-related parameters, such as internal climate conditions, interior lighting, and multimedia settings. Furthermore, a vehicle occupant now has access to a large amount of information related to the vehicle (fuel level, vehicle light status, etc.), the external environment (weather, risk of black ice, air pollution, etc.), and driving (vehicle speed, vehicle geolocation, etc.).

[0003] Each feature or information displayed for the vehicle occupant is generally associated with one or more control devices and / or light signals, which the user can operate in order to manage a feature, or can consult in order to read information.

[0004] The control devices take for example the form of buttons or dials or a touch surface with icons with which the user can interact by contact with the touch surface.

[0005] The information displayed takes, for example, the form of light signals, generally light icons, configured to be visible to the occupant of the vehicle at least when he / she wishes.

[0006] It is known, for example, to backlight icons on a dashboard coating layer to make them visible to the vehicle occupant. In order to obtain good light transmission from the light source integrated into the trim element to a visible external surface of the coating layer, the coating layer is generally made of a translucent or transparent material.

[0007] However, such a solution is not optimal because the backlit icons often appear blurry on the visible outer surface of the coating layer, with imprecise outlines, due to light scattering within the coating layer. Furthermore, such a solution generally results in low contrast between The displayed icon and the rest of the coating layer are obscured. Reading information and / or locating the control of a feature then becomes difficult for the vehicle occupant.

[0008] Furthermore, contact with the fingers of the vehicle occupant, who seeks to control the vehicle's functionalities by interacting with the icons on the coating layer, quickly soils and / or wears down the visible external surface of the coating layer.

[0009] Such wear and dirt degrades the quality of the image perceived by the occupant of the vehicle and impairs the aesthetics of the trim element.

[0010] One of the aims of the invention is therefore to propose a trim element improving the visibility of a backlit image, while preserving the aesthetics of the trim element.

[0011] For this purpose, the invention relates to a filling element comprising a transmission element at least partly translucent extending in the thickness direction through the coating layer, the transmission element comprising a visible external surface opening on the side of the upper surface of the coating layer and comprising a protruding part extending in projection from the lower surface of the coating layer in the thickness direction.

[0012] Since the coating layer is opaque, dirt and wear are less visible on the coating layer, and the aesthetics of the trim element are preserved and improved.

[0013] Furthermore, since the transmission element is at least partially translucent, it efficiently transmits light to its visible outer surface. The light then efficiently passes through the transmission element to its visible outer surface and is perceived by an occupant of the vehicle.

[0014] Moreover, since the coating layer is opaque, the light is not diffused outside the transmission element and makes it possible to provide a luminous area with sharp contours, corresponding for example to the contours of the transmission element.

[0015] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the filling element comprises one or more of the following features, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:

[0016] - the coating layer includes at least one through-opening according to the thickness direction, the transmission element extending through the or each through opening;

[0017] - the through-opening of the coating layer has a cross-section, according to a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction, substantially equal to the section, along a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction, of the transmission element;

[0018] - the coating layer comprises a plurality of through micro-openings arranged apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction, each through micro-opening having a cross-section, in a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction, less than 20% of the cross-section, in a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction, of the transmission element;

[0019] - the coating layer is permeable, the transmission element impregnating the coating layer from the upper surface to the lower surface;

[0020] - the trim element comprises a support element extending between a external surface and an internal surface away from the external surface in the thickness direction, the coating layer extending at least partly over the external surface of the support element, the support element comprising an opening extending in the thickness direction, the opening leading at least into the external surface of the support element, the protruding part of the transmission element being introduced into at least part of the opening of the support element;

[0021] - the trim element includes a light source integrated into the element of support opposite at least part of the transmission element, the light source being configured to backlight the transmission element, the transmission element transmitting at least part of the light from the light source to the visible external surface of the transmission element;

[0022] - the transmission element and / or the support element comprises at least one a detection element configured to detect a user's press on the transmission element; and

[0023] - at least one decorative element is printed on the visible external surface of the transmission element.

[0024] The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a trim element comprising the following steps:

[0025] - supplying an opaque coating layer extending between a surface lower surface and an upper surface separated from the lower surface along a thickness direction,

[0026] - injection or additive manufacturing of a transmission element at least in translucent part through the coating layer so that the transmission element forms a visible external surface opening out from the side of the upper surface of the coating layer and includes a protruding part extending outward from the lower surface of the coating layer in the thickness direction.

[0027] The invention will become clearer upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the drawings in which:

[0028] [Fig-1] [Fig. 1] is a schematic cross-sectional representation of an element of filling according to a first embodiment of the invention,

[0029] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a schematic cross-sectional representation of an element of filling according to a second embodiment of the invention, and

[0030] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a schematic cross-sectional representation of an element of filling according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[0031] With reference to [Fig.1], a filling element 10 is described extending between an external surface 13 and an internal surface 15, opposite the external surface 13 along a thickness direction E.

[0032] The trim element 10 forms, for example, a dashboard, a center console, a seat, a door panel, or other, installed in the vehicle's passenger compartment. Alternatively, the trim element 10 according to the invention forms a display module that can be integrated onto another trim element, such as a dashboard, etc.

[0033] In the example shown in [Fig.1], the trim element 10 is intended to extend into a vehicle, for example to form part of a dashboard of the vehicle.

[0034] In all that follows, the terms "internal", "interior" and "lower" refer to what is facing the part of the passenger compartment on which the trim element is to be installed, as opposed to the terms "external", "exterior" and "upper" which refer to what is facing the outside of the trim element, i.e. towards the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

[0035] The external surface 13 of the trim element 10 forms the surface visible from inside the vehicle's passenger compartment by the vehicle's passengers.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the filling element 10 further comprises a support element 18 extending between an external surface 20 and an internal surface 22 away from the external surface 20 along the thickness direction E.

[0037] The internal surface 22 of the support element 18 forms, for example, at least a part of the internal surface 15 of the trim element 10.

[0038] The support element 18 is, for example, intended to be installed on a part of the vehicle's frame. The support element 18 provides stability and robustness to the trim element 10 and forms the interface of the trim element 10, allowing it to be fixed to its environment in the vehicle.

[0039] The support element 18 is for example made at least partly of an opaque plastic material such as polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate / acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (PC-ABS) for example.

[0040] The filling element 10 comprises at least one opaque coating layer 25 extending between a lower surface 27 and an upper surface 29 separated from the lower surface 27 along the thickness direction E.

[0041] The upper surface 29 forms at least part of the external surface 13 of the trim element 10. Thus, the upper surface 29 forms at least part of the visible surface of the trim element 10 from inside the vehicle.

[0042] In the example of [Fig. 1], the coating layer 25 extends at least partially over the external surface 20 of the support element 18. In particular, the lower surface 27 of the coating layer extends at least partially over the external surface 20 of the support element 18. The coating layer 25 is fixed, for example by bonding, to the external surface 20 of the support element 18.

[0043] The coating layer 25 conforms, for example, to the shape of at least part of the external surface 20 of the support element 18. In a particular embodiment, the coating layer 25 covers the entire external surface 20 of the support element 18.

[0044] In the example of [Fig.1], the coating layer 25 is formed of a deformable layer 32, for example an optional three-dimensional foam or knitted fabric (“spacer fabric”) forming the lower part of the coating layer 25, i.e. forming the lower surface 27 of the coating layer 25 and being applied to the external surface 20 of the support element 18.

[0045] The deformable layer 32 provides a feeling of comfort for the occupants of the vehicle, unlike a trim element which would include a screen formed from a glass, and which would then present much more rigid sensory properties and therefore less pleasant for the occupants of the vehicle.

[0046] In this example, the coating layer 25 includes an upper coating 34, forming the upper part of the coating layer 25, i.e. forming the upper surface 29 of the coating layer 25 and being applied to the deformable layer 32.

[0047] The coating 34 therefore forms at least part of the visible surface of the trim element 10 from inside the vehicle.

[0048] In the absence of a deformable layer 32, the coating layer 25 comprises only the coating 34 and the coating 34 is directly applied to the external surface 20 of the support element 18.

[0049] The coating 34 is, for example, a textile made from an assembly of woven or non-woven natural or synthetic fibers, or is a synthetic or natural skin such as synthetic or natural leather. The coating 34 is, for example, made of a thermoplastic elastomer such as thermoplastic polyurethane.

[0050] The coating layer 25 is opaque. In other words, an incident light beam having a wavelength between 400 nm and 750 nm is transmitted through the coating layer 25 with a surface luminance value of less than 0.5 cd / m2.

[0051] The coating layer 25 then obscures the support element 18 from inside the vehicle's passenger compartment and provides a satisfactory aesthetic appearance to the trim element 10.

[0052] The trim element 10 comprises at least one light transmission element 38, at least partly translucent, extending along the thickness E direction through the coating layer 25. As will be described in more detail later, the transmission element or each of the transmission elements 38 is intended to be backlit by a light source in order to provide a visible light signal for the occupants of the vehicle.

[0053] Below, a single transmission element 38 will be described in its environment. It is implied that the lining element 10 may comprise several similar transmission elements 38, each extending along the thickness direction E through the coating layer 25.

[0054] The transmission element 38 comprises a visible external surface 40 opening out from the side of the upper surface 29 of the coating layer 25 and a projecting part 42 extending outward from the lower surface 27 of the coating layer 25 in the thickness direction E.

[0055] By "at least partly translucent", it is understood that an incident light beam with a wavelength between 400 nm and 750 nm is at least partly transmitted by the transmission element 38 from its protruding part 42 to its visible external surface 40. In other words, an incident light beam having a wavelength between 400 nm and 750 nm, projected into the transmission element 38 by its protruding part 42, is transmitted through the visible external surface 40 of the transmission element 38 and has a surface luminance value greater than 1 cd / m2.

[0056] For example, the transmission element 38 is made of an optical resin, for example polyurethane, polymethyl methacrylate acrylic, or polycarbonate. The transmission element 38 then has a soft feel, providing a sensation of comfort for the vehicle occupants when they touch, for example with their fingers, the transmission element 38, and more particularly its visible external surface 40.

[0057] By "opening from the side of the upper surface 29", it is meant that the visible external surface 40 of the transmission element 38 forms part of the visible external surface of the lining element 10. In other words, the external surface 13 of the filling element 10 is both locally formed by the visible external surface 40 of the transmission element 38, and by the upper surface 29 of the coating layer 25 outside the transmission element 38.

[0058] The visible external surface 40 is, for example, flush with the upper surface 29 of the coating layer 25, or is concave or convex with respect to the upper surface 29 of the coating layer 25. For example, when the visible external surface 40 is concave, the visible external surface 40 forms a depression in the upper surface 29 of the coating layer 25. Similarly, when the visible external surface 40 is convex, the visible external surface 40 forms a relief on the upper surface 29 of the coating layer 25.

[0059] Thus, for example, the transmission element 38 can have a three-dimensional appearance, forming for example a button protruding from the upper surface 29. Thus, the transmission element 38 is easily identifiable by the occupant of the vehicle.

[0060] The projecting part 42 extends for example in projection from the lower surface 27 of the coating layer 25 by a distance greater than 0.1 mm, taken along the thickness direction E.

[0061] In this first embodiment, the coating layer 25 includes a through opening 45 along the thickness direction E, the transmission element 38 extending into the coating layer 25 through the through opening 45.

[0062] The through opening 45 has, for example, a cross-section, along a plane perpendicular to the direction of thickness E, substantially equal to the cross-section, along a plane perpendicular to the direction of thickness E, of the transmission element 38 so that the transmission element 38 closes the through opening 45.

[0063] In other words, the through opening 45 receives the transmission element 38 and allows it to emerge through each of the lower 27 and upper 29 surfaces of the coating layer 25. By "receives" it is understood that, during the manufacturing process of the filling element 10, which will be described in detail later, the transmission element 38 is for example injected into the through opening 45 of the coating layer 25 so as to completely fill the through opening 45.

[0064] The transmission element 38 and the through opening 45 have a cross-section, along a plane perpendicular to the direction of thickness E, for example between 15 mm2 and 100 mm2, in particular between 30 mm2 and 60 mm2.

[0065] In a particular example, shown in [Fig.1], the support element 18 includes an opening 48 extending along the thickness direction E and opening at least into the external surface 20 of the support element 18.

[0066] In the embodiment shown in [Fig. 1], the opening 48 is through-hole along the thickness direction E and is located at least partially opposite the element transmission 38, and in particular with regard to the through opening 45 of the coating layer 25, along the thickness direction E.

[0067] In particular, the protruding part 42 of the transmission element 38 is introduced into at least a part of the opening 48 of the support element 18.

[0068] As will be described in more detail later, this presents a significant advantage during the assembly of the coating layer 25 with the support element 18. Indeed, it is then possible to quickly and easily position the coating layer 25 on the support element 18 by locating the protruding part 42 of the transmission element 38 and guiding it to the opening 48 of the support element 18. This allows the coating layer 25 to self-center on the support element 18 and enables the coating layer 25 to be quickly positioned on the support element 18.

[0069] Furthermore, the protruding part 42 being introduced into at least a part of the opening 48 of the support element 18, good transmission of light is ensured between the protruding part 42 and the visible external surface 40 of the transmission element 38, without light leakage between the support element 18 and the coating layer 25.

[0070] In a particular embodiment, the coating layer 25 is fixed to the support element 18, additionally or instead of gluing, by cooperation of the transmission element 38 with the opening 48 of the support element 18.

[0071] As previously mentioned, the transmission element 38 is intended to be backlit by a light source in order to provide a visible light signal for the vehicle occupants through the opaque coating layer 25.

[0072] For this purpose, the trim element 10 includes, for example, a light source 50 integrated into the support element 18 and located opposite at least a part of the transmission element 38.

[0073] The light source 50 is, for example, a light-emitting diode.

[0074] By virtue of its position, the light source 50 is configured to backlight the transmission element 38, that is to say, to inject the light emitted by the light source 50 into the protruding part 42 of the transmission element 38. The transmission element 38 transmits at least a part of the light beams received from the light source 50 to the visible external surface 40 of the transmission element 38. The transmission element 38 is therefore backlit and transmits the light into the interior of the vehicle's passenger compartment.

[0075] Since the support element 18 is opaque, it acts as a "light-box" and allows the light from the light source to be guided 50 towards the visible external surface 40 of the transmission element 38, limiting the undesirable diffusion of light into the support element 18 itself.

[0076] Thus, the intensity of the light beams received and transmitted by the visible external surface 40 is preserved and allows the occupant of the vehicle to see an intensely luminous area with a strong contrast to the rest of the opaque coating layer 25.

[0077] In a particular example, in order to specify the information displayed for the vehicle occupant, at least one decorative element 55 is printed on the visible external surface 40 of the transmission element 38.

[0078] The decorative element 55 is, for example, an opaque mask arranged on the visible external surface 40 of the transmission element 38 in order to delimit a precise contour when the transmission element 38 is backlit by the light source 50.

[0079] The decorative element 55 delimits, for example, an icon representing certain information related to the vehicle (fuel level, status of the vehicle's lights, etc.) or certain vehicle functionalities (management of a multimedia device, control of the temperature inside the vehicle, etc.).

[0080] For example, the decorative element 55 is indirectly printed on the visible external surface 40 of the transmission element 38, for example by pad printing, or is printed by an "in mold decoration" process, that is to say by placing the decorative element 55 against a molding surface of an injection cavity of the transmission element 38 and by injecting the transmission element 38 into the coating layer 25 against the decorative element 55.

[0081] In a particular embodiment, the coating layer 25 is at least locally touchable, for example around the transmission element 38, in order to allow the vehicle occupant to control certain vehicle functions by interaction with the coating layer 25, and in particular with the transmission element 38.

[0082] For this purpose, the transmission element 38 and / or the support element 18 includes at least one detection element 60 configured to detect a user pressing on the transmission element 38.

[0083] For example, in [Fig. 1] two types of sensing elements 60, which can be used alone or in combination, are illustrated. A first sensing element 60 is, for example, a capacitive, piezoelectric, or other film 62, disposed on the transmission element 38, for example on the protruding part 42 of the transmission element 38. A second sensing element 60 is, for example, a force sensor 64 integrated into the support element 18, for example near the opening 48.

[0084] Since the transmission element 38 is made of a relatively flexible plastic material, it allows the detection of pressure on its visible external surface 40 by the elements detection 60 located on the side of the protruding part 42. Alternatively, the detection of said support can also be done by an infrared transmitter / receiver element on the electronic board, not shown, which carries the light source 50.

[0085] By communication with a control unit, not shown, the detection element or each detection element 60 detects a user press on the transmission element 38, and transmits the received signal to the control unit in order to control the functionality associated with the transmission element 38.

[0086] A method for manufacturing a trim element 10 as described above will now be described.

[0087] Initially, the opaque coating layer 25 is provided, and extends between the lower surface 27 and the upper surface 29.

[0088] Optionally, the support element 18 is also initially supplied.

[0089] In the first embodiment that has been described so far, the coating layer 25 is first perforated in order to produce the through opening 45.

[0090] The constituent material of the transmission element 38 is heated to a temperature, for example, between 150° and 300° depending on its nature, in order to obtain the transmission element 38 in a liquid or viscous state.

[0091] The transmission element 38 thus heated is injected, for example by a standard plastic injection process, into the through opening 45 of the coating layer 25. In particular, the transmission element 38 is injected via the end of the through opening 45 opening onto the side of the upper surface 29 of the coating layer 25, until it opens onto the side of the lower surface 27 of the coating layer 25.

[0092] During injection, the lower surfaces 27 and upper surfaces 29 of the coating layer 25 are for example pressed towards each other along the thickness direction E, outside the through opening 45, in order to guide the injected transmission element 38 through the through opening 45 of the coating layer 25.

[0093] The injection continues until the transmission element 38 forms the visible external surface 40 opening out from the side of the upper surface 29 of the coating layer 25 and the protruding part 42 extends outward from the lower surface 27 of the coating layer 25 in the thickness direction E.

[0094] Once the injection is complete, the transmission element 38 is cooled and solidifies.

[0095] When the lining element 10 includes a support element 18, the latter is then assembled with the coating layer 25.

[0096] The external surface 20 of the support element 18 and / or the lower surface 27 of the coating layer 25 is for example pre-coated with an adhesive layer such as glue.

[0097] Advantageously, the protruding part 42 of the transmission element 38 allows the coating layer 25 to be guided on the external surface 20 of the support element 18 until the correct positioning of the protruding part 42 in the opening 48 of the support element 18 implies the correct positioning of the coating layer 25 on the external surface 20 of the support element 18.

[0098] In an alternative, not shown, the opening 48 of the support element 18 is not through along the thickness direction E but opens only through the external surface 20 of the support element 18.

[0099] According to this variant, the support element 18 is opaque except with respect to the opening 48 along the thickness direction E. In particular, the support element 18 includes a translucent part located between the opening 48 and the light source 50 along the thickness direction E, so as to transmit the light from the light source 50 to the protruding part 42 of the transmission element 38.

[0100] In another variant, not shown, the transmission element 38 is added to the coating layer 25 not by a plastic injection process but by an additive manufacturing process, such as 3D printing.

[0101] According to this variant, it is possible to simultaneously print the transmission element 38 in the coating layer 25 and the decoration element 55, for example by changing the color of the material yarns used for printing.

[0102] The transmission element 38 produced by additive manufacturing can be easily adapted to the coating layer 25, as well as to the icon that one wishes to display on the transmission element 38.

[0103] With reference to [Fig.2], a second embodiment of a trim element 100 according to the invention will now be described.

[0104] In all that follows, the trim element 100 is analogous to the trim element 10, and only the features differing from the first embodiment will be described below. Thus, similar features will not be described and will bear the same reference numerals.

[0105] In this embodiment, the coating layer 25 comprises a plurality of through micro-openings 70 arranged apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction E. For example, the coating layer 25 comprises between 10 and 100 micro-openings per transmission element 38.

[0106] Each through micro-opening 70 has a cross-section, along a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction E, less than 20% of the cross-section, along a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction E, of the transmission element 38.

[0107] For example, each through-hole micro-opening 70 has a cross-section of less than 3 mm2, in particular on the order of a few tenths of a square millimeter.

[0108] In the same way as before, each through micro-opening 70 receives the transmission element 38 and allows it to open through each of the lower 27 and upper 29 surfaces of the coating layer 25. By "receives" it is meant that, during the manufacturing process of the filling element 10, the transmission element 38 is, for example, injected simultaneously into each through micro-opening 70 of the coating layer 25. Each micro-opening is thus closed by the transmission element 38.

[0109] This embodiment makes it possible to "anchor" the transmission element 38 effectively in the coating layer 25.

[0110] For this purpose, the coating layer 25 is perforated to produce each through micro-opening 70, before proceeding with the injection of the transmission element 38.

[0111] With reference to [Fig.3], a third embodiment of a trim element 200 according to the invention will now be described.

[0112] In all that follows, the trim element 200 is analogous to the trim element 10, and only the features differing from the first embodiment will be described below. Thus, similar features will not be described and will bear the same reference numerals.

[0113] In this embodiment, the coating layer 25 does not include a through opening.

[0114] The coating layer 25 is permeable and the transmission element 38 impregnates the coating layer 25 from the upper surface 29 to the lower surface 27.

[0115] Preferably, in this embodiment, the coating 34 is a textile, the mesh of which is arranged so as to increase the permeability of the coating layer 25.

[0116] Preferably also, the transmission element 38 is made of polyurethane, which is less viscous than polycarbonate and allows better impregnation into the coating layer 25.

[0117] In this embodiment, the pressure exerted on the lower surfaces 27 and upper surfaces 29 of the coating layer 25 outside the area where the transmission element 38 is injected makes it possible to reduce the permeability of the coating layer 25 outside the area where the transmission element 38 is injected. Thus the diffusion, in a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction E, of the transmission element 38 when it is injected in liquid or viscous state, into the coating layer 25 is limited.

[0118] The trim element 10, 100, 200 as described above with reference to Figs. 1 to 3, has many advantages.

[0119] Since the coating layer 25 is opaque, dirt and wear are less visible and the aesthetics of the trim element are preserved and improved compared with a fully translucent coating layer.

[0120] Furthermore, since the transmission element 38 is translucent, it efficiently and locally (therefore clearly and intensely) transmits light to its visible outer surface. The vehicle occupant then perceives a bright, clear, and contrasting icon against the opaque coating layer 25 and benefits from an enhanced visual experience.

[0121] The protruding portion of the transmission element in cooperation with the opening of the support element ensures easy positioning, which can for example be automated, of the coating layer on the support element during the assembly of the lining element.

[0122] Finally, the presence of the detection elements makes it possible to functionalize the transmission element by giving it tactile properties, allowing an occupant of the vehicle to control certain vehicle functions by contact with the transmission element.

Claims

Demands

1. A vehicle trim element (10; 100; 200) comprising at least one opaque coating layer (25) extending between a lower surface (27) and an upper surface (29) offset from the lower surface (27) along a thickness direction (E), the upper surface (29) forming at least a portion of a surface visible from inside the vehicle of the trim element (10; 100; 200), characterized in that the trim element (10; 100; 200) comprises a transmission element (38) at least partially translucent extending along the thickness direction (E) through the coating layer (25), the transmission element (38) comprising a visible external surface (40) opening from the side of the upper surface (29) of the coating layer (25) and comprising a projecting portion (42) extending outward from the lower surface (27) of the coating layer (25) along the thickness direction (E).

2. Filling element (10; 100) according to claim 1, wherein the coating layer (25) comprises at least one through opening (45) along the thickness direction (E), the transmission element (38) extending through the or each through opening (45).

3. Filling element (10) according to claim 2, wherein the through opening (45) of the coating layer (25) has a cross-section, along a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction (E), substantially equal to the cross-section, along a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction (E), of the transmission element (38).

4. Filling element (100) according to claim 2, wherein the coating layer (25) comprises a plurality of through microopenings (70) arranged apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction (E), each through microopening (70) having a cross-section, in a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction (E), less than 20% of the cross-section, in a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction (E), of the transmission element (38).

5. Filling element (200) according to claim 1, wherein the coating layer (25) is permeable, the transmission element (38) impregnating the coating layer (25) from the upper surface (29) to the lower surface (27).

6. A filling element (10; 100; 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a support element (18) extending between an external surface (20) and an internal surface (22) away from the external surface (20) in the thickness direction (E), the coating layer (25) extending at least partially over the external surface (20) of the support element (18), the support element (18) comprising an opening (48) extending in the thickness direction (E), the opening (48) opening at least into the external surface (20) of the support element, the projecting part (42) of the transmission element (38) being introduced into at least a part of the opening (48) of the support element (18).

7. Filling element (10; 100; 200) according to claim 6, comprising a light source (50) integrated in the support element (18) opposite at least a portion of the transmission element (38), the light source (50) being configured to backlight the transmission element (38), the transmission element (38) transmitting at least a portion of the light from the light source (50) to the visible external surface (40) of the transmission element (38).

8. Trimming element (10; 100; 200) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the transmission element (38) and / or the support element (18) comprises at least one sensing element (60) configured to detect a user pressing on the transmission element (38).

9. Trim element (10; 100; 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one decorative element (55) is printed on the visible external surface (40) of the transmission element (38).

10. A method for manufacturing a packing element (10; 100; 200) comprising the following steps: - supplying an opaque coating layer (25) extending between a lower surface (27) and an upper surface (29) offset from the lower surface (27) along a thickness direction (E), - injecting or additively manufacturing a transmission element (38) at least partially translucent through the coating layer (25) so that the transmission element (38) forms a visible external surface (40) opening out from the side of the upper surface (29) of the coating layer (25) and includes a projecting part (42) extending outward from the lower surface (27) of the coating layer (25) in the thickness direction (E).

Images