Methods for applying decorative film to uneven surfaces, laminated films with decorative film, and vehicles with laminated films.

Abstract

A method for applying a relatively rigid decorative film (2) having a decorative layer (24) to an uneven surface (16), preferably to the body skin (10) of an automobile (1), characterized by the following steps: a) providing the decorative film (2); b) applying an adhesive layer (26) to the decorative film (2); c) applying the decorative film (2) with the adhesive layer (26) to an adhesive carrier film (27) to form a sandwich film (19); d) pre-setting compression gaps (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47; 42', 43', 44', 45', 46', 47') and linear expansion gaps (52, 54) that are either star-shaped or diamond-shaped. The pattern is cut into the decorative film (2) such that the compression gaps (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47; 42', 43', 44', 45', 46', 47') and the expansion gaps (52, 54) penetrate the decorative film (2) along the thickness direction (D), e) the interlayer film (19) is applied to the uneven surface (16), wherein the interlayer film (19) is adapted to the convex region (17) of the uneven surface (16) by stretching the adhesive carrier film (27) and the decorative film (2), and wherein the interlayer film (19) is adapted to the concave region (18) of the uneven surface (16) by compressing the adhesive carrier film (27) and the decorative film (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a method for applying a relatively rigid decorative film to an uneven surface, as described in claim 1. Furthermore, this invention also relates to a decorative film suitable for this purpose, a film composite having such a decorative film, and a vehicle, particularly an automobile, having an exterior body skin fitted with such a decorative film by the method described in any of the preceding claims. [Background of the Invention]

[0002] For automotive customers, customization and personalization of the vehicle's exterior are often desired. To date, this has been achieved through personalized paint jobs or partial paint jobs, or by applying wraps to the exterior skin. However, such personalization is often costly and, in particular, limited to contextual variations. When using decorative films, the film must possess significant flexibility, stretchability, and compressibility, which is difficult to achieve with thicker, stiffer films. Furthermore, there may be a desire to flexibly adapt the vehicle's appearance to specific driving purposes—from the seriousness and restraint of commercial use to a stylish and vibrant look for a beach vacation. Prior Technology

[0003] It is known to laminate curved and bent surfaces using highly flexible, stretchable, and compressible decorative films; however, laminating with harder films, such as wood veneer or e-paper films, has not yet been possible. Display devices on vehicle bodies that operate based on e-paper technology and can switch between different visual appearances are also known, but this has so far only been achievable on flat surfaces of the vehicle body. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a method for applying a decorative film to an uneven surface, which can be flexibly adapted to any three-dimensional shape.

[0005] This objective is achieved alternatively through the features of Request 1 and Request 2.

[0006] The first solution provides a method for applying a relatively rigid decorative film with a decorative layer to an uneven surface, preferably to the outer skin of a vehicle body, characterized by the following steps: a) Provide decorative film; b) Apply the adhesive layer to the decorative film; c) Apply the decorative film with the adhesive layer onto the adhesive carrier film to form a sandwich film; d) A predetermined pattern of compression gaps and linear expansion gaps, either star-shaped or diamond-shaped, is cut into the electronic paper film in a certain way, such that the compression gaps and expansion gaps penetrate the decorative film along the thickness direction, and e) Applying the interlayer film to an uneven surface, wherein the interlayer film is adapted to a convex region of the uneven surface by stretching the adhesive carrier film and the decorative film, and wherein the interlayer film is adapted to a concave region of the uneven surface by compressing the adhesive carrier film and the decorative film.

[0007] A second alternative solution provides a method for applying a relatively rigid decorative film with a decorative layer to an uneven surface, preferably to the exterior skin of a vehicle body, characterized by the following steps: a) Provide decorative film; b) Apply the adhesive layer to the decorative film; c') A predetermined pattern of compression gaps and linear expansion gaps that diverge from each other in a star shape or adopt a diamond design is cut into the decorative film in a certain way, such that the compression gaps and the expansion gaps penetrate the decorative film along the thickness direction; d) Applying the decorative film with the adhesive layer onto the adhesive carrier film to form a sandwich film; and e) Applying the interlayer film to an uneven surface, wherein the interlayer film is adapted to a convex region of the uneven surface by stretching the adhesive carrier film and the decorative film, and wherein the interlayer film is adapted to a concave region of the uneven surface by compressing the adhesive carrier film and the decorative film.

[0008] Here, "self-stiff" decorative film does not refer to a rigid decorative film, but rather to a decorative film with limited flexibility in its initial state. While it can bend in one direction, it cannot bend in two different directions simultaneously, i.e., it cannot bend around two different axes. Furthermore, the bendability of this decorative film in its initial state is limited to a larger bending radius and does not allow for a narrower bending radius.

[0009] This method is not limited to applying a film to uneven surfaces of the car body skin, but can also be applied to almost all three-dimensional surfaces, especially those located inside the car. [advantage] []

[0010] According to the technical solution of the present invention, the decorative film having a pattern composed of individual slits penetrating the film along its thickness direction makes the generally rigid, unslit decorative film more flexible in three dimensions through the slit pattern of the present invention. Preferably, the slits are made by means of a laser beam, a cutting plotter, or other blades, resulting in extremely narrow individual slits that are almost invisible when the decorative film is flat.

[0011] To ensure the slit decorative film remains workable and processable when applied to uneven surfaces, an adhesive layer is first applied to at least one side of the decorative film's carrier layer before slitting. This adhesive layer is not slit along with the decorative film during subsequent slitting, thus providing the stability required for subsequent processing of the slit decorative film. This adhesive layer is also flexible, stretchable, and compressible. The decorative film with the adhesive layer can be applied to the adhesive carrier film before or after slitting. In this case, the adhesive layer is bonded to the carrier film. The carrier film is also flexible, stretchable, and compressible. If the slitting step of the decorative film is performed after bonding the decorative film to the carrier film, only the decorative film is slit, and the carrier film remains intact. This forms a sandwich film consisting of a slit decorative film, an adhesive layer, and a carrier film, as a flexible, stretchable, and compressible thin-film composite. Suitable carrier films include, for example, automotive wrapping films commonly known for applying film to vehicles.

[0012] The decorative film with the slit can be compressed based on its star-shaped or diamond-shaped structure, in cases where the decorative film must locally adapt to recesses or indentations in the base (e.g., the outer skin of the vehicle body), such compression is required. In this case, the gradually tapering surface areas of the decorative film retained between the star-shaped compression slits can approach or even overlap each other while bridging the individual compression slits, thereby shrinking the decorative film at these points, i.e., compressing it in these areas.

[0013] In the extended region, the decorative film can be stretched in a direction transverse to (e.g., perpendicular to) the longitudinal extension of at least one extended slit, i.e., extended on the surface, wherein the width of the associated extended slit—at least in its central region—is increased.

[0014] Based on their inherent stretchability and compressibility, the adhesive layer and carrier film are subjected to compression of the interlayer film in the compression region of the decorative film and stretching of the interlayer film in the extension region of the decorative film.

[0015] Uneven surfaces can be curved (two-dimensional bending) or bent (three-dimensional bending), wherein the surface can be convex or concave; convex and concave regions can also be alternated and their radii of curvature can also be different.

[0016] Other preferred and advantageous design features of the method according to the invention are the subject matter of Annexes 3 to 9.

[0017] It is preferable to use a laser beam to cut a pre-defined pattern, consisting of compression and expansion gaps, into the decorative film.

[0018] It is also advantageous that, after the interlayer film is applied to the uneven surface, a protective layer or varnish layer consisting of a transparent protective film is applied to the interlayer film in another step e).

[0019] A particularly advantageous variant of the method according to the invention, which can be combined with other variants, is proposed in order to determine the preset pattern, firstly, convex and concave areas of the uneven surface are identified by a CAD program and marked by convex or concave marks, the marked uneven surface is unfolded into a plane, and the coordinates of the convex and concave marks are transferred to the planar decorative film, the convex marks determining the expansion area into which the expansion gaps are cut, and the concave marks determining the compression area into which compression gaps are cut by mutually star-shaped or diamond-shaped designs.

[0020] According to another preferred variant of the method according to the invention, which can be combined with other variants, a first compression region is provided, wherein the compression gaps that are star-shaped and diverge from each other have a common center that extends through the decorative film in the thickness direction.

[0021] Furthermore, a second compression region is preferably provided, wherein the inner ends of the star-shaped compression gaps are spaced apart at the center of the compression element, thereby forming an intact region of the decorative film at the center, in which the decorative film is not cut along the thickness direction. The intact center of the second compression region ensures that, in the presence of an electrode layer, such as the electrode layer of a decorative film constructed as an electronic paper film, the electrical wiring in these locations is not interrupted, thereby significantly reducing the total resistance in the corresponding electrode layer.

[0022] It is also advantageous to trim the decorative film provided in step a) to a predetermined outer contour in or before step a), and then trim the interlayer film formed in step c) or d') to the same outer contour, wherein in this case, the circumferential cutting line of the carrier film is separated from the outer contour line of the decorative film. This avoids damage to the periphery of the decorative film due to the aforementioned trimming of the interlayer film along its periphery. The above approach is particularly advantageous if trimming is performed by a laser beam, since the thickness of the carrier film is greater for cutting the carrier film, and the intensity of the laser beam must be greater than when trimming the decorative film.

[0023] The decorative film preferably includes a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a decorative layer disposed between the two electrode layers. The light reflection or light transmission characteristics of the decorative layer can be changed by applying a voltage. Conductive contact pieces are provided on the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer of the decorative film provided in step a) or prior to step a). The contact pieces can pivot about an axis located in the plane of the respective electrode layer.

[0024] Current is introduced into the corresponding electrode layer through these contact pads, thereby causing a change in the state of a decorative film, such as an electronic paper film. The pivotability of these contact pads allows each contact pad to rotate out of the plane of its corresponding electrode layer, so that it can subsequently be guided through a corresponding opening in the uneven surface to be bonded to the interlayer film. Thus, the contact of the electrode layers is invisible after the interlayer film is installed (e.g., on a vehicle body panel). Alternatively, a black, white, or colored film can be applied to or covered over the contact pads.

[0025] Subsequently, a colored film can be applied to the interlayer film applied to the uneven surface as needed to achieve the desired color effect. Alternatively, a transparent film or varnish layer can be applied to the interlayer film applied to the uneven surface for protection.

[0026] A particular advantage is that the decorative film, constructed as an electronic paper film, operates based on the principles of advanced color electronic paper technology, which can display any color and switch between any colors. This allows, for example, vehicles used for commercial purposes and thus bearing a specific color (such as beige or yellow for taxis or corporate CI colors) to present a different appearance color during private use.

[0027] Of course, within the scope of this invention, decorative films may be provided only for certain areas of the vehicle body's outer skin, or different decorative films composed of electronic paper films may be provided for different areas of the vehicle body's outer skin, thereby allowing the color of smaller segments or shapes of the vehicle body's outer skin to be switched. Another concept included in this invention is to integrate a flexible active matrix display element as a TFT layer into an interlayer film equipped with an electronic paper film as a decorative film, so as to realize the display of symbols and icons.

[0028] This invention also relates to a sandwich film manufactured according to the method of the invention, the sandwich film having a decorative film connected to a carrier film by an adhesive layer. The adhesive layer and the carrier film are flexible, stretchable, and compressible. Furthermore, the initially relatively rigid decorative film becomes flexible, stretchable, and compressible by cutting a predetermined pattern of compression and expansion regions according to the invention. The sandwich film thus produced possesses these characteristics and can adapt particularly well to the surface curves of uneven surfaces (e.g., vehicle body panels).

[0029] The decorative film advantageously has multiple star-shaped compression elements comprising a different number of star-shaped compression slits that diverge from each other. This decorative film has areas of varying flexibility, thus allowing it to be adapted to substrates with three-dimensional shaped surfaces of varying strengths.

[0030] In this case, it is particularly advantageous that, in the area of ​​the decorative film that can be adapted to the convex surface region, the smaller the radius of curvature of the convex surface region, the greater the number of extension elements per unit area.

[0031] Another advantage is that, in the area of ​​the decorative film that can be adapted to a concave surface region, the smaller the radius of curvature of the concave surface region, the greater the number of compression elements per unit area.

[0032] The decorative layer of the decorative film is preferably a smart glass LCD layer that can switch between transparent and opaque or an electronic paper layer that can switch between two colors. However, the decorative layer can also be, for example, a wood veneer layer.

[0033] Finally, the present invention also relates to a vehicle, particularly an automobile, having a body skin that is at least partially provided with an interlayer film having such a decorative film, for example, constructed as an electronic paper film, by means of any of the preceding claims.

[0034] The preferred embodiments of the present invention, which have supplementary design details and other advantages, will now be described and explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0035] in: Figure 1 shows a car body including the body skin; Figure 2 is a partially enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the structure of the electronic paper display device; Figure 3 shows a partial surface view of a three-dimensional deformable decorative film with a compression region and an expansion region according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 shows the enlarged compression region according to the first variant scheme; Figure 5 shows the enlarged extended area; Figure 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a sandwich membrane manufactured according to the method of the present invention; and Figure 7 shows a partial surface view of a three-dimensional deformable decorative film with a compression region and an expansion region according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Implementation

[0036] Figure 1 shows a car 1, which includes a body 12 having an outer body skin 10 and a vehicle interior 11 at least partially surrounded by the body. As schematically shown through dashed lines, according to the method of the invention, the outer body skin 10 is laminated in the areas of the front hood 13 and the front fenders 14, 15 using a laminated film 19 according to the invention, as described below. The outer body skin 10 forms an uneven surface 16 in these areas, having convex sections 17 and concave sections 18.

[0037] Figure 2 is a partially enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the structure of the known electronic paper film 2', which forms the decorative film 2 according to the present invention. The electronic paper film 2' has an (upper) transparent electrode layer 20 including a first plane of a transparent top layer 21, a (lower) electrode layer 22 including a second plane of a carrier layer 23, and a display layer arranged between the two electrode layers 20, 22 to form a variable decorative layer 24.

[0038] The first upper electrode layer 20 is connected to the electrical control device 3 via at least one upper connecting piece 29 through a first conductive connection 247, and the second lower electrode layer 22 is also connected to the control device 3 via at least one lower connecting piece 29' through a second conductive connection 248. Power is supplied to the control device 3 by a current source Q. Furthermore, the control device 3 receives control signals through a control line 30.

[0039] The variable decorative layer 24 of the electronic paper film 2' is equipped with a plurality of display spheres 240 designed as microcapsules. Each display sphere 240 has a transparent shell wall 241 surrounding an internal space 246 of the display sphere 240. The internal space 246 contains a plurality of first pigments 242 of a first color (white in this case) and a plurality of second pigments 244 of a second color (black in this case), which are surrounded by a transparent fluid 243, wherein the black pigments 244 are generally positively charged and the white pigments 242 are negatively charged.

[0040] When a positive or negative electric field is activated by applying a voltage to electrodes 20 and 22, the black pigment 244 and white pigment 242 migrate to the corresponding opposing electrodes 20 and 22. The amount of pigment particles that migrate to the upper (transparent) electrode 20 becomes visible to the observer as black or white dots. Further development of the electronic paper film 2' with multiple different display spheres enables the display of colors, with these display spheres containing colored pigments instead of white pigment 242.

[0041] The control device 3 supplies electrical switching signals with corresponding polarities to the electrodes 20 and 22, so as to switch the display ball 240 from black to white, and vice versa. If the display layer 24 of the electronic paper film 2' can display different colors, the control device 3 can control the display ball 240 in a certain way so that the electronic paper film 2' displays the color desired by the user.

[0042] Figure 3 shows a partial surface of the decorative film 2 according to the present invention. The decorative film 2 is provided with a plurality of compression regions 4, 4', 4'' and extension regions 5, 5', 5''. Each compression region 4, 4', 4'' has a star-shaped compression element 40, 40', 40'' shown in detail in Figure 4, which is composed of a plurality of compression slots 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47; 42', 43', 44', 45', 46', 47' radiating from a common center 41 to each other in a star shape, and these compression slots penetrate the decorative film 2 along the thickness direction D. When the decorative film 2 extends in a plane as shown in Figure 4, the width of the compression gaps 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47; 42', 43', 44', 45', 46', 47' decreases from the center 41 of the compression element 40 toward the corresponding free ends of the compression gaps 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47; 42', 43', 44', 45', 46', 47', so that each compression gap 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47; 42', 43', 44', 45', 46', 47' gradually tapers toward its free end.

[0043] Adjacent compression elements 40, 40' form a pair of converging compression slots 42, 42'. The free ends of these converging compression slots 42, 42' do not contact each other, but are spaced apart, leaving an unsealed bridging region 48 between their free ends. In this bridging region, the decorative film 2 remains intact, thus enabling electrical operation when using the electronic paper film 2'. These converging compression slots 42, 42' share a common central axis M in their longitudinal extension.

[0044] An expansion element 50 forming an expansion region 5 is always provided between two adjacent compression elements 40, 40'. For this purpose, as shown in FIG5, a first expansion slit 52 and a second expansion slit 54, oriented parallel to each other, extend parallel to each pair of converging compression slits 42, 42' and are laterally separated from each other on two opposing sides of the pair of converging compression slits 42, 42'. When the decorative film 2 extends in a plane as shown in FIG5, each expansion slit 52, 54 has parallel longitudinal edges and thus a constant slit width.

[0045] The expansion gaps 52 and 54 also penetrate the decorative film 2 along the thickness direction D. Therefore, when using the electronic paper film 2', the compression gaps 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47; 42', 43', 44', 45', 46', 47' and the expansion gaps 52 and 54 all locally cut through the top layer 21, the first electrode layer 20, the display layer 24, the second electrode layer 22 and the carrier layer 23.

[0046] The extended gaps 52 and 54, which are parallel to the common central axis M of the compression gaps 42 and 42', extend along the longitudinal extension of the corresponding compression gaps 42 and 42' towards the free end, or extend to half of the longitudinal extension.

[0047] If a tensile force is applied to the decorative film 2 on the film surface in a direction transverse to (e.g., perpendicular to) the longitudinal extension of the expansion slits 52, 54 (as symbolically shown by arrow E in Figure 5), the opening width (i.e., its width) of the expansion slits 52, 54 increases, causing the decorative film 2 to extend locally in that area transverse to the longitudinal extension along the common central axis M.

[0048] If a pressure or thrust is applied to the decorative film 2 on the film surface in the direction of the center 41 of the compression element 40 (as symbolically shown by arrow K in Figure 4), the opening width of at least one compression slit 42, 42' is reduced, thereby locally compressing the decorative film 2 in that area.

[0049] Figure 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the sandwich film 19 manufactured according to the method of the present invention. The decorative film configured as electronic paper film 2' has a transparent upper electrode layer 20 with a transparent top layer 21 electrically connected to the electronic control device 3, and a lower electrode layer 22 disposed on the carrier layer 23 and therebetween, which is also electrically connected to the electronic control device 3.

[0050] An adhesive layer 26 is disposed on the bottom side of the carrier layer 23 opposite to the lower electrode layer 22. The adhesive layer 26 is, for example, composed of a thin adhesive film 25 adhered on both sides; however, it may also be composed of an adhesive film coated onto the carrier layer 23 by spraying. The electronic paper film 2' with the adhesive layer 26 disposed thereon is then laminated onto an adhesive carrier film 27, which is, for example, composed of a flexible, stretchable and compressible automotive wrapping film 28, thereby achieving a thin film composite that is initially relatively flexible but still quite rigid as a sandwich film. The thin film composite is then subjected to laser cutting, wherein the electronic paper film 2' is cut from its top side, i.e., from the side with the top layer 21, by a laser beam to form a predetermined slit pattern, wherein FIG. 6 exemplarily shows a compression slit 42 and an expansion slit 52. In this case, the adhesive layer 26 and the carrier film 27 remain intact, and the decorative film 2, which is composed of electronic paper film 2', obtains its flexibility, local stretchability and local compressibility through cutting.

[0051] Figure 7 illustrates a modified embodiment of the decorative film 102 designed and constructed as an electronic paper film 102' according to the present invention, which is in principle equivalent to the decorative film 2 shown in Figure 3. Similar to the decorative film 2 constructed as an electronic paper film 2', electrical connecting pieces 29 and 29' are respectively provided at the upper electrode layer 20 and the lower electrode layer 22, through which electrical energy is introduced into the electrode layers 20 and 22 of the electronic paper film 102'. In a variant of the embodiment shown in FIG3, the electronic paper film 102' shown in FIG7 not only has compression regions 4, 4', 4'' including star-shaped compression elements 40, 40', 40'', whose compression gaps are connected to each other at a common center 41, but also has compression regions 104, 104', 104'', 104''', 104''' near the connecting pieces 29, 29', and particularly near the connecting pieces 140, 29', including star-shaped compression elements 140, 140', 140''', 140'''', 140'''', whose star-shaped compression gaps are not connected to each other at the centers 141, 141', 141'', 141''', 141'''' of each compression element 140, 140', 140''', 140''''. In this way, the electronic paper film 102' is intact and complete at the corresponding centers 141, 141', 141'', and in these central regions, current can flow unimpeded and with low resistance through the respective compression elements 140, 140', 140''', 140'''', 140''''. This improves the power supply to the compression elements 40, 40', 40'' located away from the connecting pieces 29, 29'.

[0052] This invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but is only used to generally illustrate the core concept of the invention. Specifically, within the scope of protection, the device according to the invention may also adopt a design form different from the above-described design. In this case, the device may in particular have features that demonstrate a combination of the individual features of the claimed items.

[0053] The symbols in the patent application scope, specification and drawings are for better understanding of the invention only and should not limit the scope of protection.

[0054] 1: Car 2: Decorative film 2': Electronic paper film 3: Control device 4: Compression Area 4': Compression area 4'': Compression area 5: Extended Area 5': Extended area 5'': Extended area 10: Body panels 11: Vehicle interior 12: Body 13: Cover 14: Fender 15: Fender 16: Uneven surface 17:10 convex section 18:10 concave section 19: Sandwich membrane 20: Transparent electrode layer (upper part) of the first plane 21: Top Floor 22: The (lower) transparent electrode layer of the second plane 23: Carrier layer 24: Decorative layer 25: Adhesive membrane 26: Adhesive layer 27: Carrier membrane 28: Automotive wrapping film 29: Connecting piece 29': Connecting piece 30: Control Line 40: Compression element 40': Compression element 40'': Compression element 41: Center 42: Compression gap 42': Compression gap 43: Compression gap 43': Compression gap 44: Compression gap 44': Compression gap 45: Compression gap 45': Compression gap 46: Compression gap 46': Compression gap 47: Compression gap 47': Compression gap 48: Unsealed bridging area 50: Extended Components 52: Expand the gap 54: Expand the gap 102: Decorative film 102': Electronic paper film 104: Compression Area 104': Compression area 104'': Compressed area 104''': Compressed area 104'''': Compressed area 140: Compression element 140': Compression element 140'': Compression element 140''': Compression element 140'''': Compression element 141: Center 141': Center 141'': Center 141''': Center 141'''': Center 240: Display ball 241: Transparent shell wall 242: First Pigment 243: Transparent fluid 244: Second Pigment 246: Interior Space 247: First conductive connection 248: Second conductive connection D: Thickness direction E: Arrow (Extended) K: Arrow (compression) M: Central axis Q: Current source

Claims

1. A method for applying a decorative film (2) having a decorative layer (24) to a vehicle surface, characterized by the following steps: a) providing the decorative film (2), wherein the decorative film (2) is rigid and can be bent in one direction but cannot be bent in two different directions simultaneously; b) applying an adhesive layer (26) to the decorative film (2); c) applying the decorative film (2) with the adhesive layer (26) to an adhesive carrier film (27) to form a sandwich film (19); d) A predetermined pattern of star-shaped or diamond-shaped compression gaps (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47; 42', 43', 44', 45', 46', 47') and linear expansion gaps (52, 54) is cut into the decorative film (2) in such a way that the compression gaps (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47; 42', 43', 44', 45', 46', 47') and the expansion gaps (52, 54) penetrate the decorative film (2) along the thickness direction (D), e) The interlayer film (19) is applied to the uneven surface (16) of the vehicle, wherein the interlayer film (19) is adapted to the convex region (17) of the uneven surface (16) by stretching the adhesive carrier film (27) and the decorative film (2), and wherein the interlayer film (19) is adapted to the concave region (18) of the uneven surface (16) by compressing the adhesive carrier film (27) and the decorative film (2).

2. A method for applying a decorative film (2) having a decorative layer (24) to a vehicle surface, characterized by the following steps: a) providing the decorative film (2), wherein the decorative film (2) is rigid and can be bent in one direction but cannot be bent in two different directions simultaneously; b) applying an adhesive layer (26) to the decorative film (2); c) A predetermined pattern of star-shaped or diamond-shaped compression gaps (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47; 42', 43', 44', 45', 46', 47') and linear expansion gaps (52, 54) is cut into the decorative film (2) in such a way that the compression gaps (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47; 42', 43', 44', 45', 46', 47') and the expansion gaps (52, 54) penetrate the decorative film (2) along the thickness direction (D); d') The decorative film (2) with the adhesive layer (26) is applied onto the adhesive carrier film (27) to form a sandwich film (19); e) The interlayer film (19) is applied to the uneven surface (16) of the vehicle, wherein the interlayer film (19) is adapted to the convex region (17) of the uneven surface (16) by stretching the adhesive carrier film (27) and the decorative film (2), and wherein the interlayer film (19) is adapted to the concave region (18) of the uneven surface (16) by compressing the adhesive carrier film (27) and the decorative film (2).

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a predetermined pattern formed by the compression gaps (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47; 42', 43', 44', 45', 46', 47') and the expansion gaps (52, 54) is cut into the decorative film (2) by a laser beam.

4. The method of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, after the interlayer film (19) is applied to the uneven surface (16), a protective layer or varnish layer consisting of a transparent protective film is applied to the interlayer film (19) in another step e).

5. The method of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in order to determine the preset pattern, the convex regions (17) and concave regions (18) of the uneven surface (16) are first identified by a CAD program and marked by convex or concave marks, and the marked uneven surface (16) is unfolded into the plane. The coordinates of the convex and concave marks are transferred to the planar decorative film (2), and the convex marks define the expansion areas (5, 5') into which the expansion gaps (52, 54) cut, and the concave marks define the compression areas (4, 4', 4''; 104, 104', 104'', 104''', 104'''', 104'''').

6. The method of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a first compression region (4, 4', 4'') is provided, wherein the compression gaps (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47; 42', 43', 44', 45', 46', 47') that diverge from each other in a star shape have a common center (41) that penetrates the decorative film (2) along the thickness direction (D).

7. The method of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a second compression region (104, 104', 104'', 104''', 104''') is provided, wherein the inner ends of the compression gaps that are diverging from each other in a star shape are spaced apart from each other at the center (141, 141', 141'', 141''', 141''') of the compression elements (140, 140', 140''', 140''') formed by the plurality of compression gaps, thereby forming an intact area of ​​the decorative film (2) at the center (141, 141', 141'', 141''', 141''') in which the decorative film (2) is not cut along the thickness direction (D).

8. The method of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in step a), or before step a), the decorative film (2) provided in step a) is trimmed to a predetermined outer contour and the interlayer film (19) formed in step c) or d') is subsequently trimmed to the same outer contour, wherein in this case the cutting line of the carrier film (27) is separated from the outer contour line of the decorative film (2).

9. The method of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the decorative film (2) has a first electrode layer (20), a second electrode layer (22) and a decorative layer (24) disposed between the two electrode layers (20, 22), the light reflection characteristics or light transmission characteristics of the decorative layer can be changed by applying a voltage, and conductive contact pieces (29, 29') are provided on the first electrode layer (20) and the second electrode layer (22) of the decorative film (2) provided in step a) or prior to step a).

10. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the width of each of the compression gaps (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47; 42', 43', 44', 45', 46', 47') decreases from the center of the star or rhombus pattern toward the free end of the compression gap, such that the compression gap tapers toward its free end.

11. A sandwich film (19) made according to any one of claims 1 to 10, the sandwich film comprising a decorative film (2) connected to a carrier film (27) by an adhesive layer (26).

12. A vehicle (1) comprising a surface having at least one uneven surface area, the surface being at least partially provided with an interlayer film (19) having a decorative film (2) by means of any one of claims 1 to 10.

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