# US 10,480,079 B2 · Electroplatingly decorated component comprising symbols or a structure introduced into the surface, and method for the production thereof

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- Number: US 10,480,079 B2
- Document ID: US10480079B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/101,619
- Filed: 2014-11-25
- Published: 2016-10-27
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2013-12-04
- Assignees: Gerhardi Kunststofftechnik GmbH
- Applicants: Gerhardi Kunststofftechnik GmbH
- Inventors: Dirk Kieslich
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480079B2

## CPC

- C23C 18/1653: {Two or more layers with at least one layer obtained by electroless plating and one layer obtained by electroplating}
- B29C 45/0053: {combined with a final operation, e.g. shaping (injection-compression moulding B29C45/561)}
- B41M 7/00: After-treatment of prints, e.g. heating, irradiating, {setting of the ink, protection of the printed stock (pre-treatment or treatment during printing B41M5/0011; printers for treating or overcoating copy materials before, during or after printing B41J11/0015)}
- B44C 1/228: {by laser radiation}
- C23C 18/1605: {by masking}
- B29C 2045/0079: {applying a coating or covering}
- B29K 2055/02: ABS polymers, i.e. acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymers
- B29L 2009/008: {metalized, galvanized}
- B29L 2031/30: Vehicles, e.g. ships or aircraft, or body parts thereof {(vanes or blades B29L2031/08, air bags B29L2022/027)}
- B41M 5/24: Ablative recording, e.g. by burning marks; Spark recording {(marking by high energetic means, e.g. by laser otherwise than burning or ablative removal B41M5/26; materials or methods for recording or reproduction by optical means G11B7/00)}
- B41M 7/0009: {Obliterating the printed matter; Non-destructive removal of the ink pattern, e.g. for repetitive use of the support}
- C23C: COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL (making metal-coated products by extrusion B21C23/22; covering with metal by connecting pre-existing layers to articles, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D39/00, B23K; metallising of glass C03C; metallising mortars, concrete, artificial stone, ceramics or natural stone C04B41/00; enamelling of, or applying a vitreous layer to, metals C23D; treating metal surfaces or coating of metals by electrolysis or electrophoresis C25D; single-crystal film growth C30B; by metallising textiles D06M11/83; decorating textiles by locally metallising D06Q1/04)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P)
- B44C: PRODUCING DECORATIVE EFFECTS (processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general B05D; shaping of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29C; printing processes to produce transfer pictures B41M3/12; thermographic duplication or marking methods B41M5/00); MOSAICS; TARSIA WORK (imitation of mosaic or tarsia work patterns B44F11/04); PAPERHANGING {(labels G09F; multi-step processes for making paper labels or tags B31D1/02)}
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

An electroplatingly decorated component is made using an injection-molding process and is provided with symbols or a structure introduced into the surface of the component, the component being made of a plastic material that can be electroplated. A method produces a component of this type.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for producing an electroplated component, the method comprising:
injection-molding a component from plastic that can be electroplated, the component having a front side and a rear side;
imprinting a symbol onto the front side of the component from a varnish system that cannot be electroplated and is stable to electroplating;
electroplating a decorative coating onto the front side of the component and leaving the rear side of the component free of a metal coating; and
burning outer contours of the symbol via a laser beam such that the symbol includes a clean line.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the imprinting is applied by a pad printing method.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the imprinting is applied by hot embossing.