# US 10,870,404 B2 · Elongate illuminated automotive design element, injection molded vehicle parts, and methods of manufacturing same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,870,404 B2 - Document ID: US10870404B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/284,210 - Filed: 2019-02-25 - Published: 2019-08-22 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-11 - Assignees: SMR Patents S.à.r.l. - Applicants: SMR Patents S.à.r.l. - Inventors: James Dickson; Jacob Messenger; Sam Thoday; Dean Caruso; Gary Dekievit; Simon Belcher; Scott Edwards - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870404B2 ## CPC - B60R 19/52: Radiator or grille guards {; Radiator grilles (cooling aspects B60K11/08)} - B29C 45/0001: {characterised by the choice of material} - B29C 45/1657: {using means for adhering or bonding the layers or parts to each other (mechanical anchoring B29C37/0082)} - B32B 7/12: using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties - B60Q 1/2661: {mounted on parts having other functions (on wheels B60Q1/326)} - B60Q 1/28: for indicating front of vehicle - B60R 13/04: {External} Ornamental or guard strips; Ornamental inscriptive devices {thereon (fastening strips or bars to sheets or plates by means of clips F16B5/12)} - F21S 43/26: {Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255} - B29C 45/1618: {using an auxiliary treatment station, e.g. for cooling or ejecting (B29C45/1628 takes precedence)} - B32B 2255/205: Metallic coating - B60R 2019/525: {Radiator grilles} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - 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) - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS ## Abstract A vehicle part includes an injection molded main body having a front side and a rear side with a three dimensional form on the rear side, a metallized coating on one or more portions of the three dimensional form on the rear side of the injection molded main body, and a backing layer overmolded on the rear side of the injection molded main body, the three dimensional form, and the metallized coating. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle grill, comprising: a clear injection molded main body comprising an injection molded grill mesh having a front side and a rear side with a three dimensional form on the rear side, the clear injection molded main body being comprised of a light transmissive material; a metallized coating on one or more portions of the three dimensional form on the rear side of the injection molded main body, wherein light passing through the clear injection molded main body is reflected off of the metallized coating; and a backing layer overmolded on the rear side of the injection molded main body, the three dimensional form, and the metallized coating, wherein the backing layer is comprised of a non-reflective material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle part of claim 1, wherein the three dimensional form comprises at least one of inwardly protruding areas formed into the rear side of the injection molded main body, outwardly protruding areas protruding from the rear side of the injection molded main body, or one or more surfaces comprising a grain effect. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle part of claim 1, wherein the injection molded main body comprises polycarbonate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle part of claim 1, further comprising a hard coating applied to the front side of the injection molded main body for improved abrasion resistance. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle part of claim 1, wherein the metallized coating is applied around apertures of the vehicle grille. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle part of claim 1, wherein the metallized coating comprises at least one of aluminum, chrome, aluminum germanium (Al Ge), and aluminum titanium. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle part of claim 1, wherein the backing layer comprises a plastic material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle part of claim 1, wherein one or more areas of the injection molded main body that are not coated with the metallized coating form an adhesive bond with the overmolded backing layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle part of claim 8, wherein the adhesive bond comprises a tensile pull apart force of greater than or equal to about 4.7 N/mm2. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vehicle part of claim 1, wherein the one or more portions of the three dimensional form that are coated with the metallized coating are fully encapsulated and sealed between the injection molded main body and the overmolded backing layer. ### Claim 11 A method of making a vehicle grill, comprising: injection molding a clear main body comprising a grill mesh having a front side and a rear side, the clear main body being comprised of a light transmissive material; forming a three dimensional form on the rear side of the injection molded main body; coating a metallized coating on one or more portions of the three dimensional form on the rear side of the injection molded main body, wherein light passing through the clear main body is reflected off of the metallized coating; and overmolding a backing layer on the rear side of the injection molded main body, the three dimensional form, and the metallized coating, wherein the backing layer is comprised of a non-reflective material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the three dimensional form comprises at least one of inwardly protruding areas formed into the rear side of the injection molded main body, outwardly protruding areas protruding from the rear side of the injection molded main body, or one or more surfaces comprising a grain effect. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the injection molded main body comprises polycarbonate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising applying a hard coating to the front side of the injection molded main body for improved abrasion resistance. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the coating of the metallized coating comprises coating the metallized coating around apertures of the vehicle grille. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the metallized coating comprises at least one of aluminum, chrome, aluminum germanium (AlGe) and aluminum titanium. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the backing layer comprises a plastic material comprising at least one of acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene terephthalate (PETE or PET), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS). ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein one or more areas of the injection molded main body that are not coated with the metallized coating form an adhesive bond with the overmolded backing layer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the adhesive bond comprises a tensile pull apart force of greater than or equal to about 4.7 N/mm2. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more portions of the three dimensional form that are coated with the metallized coating are fully encapsulated and sealed between the injection molded main body and the overmolded backing layer.