# US 11,440,470 B2 · Trim element comprising a backlit area > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,470 B2 - Document ID: US11440470B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/307,994 - Filed: 2021-05-04 - Published: 2021-11-11 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2021-05-04 - Assignees: Faurecia Interieur Industrie - Applicants: Faurecia Interieur Industrie - Inventors: Christophe Cuvillier; Armand Brousselle - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440470B2 ## CPC - B60Q 3/54: Lighting devices embedded in interior trim, e.g. in roof liners - B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - B60K 37/20: Dashboard panels - B60Q 3/62: using light guides - B60Q 3/82: Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens - B60R 13/02: {Internal} Trim mouldings {; Internal} Ledges; Wall liners {for passenger compartments}; Roof liners (B60R13/01 takes precedence {; padded linings for the vehicle interior B60R21/04; arrangements or adaptations of floor mats or carpets in vehicles B60N3/04; internal lining for trains B61D17/18}) - G02B 6/0045: {by shaping at least a portion of the light guide} - G02B 6/0055: {Reflecting element, sheet or layer} - B60K 2360/128: Axially displaceable input devices for instruments - B60K 2360/1446: Touch switches - B60K 2360/23: using reflectors - B60K 2360/332: Light emitting diodes - B60K 2360/336: Light guides - B60K 2360/34: Backlit symbols - B60K 2360/345: Illumination of controls - B60R 2013/0287: {integrating other functions or accessories} - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A trim element having a covering layer containing at least one opaque area preventing the passage of light and at least one backlit area translucent so as to enable the passage of light, the trim element further including at least one light source and at least one reflective surface extending opposite the light source and being arranged to reflect the light emitted by the light source toward the backlit area. The light source is attached to the covering layer opposite the opaque area, and the reflective surface extends opposite the covering layer to reflect light emitted by the light source toward the backlit area. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A trim element comprising a covering layer having an outer surface that forms an outer surface of the trim element and having an inner surface, opposite the outer surface of the covering layer, the covering layer comprising at least one opaque area preventing the passage of light from the inner surface to the outer surface and at least one backlit area in which said covering layer is translucent so as to allow light to pass from the inner surface to the outer surface, the backlit area extending around at least part of the opaque area, the trim element further comprising at least one light source and at least one reflective surface extending opposite the light source and being arranged to reflect toward the backlit area light emitted by the light source, wherein the light source is attached to the inner surface of the covering layer against the opaque area, the reflective surface extending opposite the inner surface of the covering layer and being oriented with respect to said inner surface to reflect toward the backlit area the light emitted by the light source. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The trim element according to claim 1, further comprising a support, the covering layer extending at least partially over the support, the reflective surface comprising a plurality of reflecting surfaces inclined with respect to each other and extending between the support and the covering layer and guiding toward the backlit area the light emitted by the light source. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The trim element according to claim 1, wherein light is emitted from the light source toward the reflective surface in at least a first direction away from the covering layer and is reflected from the reflective surface toward the backlit area in at least a second direction extending toward the covering layer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The trim element according to claim 1, further comprising a light guide comprising: an outer face extending over at least part of the inner surface of the covering layer opposite the backlit area and covering the light source, and an inner face extending over at least part of the reflective surface, the light guide being arranged to diffuse light emitted by the light source toward the reflective surface and from the reflective surface toward the backlit area. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The trim element according to claim 4, wherein the light guide is over-molded onto the inner surface of the covering layer and onto each light source. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The trim element according to claim 4, wherein the reflective surface is defined by a reflecting layer extending at least partially over the inner face of the light guide. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The trim element according to claim 1, wherein at least one backlit area extends entirely around the opaque area, the reflective surface having an axis of symmetry passing through the light source and extending substantially perpendicular to the outer surface of the trim element, the reflective surface reflecting the light emitted by said light source toward said backlit area, the light being distributed over the entire backlit area. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The trim element according to claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit on the inner surface of the covering layer, the printed circuit electrically connecting each light source to an electric power source. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The trim element according to claim 8, further comprising a switch and a touch film, the switch electrically connecting the light source and the electric power source and being movable between a closed position in which the electric power source powers the light source and an open position in which the electric power source does not power the light source, the touch film extending over the inner surface of the covering layer opposite the opaque area and being configured to change the switch between its closed position and its open position when pressure is applied to said touch film. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The trim element according to claim 1, further comprising a functional element extending on the outer surface of the covering layer opposite the opaque area.