Integrated electronic component in vehicle body
OwnerDavid Salvaggio, JR.inventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle component includes a body having a plurality of layers where each of the plurality of layers is a composite material. The body includes a recess formed in one or more of the plurality of layers. A lighting material is disposed in the recess and includes a tube having a first end and a second end, and a light guide disposed within the tube and extending between the first end and the second end of the tube. A light source is adjacent to one or more of the first end and the second end of the tube. The light source is directed toward the light guide and configured to illuminate the lighting material. The recess is sized to receive the tube.
Claims12
A method of manufacturing a vehicle component, the method comprising:
- providing a mold of a vehicle component, the mold including an interior side;
- adding a first layer of pre-impregnated composite material to the interior side of the mold, wherein the first layer is adjacent to the interior side of the mold;
- adding a lighting material having a first end, a second end, and a light guide extending between the first end and the second end of the lighting material, wherein the first layer of pre-impregnated composite material is arranged to form an aperture on a side of the light guide to permit light from the light guide to emanate through the aperture;
- adding a second layer of pre-impregnated composite material, wherein the second layer is adjacent to the first layer, and wherein the mold, the first and second layers of pre-impregnated composite material, and the lighting material are arranged in a layered assembly;
- and
- curing the layered assembly so that the first layer of pre-impregnated composite material takes the shape of the interior side of the mold and forming a body having an integrated lighting feature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.