Instrument panel members
AssigneeLoctite Luminescent Systems, Inc.
InventorsCharles R. Handy, Dwight H. Brattain, David L. Sousa
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An instrument panel member comprising a multiple-ply back sheet of fiberglas reinforced material impregnated with a polyester resin, a multiple-ply front sheet of the same material and one or more electroluminescent (EL) lamp elements positioned therebetween. The overall structure is cured at a temperature and pressure selected to provide adequate curing without damage to the EL lamp elements and so as to minimize warpage of the final structure. The thickness of the back sheet is selected to accommodate the dimensions of the EL lamps and any electrical connectors used therewith while the thickness of the front sheet is normally much less and need only be such as to permit light from the EL lamps to be seen therethrough.
Claims5
An instrument panel member comprising
- a first multiple-ply fiberglas reinforced plastic sheet pre-impregnated with a bonding resin and having a first selected thickness;
- one or more electroluminescent lamp elements positioned in one or more recesses of said first sheet;
- a second multiple-ply fiberglas reinforced plastic sheet pre-impregnated with a bonding resin and having a second thickness which is substantially less than that of said first selected thickness positioned in contact with said first fiberglas reinforced plastic sheet and the electroluminescent lamp elements positioned therein;
- and
- said first sheet, said second sheet and said one or more electroluminescent lamp elements being bonded together by curing at a temperature selected within a range from about 210.degree. F. to about 275.degree. F. and a pressure selected within a range from about 50 p.s.i. to about 135 p.s.i. and by subsequent cooling thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.