Illuminated vehicle trim panel
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsDale A. Shallcross, Jason D. Carr
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A trim panel for a vehicle interior provides a distinctive ambient lighting effect. The trim panel has an opening therein and an illuminated insert panel is mounted on the trim panel within the opening. The insert panel is molded of a clear plastic material and has a front face located in the opening and a painted or other rear reflective surface. The insert panel has a clear plastic edge wall located beyond the opening of the trim panel. A light pipe extends alongside the clear plastic edge wall and directs light into the clear plastic edge wall so that the light reflects within the clear plastic material and onto the rear reflective surface of the insert panel to illuminate the insert panel over its entire surface area facing through the opening of the interior trim panel.
Claims18
A vehicle trim panel with an illuminated insert comprising:
- a trim panel having an opening therein;
- an insert panel mounted on the trim panel within the opening, said insert panel being a clear plastic material and having a front face located in the opening and a rear reflective surface, and said insert panel having a clear plastic edge wall located beyond the opening of the trim panel;
- a light pipe extending alongside the clear plastic edge wall and directing light into the clear plastic edge wall so that the light is reflected within the clear plastic material and onto the rear reflective surface of the insert panel to illuminate the insert panel over its entire surface area facing through the opening of the interior trim panel;
- and
- a plurality of snap fingers molded integrally with the insert panel and engaging with either the trim panel directly or with a retainer bracket mounted on the trim panel to mount the insert panel on the trim panel.
A vehicle trim panel with an illuminated insert comprising:
- a trim panel having an opening therein;
- an insert panel mounted on the trim panel within the opening;
- said insert panel being molded of a clear plastic material and having a front face located in the opening and a painted rear surface, and said insert panel having a clear plastic edge wall located beyond the opening of the trim panel so as to be hidden from occupant view behind the trim panel;
- a light pipe extending alongside the clear plastic edge wall and beyond the opening of the trim panel and directing light into the clear plastic edge wall so that the light is reflected within the clear plastic material and onto the painted rear surface of the insert panel to illuminate the insert panel with a glowing affect in the a color of the painted rear surface;
- a retainer bracket being mounted on the trim panel within the opening for mounting the light pipe and the insert panel;
- and
- a plurality of light pipe retaining clips integral with the retainer bracket and mounting the light pipe.
A vehicle trim panel with an illuminated insert comprising:
- a trim panel having an opening therein;
- an insert panel molded of a clear plastic material and having a front face located in the opening and a painted rear surface, said insert panel being larger in size than the opening of the trim panel to provide a clear plastic edge wall located behind the trim panel;
- a light pipe for extending along the clear plastic edge wall;
- and
- a mounting bracket mounting the insert panel within the opening of the trim panel and mounting the light pipe alongside the clear plastic edge wall with the light pipe located beyond the opening of the trim panel so as to be hidden from occupant view behind the trim panel and the light pipe emanating light into the clear plastic edge wall so that the light is reflected within the clear plastic material and onto the painted back surface of the insert panel to illuminate the insert panel with a glowing affect in the color of the painted back surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.