Method of locally plating a part

Abstract

A method of locally plating an injection molded part includes delimiting two or more portions of the part by electrical insulation between the portions and successively plating each portion of the part by successively placing one or more electrodes on the surface of each portion. The insulation between the portions is obtained by dual injection molding of the part whereby a material that can be plated is injected to constitute the portions and a material that cannot be plated is injected to constitute a delimitation.

There is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method of locally plating an injection molded part, the method including delimiting two or more portions of said part by electrical insulation between said portions and successively plating each portion of said part by successively placing one or more electrodes on the surface of each portion, in which method said insulation between said portions is obtained by dual injection molding of said part whereby a material that can be plated is injected to constitute said portions and a material that cannot be plated is injected to constitute a delimitation.  
     
     
         2 . The plating method claimed in  claim 1  wherein each portion is successively plated by moving said electrode(s) from one portion to another and dipping said part into successive different metal baths.  
     
     
         3 . A part having a surface comprising two or more separate portions that are locally plated with different finishes and are separated by a delimitation incorporated into the volume of said part.  
     
     
         4 . The part claimed in  claim 3  wherein said delimitation consists of a material that cannot be plated.  
     
     
         5 . The part claimed in  claim 4  wherein said material that cannot be plated is polycarbonate.  
     
     
         6 . The part claimed in  claim 3  wherein said plated portions of said part are made of acrylate butadiene styrene or acrylate butadiene styrene/polycarbonate.  
     
     
         7 . A mobile radio terminal comprising a shell having an exterior surface comprising two or more separate portions locally plated with different finishes and separated by a delimitation consisting of a material that cannot be plated.