Vehicle trim part having a layered, decorative finish and configured to form a light pattern at the front of the part

Abstract

A vehicle trim part having a layered, decorative finish is provided. The part includes a polymeric substrate, a decorative layer overlying the polymeric substrate and a light-transmissive, protective layer overlying and protecting the decorative layer. The protective layer includes a front surface and a rear surface having a surface portion with a translucent surface finish. The decorative layer has an opening extending from a rear surface of the decorative layer to a front surface of the decorative layer and aligned with the translucent surface finish. Both a cross section of the opening at the front surface of the decorative layer and the translucent surface finish are sized and shaped to form a light pattern which is visible at the front of the part when artificial lighting illuminates the translucent surface finish from the rear of the part.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle trim part having a layered, decorative finish, the part comprising:
 a polymeric substrate;   a decorative layer overlying the polymeric substrate; and   a light-transmissive, protective layer overlying and protecting the decorative layer, the protective layer including a front surface and a rear surface having a surface portion with a translucent surface finish, the decorative layer having an opening extending from a rear surface of the decorative layer to a front surface of the decorative layer and aligned with the translucent surface finish, wherein both a cross section of the opening at the front surface of the decorative layer and the translucent surface finish are sized and shaped to form a light pattern which is visible at the front of the part when artificial lighting illuminates the translucent surface finish from the rear of the part.   
     
     
         2 . The part as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the light pattern is visible at the front of the part when natural lighting illuminates the translucent surface finish from the front of the part. 
     
     
         3 . The part as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the protective layer comprises a clear top coat layer. 
     
     
         4 . The part as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the substrate has an opening extending from the rear surface of the substrate to a front surface of the substrate and aligned with the translucent surface finish and the opening in the decorative layer. 
     
     
         5 . The part as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the decorative layer is in contact with the substrate. 
     
     
         6 . The part as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the protective layer is in contact with the decorative layer. 
     
     
         7 . The part as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the decorative layer is in contact with the substrate and the protective layer. 
     
     
         8 . The part as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the part is an interior trim part. 
     
     
         9 . The part as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the light pattern is an image. 
     
     
         10 . The part as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the image is a graphic image. 
     
     
         11 . The part as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the light pattern is a logo. 
     
     
         12 . The part as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the protective layer is transparent. 
     
     
         13 . The part as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the surface portion of the rear surface of the protective layer is machined under controlled conditions to form the translucent surface finish. 
     
     
         14 . The part as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the surface portion of the rear surface of the protective layer is etched or blasted with a blasting material to form the translucent surface finish. 
     
     
         15 . The part as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the front surface of the protective layer is a class A front surface. 
     
     
         16 . The part as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the decorative finish is a wood grain finish. 
     
     
         17 . The part as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the decorative layer is opaque. 
     
     
         18 . A vehicle trim part having a layered, decorative finish, the part comprising:
 a polymeric substrate;   a decorative layer overlying the polymeric substrate; and   a light-transmissive, protective layer overlying and protecting the decorative layer, the protective layer including a front surface and a rear surface having a plurality of separate surface portions, each of the surface portions having a translucent surface finish, the decorative layer having openings which extend from a rear surface of the decorative layer to a front surface of the decorative layer, each of the openings being aligned with one of the translucent surface finishes, wherein cross sections of the openings at the front surface of the decorative layer and their corresponding translucent surface finishes are sized and shaped to form light patterns which are visible at the front of the part when artificial lighting illuminates the translucent surface finishes from the rear of the part.   
     
     
         19 . An illuminated vehicle trim part having a layered, decorative finish, the part comprising:
 a polymeric substrate;   a decorative layer overlying the polymeric substrate;   a light-transmissive, protective layer overlying and protecting the decorative layer, the protective layer including a front surface and a rear surface having a surface portion with a translucent surface finish, the decorative layer having an opening extending from a rear surface of the decorative layer to a front surface of the decorative layer and aligned with the translucent surface finish; and   a source of illumination for emitting rays of light and disposed at the rear of the part so that the light rays fall on the translucent surface finish, the source being configured to be electrically coupled to an electrical system of the vehicle and wherein both a cross section of the opening at the front surface of the decorative layer and the translucent surface finish are sized and shaped to form a light pattern which is visible at the front of the part when the source of illumination illuminates the translucent surface finish with the light rays from the rear of the part.   
     
     
         20 . An illuminated vehicle trim part having a layered, decorative finish, the part comprising:
 a polymeric substrate;   a decorative layer overlying the polymeric substrate;   a light-transmissive, protective layer overlying and protecting the decorative layer, the protective layer including a front surface and a rear surface having a plurality of separate surface portions, each of the surface portions having a translucent surface finish, the decorative layer having openings which extend from a rear surface of the decorative layer to a front surface of the decorative layer, each of the openings being aligned with one of the translucent surface finishes; and   at least one source of illumination for emitting rays of light and disposed at the rear of the part so that the light rays fall on the translucent surface finish, each source being configured to be electrically coupled to an electrical system of the vehicle and wherein cross sections of the openings at the front surface of the decorative layer and their corresponding translucent surface finishes are sized and shaped to form light patterns which are visible at the front of the part when the at least one source of illumination illuminates the translucent surface finishes with the light rays from the rear of the part.