DE29721627U1 - Element for covering, blending, protecting and / or decorating parts of a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Description

PATENT AND LAWYERS MElNKE, DABRINGHAUS AND PARTNER GbR

ADMISSIONED AT THE EUROPEAN PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE EUROPEAN PATENT AND TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS'

PATENT ATTORNEYS*

JULIUS MEINKE, Dipl-ING. WALTER DABRINQHAUS, dipl-ing, JOCHEN MEINKE, dipl-ing.

LAWYER

THOMAS MEINKE

WESTENHELLWEG 44137 DORTMUND

TELEPHONE (0231) 14 50 FAX (0231) 14 76

PO BOX 10 46 45

44046 DORTMUND, 24. NOV · 1997

DRESDNER EANK AG DTMD, Account No. 1 148 047 (Bank code 440 300 50t POSTBANK DORTMUND. Account No. S42 02-4S3 iBank code 440 100 46)

18/13584 JM/B

Registrant: Heinrich Dohmann, Blumenweg 7, 45525 Hattingen

"Element for covering, concealing, protecting and/or decorating parts of a motor vehicle"

'Element for covering, concealing, protecting and/or covering parts of a motor vehicle'

The invention relates to an element for covering, cladding, protecting and/or decorating parts of a motor vehicle, which can be fastened to the relevant part of the motor vehicle.

There are many known accessories for motor vehicles that are intended in particular for decorating or covering certain motor vehicle parts. Examples include hubcaps, wheel covers for external spare wheels, radiator grilles, handle recess covers, exterior mirror covers, etc. These well-known elements can be designed in one or more colors depending on the desired purpose, they are made of either metal or plastic and are often chrome-plated or metallically coated on the outside to achieve the desired visual impression. However, chrome-plating such elements is very complex, and the risk of damage from even the slightest knock or scratch is very high, so that the elements then become unsightly and have to be replaced.

The object of the invention is to further develop generic elements so that they are easier to manufacture and less susceptible to damage such as scratches, impacts or the like.

Patent and Attorneys at Law Meinke, Dabringhaus and Partner

This task is solved with an element of the type described above by means of a carrier made of a transparent plastic, which is printed on the inside at least in some areas and can be attached to the relevant part of the motor vehicle with the printed inside.

In this way, a facing element is provided that can be manufactured in a simple manner, for example it can first be printed in the desired design and then deep-drawn, whereby if a suitable plastic is selected, for example PVC, the visual impression is not impaired, even though the actual colored coating is applied to the back. Since the rear printed area is attached to the background, i.e. to the part of the motor vehicle, the printed area is not exposed to external influences, light scratches, bumps or the like that occur on the outside of the relevant element do not affect the inside or rear printing that determines the visual impression. A variety of design options are available, depending on which type of facing element is desired in the individual case and depending on how it is to be visually designed. It has been surprisingly discovered that with certain screen printing inks and the printing of motifs and/or written symbols, the effect occurs that the printed area of the carrier is visibly and tactilely embossed in relief, i.e.

I Patent and Attorneys at Law Meinke, Dabringhaus and Partner

that a surface structure is created.

Such an element according to the invention can be produced in a particularly simple manner by deep-drawing the printed carrier. First, the carrier element made of transparent plastic is printed and this printed element is then deep-drawn, resulting in particularly simple production without the need for complex coating processes, as is necessary for example with chrome or chrome-plated conventional parts.

The wall thickness of the support is preferably between 1 and 5 mm, although this must of course be adapted to the respective requirements that arise in practice depending on the use of the element.

The inside of the carrier can be printed in multiple colors, it can also be metallic, depending on what is desired in each individual case. A silver-colored metallic coating can be used to create a carrier element that largely corresponds to the visual impression of chrome-plated elements, but is much less susceptible to damage, scratches, etc. The printing on the inside can be applied using a screen printing process, for example, before the transparent plastic carrier is deep-drawn. Of course, other methods are also possible.

I Patent and Attorneys at Law Meinke, Dabringhaus and Partner

other printing processes are possible.

The invention is explained in more detail below using the drawing, for example. This shows:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a highly simplified representation of an element according to the invention and

Fig. 2 is a side view according to arrow II in Figure 1.

The drawing shows an example of an element 1 according to the invention for covering, cladding, protecting and/or decorating parts of a motor vehicle. In the simplified embodiment shown, this element 1 has a (here) square carrier 2, which is made of transparent plastic, for example PVC, and has a wall thickness s of, for example, 1 to 5 mm. The carrier is printed on the back or inside 2a; this printing is generally designated 3 in Figure 2; this printed surface 3 can be designed as desired. As an example, a white background surface 3a is shown in Figure 1, as well as a large "M".

Any design is possible here. Preferably, the back 2a of the carrier 2 is in the screen

Patent and Attorneys at Law Meinke, Dabringhaus and Partner

printing process, then the carrier 2 is deep-drawn into the desired shape, whereupon the finished element 1 is then available and is attached, for example glued, to the motor vehicle part with its printed inner or rear side 2a.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment shown. Other embodiments are possible without departing from the basic idea. Of course, the element according to the invention can also be manufactured in a way other than by deep drawing; the important thing is that it consists of a transparent plastic carrier with printing on the inside or back.

Patent and Attorneys at Law Meinke, Dabringhaus and Partner

Claims (5)

Expectations: 1. Element for covering, concealing, protecting and/or decorating parts of a motor vehicle, which can be attached to the relevant part of the motor vehicle, characterized by a carrier (2) made of a transparent plastic, which is printed on the inside at least in some areas and can be fastened to the relevant part of the motor vehicle with the printed inside (2a). 2. Element according to claim 1,
characterized, that it is produced by deep drawing of the printed carrier (2). 3. Element according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized, that the wall thickness (s) of the support (2) is between 1 and 5 mm. 4. Element according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterized in that the inner side (2a) of the carrier (2) is printed in multiple colours. Patent and Attorneys at Law Meinke, Dabringhaus and Partner 5. Element according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the inner side (2a) of the carrier (2) is printed in metallic colors. Patent and Attorneys at Law Meinke, Dabringhaus and Partner