EP2853170A1 - Plastic body and method for inserting a decorative stone into a plastic body - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a plastic body made of a plastic material, in which at least one gemstone is thermally inserted under material displacement. It is envisaged that from the displaced plastic material around the gemstone an annular socket is formed, through which the gemstone is held at least positively and which has along its top a circumferential contour with elevations and recesses. The invention further comprises a method for inserting a gemstone in such a plastic body.

Description

The invention relates to a plastic body of a plastic material, in which at least one gemstone is thermally inserted under material displacement, according to the preamble of claim 1.

The invention further relates to a method for inserting a gemstone in a plastic body made of a plastic material, according to claim 11.

It is known to apply gemstones as decor on plastic workpieces. By a gemstone decor, the value of such an item can be significantly increased. From the DE 38 20 250 A1 or the DE 41 04 337 A1 Various methods are known in which gems are introduced by means of a special bonding layer in recesses of a workpiece and held therein. The use of separate connecting layers is complex in terms of production, wherein, moreover, the connecting layer can impair the visual impression of the workpiece surface.

From the DE 201 12 975 U1 or the DE 100 35 158 A1 are versions for gems known which have a separate encompassing retaining element. These brackets are complex manufacturing technology and can affect the visual appearance of the gemstone and the thus decorated object.

From the DE 1 079 872 is a generic plastic body, in which heated gemstones are pressed into the thermoplastic resin of the carrier work piece. For improved connection is taught on the gemstone To provide a covering layer which forms a firm connection to the workpiece during insertion. The application of such an adhesive layer is complicated.

In addition, adhesive coatings depending on the environmental conditions are subjected to aging processes, which lead to a weakening of the adhesive bond and cause the risk of loosening the gemstone. In the case of a décor with a multitude of gemstones, the absence of a gemstone is perceived as disturbing, as a result of which the quality of the decorated object is damaged.

The invention has for its object to provide a plastic body and a method for inserting a gemstone in a plastic body, which allow easy production and a reliable connection between the gemstone and the plastic body and at the same time the visual effect of the gemstone is particularly well.

The invention is achieved on the one hand by a plastic body having the features of claim 1 and on the other hand by a method having the features of claim 11. Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the respective dependent claims.

The plastic body according to the invention is characterized in that from the displaced plastic material around the gemstone an annular socket is formed, through which the gemstone is held at least positively and which has along its top a circumferential contour with elevations and depressions.

A first aspect of the invention is to insert the gemstone under the influence of pressure and temperature in the plastic material, wherein an annular socket for positive retention of the gemstone is formed by the displaced plastic material. The gemstone is thus mechanically held by gripping the plastic body. In this case, the annular socket is formed integrally with the plastic body. Thus, the gemstone without an additional adhesive layer reliably attached to the plastic body for a long period of time. In certain cases, however, an additional adhesive layer may also be provided.

Another aspect of the invention is that despite the mechanical support of the gemstone on the plastic body, the socket affects the visual effect of the gemstone only slightly. This is achieved in that the socket is annular and along the top of the annular socket is provided a circumferential contour with elevations and recesses. By holding along the entire circumference of the gemstone the socket can be made small in width. The surface structuring of the annular socket also leads to different light reflections of individual areas of the socket. The version is thus less noticeable. It can even be supported the light play of the gemstone and thus the gemstone are particularly well brought to bear.

A plastic body according to the invention may in principle be any body or workpiece which is at least partially made of a thermoformable plastic material. Particularly preferably, the plastic body is a housing of an electrical or electronic device, in particular a mobile telephone. Also, automotive components for the interior or for the external optical design can be efficiently provided with one or a plurality of gemstones. The purpose of plastic body according to the invention with gemstones is almost unlimited and allows an efficient decorating or decorating a variety of plastic elements. Thus, the valence of a plastic body can be significantly increased in an efficient manner.

A particularly good mechanical support is achieved according to an embodiment of the invention in that a laterally projecting edge of the gemstone is encompassed by the annular socket circumferentially. A circumferential and uniform embracing a gem, which may have a circular shape, another polygonal shape or any other shape, through the thermally formed, one-piece socket leads to a secure, long-term attachment of the gem, even in harsh environmental conditions, such as in automotive parts occur.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is that the circumferential contour of the socket is tuned to a cut of gemstone. As a result, the optical effect of the gemstone and their light reflection supports and further reduces the perceptibility of the version. Thus, a gemstone on the plastic body for a secure and reliable attachment is particularly good effect.

A particularly harmonious overall impression is achieved according to a further embodiment of the invention in that the peripheral contour is formed as a uniform wave or arc contour.

This can be achieved according to a further embodiment of the invention in particular by the fact that the number of elevations and recesses is tuned to a number of facets of gemstone. The gemstone can have almost any arbitrary cut, especially a brilliant cut. In principle, the gemstone according to the invention may be any gemstone or semi-precious stone. In particular, the gemstones may be so-called "imitation stones", which are made for example of a zirconia material, a glass material or another thermally solid decorative material.

For a particularly stable insertion of the gemstone, it is advantageous according to a variant of the invention that the gemstone is provided with a conical insertion. The insertion tube can also be provided with a cut as a lower part of the gemstone, whose facets contribute to the light reflection of the gemstone altogether.

To form a defined contour on the annular socket, it is basically provided that the contour of the socket is subsequently formed by means of a molding tool. In particular, the desired contour can be embossed into the still plastically deformable plastic material via an annular die.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is that the contour is formed exclusively when inserting the gem. By appropriate design of the Einfügefußes and a corresponding adjustment of the insertion conditions as a function of the material used, a formation of the wave or arcuate contour when inserting or pressing the gemstone can be achieved in the plastic body. This contouring when defined displacement of the plastic material is a special created a uniform surface, which supports the light reflection effect. Decisive for the formation of the contour during insertion is a specific velocity profile, taking into account pressure and temperature during the insertion movement, in order to effect a uniform material displacement around the gemstone.

The formation of the contour basically depends on the cut and the number of facets of the inserted gemstone. A particularly harmonious overall impression of gemstone and surrounding frame is achieved in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention in that a height difference between the elevations and the recesses of the contour between 0.05 mm and 1 mm, preferably between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm is.

It is particularly preferred according to the invention that the socket has a height between 0.2 mm and 2 mm. The width of the socket can also be between 0.1 mm and 2 mm. Overall, this achieves a particularly restrained optical effect of the annular socket.

In the inventive method for inserting a gemstone in a plastic body made of a thermoplastic material is provided that the gemstone is pressed under heat in the plastic body, wherein plastic material is plastically deformed and displaced, and with the displaced plastic material around the gemstone an annular socket is formed , by which the gemstone is held at least positively and which has along its top a circumferential contour with elevations and recesses.

With this method, in particular, the above-described plastic body can be produced with at least one gemstone. The plastic body is preferably made of a thermoplastic material which may be, for example, PA, PP, PMMA or another thermoplastic. However, it is also possible to use a duroplastic or an elastomer, wherein the insertion can take place before curing.

In principle, it is possible to heat the plastic material directly to a temperature at which it is plastically deformable. A preferred embodiment the invention is that the gemstone is heated to a temperature between 150 ° C and 400 ° C prior to insertion. The temperature depends on the softening temperature of the thermoplastic material, the starting temperature of the plastic part and the heat absorption capacity of the gem to be heated.

In principle, it is conceivable that the gemstones are inserted by hand into the plastic material. However, it is difficult to form a fine annular socket for a reliable hold of the gemstone. According to the invention, it is therefore preferred that a press-fit with a suction channel is used, via which a gem is picked up by means of negative pressure and held it at least until the beginning of the insertion step. With such a press-in punches, which is positioned manually or by means of handling unit computer-controlled or hand-driven, a reliable reproducible insertion of the gemstone and forming the desired version can be achieved by material displacement. By picking up the gemstone on the press-in punch by means of negative pressure, a reliable hold even very small gemstones, which have a diameter in the range of 1 to 3 mm, also allows.

It is advantageous according to a further process variant of the invention that the press-fit is heated. In particular, in the case of relatively small gemstones, it is thus ensured that the gemstones have sufficient heat during the insertion process. A reliable melting or softening of the plastic material and the desired material displacement with a flow of material along the warm side surfaces of the gemstone are guaranteed.

Fig. 1:

eine schematische Teilquerschnittsansicht durch einen erfindungsgemäßen Kunststoffkörper mit Schmuckstein;

Fig. 2:

eine Draufsicht auf den Kunststoffkörper mit Schmuckstein gemäß Fig. 1;

Fig. 3:

eine ausgeschnittene Querschnittsansicht entlang eines Teiles der ringförmigen Fassung; und

Fig. 4:

eine Draufsicht auf ein Unterteil des Schmucksteins gemäß Fig. 1.

The invention will be further explained with reference to a preferred embodiment, which is shown schematically in the drawings. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1:

a schematic partial cross-sectional view through a plastic body according to the invention with gemstone;

Fig. 2:

a plan view of the plastic body with gemstone according to Fig. 1 ;

3:

a cut-away cross-sectional view along a portion of the annular socket; and

4:

a plan view of a lower part of the gem according to Fig. 1 ,

According to Fig. 1 a gemstone 20 is thermally inserted according to the invention in a plate-shaped plastic body 10. The non-cutting penetration of the heated gemstone 20 in the thermoplastic material of the plastic body 10 plastic material is softened and displaced along the heated outside of the gemstone up to the free top of the plastic body 10. According to the invention an annular socket 12 is formed from the displaced plastic material, which in particular from Fig. 2 is apparent. The annular socket 12 surrounds a lateral edge 22 which extends in an annular manner around the gemstone 20 and separates a top part 21 from a bottom part 23. The upper part 21 and the lower part 23 are formed with a ground 24, through which numerous facets 26 are formed on the surface of the gemstone 20. The lower part 23 is designed as an approximately conically shaped insertion tube 28.

The annular socket 21 surrounds, as seen from Fig. 1 can be seen, the annular edge 22 circumferentially, so that the gemstone 20 is positively held and thus stable on the plastic body 10 without an adhesive attachment. To support the light reflections and the play of light of the ground gemstone 20, a contour 16 along the annular socket 12 is adapted to the ground 24 formed. This contour 16 is formed in the illustrated embodiment as an arc contour with regular elevations 17 and intervening recesses 18, in particular Fig. 3 can be seen. In the present embodiment, the elevations 17 and depressions 18 are arranged corresponding to the number of ground edges between the facets 26 which intersect the annular edge 22.

Overall, a narrow and thus less conspicuous stable version 12 is created around the gemstone 20 around so by the invention. Due to the contouring of the annular socket 12, the annular socket is less disturbing and may even support the play of light of the gemstone 20.

Claims (14)

Plastic body made of a plastic material, in which at least one gemstone (20) is thermally inserted with material displacement,
characterized,
that an annular socket (12) is formed from the displaced plastic material around the gemstone (20), by which the gemstone (20) is held at least positively and which along its top a circumferential contour (16) with elevations (17) and recesses ( 18). Plastic body according to claim 1,
characterized,
that a laterally projecting edge (22) of the gemstone (20) by the annular socket (12) is encompassed circumferentially. Plastic body according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized,
in that the peripheral contour (16) of the mount (12) is matched to a cut (24) of the gemstone (20). Plastic body according to one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized,
that the peripheral contour (16) is formed as a uniform wave or arc contour. Plastic body according to one of claims 1 to 4,
characterized,
in that the number of elevations (17) and depressions (18) is matched to a number of the facets (26) of the gemstone. Plastic body according to one of claims 1 to 5,
characterized,
that the gemstone (20) is provided with a conical insertion tube (28). Plastic body according to one of claims 1 to 6,
characterized,
that the contour (16) of the socket (12) is subsequently formed by means of a molding tool. Plastic body according to one of claims 1 to 6,
characterized,
that the contour (16) is formed exclusively when inserting the gemstone (20). Plastic body according to one of claims 1 to 8,
characterized,
that a difference in level between the elevations (17) and the recesses (18), the contour (16) is between 0.05 mm and 1 mm, preferably between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm. Plastic body according to one of claims 1 to 9,
characterized,
that the socket (12) has a height between 0.2 mm and 2 mm. Method for inserting a gemstone (20) into a plastic body (10) made of a plastic material, in which - The gemstone (20) is pressed under the action of heat in the plastic body (10), wherein plastic material is plastically deformed and displaced, and - With the displaced plastic material around the gemstone (20) an annular socket (12) is formed, through which the gemstone (20) is held at least form-fitting and which along its top a peripheral contour (16) with elevations (17) and recesses ( 18) is formed. Method according to claim 11,
characterized,
that the gemstone (20) is heated to a temperature between 150 ° C and 400 ° C before insertion. Method according to claim 11 or 12,
characterized,
that a press-in punch is used with a suction channel, via which a gemstone (20) is picked up by means of negative pressure and held thereon at least until the beginning of the insertion step. Method according to claim 12,
characterized,
that the press-in punch is heated.

Images