GB2527774A

GB2527774A - Illuminated badge

Info

Publication number: GB2527774A
Application number: GB1411688.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jason Graham; Andrew Farthing
Original assignee: GSM AUTOMOTIVE
Current assignee: GSM AUTOMOTIVE
Priority date: 2014-07-01
Filing date: 2014-07-01
Publication date: 2016-01-06
Also published as: GB201411688D0

Abstract

An illuminated badge 401 for attachment to a vehicle comprises a translucent or semi-translucent film 102, a mask layer 103 printed on the outside of the film and a transparent hard outer protective casing 105. The mask layer defines a pattern and is preferably formed as an opaque layer printed on the film with cutouts defining the pattern. LEDs 408 are provided for illumination and a dispersive light guide 409 may be provided to distribute the light from the LEDs evenly. Alternatively a domed lens (510, Fig. 5) may be provided for even light distribution. The film is preferably one-way tinted or provided with a metallic layer so as to reflect incident external light so the mask pattern is visible in daylight.

Description

ILLUMINATED BADGE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an illuminated badge. In particular the invention relates to an illuminated badge for attachment to a motor vehicle.

Background

Motor vehicles are generally provided with a badge identifying the manufacturer.

These are typically mounted on the front and/or rear of the vehicle, often on the grille or bonnet, although they may be placed anywhere. Such badges are often formed from acrylic and/or aluminium although other materials are used. Users can also obtain bespoke badges which can be attached independently which need not have any relationship to the vehicle manufacturer.

Vehicle badges are frequently colourful and striking, and may be reflective, but are not typically illuminated. It would be desirabe to provide an illuminated badge for use on a vehicle.

Summary

The present invention provides an illuminable badge for attachment to a vehicle. The badge comprises a translucent film for allowing light to pass from an interior to an exterior of the badge. A mask layer is formed on or adjacent the translucent film and defines a pattern through which light can selectively pass to the exterior of the badge.

A hard exterior coating layer protects the film and mask. A light source is configured to emit light towards an interior surface of the film, and a power supply is configured to receive electrical power from the vehicle and supply electrical power to the light source.

The film may have a domed shape.

The film may be one-way tinted so as to substantially reflect light incident from outside the badge, and/or may have a light transmittance of the order of 80%.

The mask layer may be formed as an opaque layer with apertures allowing light to pass therethrough defining the pattern. The mask layer may be printed onto the film or may be provided as a discrete layer.

The badge may comprise a dispersive light guide between the light source and the film.

The light source may comprise one or more LEDs, and a dome lens is optionally located in front of each of the one or more LEDs. Each LED and dome lens may be configured to emit substantially uniform light in an arc subtending at least 1700. The dome lens may comprise a domed lens base and a meniscus lens layer disposed on an outer surface of the lens base.

Brief Description of the DrawinQs

Some preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross section through an illuminated badge; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the badge of Figure 1 in an unilluminated condition; FigureS is a perspective view of the badge of Figure 1 in an illuminated condition; Figure 4 is a cross section through an illuminated badge including a light guide; Figure 5 is a cross section through an illuminated badge including a domed lens; and Figure 6 is a cross section through the domed lens of FigureS.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 is a cross section through an illuminated badge 101 for attachment to a vehicle. The badge 101 is formed from a translucent or semi-translucent film 102, extruded or shaped into a bubble or domed shape. A mask layer 103 is printed on the outside of the film 102, either before or after the shaping has taken place. The mask layer may be generally opaque with gaps in the form of a pattern 104 defined within it.

The pattern 104 may be in the form of a logo. A hard, substantially transparent, outer casing 105 is placed outside the opaque layer. The hard outer casing 105 may be a polycarbonate coating.

Light 106 from a suitable source is directed from the inside of the dome so that it passes through the translucent film 102 and through the pattern 104 in the opaque layer. The film 102 may be only partially transparent so that light 106 can pass from the inside to the outside of the badge, but such that it reflects at least some external light. This means that the logo can be visible whether or not the badge is illuminated.

Figure 2 is an illustration of the badge 101 when no light is supplied inside the badge.

and Figure 3 shows the same badge when illuminated. This can be achieved if the film surface is a solid metallic colour when not illuminated. In one embodiment the film may be one-way tinted so as that light is transmitted from the inside to the outside of the dome but not from the outside to the inside. Alternatively the film may have a light transmittance of approximately 80%.

It will be appreciated that the mask layer 103 could be printed inside rather than outside the film 102, or could be an entirely discrete layer not printed directly onto the film. It is also possible that the mask includes filters to allow light of different wavelengths to pass through: it need not have any entirely opaque or clear sections, although many logos will show most clearly with such a binary" configuraton.

Light 106 can be provided by a number of techniques. One option is shown in Figure 4, which shows an illuminated badge 401 similar to that shown in Figure 1. The badge also includes a base section 407 incorporating one or two LEDs 408, and a dispersive light guide 409 disposed between the base section 407 and the upper region of the badge 401. In some embodiments the light guide 409 may extend into the dome as far as the translucent film 102 onto which the pattern is printed. It will also be appreciated that the badge need not be domed: the film 102 could be flat or another three dimensional shape. It will also be appreciated that the light sources need not be LEDs: other light emitting materials such as electroluminescent materials may also be used.

The light may be white light.

Alternatively, in some embodiments it may be possible to remove the need for the light guide altogether. This may be possible using an arrangement as shown in Figure 5, which includes a light emitting device 508 including an LED 509 mounted in a domed lens 510 on a reflective substrate or PCB 511. The lens 510 causes the device 508 to emit light in an arc of 1700 or more, and the reflective PCB 511 ensures that all light is reflected towards the translucent film 102. The advantage of this arrangement is that the base of the badge can be significantly thinner without the light guide. It will be appreciated that two or more such devices, may be used to produce the same effect.

Figure 6 illustrates the LED 508 in its domed lens 510 in more detail. A first dome lens 512 encapsulates the LED die and has a first outer curved surface, and a photopolymerizable composition 513 disposed on the dome lens. The photopolymerizable composition forms a meniscus lens defined by a second outer curved surface and an inner curved surface, the inner curved surface being in contact with only a portion of the first outer curved surface. The dome lens 512 and the meniscus lens 513 in combination form the elongated dome lens 510.

The light source may be powered from a controlled power supply of the vehicle or a power supply control module to which the badge is attached. This makes t possible for the badge to be illuminated when required and more importantly turned off when not required. For example, the badge could be illuminated, for example, when the ignition is switched on, or when the external lights of the vehicle are activated.

In order to add the hard coating, the badge 101 is subjected to heat treatment at a temperature in the range of about 80-100 °C. The parts are cleaned for all dust on the top surface, and a protective film is applied to the rear of the coating 105. The coating is cured in a UV process to smooth the material. The flow temperature is about 45-60 CC following which the UV curing is applied to achieve 2HH standard hardness.

The whole package can be glued, clipped together or ultrasonically sealed. The whole package has to completely waterproof.

It will be appreciated that variations from the above described embodiments may still fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. An illuminable badge for attachment to a vehicle, the badge comprising: a translucent film for allowing light to pass from an interior to an exterior of the badge; a mask layer formed on or adjacent the translucent film, said mask defining a pattern through which light can selectively pass to the exterior of the badge; a hard exterior coating layer for protecting the film and mask; a light source configured to emit lght towards an interior surface of the film; and a power supply configured to receive electrical power from the vehicle and supply electrical power to the light source.
2. The badge of claim 1, wherein the film is one-way tinted so as to substantially reflect light incident from outside the badge.
3. The badge of claim 1 or 2, wherein the film has a light transmittance of the order of 80%.
4. The badge of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the mask layer is formed as an opaque layer with apertures allowing light to pass therethrough defining the pattern.
5. The badge of any preceding claim, wherein the mask layer is printed onto the film.
6. The badge of any preceding claim, further comprising a dispersive light guide between the light source and the film.
7. The badge of any preceding claim, wherein the light source comprises one or more LEDs.
8. The badge of claim 8, further comprising a dome lens located in front of each of the one or more LEDs.
9. The badge of claim 8, wherein each LED and dome lens is configured to emit substantially uniform light in an arc subtending at least 170°.
10. The badge of claim 8 or 9, wherein the dome lens comprises a domed lens base and a meniscus lens layer disposed on an outer surface of the lens base.
11. The badge of any preceding claim, wherein the film is domed.
12. The badge of any preceding claim, which badge has a total depth of 5mm or less.
13. An illuminated badge as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.