The present invention relates to a trim element for a vehicle compartment of the type comprising an external surface intended to be visible from the interior of the vehicle compartment and a decorative element extending on part of the external surface, said decorative element comprising an inner face applied against the external surface and an outer face opposite the inner face and intended to be visible from the interior of the vehicle compartment, the decorative element comprising a main body and a lighting portion, and a light source in said lighting portion.

It is known to provide light sources in a vehicle compartment, for example for lighting a part of the vehicle compartment, for example for allowing a passenger to read or consult a map. Such light sources should be arranged such that they do not disturb the driver of the vehicle and possibly other passengers of the vehicle. To this end, the light source are for example arranged to be very directive and to have a low light diffusion such that only a reduced space of the vehicle compartment is lighted by this light source.

However, the light source is generally placed is a wall of the vehicle compartment, for example the roof panel, and is spaced by large distance from the point that is to be lighted, which is generally in a space extending over the legs of the passenger. Consequently, the light can still be disturbing for the other passengers of the vehicle. Additionally, the light source is fixed in the vehicle compartment and the lighted area cannot be changed or can be change only slightly, for example if the light source is movable in rotation relative to the trim panel on which it is mounted.

Furthermore, when the light source is turned off, the light source remains visible from the interior of the vehicle compartment and can be detrimental to the aspect of the trimming of the vehicle compartment.

One of the aims of the invention is to overcome these problems by providing a trim part comprising a light source that is integrated in a satisfactory manner to the external surface of the trim element.

To this end, the invention relates to a trim part of the above-mentioned type, wherein, in the lighting portion, the outer face is arranged such that the light from the light source is not visible through said outer face and the inner face is arranged such that the light from the light source is visible through said inner face, the lighting portion being movable relative to the main body between an off position, wherein the inner face of the lighting portion is turned towards the external surface and the light from the light source is not visible from the interior of the vehicle compartment, and at least one on position, wherein the inner face of the lighting portion is moved away from the external surface such that the light from the light source is diffused in the vehicle compartment.

Since the light source is hidden in the off position, the light source can be placed on any trim part of the vehicle compartment without degrading its aspect since the light source is integrated in a decorative element. Consequently, the light source can be placed closer to the area to be lighted and be less disturbing for the other passengers of the vehicle.

According to other features of the trim part according to the invention, one or more of the following features, considered alone or according to any technically possible combination:

- the lighting portion is movable in rotation relative to the main body around the axis of the decorative element long which said decorative element extends, the inner face of the lighting portion extending in the continuity of the inner face of the main body in the off position and being turned by a rotation angle relative to the inner face of the main body in the on position ;

- the rotation angle is 180° in one on position such that the inner face of the lighting portion extends in the continuity of the outer face of the main body in said on position ;

- the decorative element is movable relative to the external surface between a locked position, wherein the inner face of the decorative element is applied against the external surface and an unlocked position, the inner face of the decorative element is spaced from the external surface ;

- the lighting portion is not movable to an on position in the locked position of the decorative element and is movable to an on position in the unlocked position of the decorative element ;

- the decorative element is movable in rotation relative to the external surface around a rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the decorative element along which said decorative element extends and contained in the external surface between the locked position and the unlocked position ;

- comprising a push-push device actuable in the locked position to move the decorative element from the locked position to the unlocked position ;

- comprising a power source connected to the light source and a switch between the power source and the light source, said switch being turned off when the lighting portion is in the off position such that the light source is not powered in said off position and said switch being turned on when the lighting portion is in an on position such that the light source is powered and emits light in said on position ;

- the outer face of the decorative element comprises a continuous aspect extending over the main body and the lighting portion ;

- the light source comprises at least one light-emitting diode placed between the inner face and the outer face of the lighting portion.

- the trim element is a door panel, a dashboard panel, or a central console of the vehicle.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will appear upon reading the following description, given by way of example and made in reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

- Fig. 1 is a front view of a trim part according to the invention, the decorative element being in a locked position,

- Fig. 2 is a front view of the trim part of Fig. 1 , the decorative element being in an unlocked position and the light area being in an off position,

- Fig. 3 is a front view of the trim part of Fig. 1 , the decorative element being in an unlocked position and the light area being in an position,

- Fig. 4 is a cross-section view along axis IV-IV of Fig. 1 , and

- Fig. 5 is a cross-section view along axis V-V of Fig. 3.

In the description, the terms "internal", "external", "inner" and "outer" are defined relative to the interior of a vehicle compartment, "internal" or "inner" designating what is turned toward the body of the vehicle and "external" or "outer" designating what is turned toward the interior of the vehicle compartment.

In reference to the figures, there is described a trim part 1 intended for trimming a part of a vehicle compartment, i.e. intended to be applied against a part of the vehicle compartment to decorate this part and/or to provide a surface for supporting functional elements of the vehicle, such as storage spaces, control buttons, etc. Such a trim part 1 is for example a door panel, a roof panel, a dashboard, a central console, a tray, or any other trim part.

The trim part 1 comprises an external surface 2 forming the visible surface of the trim part 1 from the interior of the vehicle compartment. This means that the external surface 2 forms part of the visible surface of the vehicle compartment exposed to the eye of the passengers of the vehicle. The external surface 2 can have any shape, in particular adapted to the shape of the portion of the vehicle compartment on which the trim part is applied. The trim part 1 comprises a decorative element 4 extending on part of the external surface 2. Such a decorative element 4 has for example a shape of a rod, as shown in the figures, or any other shape adapted to confer a particular aspect to the external surface 2 of the trim part 1 , such as a medallion, a plate or any other desired shape.

The decorative element 4 is therefore an insert attached to the external surface 2 to confer a local particular aspect to the trim part.

The decorative element 4 comprises an inner face 6, extending opposite the external surface 2 of the trim part 1 , and an outer face 8, extending opposite the inner face 6 and facing the interior of the vehicle compartment. The maximum distance separating the inner face 6 from the outer face 8 is for example less than arounded 70mm.

The outer face 8 is arranged to have a satisfactory aspect, for example by being coated with a decorative layer. The inner face 6 can be housed in a slight recess formed in the external surface 2 of the trim part 1 , as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and, according to an embodiment, the decorative element 4 can be arranged such that its outer face 8 protrudes from the external surface 2 or such that the outer face 8 is flush with the external surface 2.

The decorative element 4 comprises a main body 10 and a lighting portion 12 extending in the continuity of each other and attached to each other to form the decorative element 4. In case of a decorative element 4 in the shape of a rod, the lighting area 12 for example forms one extreme part of the rod and the main body forms the remainder of the rod.

The main body 10 is for example formed of a hollow element forming a support for the lighting portion 12, which is also formed as a hollow element attached to the main body 10.

The inner face 6 of the decorative element 4 is formed by the inner face 14 of the main body 10 and by the inner face 16 of the lighting portion 12. Similarly, the outer face 8 of the decorative element 4 is formed by the outer face 20 of the main body 10 and by the outer face 22 of the lighting portion 12.

Both the outer face 20 of the main body 10 and the outer face 22 of the lighting portion are substantially opaque, meaning that light substantially does not pass through these outer faces 20 and 22 at least when said light comes from the side of the outer faces 20 and 22 extending opposite the inner faces 14 and 16. In other words, light is substantially not transmitted through the outer faces 20 and 22 when said light originates from the space extending between the inner faces 14 and 16 and the outer faces 20 and 22. By "substantially not transmitted", it is meant that less than 5% of the light is transmitted through the outer faces 20 and 22 and preferably that none of the light is transmitted through the outer faces 20 and 22. This can be obtained by making the outer faces 20 and 22 in an opaque material or by applying a coating of opaque material to the outer faces 20 and 22. Advantageously, the opaque material is chosen to confer a satisfactory aspect to the decorative element 4, for example to be in concordance with the other decorative elements of the vehicle compartment. For example, the opaque material can be chosen to confer a wood aspect to the decorative element when other decorative elements of the vehicle compartment have a wood aspect. According to an embodiment, the outer face 20 of the main body 10 and the outer face 22 of the lighting portion 12 have a continuous aspect such that the outer face 6 of the decorative element 4 has an uniform aspect when seen from the vehicle compartment.

At least a portion of the inner face 16 of the lighting portion 12 is arranged such that light is transmitted through the inner face 16 of the lighting portion 12. More particularly, the inner face 16 of the lighting portion 12 is arranged such that the light originating from the space 24 extending between the outer face 22 and the inner face 16 of the lighting portion 12. By transmitting, it is meant that at least 5% of the light is transmitted through the inner face 16 and preferably that at least 90% of the light is transmitted through the inner face 16. This can be obtained by making the inner face 16 of the lighting portion 12 in a translucent or transparent material or by providing one or more apertures extending through the inner face 16 in the areas where light is to be transmitted through the inner face 16.

The inner face 14 of the main body 10 can be either opaque or translucent. For example, the inner face 14 of the main body 10 is made of the same material as the outer face 20 such that the main body 10 is made of a single material. According to another example, the inner face 14 of the main body 10 is made of the same material as the inner face 16 of the lighting portion 12.

The lighting portion 12 comprises at least one light source 26 arranged inside the lighting portion 12 between the inner face 16 and the outer face 22. Such a light source 26 comprises for example one or more light-emitting diodes 28 arranged to emit light when powered by a power source 30, for example placed in the main body 10, as shown diagrammatically in Figs. 4 and 5. The light source(s) 26 is(are) electrically connected to the power source 30 via a switch 32, which is actionable between an open position (Fig. 4) in which the electrical connection between the power source 30 and the light source(s) 26 is interrupted such that the light source does not emit light, and a closed position (Fig. 5) in which the electrical connection between the power source 30 and the light source(s) 26 is established such that the light source emits light.

When the inner face 16 of the lighting portion 12 is provided with at least one aperture, the light sources 26 are arranged opposite the aperture. For example, each light-emitting diode 28 is arranged opposite one aperture such that the light emitted by this diode 26 is emitted through the corresponding aperture.

The lighting portion 12 is movable relative to the main body 10 between an off position, in which the inner face 16 of the lighting portion 12 is not visible from the vehicle compartment, as shown in Figs. 1 , 2 and 4, and an on position, in which the inner face 16 of the lighting portion 12 is visible from the vehicle compartment. In other words, in the off position, the decorative element 4 cannot emit light towards the vehicle compartment since the inner face 16 of the lighting portion 12 is not visible and the outer face 22 does not let light pass through towards the vehicle compartment, while in the on position, the decorative element 4 can diffuse light in the vehicle compartment since the inner face 16 is visible from the vehicle compartment and the light coming from the light source(s) 26 is transmitted through the inner face 16, as shown by light rays R of Figs. 3 and 5.

The lighting portion 12 is movable in rotation relative to the main body 10 between the off and on positions. More particularly the rotation occurs around the main axis A along which the decorative element 4 extends. For example, in the case of a decorative element 4 in the shape of a rod, the rotation axis A corresponds to the axis of the rod as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

In the off position, the inner face 16 of the light portion 12 extends in the continuity of the inner face 14 of the main body 12 and is turned towards the external surface 2 of the trim part 1 such that it is not visible from the vehicle compartment.

In the on position, the inner face 16 is turned relative to the inner face 14 of the main body 10 such that the inner face 16 is turned towards the vehicle compartment and away from the external surface 2. The rotation angle by which the inner face 16 of the lighting portion 12 is turned relative to the inner face 14 of the main body 10 defines the position in which the inner face will be in the on position. For example, the rotation angle is 180° such that the inner face 16 of the lighting portion 12 extends in the continuity of the outer face 20 of the main body 10 in the on position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

According to another embodiment, the lighting portion 12 is movable in a plurality of on positions, the rotation angle varying between the successive on positions. One of these on positions for example corresponds to a rotation angle of 180° as described above. According to an embodiment, the switching of the switch 32 between the open and closed positions is triggered by the movement in rotation of the lighting portion 12 relative to the main body 10 between the off position and the on position. In other words, the switch 32 is in the open position when the lighting portion 12 is in the off position and the switch is moved to the closed position when the lighting portion 12 is turned towards the on position and is in the on position when the lighting portion 12 is in the on position. When the lighting portion 12 is movable between in a plurality of on positions, the switching of the switch 32 in the closed position occurs when the lighting portion 12 is moved in the first on position, i.e. the on position with the smallest rotation angle. Consequently according to this embodiment, the light source 26 is powered only when the lighting portion 12 is in an on position and the light source 26 is not powered when the lighting portion is in the off position. According to another embodiment, the switch is triggered manually by the user, for example via a button accessible to the user when the lighting portion 12 is in an on position.

The movement of the lighting portion 12 in the on position is for example controlled by the user which can act on the lighting portion 12 to turn the lighting portion towards the on position.

According to an embodiment, the decorative element 4 is further movable relative to the external surface 2 of the trim part 1 between a locked position (Figs. 1 and 4) and an unlocked position (Figs. 2, 3 and 5).

In the locked position, the inner face 6 of the decorative element 4 is applied against the external surface 2 of the trim part 1 meaning that both the inner face 14 of the main body 10 and the inner face 16 of the lighting portion 12 are applied against the external surface 2. According to an embodiment, the lighting portion 12 is not able to move to an on position when the decorative element 4 is in the locked position.

In the unlocked position, the inner face 6 of the decorative element 4 is spaced from the external surface 2 of the trim part 1 . According to an embodiment, the lighting portion 12 can be moved in an on position only when the decorative element 4 is in the unlocked position.

The movement of the decorative element 4 between the locked position and the unlocked position is a rotation movement of the decorative element 4 relative to the external surface 2. More particularly, the end 34 of the main body 10 opposite the lighting portion 12 is mounted in rotation on the external surface 2, for example via a hinge 36 connecting the outer face of the end 34 to the external surface 2, around a rotation axis B contained in the external surface 2 and perpendicular to the rotation axis A of the lighting portion 12.

The movement of the decorative element 4 therefore allows spacing the lighting portion 12 from the external surface 2 of the trim part 1 when placed in the unlocked position. In this manner, the light source(s) 26 can be brought closer to the area to be lighted such that the light source is less of a nuisance for the other passengers of the vehicle.

The movement of the decorative element 4 towards the unlocked position is for example limited to prevent the decorative element 4 to come into contact with a passenger. To this end, the maximum rotation angle a of the decorative element 4 between the locked position and the unlocked position is for example equal to 20° in order to limit the intrusion of the decorative element 4 in the vehicle compartment in the unlocked position. This can be obtained for example by arranging a resilient element around the rotation axis B.

The triggering of the movement of the decorative element 4 is for example obtained by a push-push device (not shown) arranged between the trim part 1 and the inner face 6 of the decorative element 4. Such a device is known and is actuable when the decorative element 4 is in the locked position. The push-push device allows moving the decorative element 4 from the locked position to the unlocked position by pushing against the outer face 8 of the decorative element 4 and to move back the decorative element 4 into the locked position also by pushing on the outer face 8 of the decorative element 4 until the decorative element 4 is applied against the external surface 2 of the trim part 1 .

According to an embodiment, the lighting portion 12 can be arranged to automatically move towards an on position when the decorative element 4 is moved from the locked position to an unlocked position. Conversely, the lighting portion 12 can also be arranged to automatically move back to the off position when the decorative element 4 is moved to the locked position.

According to this embodiment, combined with the embodiment wherein the switch 32 is moved to the closed position by the movement of the lighting portion in an on position, it is possible to obtain the lighting of an area with a single actuation of the user to move the decorative element from the locked position to the unlocked position. Conversely, a single actuation to move the decorative element 4 from the unlocked position to the locked position is required to switch off the light source(s) 26 and to reposition the decorative element 4 in its initial position. According to another embodiment, the movement of the lighting portion 12 between the off position and the on position(s) is performed by the user by rotating the lighting portion 12. This embodiment allows having a position wherein the decorative element 4 is applied against the external surface 2 of the trim part 1 while the lighting portion 12 is in an on position. In this position, the inner face 14 of the main body 10 and the outer face 22 of the lighting portion 12 are applied against the external surface 2. Such a position can be advantageous in that the light source(s) 26 illuminate an area of the vehicle compartment while the decorative element 4 does not protrudes in the vehicle compartment.

The trim part 1 described above therefore allows having a light source that can be positioned precisely to illuminate a particular area of the vehicle compartment without disturbing the other passengers. Furthermore, the light source(s) remain invisible when not in use since in the off position, only the outer face 6 of the decorative element 4 is visible from the vehicle compartment. By having a continuous aspect over the whole outer face 6 of the decorative element 4, only a slight demarcation between the main body 10 and the lighting portion 12 is visible from the vehicle compartment when the light source is in the off position. Consequently, in the off position, the decorative element 4 looks like any other decorative element of the vehicle compartment which improves the appearance of the trimming of the vehicle compartment.