Abstract: A vehicle interior assembly includes a frame and a fall away door that closes off an opening in the frame when in a closed position. The door moves between the closed position and an open position via sequential vertical and horizontal movements. From the closed position, the door first drops vertically to a dropped position. A final portion of this vertical movement may be damped movement. From the dropped position, the door moves horizontally to the open position, at which the door is concealed from view from the exterior of the assembly. Various guides can be provided to define the movement path of the door. Various types of non-visible sensors can be used to detect a user's intention to open and close the door.

Abstract: A backlit vehicle interior panel includes a non-polymeric decorative layer and a mask layer. The mask layer includes an aperture formed through a layer of opaque material. The decorative layer can be a wood layer that is part of a wood sheet complex that overlies the mask layer. A blind hole is formed in the decorative sheet complex and extends through the decorative layer. The blind hole is aligned with the aperture. Light from a light source passes through the aperture of the mask layer and the aligned blind hole of the sheet complex to partly define an illuminated symbol along at outer surface of the panel. The illuminated symbol can be generated through the decorative layer even when the decorative layer is opaque, and the symbol can have sharper features than can be produced through a translucent decorative layer.

Abstract: A vehicle interior control panel includes a pressure-sensitive slider switch embedded within the thickness and beneath a decorative surface of a deco panel. The slider switch in non-visible and includes a variable resistance layer that sequentially and electrically connects different pairs of electrical contacts in the deco panel as a user-applied pressure is moved across the decorative surface and over the slider switch. The slider switch operates to change a parameter or characteristic of a display panel during use. Light from a light source beneath the deco panel is emitted at the decorative surface through otherwise non-visible perforations. The control panel appears to be only a wood panel until activated via user-applied pressure.

Abstract: A vehicle interior assembly includes a tambour door that is moveable along end guides between an open position and a closed position. The tambour door includes a plurality of slats interconnected by a unidirectional cord embedded in a plastic material of each one of the slats. The cord, such as yarn of aramid fibers can be molded-in to each one of the slats to simplified formation of the articulated joints between slats.

Abstract: A vehicle interior panel includes a decorative fabric layer adhered to a concave side of a perforated substrate. Attachment of the fabric layer is via an adhesive layer initially provided in the form of a film. The film is laminated to the fabric layer, which is then adhered to the substrate via the film. Perforations can be formed through the film prior to lamination. The panel is suitable for use over an audio speaker or other device.

Abstract: A method and processing station for producing a veneer having two parallel opposed faces and including at least one lignocellulosic layer made of lignocellulosic fibers having a grain extending along the opposed faces of the veneer. The processing station carries out the method by applying a compressive force to the veneer along at least one direction extending along the opposed faces of the veneer so as to mechanically compress the lignocellulosic fibers.

Abstract: A vehicle interior control panel includes a pressure-sensitive slider switch embedded within the thickness and beneath a decorative surface of a deco panel. The slider switch in non-visible and includes a variable resistance layer that sequentially and electrically connects different pairs of electrical contacts in the deco panel as a user-applied pressure is moved across the decorative surface and over the slider switch. The slider switch operates to change a parameter or characteristic of a display panel during use. Light from a light source beneath the deco panel is emitted at the decorative surface through otherwise non-visible perforations. The control panel appears to be only a wood panel until activated via user-applied pressure.

Abstract: A vehicle interior assembly includes a frame and a fall away door that closes off an opening in the frame when in a closed position. The door moves between the closed position and an open position via sequential vertical and horizontal movements. From the closed position, the door first drops vertically to a dropped position. A final portion of this vertical movement may be damped movement. From the dropped position, the door moves horizontally to the open position, at which the door is concealed from view from the exterior of the assembly. Various guides can be provided to define the movement path of the door. Various types of non-visible sensors can be used to detect a user's intention to open and close the door.

Abstract: A vehicle interior panel includes a decorative layer formed from a material that blocks transmission of a range of wireless communication frequencies. Perforations are formed through the material so that the decorative layer permits wireless communication through the panel. The perforations may be formed in a pattern so that an illuminated pattern is displayed at a decorative side of the panel when backlit. The perforations can be made non-visible and enable the use of carbon fiber and other conductive materials in the decorative layer without sacrificing wireless communication capability.

Abstract: A vehicle interior panel includes a decorative layer having a decorative side, a sensor, a wireless charger, and a light source. The sensor is configured to detect a mobile device situated on the decorative side of the decorative layer, and the wireless charger is configured to create a wireless charging area on the decorative side of the decorative panel. The light source is configured to display a trace sequence that is located between the mobile device and the wireless charging area to help a user locate the wireless charging area.

Abstract: A vehicle interior panel includes a decorative layer having a decorative side, a sensor, a wireless charger, and a light source. The sensor is configured to detect a mobile device situated on the decorative side of the decorative layer, and the wireless charger is configured to create a wireless charging area on the decorative side of the decorative panel. The light source is configured to display a trace sequence that is located between the mobile device and the wireless charging area to help a user locate the wireless charging area.

Abstract: A vehicle interior panel includes a decorative layer formed from a material that blocks transmission of a range of wireless communication frequencies. Perforations are formed through the material so that the decorative layer permits wireless communication through the panel. The perforations may be formed in a pattern so that an illuminated pattern is displayed at a decorative side of the panel when backlit. The perforations can be made non-visible and enable the use of carbon fiber and other conductive materials in the decorative layer without sacrificing wireless communication capability.

Abstract: A backlit vehicle interior panel includes a non-polymeric decorative layer and a mask layer. The mask layer includes an aperture formed through a layer of opaque material. The decorative layer can be a wood layer that is part of a wood sheet complex that overlies the mask layer. A blind hole is formed in the decorative sheet complex and extends through the decorative layer. The blind hole is aligned with the aperture. Light from a light source passes through the aperture of the mask layer and the aligned blind hole of the sheet complex to partly define an illuminated symbol along at outer surface of the panel. The illuminated symbol can be generated through the decorative layer even when the decorative layer is opaque, and the symbol can have sharper features than can be produced through a translucent decorative layer.

Abstract: A method and processing station for producing a veneer having two parallel opposed faces and including at least one lignocellulosic layer made of lignocellulosic fibers having a grain extending along the opposed faces of the veneer. The processing station carries out the method by applying a compressive force to the veneer along at least one direction extending along the opposed faces of the veneer so as to mechanically compress the lignocellulosic fibers.

Abstract: A method and processing station for producing a veneer having two parallel opposed faces and including at least one lignocellulosic layer made of lignocellulosic fibers having a grain extending along the opposed faces of the veneer. The processing station carries out the method by applying a compressive force to the veneer along at least one direction extending along the opposed faces of the veneer so as to mechanically compress the lignocellulosic fibers.

Abstract: A method in which an interior trim part for a vehicle is produced. The method includes the steps of providing a block of material comprising a plurality of paper layers connected to each other by at least one resin, cutting the block into slices, wherein a cutting plane has an angle between 5° and 85° in relation to layer planes of the paper layers, providing a flexible support layer and applying at least one of the slices to the flexible support layer to obtain a flexible composite layer, and providing a rigid carrier and applying the flexible composite layer directly or indirectly to the carrier.

Abstract: A roller shutter that has a carrier and a decorative lining laminated over the carrier. The roller shutter includes at least one stress limiting layer configured to limit stress applied on the decorative lining when bending the roller shutter.

Abstract: A vehicle trim element is formed by a method that includes the steps of: applying a film on the front face of a layer of ligneous material, with the applied film having at least one engraved pattern; placing the layer of ligneous material together with the applied film in a forming tool, with the front face of the layer being turned towards a wall of the forming tool; pressing the layer of ligneous material together with the applied film against the wall such that the layer adopts the shape of the trim element to be produced and such that, during the pressing of the layer and applied film, the engraved pattern is transferred to the front face of the layer; and removing the film after the pressing of the layer of ligneous material in order to obtain the trim element having a front face with the engraved pattern.

Abstract: A method for coating a surface of a supporting element with a layer of ligneous material in order to form a motor vehicle trim element. The method includes the following consecutive steps: precutting the coating layer so as to form at least one precut area in the layer of ligneous material; positioning the layer of ligneous material relative to the supporting element by means of the precut area; and attaching the layer of ligneous material to the surface of the supporting element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method consisting in: inserting the coating (6) into a shaping and injection-molding mold (14); closing the mold (14) such that the coating (6) is shaped against a shaping surface (22) of the mold (14) as the mold (14) is closed; and, subsequently, overmolding the substrate (4) by injecting a plastic material into the mold (14). According to one aspect of the invention, the shaping surface (22) is induction-heated in order to thermoform the coating (6) as the mold (14) is closed, by generating induced currents that propagate along the shaping surface (22), and the induction heating is stopped in order to set the plastic material.