JP7469876B2 - Interior and exterior materials - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to interior and exterior components.

As disclosed in the water-repellent member disclosed in Patent Document 1 below and the microstructure disclosed in Patent Document 2 below, conventional techniques have attempted to impart antifouling properties by subjecting interior and exterior components used in vehicles, etc. to water-repellent treatment.

JP 2001-79484 A JP 2012-171277 A

As mentioned above, many interior and exterior components that have been treated to be water repellent have been provided in the prior art. After extensive research, the inventors discovered that for interior and exterior components used in areas that may get wet, such as components exposed to the outside world, such as deck boards in vehicles, the surface can be made uneven, allowing water to easily collect in the recesses, thereby preventing luggage and other items placed on the interior and exterior components from getting wet.

Based on this knowledge, the inventors conducted extensive research and discovered that simply providing irregularities on the surface of an interior or exterior component may not provide the expected water-collecting effect, or water may remain on the surface even after it is wiped.

Therefore, the present invention aims to provide an interior/exterior component that can achieve the two opposing objectives of improving the collection effect of liquids such as water on the surface while also improving the wiping effect (sweeping effect) of the collected liquids such as water.

(1) The interior/exterior component of the present invention, which is provided to solve the above-mentioned problems, has an uneven shape with undulations in the thickness direction formed on an exposed surface that is exposed to the outside, and the uneven shape is formed by arranging a plurality of uneven areas including a first area and a second area that extend in a plane on the exposed surface in a plane according to a predetermined arrangement pattern on the exposed surface, and the first area is an area that protrudes outward in the thickness direction relative to the second area and is arranged around the second area.

The uneven shape provided on the exposed surface of the interior and exterior member of the present invention is formed by an arrangement pattern in which the second region is surrounded by a first region that protrudes outward in the thickness direction relative to the second region. Because of this configuration, the interior and exterior member of the present invention can be expected to have the effect of concentrating liquid such as water droplets attached to the exposed surface in the second region. In addition, since the first region is higher than the second region (protruding in the thickness direction), water droplets, etc. once concentrated in the second region are less likely to leak outward. In addition, since the first region is higher than the second region (protruding in the thickness direction), when an item such as luggage is placed so as to contact the exposed surface, the interior and exterior member of the present invention will preferentially contact the item in the first region. Therefore, even if liquid such as water is attached to the interior and exterior member of the present invention, the possibility of the item placed thereon getting wet can be suppressed. Furthermore, by arranging multiple types of uneven regions including the first region and the second region in an arrangement pattern such as the interior and exterior member of the present invention, it is easier to wipe off liquid such as water droplets attached to the surface compared to the case of a configuration in which unevenness is simply provided as in the prior art. That is, by providing an area (second area) where liquid can be actively collected, as in the interior and exterior components of the present invention, it is expected that the wiping effect will be improved, for example, because the liquid can be wiped away in a collected state.

(2) The interior and exterior components described above preferably have a third region as the uneven region, which protrudes outward in the thickness direction from the second region and recedes inward in the thickness direction from the first region, and which is characterized in that the third region is located midway between the first region and the second region.

This configuration makes it possible to more reliably prevent liquid such as water droplets that have collected from the first area to the second area from returning to the first area. This makes it possible to improve the collection effect of liquid such as water droplets. In addition, by providing a third area that is an intermediate area between the first and second areas, it is expected that this will contribute to improving the wiping effect, for example by making it easier for a wiping cloth to reach the second area where the liquid has collected.

(3) The interior and exterior components described above may be characterized in that the portions in which the uneven shape is formed are treated to be water-repellent.

With this configuration, liquids such as water that adhere to the portion where the uneven shape is formed are repelled without soaking in, and are smoothly collected in the second region. Furthermore, with the above-mentioned configuration, the liquid that has collected in the second region can be smoothly wiped away. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an interior/exterior component that can be expected to be highly effective in both liquid collection and wiping, due to the synergistic effect of the uneven shape and the water-repellent treatment.

(4) The interior and exterior components described above may preferably be characterized in that a fine uneven shape consisting of unevenness in a flat area that is smaller than the uneven area is formed on the surface of the uneven area.

In the interior and exterior components of the present invention, the water-repellent effect obtained by the fine uneven shape is obtained on the surface of the uneven region. Therefore, in the interior and exterior components of the present invention, liquids such as water that adhere to the parts where the uneven shape is formed are repelled without soaking in, and are smoothly collected in the second region. Furthermore, in the interior and exterior components of the present invention, the liquids that have collected in the second region can be smoothly wiped off. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an interior and exterior component that can be expected to have high effects in both the liquid collection effect and the wiping effect.

(5) The above-mentioned interior and exterior components may be characterized in that multiple fine irregularities are formed on the surface of a single irregular region.

This configuration is expected to provide a high water repellency effect on the surface of the uneven area. Therefore, the present invention can provide an interior/exterior component that provides even higher liquid collection and wiping effects.

(6) The interior and exterior components described above may be characterized in that the fine unevenness is formed to form a geometrically continuous shape.

With this configuration, the water-repellent effect can be further improved by providing a fine uneven shape.

(7) The interior and exterior components described above may be characterized in that the different types of uneven areas are formed so as to be smoothly connected in the thickness direction.

This configuration allows liquids such as water adhering to the exposed surface to be smoothly collected.

(8) The above-mentioned interior and exterior components may be characterized as being used as components of a vehicle.

With this configuration, even if liquid such as water adheres to the vehicle components, it can be smoothly collected and easily wiped off. The above-mentioned interior and exterior components can be suitably used as various components that make up the vehicle, such as deck boards, seats, and luggage compartments that the vehicle is equipped with.

The present invention provides an interior/exterior component that can achieve two opposing objectives: improving the collection effect of liquids such as water on the surface of the interior/exterior component while also improving the wiping effect (sweeping effect) of the collected water.

1 is a plan view showing a basic arrangement pattern of the concave-convex shapes that constitute an interior/exterior member according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a first plan view showing an interior/exterior member according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a second plan view showing an interior/exterior member according to one embodiment of the present invention. 2A and 2B are a side view and a plan view, respectively, of the concave-convex shape constituting the interior/exterior member of FIG. 1 . FIG. 11 is a plan view showing an interior/exterior member according to a modified embodiment of the present invention. 6A and 6B are a side view and a plan view, respectively, of the concave-convex shape constituting the interior/exterior member of FIG. 5 .

The interior/exterior member 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The interior/exterior member 10 is a member used to configure the interior or exterior of various locations, such as a component of a vehicle or a component of the interior or exterior of a building. When the interior/exterior member 10 is used as a component of a vehicle, it can be suitably used as a component or arrangement in locations that are likely to come into contact with liquids such as water droplets, such as deck boards, seats, and luggage compartments. The interior/exterior member 10 can be formed from appropriate materials such as resin, metal, and wood.

As shown in FIG. 1, the interior/exterior component 10 has an exposed surface 12 that is exposed to the outside. In addition, the interior/exterior component 10 has at least a portion of the exposed surface 12 where an uneven shape 20 (texture) that forms undulations in the thickness direction is formed.

The uneven shape 20 is formed by arranging multiple types of uneven regions 22, which have different degrees of protrusion and recession in the thickness direction of the interior and exterior components 10, in a planar manner in accordance with a predetermined arrangement pattern on the exposed surface 12. The interior and exterior components 10 of this embodiment are formed by arranging three types of uneven regions 22, consisting of a first region 24, a second region 26, and a third region 28, in a planar manner in accordance with a predetermined arrangement pattern.

The first region 24 is a region that protrudes outward in the thickness direction of the interior/exterior member 10 relative to the second region 26 and the third region 28. As shown in FIG. 4, the peripheral edge of the first region 24 is curved so as to smoothly connect in the thickness direction toward the other adjacent regions.

The second region 26 is the most recessed portion of the uneven region 22 in the thickness direction of the interior/exterior component 10. The second region 26 is also surrounded by multiple (four in this embodiment) first regions 24 arranged around it.

The third region 28 is a portion whose protrusion in the thickness direction of the interior/exterior member 10 is intermediate between the first region 24 and the second region 26. The third region 28 is located intermediate between the first region 24 and the second region 26.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the interior/exterior member 10, the basic arrangement pattern of the uneven shape 20 (texture) is a circumferential arrangement in which the second region 26 is surrounded by a plurality of first regions 24 (four in this embodiment) that are equally spaced in the circumferential direction. In the basic arrangement pattern described above, the interior/exterior member 10 is rich in design consisting of a variety of arrangement patterns by filling the spaces between adjacent first regions 24, 24 and between adjacent second regions 26, 26 with any of the first regions 24, second regions 26, and third regions 28, while ensuring functionality.

Generally speaking, area A in FIG. 2 has a configuration similar to the basic pattern described above, but differs in that some of the multiple first regions 24 (one in the illustrated example) are formed in a shape that is connected to other adjacent first regions 24. Also, in area B, of the four first regions 24 surrounding the second region 26, for three first regions 24, the gaps between the circumferentially adjacent first regions 24, 24 are also first regions 24. In this way, while the first regions 24 are basically circular, some are shaped to be connected to first regions 24 in other adjacent areas.

The second region 26 may also be circular like the first region 24, but connected to the second region 26 of another adjacent area. Specifically, area C in FIG. 3 is generally configured similarly to area A described above, but the second region 26 surrounded by a plurality of first regions 24 is connected to the second region 26 of another area adjacent to area C diagonally to the lower right in the figure by making the gap between the circumferentially adjacent first regions 24, 24 also into a second region 26.

As described above, the basic arrangement pattern is that the first region 24 shown in FIG. 1 is arranged around the second region 26. However, as illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the gaps between adjacent first regions 24, 24 or between adjacent second regions 26, 26 are filled with either the first region 24, the second region 26, or the third region 28, thereby making it possible for the interior/exterior member 10 to have a variety of arrangement patterns and a rich design while still maintaining functionality.

The interior/exterior member 10 has a water-repellent treatment applied to the exposed surface 12. The water-repellent treatment can be performed, for example, by using a chemical method such as applying a water-repellent coating, a physical method such as forming a fine uneven shape on the surface, or by making the interior/exterior member 10 itself water-repellent. In addition, as a method for making the interior/exterior member 10 itself water-repellent, for example, a method of using a highly water-repellent material as the material for the interior/exterior member 10, or a method of using a material with a water-repellent agent kneaded into it, can be used. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4(a), the water-repellent treatment is performed by providing a fine uneven shape 30 to the uneven shape 20 provided on the exposed surface 12.

Specifically, the fine unevenness 30 is formed by forming a plurality of fine unevennesses 32 having a smaller planar area than the first region 24, the second region 26, and the third region 28 that form the unevenness 20. The fine unevenness 30 can be formed by so-called graining or the like. The fine unevenness 32 can be any of the following: a convex shape protruding from the surfaces of the first region 24, the second region 26, and the third region 28; a concave shape receding from the surfaces of the first region 24, the second region 26, and the third region 28; and a combination of a convex shape and a concave shape. In this embodiment, the fine unevenness 32 is a convex shape protruding from the surfaces of the first region 24, the second region 26, and the third region 28. The fine unevenness 32 is formed to form a geometric continuous shape on the exposed surface 12.

As described above, in the interior/exterior member 10 of this embodiment, the uneven shape 20 provided on the exposed surface 12 has a basic arrangement pattern in which the second region 26 is surrounded by the first region 24. Because of this configuration, in the interior/exterior member 10, liquid such as water droplets attached to the exposed surface 12 flows from the first region 24 to the second region 26 and is collected. In addition, because the first region 24 is higher than the second region 26, water droplets, etc. that have once collected in the second region 26 are less likely to leak out to the outside. Therefore, the interior/exterior member 10 has a high capacity to hold water droplets, etc., collected in the second region 26, and is less likely to scatter from the second region 26 to other locations.

In addition, in the interior/exterior member 10, the first region 24 is higher than the second region 26, and when an item such as luggage is placed so as to contact the exposed surface 12, the first region 24 comes into contact with the item preferentially. Therefore, with the interior/exterior member 10, even if liquid such as water adheres to the interior/exterior member 10, the liquid concentrated in the second region 26 can be prevented from wetting the items placed above.

Furthermore, by arranging the uneven areas 22 in an arrangement pattern such as that of the interior/exterior member 10 of this embodiment, it is expected that the wiping effect of liquids such as water droplets adhering to the surface can be improved. That is, the interior/exterior member 10 is configured to actively concentrate liquids in the second area 26 and to make it difficult for liquids to move from the second area 26 to the first area 24. Therefore, in the interior/exterior member 10, it is easy to wipe off liquids adhering to the exposed surface 12.

The third region 28 is located midway between the first region 24 and the second region 26. This configuration makes it possible to more reliably prevent liquid such as water droplets that has collected from the first region 24 to the second region 26 from returning to the first region 24. This enhances the collecting effect and wiping effect of liquid such as water droplets.

In this embodiment, a configuration in which the third region 28 is provided in addition to the first region 24 and the second region 26 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the above embodiment, the portion in which the third region 28 is provided may be replaced with the first region 24 or the second region 26. Furthermore, in addition to the first region 24, the second region 26, and the third region 28, the interior/exterior member 10 may be provided with other regions that constitute the uneven region 22.

As described above, the interior/exterior member 10 is treated to be water-repellent by providing the fine unevenness 30, which is made up of unevenness with a smaller flat area than the uneven area 22, in the portion where the unevenness 20 is formed. Therefore, the interior/exterior member 10 repels liquids such as water that adhere to the portion where the unevenness 20 is formed without soaking in. This is expected to further improve the gathering effect and wiping effect in the second smooth area 26.

In this embodiment, an example in which the water-repellent effect is imparted by providing the fine unevenness 30 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead of or in addition to the fine unevenness 30, the water-repellent effect may be imparted by a chemical method such as applying a water-repellent coating. In addition, in this embodiment, an example in which the fine unevenness 30 is provided as a configuration for imparting a water-repellent effect to the unevenness 20 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead of or in addition to the fine unevenness 30, the water-repellent effect may be imparted by other physical configurations. In addition to or instead of these methods, the interior/exterior member 10 itself may be water-repellent. As a method for imparting water-repellency to the interior/exterior member 10 itself, for example, a method of using a highly water-repellent material as the material of the interior/exterior member 10 or a method of using a material kneaded with a water-repellent agent can be adopted.

As described above, the interior/exterior member 10 is formed so that the different types of uneven regions 22 are smoothly connected in the thickness direction. This configuration allows liquids such as water adhering to the exposed surface 12 to be smoothly collected in the second region 26 without stagnation. Note that, although the present embodiment shows an example in which the different types of uneven regions 22 are formed so as to be smoothly connected in the thickness direction, the present invention is not limited to this, and some or all of the uneven regions 22 may not be configured in this way.

The interior and exterior member 10 described above can be suitably used, for example, as a component of a vehicle. Specifically, the interior and exterior member 10 can be suitably used as various components that make up a vehicle, such as a deck board, a seat, a luggage compartment, etc., that are provided in the vehicle.

The interior and exterior member 10 described above has the uneven shape 20 formed by a combination of the first region 24, the second region 26, and the third region 28, but the shape and size of each region can be changed as appropriate. For example, the interior and exterior member 100 according to the modified example shown in FIG. 5 is configured by a combination of the first region 124 and the second region 126. The interior and exterior member 100 has upwardly convex triangular prism-shaped compartment constituents 110 arranged in a predetermined array in the left-right and up-down directions in the figure.

Specifically, in the interior/exterior member 100, the partition constituent 110 has a shape in which the ridge 110a (hereinafter also referred to as the "top ridge 110a") forming the top is inclined with respect to the ridges 110b and 110c forming the bottom. The interior/exterior member 100 is arranged in a pattern in which the partition constituents 110 arranged in the left/right direction in the figure are arranged so that the ridge 110a rotates 90 degrees clockwise as they move to the right. Also, the interior/exterior member 100 is arranged in a pattern in which the partition constituents 110 arranged in the up/down direction in the figure are arranged so that the ridge 110a rotates 90 degrees counterclockwise as they move downward. With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 6, a first region 124 consisting of a triangular prism-shaped protruding portion and a valley-shaped second region 126 formed between the first regions 124, 124 adjacent to each other in the up/down/left/right directions are formed. The second region 126 is surrounded by the first region 124. Even with this configuration, the same effects as those of the interior and exterior components 10 described above can be obtained.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and variations, and other embodiments may be possible within the scope of the claims, based on the teachings and spirit of the invention. The components of the above-described embodiments may be arbitrarily selected and combined. Any component of the embodiment may also be arbitrarily combined with any component described in the means for solving the invention or any component that embodies any component described in the means for solving the invention. We intend to obtain rights to these as well through amendments to this application or divisional applications, etc.

The interior and exterior components of the present invention can be suitably used as components for constructing interiors and exteriors in various locations, such as components for vehicles and components for the interior and exterior of buildings.

10, 100: Interior/exterior member 12: Exposed surface 20: Uneven shape 22: Uneven region 24, 124: First region 26, 126: Second region 28: Third region 30: Fine uneven shape

Claims (2)

An interior/exterior member having an uneven surface formed on an exposed surface thereof, the uneven surface having undulations in a thickness direction,
the uneven shape is formed by arranging a plurality of uneven regions including a first region and a second region, which extend in a plane on the exposed surface, in a plane on the exposed surface according to a predetermined arrangement pattern;
the arrangement pattern is a basic arrangement pattern in which the second region is surrounded by a plurality of the first regions that are arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the second region, and in the basic arrangement pattern, spaces between adjacent first regions and spaces between adjacent second regions are filled with other concave-convex regions;
An interior/exterior component characterized in that the first region is a region that protrudes outward in the thickness direction relative to the second region, is arranged in plurality around the second region in accordance with the basic arrangement pattern , and some of the plurality of first regions are formed into a shape that is connected to other adjacent first regions by filling the gap between the first region and the other adjacent first regions with the first region. The uneven region includes a third region that protrudes outward in the thickness direction relative to the second region and recedes inward in the thickness direction relative to the first region,
2. The interior/exterior member according to claim 1, wherein the third region is located intermediate between the first region and the second region.

Images