Patent Description:
In order to improve road safety, motor vehicles are known to have different means of lighting, for example to illuminate the road area in front of the vehicle or to ensure that the vehicle itself can be seen by other road users by means of appropriate rear lamps. However, it has been shown that although the state of the art lighting fixtures generally offer good safety, they are not optimally suited for lateral illumination of the vehicle, as there is often not enough space available for the arrangement of conventional lighting fixtures. In addition, previously known lighting devices are often not very flexible with regard to individual design specifications and are therefore expensive to use if they are to be used in a large number of different models of motor vehicles.

<CIT> refers to an exterior component for a vehicle, comprising: a first member having a decorative surface provided at an external portion thereof for transmitting light, the first member further including a first engaging portion; a second member having a second engaging portion engaging with the first engaging portion of the first member, the second member attached to the vehicle, the first member and the second member forming a double layered structure under the first engaging portion of the first member engaging with the second engaging portion of the second member; and a light-emitting member provided in the double layered structure of the first member and the second member for lighting up and shutting off the light in response to a supply of electricity supplied from the vehicle.

<CIT> teaches a covering device for at least partially covering a recess, a flat section, a curved section and / or a stepped section of at least one body component and / or a vehicle element of a vehicle, wherein the cover device has a lighting device or can be coupled to a lighting device and wherein the cover device is designed such that at least a section of the cover device is the lighting device can be transilluminated and / or photoluminescent.

From <CIT> a vehicle interior component arranged at a vehicle body member in front of a driver's seat is known, with the vehicle interior component, comprising: an interior component body arranged along the vehicle body member with a face thereof exposed to a vehicle room, the interior component body including, a rear-side face section faced to a rear side in a vehicle front-rear direction, and an inner-side face section faced to an inner side in a vehicle width direction as being connected to the rear-side face section through a curved section; and a display unit configured to perform displaying for a passenger as being arranged at the interior component body at a range extending from the rear-side face section to the inner-side face section.

<CIT> refers to a luminous element for use in a vehicle interior comprising a semitransparent layer with a front side and a rear side and a light source arranged behind the semitransparent layer, the front side the semitransparent layer being flat, wherein the rear side of the semitransparent layer has at least one depression so that the semitransparent layer has at least one first region a first thickness and at least one second region with a second thickness, wherein the first thickness is less than the second thickness and the first region is set up to transmit light emitted by the light source and the second region is set up to absorb light emitted by the light source and thereby to transmit less light than the first region.

<CIT> teaches an illuminated decorative part with a planar visible side facing a viewer and an illumination area located behind it from the viewer, which has several discrete light sources, at least partially between the visible side and the lighting area transparent optical elements influencing the light are arranged, with the optical elements comprising at least one flat scattering element. Between the scattering element and at least one - but not all - of the light sources light guides for light guiding are arranged orthogonally to the surface of the visible side.

<CIT> refers to a method for producing an illuminable add-on part which can be attached to a motor vehicle, comprising the steps: a) providing a transparent film having a first side and a second side opposite the first side; b) coating at least part of the first side of the film with a mask layer which is opaque except for at least one light-permeable area; c) coating at least part of the second side of the film with a second layer which is designed such that it only allows through a predetermined proportion of light striking the film, the second layer has a pigmentation or scattering additives or a hue; and d) injection molding of the coated film in an injection molding process, whereby a carrier is formed for the film, the carrier being formed during the injection molding of the film in such a way that it has a translucent area which adjoins the at least one light-transmissive region of the mask layer.

<CIT> teaches an interior trim part of a motor vehicle, which comprises: a molded part made of glass or a glass-like material, which is arranged on the side of the interior trim part facing the interior of the motor vehicle, a thin-film display device which is arranged behind the molded part or is integrated into it from the perspective of the motor vehicle interior, and a control device for controlling the thin-film display device so that it emits an image through the molded part into the interior of the motor vehicle.

<CIT> teaches a display device for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one display unit comprising independently illuminable segments, the segments each via light sources, in particular LEDs, assigned to a segment, are illuminable, wherein the light sources are at least partially arranged laterally with respect to the direction of radiation of the segments, the light from these light sources being transmitted over a reflective surface of a light housing is reflected in the direction of emission.

<CIT> teaches an illuminating instrument panel having a front side for positioning toward a viewer and a back side for positioning away from the viewer, the instrument panel comprising: a light source; and a transparent cover in front of the light source formed of a polymeric film and a polymeric wall, said polymeric film having a textured first surface defining a front surface of the transparent cover and a second surface having a reflection-reduction layer thereon, said polymeric wall having a first surface disposed against said reflection-reduction layer and a second surface defining a back surface of the transparent cover, said reflection-reduction layer being sandwiched directly between said polymeric film and said polymeric wall, said polymeric film being bonded to said polymeric wall by intermolecular forces, the reflection-reduction layer formed of a material selected from the group consisting of (a) oxides of magnesium, zinc, or aluminum, or alloys thereof, (b) hydroxides of magnesium, zinc, or aluminum, or alloys thereof, and (c) semi-metals and metals which are non-alkali metals and non-alkaline earth metals, alloys thereof, and combinations thereof.

<CIT> teaches an instrument apparatus comprising: a circuit board; an instrument body disposed on the circuit board and provided with a drive shaft extending forward; a pointer to be fitted on the tip side of the drive shaft; a front panel disposed between the pointer and the circuit board and including a display portion corresponding to said pointer; a light source disposed at the position in front of the circuit board, which is the side of said drive shaft with respect to said display portion at least for illuminating the display portion, and a reflecting body to be disposed between said front panel and said circuit board; characterized in that said reflector includes a first reflecting portion facing to said light source for reflecting the illumination from said light source toward the outer periphery, and a second reflecting portion extending outward with an appropriate airspace interposed between itself and said front panel so as to surround said light source for reflecting said illumination toward said front panel.

It is therefore the task of the present invention to further develop the known covering device to overcome the drawback of the prior art. That is, a robust device which can overcome the disadvantages of the state of the art and which, in particular, allow an improved illumination of the motor vehicle and its surroundings, while at the same time providing cost-effective production and the greatest possible freedom of design, is provided.

This task is solved by the features of the characterizing portion of claim <NUM>. Embodimens of the covering device according to the present invention are described in claims <NUM> to <NUM>. According to a first aspect of the invention a covering device for arranging on at least one outer position of a motor vehicle is provided, comprising:.

The first region can have any shape and size suitable for allowing light from the lighting device to pass through the covering element. The term translucency refers to the at least partial light transmission of the form element and/or the covering element. Both elements can be completely or partially transparent, whereby the complete or partial transparency can only be present in certain areas of the form element and/or the covering element, while the other areas, for example, cannot be transparent. Translucency may also designate a wavelength-dependent full or partial transparency so that light of a wavelength or a limited wavelength range, for example the red green, yellow and/or blue wavelength range, can at least partially pass through the shape element and/or the covering element.

Depending on the application, the illuminating device may be designed as a point source of light, an area emitter or a planar or linear arrangement of several light sources. With a large number of light sources, the light from the light sources can overlap or pass through the covering device parallel to one another to illuminate a larger area, for example the covering element.

The fact that the lighting device is at least connected to the inside and that the form element covers the lighting device makes it robustly protected against external influences.

The covering device further comprises at least one light guide for distributing at least part of the light emitted by the lighting device to at least the first region.

It may also be provided that the translucency of the form element and/or the covering element can be adjusted in the first region in the injection moulding process and/or that various translucencies can be introduced in the injection moulding process.

The covering device may be provided as a single covering device or composed of a plurality of separate covering devices for forming a common multi-part covering device for attachment to a plurality of separate areas of the motor vehicle, in the case of the multi-part covering device, the individual separate covering devices being provided for attachment to mutually movable areas of the motor vehicle so that the mobility of these areas is not obstructed by the covering devices.

Further, the covering element comprises at least one metallic coating. The metallic coating can include a chromium-containing layer, preferably a chromium alloy or a doped chromium layer. The term "metallic coating" may refer to a single layer or a stack of layers consisting of several layers. The metallic coating can be produced using thin-film technology. Thin-film technologies are, for example, physical gas deposition processes such as vapour deposition or sputtering or chemical gas deposition processes such as CVD. Depending on the desired properties of the metallic coating, the deposited layers can still be suitably reworked.

The covering device further comprises at least one display means, in form of an emblem. The display means is arranged at least partially in the first region, the display means is designed at least regionally and/or at least partially translucent, in particular transparent. The covering element covers at least some areas of the display element. The form element forms a cavity to accommodate the lighting device.

It is also proposed with the invention that the lighting device comprises at least one light emitting diode (a so-called LED) or an organic light emitting diode (an OLED), preferably flexible LEDs arranged on at least one flexible band or flexible OLEDs.

It may be that the lighting device comprises at least one display device, preferably at least one monitor, in particular an LCD monitor, for displaying at least one display, preferably a logo and/or an emblem.

It may also be that the lighting device comprises at least one projection device for projecting at least one piece of information, preferably a logo, onto at least one surface and/or an illuminating device, in particular a ground light and/or a puddle lamp, for illuminating at least one surface, in particular at least one region of the ground.

The lighting device, preferably also the projection device and/or the illuminating device, may have a beam angle of <NUM> to <NUM> °.

It may also be that the lighting device is intended for this purpose,.

It may further be that different lighting devices are used to provide different information for a large number of lighting devices.

Further, the covering device may comprise a plurality of light guides, wherein at least a first one of the light guides distributes light to at least one of the first regions and at least a second one of the light guides distributes light to at least another first region. In further designs, further light guides can distribute light from at least two of the multitude of light sources to the first region or further light guides can distribute light from further light sources to further first regions.

The task of the present invention is further solved according to a second aspect of the invention by a body part for a motor vehicle comprising at least one covering device according to the invention. With such a covering device, not only can the corresponding body areas be covered, but welding spots on the body can also be concealed if necessary. The same applies to adhesive dots or seals that are to be concealed.

The task of the present invention is still further solved according to a third aspect of the invention by a motor vehicle comprising at least one covering device in at least one execution form according to the invention.

In one version, the covering device may be arranged as a one-piece covering device or as a multi-piece covering device consisting of several separate parts on the motor vehicle, whereby in the case of the multi-piece covering device the individual parts are arranged on mutually movable areas of the motor vehicle. Areas of the motor vehicle that move against each other are, for example, different doors or the respective doors to the adjacent A, B or C pillars of the motor vehicle or the roof of the motor vehicle. The same applies to movable lids, flaps, trunk doors or flaps to the surrounding vehicle areas. In the case of multi-part covering devices, the lighting devices are supplied with power separately from each other, whereby each part of the covering device can be supplied as already described for the preceding single-part covering device or can be connected to other circuits, e.g. the flasher, door light, etc..

In a further version, the one-piece covering device may cover a door region, preferably from one pillar part to the other pillar part of the same door region, or covers at least one region of the roof of the motor vehicle above the door region as a roof moulding or as a roof covering. In this case, the roof covering or the roof trim strip may extend continuously from a position in the region of an A-pillar of the motor vehicle to at least one position in the region of a C-pillar of the motor vehicle.

In another version, the one-piece covering device may be arranged as a spoiler in the roof area or in the area of a rear window or in the area of a vehicle rear. The spoiler may extend from one side of the motor vehicle to the other side of the motor vehicle.

In a further version, the multi-part covering device may extend over different door areas on the side of the vehicle. For example, this can extend from a position in the area of the A-pillar to a position in the area of the C-pillar. In one version, the multi-part covering device is arranged as a door manhole strip.

The terms "in the area of the A-pillar, C-pillar, roof, rear window, rear of vehicle" mean that the covering device extends from one location on the A-pillar, C-pillar, roof, rear window, rear of vehicle to the other corresponding locations or that the covering device at least adjoins them.

The invention is thus based on the surprising insight that a covering device which can be placed on the outside of a motor vehicle in accordance with the invention can increase road safety by providing appropriate lighting devices for emitting light together with the covering device. This shows that the covering device can be used for almost any motor vehicle, as the physical design of the form element offers great freedom of design. This means that even complicated structures of the vehicle or its bodywork can be reproduced without any problems in order to arrange the covering device seamlessly on it. Above all, the inventors recognised that the form element could be produced by injection moulding in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner. This, in turn, makes it possible at low cost to provide an inventive covering device for different batches and/or different models of a motor vehicle, since only the form element has to be replaced accordingly in each case, while the remaining components can be used unchanged as far as possible. The inventors have also recognised that the stability of the entire covering device can be significantly increased by providing a covering element to cover at least some areas of the form element. Depending on the shape of the covering device, the shape of the motor vehicle in the area of the covering device can also be modified as required.

The light emitted by the lighting device can pass through a first region of the covering device, and the properties of the light, such as intensity and colour in particular, can be very easily adjusted by means of a suitable design of this first region. The appearance of a surface spotlight can also be comfortably achieved, which further increases safety.

This specific design can already be achieved during the manufacture of the form element by appropriate consideration in the injection moulding process, as was surprisingly found out. In addition, as an alternative or in addition, the covering element can also be used to adjust the transmission properties in the first region, provided that the covering element completely or partially covers the first region. This means that even in the case of covering devices with the same shape element, a change in the light emitted from the covering device can only be achieved by varying the covering element. This is therefore particularly advantageous for individual adaptations of the covering device.

In particular, adjusting the translucency of the form element and/or covering element in the first region can be a particularly advantageous option here.

This makes it possible to set a maximum transmission of light through the first range.

In addition, the arrangement of a display medium within the first region, such as an emblem, is also very advantageously. The display medium in turn can influence the transmission properties of the light, for example by showing translucent and/or opaque areas. For example, the display can be used to inform other road users when necessary by activating the lighting in the corresponding first region.

The inventors recognized that more than one light source and/or more than one light guide can be used. Thus, several light sources can be assigned to several first regions, so that the lighting can be controlled individually. Or several light sources can be assigned to a single first region, for example to achieve color effects in the first region. Or a combination of both.

The lighting device, in particular in the form of a light-emitting diode, may be located directly or at least partially behind the first region. With the help of a light guide the lighting device can also be arranged spatially separate from the first region and light can be guided from there to the first region. This allows even greater scope for design, since a first region, i.e. light emission, is very easy to realise for electronic components even where space is limited locally, since the lighting device itself does not have to be arranged in the first region. In addition, several light guides make it possible, for example, to illuminate several first regions with a single light source, with the first regions having different transmission properties and thus meeting different lighting requirements.

By using a metallic coating, e.g. a chrome coating, as the covering element, the transmission properties of the light can be particularly advantageously adjusted. In addition, a uniform appearance of the covering element can also be achieved, so that other road users are not unnecessarily distracted. Thus, lighting devices such as LCD monitors can also be arranged behind the metallic coating, in particular in the form of a chrome strip with a chrome coating. Thus the display, like an emblem and/or logo, of the lighting device is only visible after its activation, when it then shines through the covering element.

Furthermore, it is particularly preferred if the covering element is manufactured using thin-film technology, e.g. a chromium coating that allows light to pass through the coating.

The inventors have identified light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or red-green-blue (RGB) LEDs, i.e. LEDs that emit coloured light, as the preferred lighting device. This means that a first region can be illuminated with a single light source in colour, or with a single light guide if necessary, which is particularly easy to implement and inexpensive to manufacture. In addition, organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) can also be used particularly advantageously, since they are already a surface emitter in their own right and thus bring with them very preferred properties for the invention's underlying idea of increasing safety.

Surprisingly, however, it was also found that, alternatively or in addition, the lighting device can also include at least one display device. This allows individual displays to be designed, for example, depending on the driver and/or on an ambient situation such as approaching vehicles.

In addition, the lighting device may also include at least one projection device capable of projecting a display on a surface such as the ground, thus enabling important messages to be displayed and thus increasing safety for all road users.

Alternatively or in addition, the illuminating device may advantageously include at least one illuminating device capable of illuminating a surface. For example, the area in front of the motor vehicle to increase safety for the passengers when entering the motor vehicle.

In particular, it is advantageous to be able to freely program the lighting device, in particular the display device, the projection device and/or the illumination device. Thus individual needs can be considered. In addition, where there is more than one lighting device, each lighting device may provide different information.

In the case of the lighting device, in particular display device, projection device and/or illuminating device, it is particularly surprising that they can be provided in a very simple manner with the covering device, for example by the form element forming a projection, which in turn forms a cavity within which the devices, but also the light source(s), are arranged.

The invention therefore also makes it possible to provide such lighting devices at basically any position on the outside of the vehicle by setting up a corresponding first region there.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention result from the following description, in which preferred forms of execution of the invention are explained by means of figures.

The examples shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> are however not part of the present invention.

<FIG> shows a schematic representation of a motor vehicle <NUM> according to the third aspect of the invention in a first form. This has an inventive covering device <NUM> according to the first aspect of the invention in a first execution form.

The covering device <NUM>, shown here as a one-piece covering device, comprises a form element <NUM> which can be produced by an injection moulding process and which reproduces the desired shape of the corresponding side section of the motor vehicle <NUM>. The form element <NUM> is covered with a covering element <NUM> in the form of a chrome coating. Covering element <NUM> covers or is arranged on the entire surface area of the form element <NUM> pointing outwards. In <FIG>, the corresponding area is highlighted hatched. This clearly shows that the covering device <NUM> extends laterally and longitudinally of the motor vehicle <NUM> as a roof trim <NUM> above the door area <NUM>, from a position <NUM> in the area of the A-pillar of the motor vehicle <NUM> continuously to a position <NUM> in the area of the C-pillar of the motor vehicle <NUM>. Likewise the covering device <NUM> could cover a door region <NUM> preferably from one pillar part to the other pillar part of the same door region <NUM> or as roof covering <NUM> at least one region of the roof <NUM> of the motor vehicle <NUM>, wherein the roof covering <NUM> could extend continuously from a position <NUM> in the region of an A-column of the motor vehicle <NUM> to at least one position <NUM> in the region of a C-column of the motor vehicle <NUM>.

The covering device <NUM> has a lighting device <NUM> (not shown in <FIG>) (see <FIG>) for emitting light, which is covered by the form element <NUM> or the covering element <NUM> in plan view from the outside. A part of the light emitted by the lighting device may pass out through the moulding <NUM> and the covering element <NUM> in at least a first region <NUM> of the covering device <NUM> located in the area of the C-pillar of the motor vehicle <NUM>. In the first region, <NUM>, the forming element <NUM> and the covering element <NUM> have a passage opening <NUM>. In the first region <NUM> and within the passage opening <NUM>, a display means <NUM> in the form of an emblem is arranged which is enclosed by the covering device <NUM>. The display means <NUM> is designed to be translucent in some areas and can therefore be illuminated from behind by light from the lighting device <NUM>, which emerges visibly outwards at the translucent points.

The motor vehicle <NUM> also has a further covering device <NUM> in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, in a second design which extends transversely and in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle <NUM>, namely a spoiler <NUM>, which extends continuously from a position <NUM> in the region of the C-pillar on one side of the motor vehicle <NUM> to the same position on the other side of the motor vehicle <NUM>. The spoiler <NUM> in other versions could not be arranged above the rear window <NUM>, but at the rear of the vehicle <NUM>.

In another design form not shown in <FIG>, in a first region <NUM> of the covering device <NUM>, the light from a lighting device <NUM> surrounded by the covering device <NUM> can exit in a first region <NUM> of the covering device <NUM>, which is translucent both in the form element <NUM> and in the covering element <NUM>, and thus produce a flat luminous impression.

<FIG> shows a schematic representation of a motor vehicle <NUM> in accordance with the invention according to the third aspect of the invention a further design. The elements and operation of the invention multi-part covering device <NUM>' correspond as far as possible to the elements and operation modes shown in <FIG>, where the individual parts of the multi-part covering device <NUM>' are arranged on the two doors <NUM> as movable areas of motor vehicle <NUM> against each other. So that both doors can be opened further separately, the part of the <NUM>' covering device on the front door <NUM> is designed separately to the other part on the rear door <NUM>. There is no covering device on roof <NUM>. Of course the forms of <FIG> can be combined with each other.

As can be seen from <FIG>, the design of the covering device <NUM>' differs from that of the covering device <NUM> in <FIG> in terms of its physical shape. For example, the covering device <NUM>' does not run laterally above but below the windows of motor vehicle <NUM> as a door shaft strip <NUM>. The position of the display means <NUM> also differs. This underlines the high design freedom, which is made possible by the inventive covering devices <NUM>, <NUM>'.

<FIG> shows a schematic representation of a motor vehicle <NUM> according to the invention in another design form. This has a multi-part covering device <NUM>', the elements and functions of which correspond as closely as possible to the designs in <FIG>.

For reasons of clarity, neither the form element <NUM> nor the covering element <NUM> of the covering device <NUM>' is shown in detail in <FIG>. The seven lighting devices <NUM> can be identified for this purpose. Each of the lighting devices <NUM> is distributed over various positions behind the form element <NUM> and the covering element <NUM>. The form element <NUM> and the covering element <NUM> are both translucent in this area. This achieves a wide-area lighting effect along the entire side surface of vehicle <NUM>. In addition, light guides (not explicitly shown in <FIG>) are used which are included in the <NUM>' covering device. These also direct the light from the individual lighting devices <NUM> to other points within the respective first region, making the lighting effect more uniform. Lighting device <NUM> shall preferably include light-emitting diodes. Another lighting device, which is not visible in <FIG>, is located behind the display means <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a schematic cross-sectional representation in a further version of a covering device <NUM>, <NUM>'.

In the lateral section, the cross-section passes through position <NUM> of the covering device <NUM>, <NUM>' in the area of the C-pillar. As can be seen from <FIG>, the covering device <NUM>, <NUM>' has two lighting devices <NUM>. Namely, on the one hand, a light-emitting diode as a display device <NUM>, the light of which passes through the form element <NUM> and the covering element <NUM> in a first translucent region <NUM> in the direction of the radiation of the light emission <NUM>. And on the other hand a projection device <NUM>, the light of which in the direction of radiation <NUM> passes through another first region <NUM> through a passage opening in the form element <NUM> and in the covering element <NUM> through the same. On a surface <NUM> of the ground below the covering device <NUM>, <NUM>', a logo <NUM> is projected onto the ground <NUM> by the projection device <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a schematic representation of a design of the covering device <NUM>, <NUM>' in a lateral section, from which the layers of form element <NUM> and covering element <NUM> emerge particularly clearly. In this case, the form element <NUM> forms a cavity on the outside of the motor vehicle <NUM> in which the lighting device <NUM> is accommodated. The covering element <NUM> is arranged on the outside 5a of the form element (<NUM>) to cover it to the outside. A display means <NUM>, preferably at least one emblem, is arranged on the inside 5i of the form element. Here the display means <NUM> is designed at least in regions and/or at least partially translucent, in particular transparent, and is arranged in the first region <NUM>, through which at least part of the light emitted by the lighting device <NUM> can pass outwards through the form element <NUM> and/or the covering element <NUM>. The lighting device <NUM> is here connected via the display means <NUM> to the inside 5i of the form element <NUM> with the first region <NUM> covering the lighting device <NUM>. In this design, the lighting device <NUM> can be a flat arrangement of several LEDs or a flat OLED. The covering element <NUM> comprises here at least one metallic coating which is preferably produced and/or producible by means of thin-film technology. The metallic coating can include a chromium-containing layer, preferably a chromium alloy or a doped chromium layer. The covering element <NUM> covers the display means <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an invented covering device in a lateral cut. In contrast to <FIG>, here the lighting device <NUM> is not arranged on the display <NUM>. Here the covering device <NUM>, <NUM>' further comprises a light guide <NUM> which distributes the light emitted by the lighting device <NUM> to the first region <NUM> by extending from the lighting device <NUM> to the display means <NUM>. The illumination device <NUM> is designed as an LED or as a linear chain of LEDS. In other designs, the covering device <NUM>, <NUM>' could also comprise a plurality of light guides <NUM> and a plurality of first regions (<NUM>), wherein at least a first one of the light guides <NUM> distributes light to at least one of the first regions <NUM> and at least a second one of the light guides <NUM> distributes light to at least another first region <NUM>. For the remaining components, please refer to the description in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a light module control system <NUM> in form of a dashboard <NUM> of a motor vehicle <NUM>. Three dynamic displays <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> have each an illuminated graduate scale <NUM> to display a dynamic input <NUM> from the vehicle system <NUM>, which has been converted to a converted signal <NUM>' for the graduate scale <NUM> by a control module <NUM>. The dynamic displays <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are shown in dotted lines, since depending on the operation mode of the motor vehicle <NUM> activated or stopped or of the operation mode of the display itself being activated or stopped, the dynamic displays <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> appear through the metallic coating of the dashboard <NUM> or not by using a light array behind the dashboard <NUM>. The dynamic displays with the corresponding graduate scale <NUM> are an r. counter <NUM>, a speedometer <NUM> and a fuel display means <NUM>. Instead of a fuel display means, a battery charge display means could be used. To indicate the value of the graduated scale <NUM>, a hand <NUM> can be displayed together with the graduated scale <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a charging port <NUM> of a car surrounded by a ring <NUM> which is multicolor to show the charge status at the place whre a charger (not shown) is connected to the car. The color oft he ring can change from red - empty to green - full or the ring <NUM> can have segments <NUM> which are switched on one after the other depending on the charging status of the battery.

<FIG>shows a dynamic display <NUM> of a separate r. counter with a bezel <NUM> surrounding an inner dispaly area <NUM>, all being covered with a metallic coating. A graduated scale <NUM> shows the information, when the dynamic display is activated and illuminated by an inner light source <NUM>. Without illumination, the display <NUM> would appear as a metallic surface <NUM> only.

<FIG> shows a g-force display means as an elongated dynamic display <NUM> with a graduated scale <NUM> and a logo <NUM> appearing through the metallic coating when activated and illuminated from the backside. Such a g-force display means could be placed in the field of view of the passenger to indicate the g-force during acceleration or braking of the car as well as side accelerations in driving around bends. This display could be activated if a special mode of operation is selected, for example a sport mode. This kind of display could also be used to indicate other dynamic inputs such as a r.

<FIG> shows the inner side of a left front door <NUM> with a window <NUM>. The covering device is a veneer <NUM> surrounding at least partially the window <NUM> and being placed in the direction of view of an exterior mirror (not shown). The veneer <NUM> is covered with a metallic coating and has a hidden til lit function with functional images that appear if and when required, p. a vehicle blind spot symbol (not shown).

<FIG> shows a dynamic display <NUM> in form of a speedometer with a surround <NUM> with a metallic appearence around a graduated scale <NUM>. The surround <NUM> is illuminated corresponding to a value of another graduated scale not shown, p. counter and can change color if a shift needs to occur. The illumination of the surround <NUM> is independent oft the value on the graduaded scale <NUM>, indicated by the hand <NUM> or <NUM>' in a different situation.

Claim 1:
A covering device (<NUM>) for arranging on at least one outer portion of a motor vehicle (<NUM>), comprising:
• at least one form element (<NUM>) which is produced by injection moulding and has an inner side (5i) to be oriented towards the motor vehicle and an outer side (5a) to be oriented away from the motor vehicle (<NUM>) to a space outside the vehicle
• at least one covering element (<NUM>) which is arranged at least in regions on the outer side (5a) of the form element (<NUM>) for covering the form element (<NUM>) to the outside at least in regions;
• one or more lighting devices (<NUM>), wherein the lighting device (<NUM>) is connected at least to the inner side (5i) and the form element (<NUM>) covers the lighting device (<NUM>);
• at least part of the light emitted by the lighting device (<NUM>) being able to pass through the form element (<NUM>) and the covering element (<NUM>) to the space inside the vehicle or to a space outside the vehicle in at least a first region (<NUM>) of the covering device (<NUM>), the form element (<NUM>) and the covering element (<NUM>) being both translucent at least in the first region (<NUM>), wherein the covering device (<NUM>) is to be arranged on the one outer portion of the motor vehicle (<NUM>) and further comprises at least one display means (<NUM>) in form of at least one emblem, wherein
• the covering element (<NUM>) comprises at least one metallic coating,
• the form element (<NUM>) forms a cavity to be arranged on the outside of the motor vehicle (<NUM>) in which the lighting device (<NUM>) is accommodated,
• the display means (<NUM>) in the form of the emblem is arranged on the inner side (5i) of the form element (<NUM>), and the display means (<NUM>) is designed at least regionally and/or at least partially translucent, in particular transparent, and is arranged at least partially in the first region (<NUM>), through which at least part of the light emitted by the lighting device (<NUM>) can pass outwards through the form element (<NUM>) and the covering element (<NUM>), and
∘ the covering device (<NUM>) further comprises at least one light guide (<NUM>) for distributing at least part of the light emitted by the lighting device (<NUM>) at least to the first region (<NUM>).