Patent ID: 8491827

Claim:
A method for producing a flexible, three-dimensional coating structure for a flexible switch or flexible user interface, said coating structure having front side surface curvature with formed-on keys and a rear side impression, the method comprising: thermoforming a first decorative transparent film onto a compression moulding counterpunch; introducing an uncured, transparent casting compound into the cavity of a compression mould, said cavity having a curved surface with deep impressions forming negatives of key-shaped indentations; compression moulding said casting compound by introducing the counterpunch and thermoformed film to penetrate at least partially into the mound cavity so that the casting compound conforms to said curved surface between the counterpunch and mould cavity while filling and overflowing said key-shaped indentations; and irradiating UV radiation energy into the compression moulded casting compound to cure the casting compound onto said film, thus forming a substantially self-supporting, flexible, transparent surface layer having said front side surface curvature and rear side impression, wherein the counterpunch and/or compression mould are substantially permeable to the irradiated UV radiation, and wherein the UV radiation is irradiated through the counterpunch and/or compression mould.