AUTOMOTIVE INTERIOR STRUCTURE WITH INTEGRATED FIBER OPTIC CABLE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME

摘要

The present invention relates to an automotive interior structure (12) comprising a foam layer (14), a skin layer (16) integrally formed with the foam layer (14), and a fiber optic light cable (18) having a portion embedded in the skin layer (16). A method of the invention comprises the steps of forming at least one aperture (26) in one side of a fiber optic light cable (18) and placing the fiber optic light cable (18) on a bottom surface of a first die (34) of a mold tool cavity. Next, spraying the mold tool cavity to form a skin layer (16) with the aperture (26) of the fiber optic light cable (18) being exposed. Then, curing the skin layer (16), thereby embedding a portion of the fiber optic light cable (18) in the skin layer (16).