DE20113674U1 - Plastic injection molding, in particular a lock housing made of injection molded plastic with electrical conductor tracks - Google Patents

Description

H Cl BNER GmbH
Agathofstr. 1 5
34123 Kassel, Germany

Representatives: Patent attorneys

Walther · Walther & Hinz
Heimradstr. 2
34130 Kassel, Germany

PLASTIC INJECTION MOLDED PART, ESPECIALLY LOCK HOUSINGS MADE OF INJECTION MOLDED PLASTIC WITH ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS

In recent times, so-called electronic locks have become known, particularly in vehicles, whereby the actual lock housing already has conductor tracks in order to electrically open or close the lock arranged in the lock housing.

According to the state of the art, it is also known to directly overmold the conductor tracks arranged in the lock housing during the molding process of the housing. The housing has contacts that protrude through the housing to supply energy to these conductor tracks.

It is also known to apply conductor tracks to plastic housings using so-called electroplating technology.

However, both known methods have certain disadvantages. In the first method, in which the conductor tracks are overmolded during the injection molding process, the conductor track itself is hermetically sealed so that no immediate damage to the conductor track can occur, but it is also no longer possible to check whether the conductor track is in good condition after overmolding. The electroplating technique for applying conductor tracks to plastics is relatively expensive, which is why it has not become widely used.

The object of the invention is to apply electrical conductor tracks to the plastic injection molded part, e.g. the plastic housing of a lock, by means of what is known as hot stamping. During the hot stamping process, the conductor tracks are applied to the housing in a similar way to an adhesive. The underside of the film forming the conductor track is coated with a material that enables the metallic film to be hot stamped onto the housing.

An advantage over the prior art, according to which the conductor tracks are overmolded, is that in the method according to the invention the conductor tracks are virtually open and are thus directly accessible from the outside for corresponding spring-loaded contact pins. Preferably such a conductor track is located on the inside of the housing curvature of such a plastic injection-molded part, e.g. a lock housing; however, it is also conceivable to arrange the conductor tracks on the "outside of the housing".

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing.

Fig. 1 shows a housing of a plastic injection molded part in a view

from above;
Fig. 2 shows a section along the line ll/ll of Figure 1.

The plastic injection molded part, designated T, designed as a housing shows the conductor tracks 10, which are applied by hot stamping to the inside 5 of the housing curvature. The conductor tracks are usually made of nickel foil, which has a special coating on its underside, which makes the connection to the plastic of the

&iacgr;&ogr; housing by means of hot stamping.

Claims (4)

1. Plastic injection-molded part, in particular a lock housing made of injection-molded plastic with electrical conductor tracks, characterized in that the plastic injection-molded part has conductor tracks applied by hot stamping. 2. Plastic injection molded part according to claim 1, characterized in that the conductor tracks are arranged on the outside, but preferably on the inside of the housing curvature. 3. Plastic injection molded part according to claim 1, characterized in that the plastic injection molded part has contacts for contacting the conductor tracks. 4. Plastic injection molded part according to claim 3, characterized in that the contacts are spring-loaded pins.