Interior Trim Panel On Door Patents (Class 296/146.7)
  • Patent number: 10112516
    Abstract: An armrest assembly for a vehicle includes a displaceable armrest element and a linkage assembly. The linkage assembly is configured for translating the displaceable armrest element between a deployed configuration and a folded configuration. The linkage assembly includes a spring-actuated pivoting over-center link configured to disengage the linkage assembly to allow the displaceable armrest element to rotate. An actuator is provided which on sensing an impact ruptures a frangible fastener holding the over-center link in a substantially parallel orientation to at least one drive link, thereby allowing the spring-actuated over-center linkage to pivot relative to the at least one drive link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Srinivasan Sundararajan, Kevin Michael Pline, Derek Board, Rick Anderson, Ronald Anthony Bozio, David John McCarthy
  • Patent number: 10086778
    Abstract: The present invention, in one or more embodiments, provides a cover assembly to detachably contact an interior trim. The cover assembly includes a cover, having along a longitudinal direction, head and tail portions and a middle portion positioned there-between. The middle portion has, along the longitudinal direction, first and second middle portions and a bridge portion positioned there-between. The first middle portion has an elevation along a transverse direction over the second middle portion via the bridge portion, where the cover is to disengage the interior trim when a pre-determined force is exerted onto the bridge portion in an exertion direction from the second middle portion toward the first middle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tom Xu, Damon Fu
  • Patent number: 10059176
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a trim panel assembly of a vehicle. The trim panel assembly includes a first member having a first surface and a second surface, and including a first assembling area, a first groove positioned on the first surface along a peripheral of the first assembling area, and a plurality of first through-holes positioned in the first groove and spaced apart from each other; and a second member including a first main body corresponding to the first assembling area, and a plurality of leg portions extending from the first main body. The plurality of the first leg portions correspond to the plurality of the first through-holes, respectively, and the plurality of the first leg portions pass through corresponding a plurality of the first through-holes, extend onto and connect to the second surface of the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xuezhi Jin, Yalin Zhang, Wei Xu, Kevin Shen
  • Patent number: 10053027
    Abstract: A composite applique assembly for a vehicle interior trim piece includes a flexible receiver element and a flexible insert connected to the flexible receiver element by a sliding joint. An end of the flexible receiver element is fixedly connected to a vehicle door element. An end of the flexible insert opposite to the flexible receiver element end is fixedly connected to a vehicle door element. The flexible receiver element defines an internal channel configured for slidingly receiving the flexible insert therein. The flexible receiver element further defines at least a partial-length slot providing fluid communication with the internal channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Nitesh Chandrakant Jadhav, Bill Moore Sherwood, Mirza Safder Ali Baig, Bhavani Thota, Linh Doan, Tyler Glenn
  • Patent number: 9950595
    Abstract: A door for a motor vehicle that includes at least one thermoformed panel part, a supporting structure to support the panel part, and a holder fastened to the panel part. The holder is to engage in a shaped portion of the supporting structure or in a support element fastened to the supporting structure, so that the panel part may slide on the shaped portion and/or the support element in a direction perpendicular to the direction of engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: MAGNA STEYR Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KG
    Inventors: Bernhard Hofer, Wolfgang Passegger
  • Patent number: 9950660
    Abstract: A lighting device for use in vehicles includes a light generating part having a substrate and a light source disposed on the substrate; a base including a light emitting part having a light emitting surface for emitting light from the light source, and a reverse surface on a backside of the light emitting surface, and a connector housing part disposed on the reverse surface and housing a connector electrically connected to the light source; and a case assembled with the base and housing the light generating part and the connector housing part. The base including the light emitting part and the connector housing part is an integral molding and constituted by a light transmitting member containing a light diffusing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Kamiya, Tadaoki Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9950593
    Abstract: A door structure of a vehicle, capable of reliably transmitting a load, is provided. A rear side door (1) includes an inner panel (2) and an elongated door beam (4) that is attached to an outer side of the inner panel (2) in a vehicle width direction of a vehicle body and arranged along a front-rear direction of the vehicle body. The door beam (4) includes a first plate portion (11) of a first bracket (10), which has a first surface intersecting an axis along the vehicle width direction, and a vehicle width direction plate portion (21) of a second bracket (20), which has a second surface intersecting an axis along the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. The door beam (4) is joined to the inner panel (2) via both the first plate portion (11) and a second plate portion (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Takagai, Atsushi Noto, Osamu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9896874
    Abstract: A lifting and lowering apparatus includes a support plate, a carrier for lifting and lowering a window glass and a drive mechanism for moving the carrier. The drive mechanism includes a cable, a drum, a pulley and a bracket for mounting the pulley to the support plate. The support plate is provided with first and second fixing portions. The first fixing portion is arranged at an outer side of the cable and the second fixing portion is arranged at an inner side of the cable. The bracket includes first and second mounting portions provided for the first and second fixing portions respectively. The first mounting portion includes a first extension portion making contact with an outer surface of the first fixing portion and the second mounting portion includes a second arm portion making contact with an inner surface of the second fixing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsumi Chono, Shigeyuki Suzuki, Hidefumi Katayama, Hirokazu Suzumura, Takayuki Ueno
  • Patent number: 9868406
    Abstract: A one-piece interior trim panel for a motor vehicle and method of manufacture is disclosed which includes a trim section configured to face the vehicle interior and a handle section that is arranged on the trim section such that a handle cavity is formed in the interior trim panel. The handle section features a recess that points in the vertical direction and through which a person can reach behind the rear side of a segment of the trim section. The present disclosure furthermore concerns a method for manufacturing such an interior trim panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Horst, Michael Silz
  • Patent number: 9834072
    Abstract: A liftgate assembly for a vehicle includes an outer panel and an inner panel. The outer panel is adapted for mounting to a rear portion of a vehicle and includes first and second lower corner regions. The inner panel is mounted to the outer panel such that the outer panel and inner panel define an opening for a rear window. The inner panel includes a first reinforcement rib diagonally extending from the first lower corner region to a Z/Y center adjacent the opening and a second reinforcement rib extending from the second lower corner region to the Z/Y center. The reinforcement ribs are arranged with the outer panel to define an A-shape or inverted V-shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Raul Ezequiel Alvarez Ruiz, Liliana Alonso Vazquez
  • Patent number: 9725053
    Abstract: There is employed an arm power supply device in which a first arm is rotatably and axially supported to a base member having one harness fixing portion, a second arm having the other harness fixing portion is rotatably and axially supported on a rotation tip side of the first arm, the first arm includes an enclosure portion forming a slit through which a wire harness is inserted, and the wire harness passes from the base member to the slit and is wired over the second arm. The enclosure portion includes an inclined wall to guide the wire harness derived in a bent shape from the second arm to be in contact with the inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyasu Terada, Tsukasa Sekino, Hiroshi Yamashita, Daisuke Okamoto
  • Patent number: 9649916
    Abstract: A door trim panel assembly includes a door trim panel and an armrest supported by the door trim panel. The armrest includes a top portion and a bottom portion each extending from the door trim panel, and a middle portion extending from the top portion to the bottom portion. The bottom portion has a wall thickness greater than a wall thickness of the top portion and greater than a wall thickness of the middle portion. The wall thickness of the top portion is less than the wall thickness of the middle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Muhsin M. Hamdoon, Marwan Ahmad Elbkaily, Linh Doan, Jonathan Clarke, Robert Bartus, Stephen Dreher
  • Patent number: 9555747
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an internal trim part for a vehicle, comprising at least two layers. A decorative skin (1) forms an upper layer and has a depression (3), in which a decorative element (8) is arranged. The decorative element (8) is connected to the decorative skin (1) by means of a bonded connection, such as a weld seam, in particular an ultrasonic weld seam (16). The invention further relates to a method for producing an internal trim part and to a device for performing said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Faurecia Innenraum Systeme GmbH
    Inventors: Maxime Musy, Andreas Meyer, Martin Schulz
  • Patent number: 9469058
    Abstract: A seat structure (1) and a method for the production thereof (1) are provided. A preliminary injected molded article (6) is injected-molded into an injection mold and is subsequently provided with fiber layers in the same injection mold, the layers are filled, at the end, with reactive components. The reactive components are mixed in a mixing chamber directly before injection into the injection mold to form a reactive matrix. The injection takes place prior the reaction of the reactive matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Axel Koever, Gerhard Bäck
  • Patent number: 9415708
    Abstract: An energy absorber 10 that has a spine 12 which has a relaxed configuration and a deployment configuration. In the deployment configuration, the spine 12 lies proximate to a substrate 14 to protect the substrate 14 from an impacting object 16. Preferably, the spine 12 is bendable to conform to the substrate 14. The spine includes a number (N) of energy absorbing modules 18, 20, 22, 24, . . ., where 1<=N<=1000. At least some of the modules have a number (L) of mutually supporting energy absorbing vertebral members 30, where 1<=L<=100. Each vertebral member 30 includes a number (U) of coalesced energy absorbing units 32, 34, were 2<=U<=10. At least some of the energy absorbing units 32, 34 have a base 36 that preferably but not necessarily is oriented toward the impacting object 16.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: OAKWOOD ENERGY MANAGEMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Joel M. Cormier, Richard F. Audi, Donald S. Smith
  • Patent number: 9328891
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp unit includes a lamp housing configured to be mounted to a vehicle, a bezel member, a light pipe structure and a fastener. The bezel member has a front side facing away from the lamp housing, a back side facing the lamp housing, and a cover trim portion extending from the front side. The light pipe structure has at least one pipe portion disposed on the front side of the bezel member and a mounting flange disposed underneath the cover trim portion. The fastener extends through a first opening of the mounting flange of the light pipe structure and a second opening of the bezel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Karen Dernar, Kyle Happy, Christopher Prisby
  • Patent number: 9221325
    Abstract: A side door structure for a vehicle, the side door structure includes a door sash; a door panel; and a door checker which is spaced just below the door sash. A door checker is mounted on a door inner panel having a recess which is depressed inward the side door. The bottom surface of the recess has a central portion formed at the deepest position in a central height area, and an upper inclined portion inclined upward from the central portion to an upper end edge of the recess. The upper end edge of the upper inclined portion is formed such that the outer end thereof in a vehicle width direction is a top portion. The top portion is located inwardly of an extension line of the laterally inward end of the door sash, and is located inwardly of a lower end of the door sash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sotaro Hashiguchi
  • Patent number: 9180758
    Abstract: A film is provided for separating a wet area from a dry area of a door box of a vehicle door in a motor vehicle. The film for passing-through an actuator includes, but is not limited to an opening, which is formed in a pocket-like stamping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Wolfgang Klein
  • Patent number: 9097040
    Abstract: A door handle for the inside of a motor vehicle door includes a mounting region and a gripping region. The handle is formed as a basic body which is substantially U-shaped with two leg portions connected by a base member. The gripping region is formed on a first leg portion and the mounting region is formed on the second leg portion of the basic body. The first and second leg portions point in substantially the same direction so that door opening and closing forces applied to the gripping region substantially avoid creating torque at the mounting region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stefan Toennies, Frank Speer
  • Patent number: 9022454
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing trim panels of motor vehicles with lined visible surfaces made of real leather, imitation leather and/or fabric. The invention also relates to the thus obtained trim panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Dirk Dyckerhoff, Franz Hipp, Heiko Herzog, Horst Niefenecker
  • Patent number: 9022448
    Abstract: An inner lining part for the interior of a motor vehicle, wherein the inner lining part has a carrier part, which comprises a curvature section, with a curvature running along a longitudinal direction of the carrier part. The curvature section includes a carrier part groove running in the longitudinal direction. A decorative layer overlies a first surface of the carrier part and forms a visible face of the inner lining part. The decorative layer covers the carrier part groove, thereby forming a decorative layer groove on the visible face of the inner lining part. Recesses in one or more portions of the carrier part at the carrier part groove receive folds or thickenings of the decorative layer to thereby permit the visible face of the decorative layer at the decorative layer groove to match the curvature of the curvature section at carrier side regions located adjacent the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Faurecia Innenraum Systeme GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Sandmeyer, Harald Peter
  • Publication number: 20150115648
    Abstract: A sliding-door power feeding structure is provided which achieves minimized manufacturing costs, small size, and light weight. The sliding-door power feeding structure includes a second end retainer provided between a door panel and a door trim and configured to retain a second end of an electric wire, the second end retainer including a base fixed to one of the door panel and the door trim, a turnable arm turnably supported on the base and having an end configured to retain the electric wire, and biasing part for biasing the turnable arm in a direction to absorb a surplus length of the electric wire, wherein the door trim has a lower edge including an electric wire guiding portion, the electric wire guiding portion including a first bend bent to the outboard side and a second bend bent at an end of the first bend downward and to the inboard side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Tomoyasu Terada, Tsukasa Sekino, Hiroshi Yamashita, Daisuke Okamoto
  • Patent number: 9010840
    Abstract: An exterior module of a motor vehicle has an exterior panelling for a modularly constructed housing component. The exterior module has a multilayer construction, which includes an inner surface layer and an outer surface layer with an exterior skin arranged thereon, which forms the exterior panelling. At least the inner surface layer is a thermoplastic FRP surface layer having stiffening elements on the side facing away from the outer surface layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Wojciech Brymerski, Michael Fuetterer, Eckhard Reese
  • Patent number: 9010841
    Abstract: A door assembly for an automotive vehicle. The door assembly includes a vehicle door frame and an upper trim panel mounted to the vehicle door frame. The upper trim panel having an upper surface where the upper surface is angled down towards the exterior of the vehicle. The door assembly further including a sub-assembly having a first trim panel and a second trim panel. The first trim panel is mounted to the vehicle door frame behind the upper trim panel. A bracket on the first trim panel adapted to accept the second trim panel. A first surface of the first trim panel and a second surface of the second trim panel rest within the same plane to create a flush surface to give the same or a similar appearance of a one piece trim panel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad A. Kwolek, Charles P. Patterson
  • Publication number: 20150097391
    Abstract: A vehicle slide door for covering an opening in a vehicle body includes a door trim panel having a slot extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. A linkage arm operably connects the vehicle door to the vehicle body. The linkage arm slides within the slot of the door trim panel as the vehicle door is moved between a closed position and an opened position. A garnish panel is separate from the door trim panel and is engaged with the linkage arm. The garnish panel at least partially covers a section of the slot of the door trim panel in the closed position of the vehicle door. The garnish panel has a portion movable relative to the door trim panel in a lateral direction of the vehicle body due to an obstruction between the door trim panel and the garnish panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Steven R. Thiele
  • Patent number: 8998298
    Abstract: An energy absorber includes a base sheet and a plurality of recovering crush lobes extending from the base sheet. The crush lobes protect an adjacent object by cushioning the blow following repeated impacts in both vehicular and non-vehicular (e.g. helmets) environments. Each crush lobe includes a side wall that is oriented to buckle or bend and then spring back after absorbing energy when impacted. At least one of the base sheet and an end wall of at least one crush lobe optionally includes a number (X) of integrally-formed protruding countermeasures where 0<=X<1000 of lower standing strength than the crush lobes. Methods related to the above are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Oakwood Energy Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew M. Gerwolls, Michael A. Rossi, Dane Winbigler, Donald S Smith, Joel M. Cormier, Richard F. Audi
  • Patent number: 8985674
    Abstract: A door trim for a vehicle includes a front trim, a rear trim, and at least one trim component. The front trim is to be arranged closer to the front of the vehicle. The rear trim is to be arranged closer to a rear of the vehicle. The at least one trim component is mounted to the front trim and the rear trim so as to extend from the front trim to the rear trim across a boundary between the front trim and the rear trim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiya Tanizawa
  • Patent number: 8979169
    Abstract: A device (20) for fastening a vehicle inner lining (14) to a lining support (12) includes a holding element (22) and a receiving element (24). The receiving element (24) has a latching portion (26) that is laterally open and into which the holding element (22) can engage such that it is fastened to the receiving element (24) in the axial direction. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a method of mounting and demounting the vehicle inner lining (14) to or from the lining support (12) by means of this device (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Marx, Martin Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8960774
    Abstract: An impact absorbing body for attachment to a door trim is capable of bearing a collision load from an exterior panel at the time of a side collision. The impact absorbing body has a top face portion with linear edge portions and sidewall portions extending from the linear edge portions toward the door trim to provide a hollow box. The impact absorbing body also includes base portions connected to edge portions of the sidewall portions. The base portions are open toward the door trim and are attached to the door trim. The impact absorbing body also includes slits between adjacent sidewall portions, and the sidewall portions have outwardly slanted portions. In addition, rib members extend from the top face portion toward the base portion, toward the inside of the hollow box, and connect the adjacent sidewall portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nilesh Ishwardas Sakhare, Toru Ishizaki, Yoshiyuki Arai
  • Publication number: 20150048647
    Abstract: A door lining serving as an interior material comprises a door center portion. The door center portion is provided with: a door center base material; a door center pad supported by the door center base material and configured to be elastically deformable; a door center surface skin material covering the door center pad; and a sewed portion formed by sewing the door center pad and the door center surface skin material together by a sewing thread. In the door center pad, a thick section and a thin section are formed, and the sewed portion is provided in the thin section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kurosaki, Kenichi Arai
  • Patent number: 8944488
    Abstract: A vehicle door arrangement includes a trim panel, a structural element and a second trim panel. A connection between the first trim panel and the second trim panel comprises a sealing element. The first trim panel comprises an attachment element which extends along the sealing element and interacts with the sealing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Alexander Schidan, Hans-Helmut Mieglitz
  • Patent number: 8925988
    Abstract: A connecting device of a door trim and a pull handle for a vehicle includes a sliding back prevention boss which protrudes from the door trim of the vehicle and a supporting boss which protrudes from the pull handle mounted on the door trim and inserted into the sliding back prevention boss. As such, a phenomenon in which sharp edges are generated due to a broadside collision of a vehicle may be prevented and collision energy due to the collision may be decreased, thereby making it possible to improve salability and safety for a passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jong Ho Lee, Jae Ho Choi
  • Patent number: 8895135
    Abstract: A main body member, a first member, and a second member are joined together to form a laminate. A first edge of a first peripheral portion of the first member and a second edge of a second peripheral portion of second member are welded to each other along a parting line. A height position of the parting line in a thickness direction of the laminate is different between first and second portions defined in a peripheral direction of the laminate. Each of a first curvature radius of a curved shape of the first peripheral portion and a second curvature radius of a curved shape of the second peripheral portion is different between the first and second portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Meiwa Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Nonaka
  • Patent number: 8893437
    Abstract: A window lifter is provided. The window lifter having: first and second guide rails; first and second sliders for driving a window, the first and second sliders being guided in translation by the first guide rail and the second guide rail, respectively; a cable system for driving the sliders along the first and second guide rails, the cable system comprising a cable extending between the first and second guide rails for connecting to corresponding ends of the first and second guide rails, respectively, the first guide rail comprising a holder for fastening the cable between the two corresponding ends of the first and second guide rails that the cable connects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Inteva Products France SAS
    Inventors: Nicolas Galliot, Michael Fever, Eric Simonneau, Stephane Hemond
  • Patent number: 8889246
    Abstract: A plastic-molded trim panel component has a substrate having a Class A contoured surface for facing a vehicle interior and a Class B rear surface defining a maximum sheet thickness. The substrate has a plurality of mounting extensions extending from the Class B rear surface in a die-draw direction. A flexible skin is wrapped over the Class A surface and bonded to the Class B surface. The Class A surface includes a flange surface having an outer-pointing normal extending less than 90° from the die-draw direction. The flange surface has an edge-to-edge width greater than the maximum sheet thickness. The substrate includes a plurality of ribs substantially aligned with the die-draw direction having rib edges defining at least one mouth opening, wherein the rib edges and mouth opening conform to the flange surface. The flexible skin is suspended over the mouth opening and against the rib edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Dennis M. Surdu
  • Patent number: 8876188
    Abstract: A seal is installed to a seal supporting surface of a vehicle pillar structure. A door assembly has an inner panel and a window sash section with an attachment area at an intersection between the inner panel and the window sash section. A trim panel has a main body covering at least a portion of an inboard surface of the inner panel and a flange that extends along an upright edge of the main body. The flange has an upper end covering the attachment area and a lower end of the window sash section. The window sash section and the flange define a sealing surface extending from an upper end of the door assembly to a lower end of the door assembly. The seal contacts the sealing surface with the door assembly in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Yimin She, Gerald Faber, Patrick Grondin, Adam Tacey
  • Patent number: 8865290
    Abstract: A fastening clip assembly configured to securely fasten to a mounting stud of a panel includes a main clip and a tapered member, such as a tapered locking pin. The main clip may include a central column defining a central passage. The central column may include a ledge. The tapered locking pin integrally connects to the central column through at least one flash joint integrally connected to the main clip proximate the ledge. The said tapered locking pin is configured to move into the central passage in order to securely fasten the assembly to the mounting stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Anatoly Gosis, Yury Shkolnikov, James T. Kirchen
  • Patent number: 8863367
    Abstract: A vehicle trim panel assembly is provided having a beverage retainer formed in a storage compartment on the door of an automotive vehicle. The trim panel assembly includes a storage receptacle and a trim panel arranged to define at least a portion of the storage receptacle. The trim panel includes a base portion connected to a beverage retainer portion via a living hinge. The beverage retainer portion is pivoted about the living hinge into position within the storage receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kim Langenbacher, Steve Dreher, Scott H. Dunham, Ammad Bhatti
  • Publication number: 20140306481
    Abstract: A door trim includes an ornament and a trim board. The ornament includes a decoration main body having ornament fitting portions at its peripheral edge portion, and an ornament insertion portion. The trim board includes a trim main body, a receiving portion, and an extending portion. The trim main body has an opening to which the decoration main body is fitted and an opening edge portion on which the fitting portions are located. The receiving portion receives the ornament insertion portion so as to be exposed on a side of the outer peripheral portion of the trim main body. The extending portion extends from the receiving portion to a space in the opening. The extending portion includes a mount seat to which a stopper member is mounted, and the door trim is mounted to a door panel via the stopper member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto HINOKIO, Bongkee KIM
  • Publication number: 20140300133
    Abstract: A vehicle interior part includes a main wall portion, a flange portion, a clip mount base, a protrusion, and a sealing member. The clip mount base includes a projecting wall and a base. The projecting wall projects from an opposed surface of the flange portion away from a distal end of the flange portion. The base projects from a distal end of the projecting wall. The protrusion protrudes from the opposed surface between the projecting wall and the distal end of the flange portion and has a first height on a first side closer to the distal end of the flange portion and a second height on a second side closer to the clip mount base. The first height is greater than the second height. The sealing member is disposed on the opposed surface between the protrusion and the distal end of the flange portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto HINOKIO, Bongkee KIM
  • Publication number: 20140284962
    Abstract: A vehicle panel attachment arrangement includes a vehicle panel, a clip supporting section, a first wall section, a second wall section and at least one resilient arm. The clip supporting section defines a shaft receiving hole extending therethrough. The first and second wall sections extend from the vehicle panel to first and second sides of the clip supporting section. The clip supporting section further defines a shaft insertion slot open to the shaft receiving hole. The shaft insertion slot extends in a radial direction from the shaft receiving hole between the first and second side walls. The at least one resilient arm extends from one of the clip supporting section and the first wall section in a direction perpendicular to the radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas MALLY
  • Patent number: 8840169
    Abstract: A door trim according to this invention includes a front trim and a rear trim. The front trim is to be arranged closer to a front side of a vehicle. The rear trim is to be arranged closer to a rear side of the vehicle. The door grip includes a first divided section included in the front trim and a second divided section included in the rear trim assembled together. With this configuration, the door grip can be formed using parts of the front trim and the rear trim while the front trim and the rear trim are provided for forming other part of the door trim. Therefore, the number of components can be reduced. In addition, dies and steps of forming the door grip are not required and thus the production efficiency is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiya Tanizawa
  • Publication number: 20140265429
    Abstract: Side structure for a motor vehicle includes an upper leg pusher located immediately outboard of a panel adjacent to a seat and inboard of a structural member such as a side impact beam. The upper leg pusher has a lower-stiffness portion adjacent to the rear section of the panel and aligned with an upper thigh position of the seat, and a higher-stiffness portion adjacent to the forward section of the panel, which is offset outboard relative to the rear section. When the structural component is urged inboard during a side impact event, the higher-stiffness portion of the pusher begins to urge the forward panel section inboard before the lower stiffness portion begins to urge the rear panel section inboard. The rear panel section may be located below an arm rest of a door, and the forward panel section may be forms a recessed surface above a storage pocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Zhibing Deng, Shahram Haghi, Tahmidur Rahman, Satyanarayana Raju Vemulapati, Paul Schryer
  • Publication number: 20140265430
    Abstract: An invisible sliding door trim structure includes a luggage trim provided at one side of a vehicle body opening part opened or closed by a door and including a reception space extended in a horizontal direction, a sliding trim provided at an inner side of the door and slid along the reception space of the luggage trim according to an opening or closing operation of the door, and a rotating trim provided to be rotatable with respect to the sliding trim according to the opening or closing operation of the door. Therefore, an invisible sliding door trim is capable of improving an appearance and overcoming a design restriction problem of a sliding door according to the prior art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Jae Hong CHOI, Young Bae GONG
  • Patent number: 8833830
    Abstract: A vehicular accessory retention clip is used to attach a vehicular accessory, such as vehicular trim, to a vehicle. The vehicular accessory may have a substrate component that has at least one reinforcement post, and the vehicle may have a vehicular base component that has at least one corresponding opening configured to receive the reinforcement post. The retention clip has at least two walls that extend from an edge of a platform, each wall having an exterior tab and an interior tab configured to engage with the walls of the opening and the reinforcement post, respectively. The retention clip is slid onto the reinforcement post until the interior tabs engage with the reinforcement post, and the combination of the retention clip and reinforcement post is inserted until the exterior tabs engage with the walls of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David T. Renke, Paul W. Renius
  • Patent number: 8827354
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle interior fitting part, in particular for a motor vehicle, and to a method for producing a vehicle interior fitting part. The vehicle interior fitting part has a first support element and an energy absorption element. The support element is integrally joined to the energy absorption element by means of a connecting region. The support element is provided such that it can be pre-assembled relative to the energy absorption element by means of the connecting region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Martin Wolff, Alexander Schidan, Thorsten Meyer, Oliver Hube, Holger Kalus, Detlef Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 8801075
    Abstract: A door trim for a vehicle includes: a trim main body formed so as to be bulging out inward of a vehicle compartment as an interior furnishing material of a door inner panel of a side door; and a clip installation base provided on the trim main body in a rear side area thereof with respect to the vehicle. The clip installation base includes: a clip settling portion configured to be opposed to the door inner panel and to be fitted with a clip to be mounted in a mounting hole formed in the door inner panel; and a clip rising wall portion provided continuously with the clip settling portion and forming a closed section portion together with the trim main body and the clip settling portion in a horizontal section, the clip rising wall portion including a bent portion having an angle so as to be convex outward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Torii
  • Publication number: 20140167440
    Abstract: An inner lining part for the interior of a motor vehicle, wherein the inner lining part has a carrier part, which comprises a curvature section, with a curvature running along a longitudinal direction of the carrier part. The curvature section includes a carrier part groove running in the longitudinal direction. A decorative layer overlies a first surface of the carrier part and forms a visible face of the inner lining part. The decorative layer covers the carrier part groove, thereby forming a decorative layer groove on the visible face of the inner lining part. Recesses in one or more portions of the carrier part at the carrier part groove receive folds or thickenings of the decorative layer to thereby permit the visible face of the decorative layer at the decorative layer groove to match the curvature of the curvature section at carrier side regions located adjacent the groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventors: Ulrich Sandmeyer, Harald Peter
  • Publication number: 20140152049
    Abstract: A door trim according to this invention includes a front trim and a rear trim. The front trim is to be arranged closer to a front side of a vehicle. The rear trim is to be arranged closer to a rear side of the vehicle. The door grip includes a first divided section included in the front trim and a second divided section included in the rear trim assembled together. With this configuration, the door grip can be formed using parts of the front trim and the rear trim while the front trim and the rear trim are provided for forming other part of the door trim. Therefore, the number of components can be reduced. In addition, dies and steps of forming the door grip are not required and thus the production efficiency is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshiya Tanizawa
  • Patent number: 8733811
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an automotive interior component includes the steps of: providing a mold apparatus comprising a first mold component and a second mold component; providing a substrate; applying a first layer of a soft-touch material to the substrate; applying a second layer of a fabric to one of the first mold component and the second mold component of the mold apparatus; forming a self-skinning foam layer, wherein a first surface of the self-skinning foam layer is configured for bonding to the first layer and a second surface of the self-skinning foam layer is configured for bonding to the second layer; and fastening the substrate, the first layer, the second layer together. Additional methods of manufacturing automotive interior components and automotive interior components are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Intertec Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Gregg S. Evans, Shin Mizusaki