METHOD FOR CONCEALING A FASTENER BENEATH A FLOOR CARPET
A method for concealing a fastener beneath a floor carpet in an automotive vehicle. A flap is first cut in the carpet and that flap is retracted away from an opening in the carpet formed by the flap. An object, such as a floor console, is then attached to the vehicle by securing the object to the vehicle with a fastener extending through a portion of the object aligned with the carpet opening. The flap is then replaced in the opening to conceal the fastener.
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I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for concealing a fastener beneath a floor carpet in an automotive vehicle.
II. Description of Material Art
There are many fasteners for attaching various objects within the passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle. Such objects include, for example, a floor console positioned between front bucket seats of the automotive vehicle.
It is highly desirable to hide these fasteners following installation of the object for aesthetic reasons. Consequently, when installing objects such as the floor console, it is highly desirable to position the fasteners such that they will be covered by the console following the installation.
In some instances, however, the console or other object within the passenger compartment of the vehicle must be installed on the vehicle after the installation of the floor carpet and in which the fasteners will not be hidden by the floor console itself. In these situations, a bolt is traditionally installed directly through the carpet and the object installed, such as a console, and into the vehicle. The exposed fastener is then covered by a plastic cap or other cover.
While covering the head of the fastener with a plastic cover is certainly more desirable than leaving the head of the fastener exposed, such caps are disadvantageous for a number of different reasons. First, the caps add an additional cost, both in material as well as installation, for the overall vehicle. Secondly, such caps may become dislodged and result in exposing the heads of the fasteners. Lastly, while such caps are aesthetically more pleasing than the exposed fastener, the cap itself is still more unsightly than the vehicle floor carpet.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTIONThe present invention provides a method which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the previously known methods for hiding fastener heads.
In brief, in the present invention a flap is cut in the carpet and the flap is retracted to form an opening in the carpet. Thereafter, an object, such as a floor console, is secured to the vehicle by a fastener extending through a portion of the object which is aligned with the carpet opening.
After the object is installed in the vehicle, the flap is then replaced within the opening thus overlying and covering a head of the fastener. Preferably, a free end of the flap is positioned under a portion of the object so that the object maintains the flap within its opening.
In order to lock the flap in the opening, preferably a free end of the flap includes an enlarged portion. This enlarged portion fits within the opening cut through the carpet to form the flap which effectively locks the flap in position in the carpet.
A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:
With reference first to
With reference to
Although the flap 16 may take any of a number of different shapes, preferably the flap 16 includes an enlarged portion 22 at its free end. As shown in
With reference now to
The floor console 15, or other object, is then moved from the position shown in
With reference now to
As shown in
Although the object installed within the passenger compartment of the automotive vehicle has been described as a console, it will be understood, of course, that the present method for concealing a fastener beneath a floor carpet in the automotive vehicle may be used for other types of objects within the passenger compartment. Having described my invention, however, many modifications thereto will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains without deviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A method for concealing a fastener beneath a floor carpet in an automotive vehicle comprising the steps of:
- cutting a flap in the carpet,
- retracting said flap away from an opening in the carpet formed by said flap,
- attaching an object to the vehicle by securing the object to the vehicle with a fastener extending through a portion of the object aligned with the carpet opening,
- replacing the flap in the opening.
2. The invention as defined in claim 1 and further comprising the step of positioning a portion of the flap under a portion of the object.
3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the object comprises a front console.
4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said flap includes an enlarged area portion at its free end.
5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said flap is generally T-shaped.
6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said fastener comprises a bolt.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 29, 2007
Publication Date: Mar 5, 2009
Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. (Erlanger, KY)
Inventors: Matthew L. Gabrielli (Livonia, MI), Kotaro Naganawa (Farmington Hills, MI), Lauren M. Abro (Farmington Hills, MI)
Application Number: 11/846,782