Locator feature for automotive interior doors

• US 10,246,912 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2016
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ramirez de Santiago, Carlos, Gallardo Almiray, Jose Enrique
• Primary Examiner(s): Rephann, Justin B
• Application Number:
  US15/355,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20180142508A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/06 mounted on or below dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/30 for glove compartments
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/022 specially adapted for vehicles, e.g. for hoods or trunks
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/06 Buffers or stops limiting opening of swinging wings, e.g. floor or wall stopsE05F5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/51 Screwing or bolting
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/53 Snapping
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/538 Interior lids

Abstract

An interior door assembly for a vehicle includes an outer door panel including at least one bumper retainer associated with an inner door locator feature. The at least one bumper retainer is defined by an aperture dimensioned to receive a portion of a bumper therein. The assembly further includes an inner door panel including at least one aperture configured and dimensioned to engage the inner door locator feature.

Claims

1. An interior door assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

an outer door panel including at least one integral inner door panel locator feature defining a bumper retainer;

an inner door panel including at least one aperture configured and dimensioned to engage the at least one inner door panel locator feature; and

a resilient bumper adapted for retention by the bumper retainer to provide a snug fit to the closed interior door assembly.

2. The interior door assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner door panel locator feature defines a quadrilateral cross-section.

3. The interior door assembly of claim 2, wherein the inner door panel locator feature defines a square cross-section.

4. The interior door assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one bumper retainer is dimensioned to receive a portion of the bumper therein.

5. The interior door assembly of claim 4, wherein the retainer is configured to retain the portion of the bumper by one of a snap-fit, a friction fit, an interference fit, and a screw-threaded fit.

6. The interior door assembly of claim 5, wherein the bumper comprises a screw-threaded exterior surface.

7. An interior door assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

an outer door panel including at least one integral inner door panel locator feature defining a bumper retainer;

an inner door panel including at least one aperture configured and dimensioned to engage the at least one inner door panel locator feature;

a latch mechanism carried by the outer door panel; and

a resilient bumper adapted for retention by the bumper retainer to provide a snug fit to the closed interior door assembly.

8. The interior door assembly of claim 7, wherein the inner door panel locator feature defines a quadrilateral cross-section.

9. The interior door assembly of claim 8, wherein the inner door panel locator feature defines a square cross-section.

10. The interior door assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one bumper retainer is dimensioned to receive a portion of the bumper therein.

11. The interior door assembly of claim 10, wherein the retainer is configured to retain the portion of the bumper by one of a snap-fit, a friction fit, an interference fit, and a screw-threaded fit.

12. The interior door assembly of claim 11, wherein the bumper comprises a screw-threaded exterior surface.