VEHICLE TRIM PANEL WITH INTEGRAL NIBBED ARMREST

• US 20060001291A1
• Filed: 07/01/2004
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Loehr, Mark, Dooley, Dave
• Granted Patent: US 7,104,590 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/153
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/78 post or panel mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/787 detachable
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0206 Arrangements of fasteners and clips specially adapted for attaching inner vehicle liners or mouldings devices for fastening or securing F16B
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0243 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0281 made of a plurality of visible parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0293 Connection or positioning of adjacent panels

Abstract

A door trim panel for a door frame of a motor vehicle. The door trim panel includes a main body portion adapted to be removably secured to the door frame and a bolster removably secured to the main body portion. The bolster covers an access opening defined in the main body portion. Fastened to the bolster is an armrest that includes a plurality of spaced-apart nibs or projections positioned to contact an integral support surface of the bolster to thereby support the armrest. In certain embodiments of the invention, the bolster may be integral with the main body portion.

Claims

1. A door trim panel for attachment to a door frame of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a main body portion adapted to be removably secured to the door frame, said main body portion including an integral support surface; and

an armrest fastened to said main body portion, said armrest including a plurality of spaced-apart projections positioned to contact said integral support surface to thereby support said armrest.

2. The door trim panel of claim 1 wherein said main body portion includes a plurality of tab openings positioned peripherally about said integral support surface, and said armrest includes a plurality of spaced-apart locking tabs each positioned to engage a corresponding one of said plurality of tab openings.

3. The door trim panel of claim 2 wherein each of said plurality of spaced-apart locking tabs includes a wedge-shaped body adapted to engage said main body portion about a corresponding one of said tab openings.

4. A door trim panel for attachment to a door frame of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a main body portion adapted to be removably secured to the door frame, said main body portion including an access opening;

a bolster removably secured to said main body portion, said bolster covering said access opening, and said bolster including an integral support surface; and

an armrest fastened to said bolster, said armrest including a plurality of spaced-apart projections positioned to contact said integral support surface to thereby support said armrest.

5. The door trim panel of claim 4 wherein said bolster includes a plurality of tab openings positioned peripherally about said integral support surface, and said armrest includes a plurality of spaced-apart locking tabs each positioned to engage a corresponding one of said plurality of tab openings.

6. The door trim panel of claim 5 wherein each of said plurality of spaced-apart locking tabs includes a wedge-shaped body adapted to engage said main body portion about a corresponding one of said tab openings.

7. A method of making a door trim panel for mounting to a door frame of a motor vehicle, comprising:

molding a bolster of the door trim panel with an integral support surface;

mounting an armrest to the door trim panel; and

contacting a plurality of projections projecting from an armrest with the integral support surface on the bolster to support the armrest when the armrest is mounted to the door trim panel.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein molding the bolster further comprises:

molding the bolster integral with a main body portion of the door trim panel.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

engaging the bolster in an access opening formed in a main body of the door trim panel.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein mounting the armrest to the door trim panel further comprises:

providing a plurality of tab openings surrounding a periphery of the integral support surface; and

engaging a plurality of locking tabs on the armrest with the plurality of tab openings.