Component for a vehicle interior having a soft-feel touch

• US 20070128410A1
• Filed: 12/02/2005
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Nelias, Francois
• Granted Patent: US 7,641,953 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/156
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 44/141 Hiding joints in the lining
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/404 Multi-coloured
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2605/003 Interior finishings
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/065 of foam
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/304 comprising vinyl halide (co)polymers, e.g. PVC, PVDC, PVF, PVDF
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/02 characterised by features of form at particular places, e.g. in edge regions non-uniform thickness B32B3/263
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/263 characterised by a layer having non-uniform thickness
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/30 characterised by a layer formed with recesses or projections, e.g. hollows, grooves, protuberances, ribs apertured layer B32B3/266; layer with cavities or internal voids B32B3/26
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/20 foamed in situ
• 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: Y10T 428/19 Sheets or webs edge spliced or joined
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/23 Sheet including cover or casing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24174 including sheet or component perpendicular to plane of web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24479 including variation in thickness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24694 Parallel corrugations

Abstract

A component for an interior of a vehicle including a substrate, a skin cooperating with the substrate to define a cavity, and foam disposed within the cavity. The skin includes first and second skin components cooperating to define an outer show surface and a hidden support portion that extends away from the show portion. The skin components matingly engage each other along the length of the support portion to substantially prevent the foam from leaking therebetween. Additionally, the support portion includes an deformable portion to improve the soft-touch feel of the component.

Claims

1. A component for a motor vehicle interior, the component comprising:

a rigid substrate, a skin spaced apart from the substrate, foam disposed between and joining the substrate to the skin, the skin having first and second skin components defining a show portion, the show portion including an outer surface adapted to be visible from the motor vehicle interior, portions of the first and second skin components being in mating engagement and cooperating to define a support portion, the support portion extending away from the show portion and toward the substrate, the support portion having a deformable portion configured to be deformed between a free position and a deflected position, in the deflected position the deformable portion being at least partially collapsed whereby a soft-touch feel of the component is maintained in the deflected position of the deformable portion.

2. A component as in claim 1, wherein the deformable portion defines a free radius within a trough between a pair of crests when the support portion is in the free position.

3. A component as in claim 2, wherein the first skin component has a first thickness and the second skin component has a second thickness, the free radius being greater than either of the first thickness and the second thickness.

4. A component as in claim 1, wherein the deformable portion generally defines a wave shape having two crests.

5. A component as in claim 4, wherein the deformable portion generally defines a sinusoidal wave shape.

6. A component as in claim 1, wherein the support portion includes a straight portion adjacent to the show portion.

7. A component as in claim 6, wherein the straight portion extends generally perpendicularly to the show portion.

8. A component as in claim 1, wherein the show portion is generally planar in a transition area between the first skin component and the second skin component.

9. A component as in claim 1, wherein the substrate includes a recessed portion generally aligned with the support portion and defining a gap between the substrate and the support portion.

10. A component as in claim 1, wherein the first skin component and the second skin are coupled with each other by a securing component.

11. A component as in claim 1, wherein the first and second skin components are matingly engaged along the support portion.

12. A component as in claim 1, wherein the first skin component is a first color and the second skin component is a second color.

13. A component as in claim 1, wherein the first skin component has a first textured outer surface and the second skin component has a second textured outer surface.

14. A component as in claim 1, wherein the deformable portion is defined by a series of straight sections successively angled with respect to one another.