TRUNK LINER METHOD AND APPARATUS

• US 20100109366A1
• Filed: 10/30/2008
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Larcom, Ryan, Dilley, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 7,798,549 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/39.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/011 for internal load compartments, e.g. car trunks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/013 comprising removable or hinged parts, e.g. for accessing storage compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/018 Connection or positioning of adjacent panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/02 in separate luggage compartment B60R7/005 takes precedence

Abstract

A trunk compartment may include a trunk lining having a trunk top coat member and a trunk spacer member. The trunk coat top member may have an inner surface that may define a portion of the trunk lining and an outer surface. A trunk spacer member may be operatively connected to the trunk coat top member and the vehicle frame. The trunk coat top member and the trunk spacer member may be formed in the same mold.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a frame;

a vehicle body supported to the frame and defining a locomotion compartment, a passenger compartment for use in housing associated passengers, and a trunk compartment for use in housing cargo;

a locomotion source supported to the frame and positioned substantially within the locomotion compartment;

at least one ground engaging wheel supported to the frame and operatively connected to the locomotion source to provide locomotion for the vehicle;

wherein the trunk compartment comprises;

a trunk lining comprising;

a first trunk top coat member having an inner surface that defines at least a portion of the trunk lining and an outer surface; and

a first trunk spacer member wherein a first portion of the first trunk spacer member is operatively connected to the first trunk top coat member and a second portion is operatively connected to the frame;

wherein the first trunk top coat member and the first trunk spacer member are formed in the same mold; and

,

wherein the trunk compartment is positioned outside the passenger compartment.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first trunk top coat member and the first trunk spacer member are substantially one continuous member.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein the first trunk top coat member and the first trunk spacer member are coupled with a hinge.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first trunk top coat member and the first trunk spacer member are formed of the same material.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first trunk top coat member and the first trunk spacer member are formed of different materials.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first trunk spacer member is formed with at least one ridge.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first trunk spacer member is formed with a plurality of ridges.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising:

a second trunk spacer member wherein a first portion of the second trunk spacer member is operatively connected to the first trunk top coat member and a second portion is operatively connected to the frame; and

,

wherein the first trunk top coat member, the first trunk spacer member, and the second trunk spacer member are formed in the same mold.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 further comprising:

a third trunk spacer member wherein a first portion of the third trunk spacer member is operatively connected to the first trunk top coat member and a second portion is operatively connected to the frame; and

,

wherein the first trunk top coat member, the first trunk spacer member, the second trunk spacer member, and the third trunk spacer member are formed in the same mold.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the first trunk top coat member and the first trunk spacer member are coupled with a hinge, the first trunk top coat member and the second trunk spacer member are coupled with a hinge, and the first trunk top coat member and the third trunk spacer member are coupled with a hinge.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising:

a second trunk top coat member having an inner surface that defines at least a portion of the trunk lining and an outer surface; and

a second trunk spacer member wherein a first portion of the second trunk spacer member is operatively connected to the second trunk top coat member and a second portion is operatively connected to the frame;

wherein the first trunk top coat member and the second trunk top coat member are operatively connected; and

,

wherein the first trunk top coat member, the second trunk top coat member, the first trunk spacer member, and the second trunk spacer member are all formed in the same mold.

12. A method comprising the steps of:

(A) molding a first trunk top coat member and a first trunk spacer member in the same mold, wherein the first trunk top coat member has an inner surface and an outer surface and the first trunk spacer member has a first portion and a second potion; and

(B) assembling a trunk lining by operatively connecting the first portion of the first trunk spacer to the first trunk top coat member and operatively connecting the second portion of the first trunk spacer to an associated vehicle frame.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein step (A) comprises the step of:

molding the trunk top coat member and the first trunk spacer member substantially as one continuous member.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein step (A) comprises the step of:

molding the trunk top coat member and the first trunk spacer member with a hinge coupling the trunk top coat member to the first trunk spacer member.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein step (A) comprises the step of:

molding the trunk top coat member and the first trunk spacer member from the same material.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein step (A) comprises the step of:

molding the trunk top coat member and the first trunk spacer member from different materials.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein step (A) comprises the step of:

molding the first trunk spacer member with at least one ridge.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein step (A) comprises the step of:

molding the first trunk spacer member with a plurality of ridges.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein step (A) and step (B) comprises the steps of:

(A) molding a second trunk spacer member in the same mold, wherein the second trunk spacer member has a first portion and a second potion; and

(B) assembling a trunk lining by operatively connecting the first portion of the second trunk spacer to the first trunk top coat member and operatively connecting the second portion of the second trunk spacer to an associated vehicle frame.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein step (A) and step (B) comprises the step of:

(A) molding a second trunk top coat member and a second trunk spacer member in the same mold, wherein the second trunk top coat member has an inner surface and an outer surface and the second trunk spacer member has a first portion and a second potion; and

(B) assembling a trunk lining by operatively connecting the first portion of the second trunk spacer to the second trunk top coat member and operatively connecting the second portion of the second trunk spacer to an associated vehicle frame.