Lining for the interior of an automotive vehicle

• US 4,779,390 A
• Filed: 03/07/1986
• Issued: 10/25/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Engel, Wilfried, Trubenbach, Karl, Repper, deceased, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Safavi, Michael
• Application Number:
  US06/837,309
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 52/222, 52/273, 52/783, 52/784, 52/811, 52/813, 160/391, 160/395, 296/70, 296/72, 296/39 R, 296/31 P
• US Class Current: 52/222
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/02 Internal Trim mouldings ; Internal Ledges; Wall liners for passenger compartments; Roof liners B60R13/01 takes precedence ; padded linings for the vehicle interior B60R21/04; arrangements or adaptations of floor mats or carpets in vehicles B60N3/04; internal lining for trains B61D17/18

Abstract

A lining for the interior of an automotive vehicle, comprising a unitary foundation panel partitioned into at least two contiguous surface areas by a groove penetrating into the surface. Webs of materials different from each other are laminated to the areas, and a seam is provided between them by tucking portions thereof into the groove.

Claims

1. A lining for interior portions of an automotive vehicle, comprising:

support means comprising a substantially rigid unitary foundation panel including a substantially uninterrupted groove penetrating into said panel to a predetermined depth and partitioning said panel into first and second contiguous surface areas;

substantially limp foil means covering at least said first surface area and having a portion inserted in said groove;

substantially limp fibrous web means positioned over said second surface area and having a marginal portion of a width not exceeding the depth of said groove and inserted therein; and

means for providing a joint-like appearance between said foil means and said fibrous web means by pressing said portion of said foil means and said marginal portion of said fibrous web means against said panel.

2. The lining of claim 1, wherein said portion of said foil means comprises a marginal portion of a width not exceeding the depth of said groove and inserted therein.

3. The lining of claim 2, wherein said marginal portions have a combined thickness in excess of the width of said groove, whereby said marginal portions are retained in said groove by a press fit.

4. The lining of claim 3, wherein said marginal portions are additionally retained in said groove by adhesive.

5. The lining of claim 1, wherein said means for providing a joint-like appearance includes a molding strip comprising a foot portion seated in said groove near the bottom thereof and a head portion bridging said groove and engaging said foil means and said fibrous web means.

6. The lining of claim 1, wherein one of said at least two contiguous surface areas has a three-dimensional contour.

7. The lining of claim 2, wherein said groove has a bottom and tapers in a step-like configuration towards said bottom and wherein a lower portion of said groove adjacent said bottom is adapted frictionally to engage a portion of said molding strip, and wherein an upper portion of said groove is adapted to retain said marginal portions of said foil means and of said fibrous web means with said molding strip therebetween.

8. The lining of claim 1, wherein said fibrous web means comprises a textile fabric.

9. The lining of claim 1, wherein said fibrous web means comprises leather.

10. The lining of claim 1, wherein one of said foil means and said fibrous web means comprises a layer of resiliently compressible foam material in facing relationship to said foundation panel.

11. The lining of claim 1, wherein said foundation panel comprises perforations.

12. The lining of claim 1, wherein said substantially limp foil means is attached to said first surface area by adhesive.

13. The lining of claim 1, wherein said substantially limp fibrous web means is attached to said second of said surface areas by adhesive.

14. A lining for interior portions of an automotive vehicle, comprising:

support means comprising a substantially rigid unitary foundation panel including a substantially uninterrupted groove penetrating into said panel to a predetermined depth and partitioning said panel into first and second contiguous surface areas one of which is elevated relative to the other;

substantially limp foil means covering at least said first surface area and having a portion inserted in said groove;

substantially limp fibrous web means positioned in intimate contact on said second of said surface areas and having a marginal portion of a width not exceeding the depth of said groove and inserted therein; and

means for frictionally retaining said portion of said foil means and said marginal portion of said fibrous web means in said groove.

15. The lining of claim 14, wherein said means for frictionally retaining said portion of said foil means and said marginal portion of said fibrous web means in said groove comprises a combined thickness of said portion and marginal portion in excess of the width of said groove.

16. A lining for interior portions of an automotive vehicle, comprising:

support means comprising a substantially rigid unitary foundation panel including a substantially uninterruped groove penetrating into said panel to a predetermined depth and partitioning said panel into first and second contiguous surface areas;

substantially limp foil means positioned in intimate contact on said first surface area and having a marginal portion of a width not exceeding the depth of said groove and inserted therein;

substantially limp fibrous web means positioned in intimate contact on said second surface area and having a marginal portion of a width not exceeding the depth of said groove and inserted therein;

said marginal portions of said foil means and said fibrous web means having a combined thickness in excess of the width of said groove whereby said marginal portions are retained in said groove by a press fit and impart a joint-like appearance.