Trim panel connecting link

• US 5,415,554 A
• Filed: 10/28/1993
• Issued: 05/16/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ryan, Robert P., Frye, Dale J., Kempkers, Gordon B.
• Primary Examiner(s): DESMOND, EUGENE
• Application Number:
  US08/144,642
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 439/34, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 296/39.1, 296/146.9, 296/219, 40/593
• US Class Current: 439/34
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/025 Pillars; Roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0239 Electronic boxes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories

Abstract

A trim panel connecting link for one of the vehicle pillars, such as an A-pillar includes electrical conductors with a plug or socket at each opposite end thereof which connect with a mating socket or plug in the headliner and instrument panel for interconnecting the vehicle electrical system with the headliner electrical components. In a preferred embodiment an A-pillar display is mounted to the trim panel. In another embodiment the display is coupled to the conductors of the connecting link.

Claims

1. A trim panel connecting link for a vehicle comprising:

a trim panel shaped to extend over a body support member for a vehicle and including a first end and a second end;

conductor means extending from said first end to said second end of said panel;

connector means mounted to opposite ends of said conductor means such that said trim panel connecting link can be employed for providing an electrical current path coupling conductors having connectors positioned adjacent the first and second ends of said trim panel when the trim panel is mounted to the vehicle body part; and

said panel further includes aperture means and an information display component coupled within said aperture means for exposure to the interior of the vehicle, and wherein said information display component is coupled to said conductor means.

2. A trim panel connecting link for a vehicle comprising:

a trim panel shaped to extend over a body support member for a vehicle and including a first end and a second end, wherein said panel further includes aperture means and display means coupled within said aperture means for exposure to the interior of the vehicle;

conductor means extending from said first end to said second end of said panel; and

connector means mounted to opposite ends of said conductor means such that said trim panel connecting link can be employed for providing an electrical current path coupling conductors having connectors positioned adjacent the first and second ends of said trim panel when the trim panel is mounted to the vehicle body part, wherein said display means is coupled to said conductor means for receiving display information therefrom.

3. The trim panel connecting link as defined in claim 2 wherein said panel is elongated and shaped to extend over one of the body pillars of a vehicle.

4. The trim panel connecting link as defined in claim 2 wherein said panel is elongated and includes an enlarged section for receiving an electrical circuit and display therein.

5. The trim panel connecting link as defined in claim 2 and further including clip means mounted to said panel for securing said panel to a body support.

6. The trim panel connecting link as defined in claim 5 wherein said panel is elongated for covering a structural pillar of a vehicle.

7. The trim panel connecting link as defined in claim 6 wherein said first and second ends of said panel are curved to conform to the vehicle body adjacent said ends.

8. The trim panel connecting link as defined in claim 7 and further including an electrical circuit mounted to said panel.

9. A trim panel connecting link for a vehicle comprising:

an elongated trim panel shaped to extend over a structural pillar body support member for a vehicle and including a first end and a second end, wherein said first and second ends of said panel are curved to conform to the vehicle body adjacent said ends;

clip means mounted to said panel for securing said panel to a body support;

conductor means extending from said first end to said second end of said panel; and

connector means mounted to opposite ends of said conductor means such that said trim panel connecting link can be employed for providing an electrical current path coupling conductors having connectors positioned adjacent the first and second ends of said trim panel when the trim panel is mounted to the vehicle body part, and an electrical circuit mounted to said panel wherein said electrical circuit includes a control switch mounted to said panel and accessible from the exterior of said panel.

10. A trim panel connecting link for a vehicle comprising:

an elongated trim panel shaped to extend over a structural pillar body support member for a vehicle and including a first end and a second end, wherein said first and second ends of said panel are curved to conform to the vehicle body adjacent said ends;

clip means mounted to said panel for securing said panel to a body support;

conductor means extending from said first end to said second end of said panel;

.

connector means mounted to opposite ends of said conductor means such that said trim panel connecting link can be employed for providing an electrical current path coupling conductors having connectors positioned adjacent the first and second ends of said trim panel when the trim panel is mounted to the vehicle body part; and

an electrical circuit mounted to said panel, and further including a display coupled to said electrical circuit and mounted to said panel to face the interior of the vehicle.

11. An A-pillar display for a vehicle comprising:

a trim panel shaped to cover an A-pillar of a vehicle said panel including means for mounting display thereto;

a display mounted to said trim panel to face the interior of the vehicle; and

conductor means extending between said trim panel and the A-pillar of the vehicle for coupling said display to a source of signal information to be displayed.

12. The A-pillar display as defined in claim 11 wherein said panel includes a lower end positioned in adjacent relationship to a vehicle instrument panel when said panel is installed and wherein said display is mounted to said lower end.

13. The A-pillar display as defined in claim 12 wherein said display is a digital display.

14. The A-pillar display as defined in claim 13 wherein said display is a vacuum fluorescent display.

15. The A-pillar display as defined in claim 11 wherein said panel includes an enlarged housing and an electrical circuit mounted within said housing and coupled to said display.

16. The A-pillar display as defined in claim 11 and further including electrical conductors extending from opposite ends of said panel to couple conductors in the headliner of the vehicle to conductors in the instrument panel of the vehicle.

17. The A-pillar display as defined in claim 16 and further including connectors coupled to opposite ends of said electrical conductors and mounted to opposite ends of said panel.

18. The A-pillar display as defined in claim 17 and further including at least one mounting clip for fastening said panel to the A-pillar of a vehicle.

19. A trim panel connecting link and display for a vehicle comprising:

a trim panel shaped to extend over a body support member for a vehicle and including a first end and a second end;

conductor means extending from said first end to said second end of said panel;

means for coupling opposite ends of said conductor means to conductors extending adjacent said first and second ends of said panel such that said trim panel connecting link can be employed for providing an electrical current path between said first and second ends of said trim panel when the trim panel is mounted to the vehicle body part; and

display means mounted to said trim panel to face the interior of the vehicle, said display means coupled to said conductor means for displaying signal information carried thereby.

20. The trim panel connecting link and display as defined in claim 19 wherein said panel is elongated and shaped to cover the A-pillar of a vehicle.

21. The trim panel connecting link and display as defined in claim 20 and further including switch means coupled to said conductor means and mounted adjacent said display for controlling said display.

22. The trim panel connecting link and display as defined in claim 19 wherein said panel includes a housing and an electrical circuit mounted within said housing and coupled to said display.

23. The trim panel connecting link and display as defined in claim 22 wherein said electrical circuit is an electrical compass and wherein said display is mounted to a lower end of said panel.

24. The trim panel connecting link and display as defined in claim 19 wherein said display is mounted to the lower end of said panel.

25. The trim panel connecting link and display as defined in claim 24 wherein said panel is shaped to cover the A-pillar of a vehicle.