Trim panel assembly

• US 7,762,574 B1
• Filed: 06/02/2009
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Spamer, Carl D., Gillay, Daniel F.
• Primary Examiner(s): To; Toan C
• Application Number:
  US12/476,295
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0212 Roof or head liners movable head-liners B60J7/0007
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0275 comprising removable or hinged parts for accessing storage compartments B60R7/04; for airbag deployment B60R21/215
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0281 made of a plurality of visible parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0293 Connection or positioning of adjacent panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars

Abstract

A trim panel assembly configured to displace so as to allow an airbag to deploy. The trim panel assembly is mounted to the vehicle body structure and the airbag is housed between the vehicle body structure and the trim panel assembly. The trim panel assembly includes a trim panel body, a trim component, and a retainer. The trim panel body includes an aperture and the trim component is seated within the aperture. The trim component may include vehicle accessories such as a map light, or a handle. The retainer is mounted to the hidden surface of the trim panel body and attached to the trim component so as to retain the trim component to the trim panel body during airbag deployment.

Claims

1. A trim panel assembly mounted onto the vehicle body structure so as to cover an airbag, wherein the trim panel assembly is configured to displace upon inflation of the airbag so as to provide a passage for the airbag to deploy, the trim panel assembly comprising:

a trim panel body mounted to the vehicle body structure and covering the air bag, the trim panel body having a hidden surface, a cabin surface opposite the hidden surface, and an aperture;

a trim component mounted onto the cabin surface of the trim panel body and seated within the aperture of the trim panel body;

a retainer having a base and a retaining member fixedly secured to the base, base mounted onto the hidden surface of the trim panel body, and the retaining member attached to the trim component, the trim component pivotably attached to the base so as to retain the trim component to the trim panel body but permitting movement of the trim panel during airbag deployment.

2. The trim panel assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the base has a contact surface configured to flushingly engage the hidden surface of the trim panel body.

3. The trim panel assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein the base is mounted onto the hidden surface of the trim panel body using adhesives.

4. The trim panel assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the trim panel component includes a flange, the flange bounding the trim panel component so as to cover the aperture when the trim component is seated therein.

5. A trim panel assembly mounted onto the vehicle body structure so as to cover an airbag, wherein the trim panel assembly is configured to displace upon inflation of the airbag so as to provide a passage for the airbag to deploy, the trim panel assembly comprising:

a trim panel body mounted to the vehicle body structure and covering the air bag, the trim panel body having a hidden surface, a cabin surface opposite the hidden surface, and an aperture;

a trim component mounted onto the cabin surface of the trim panel body and seated within the aperture of the trim panel body, the trim component having a slot;

a retainer having a base and a hook pivotably secured to the base, base mounted onto the hidden surface of the trim panel body, and the hook is engaged with the slot of the trim component so as to retain the trim component to the trim panel body but permitting movement of the trim panel during airbag deployment.

6. The trim panel assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein the slot is configured so as to provide a predetermined amount of space between the hook and the slot when the hook is mounted therein.

7. The trim panel assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein the retainer is stamped from metal.

8. A trim panel assembly mounted onto the vehicle body structure so as to cover an airbag, wherein the trim panel assembly is configured to displace upon inflation of the airbag so as to provide a passage for the airbag to deploy, the trim panel assembly comprising:

a trim panel body mounted to the vehicle body structure and covering the air bag, the trim panel hod having a hidden surface, a cabin surface opposite the hidden surface, and an aperture;

a trim component mounted onto the cabin surface of the trim panel body and seated within the aperture of the trim panel body;

a retainer having a base mounted onto the hidden surface of the trim panel body; and

a living hinge interconnecting the base to the trim component, the trim component pivotably attached to the base so as to retain the trim component to the trim panel body but permitting movement of the trim panel during airbag deployment.

9. The trim panel assembly as set forth in claim 8, wherein the living hinge is molded out of polypropylene.

10. The trim panel assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein the living hinge is a fold and interconnects the base to a first member, and wherein the first member is attached to the trim component.