Trunk liner method and apparatus

• US 7,798,549 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2008
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US12/261,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20100109366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 296/39.1, 296/39.2
• US Class Current: 296/39.1
• 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, the trunk compartment including a trunk floor, a front border, and first and second side borders;

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 at least partially covering a surface of the trunk compartment, the 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 including a first portion operatively connected to the first trunk top coat member and a second portion operatively connected to the surface of the trunk compartment, the first trunk spacer member having a first edge pivotally connected to a first edge of the first top coat member with a first hinge;

wherein the first trunk spacer member is located between the first trunk top coat member and the surface of the trunk compartment, and wherein the first trunk top coat member covers substantially the entire first trunk spacer member;

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 hinge is a living 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 providing structural support to the first trunk spacer member.

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

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 surface of the trunk compartment; and

,

wherein a first edge of the first trunk top coat member and a first edge of the second trunk spacer member are pivotally coupled with a second hinge allowing the second trunk spacer member to pivot about the second hinge;

wherein the second trunk spacer member is located between the first trunk top coat member and the surface of the trunk compartment;

wherein the first trunk top coat member covers substantially the entire second trunk spacer member;

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 the surface of the trunk compartment; and

,

wherein a first edge of the first trunk top coat member and a first edge of the third trunk spacer member are pivotally coupled with a third hinge allowing the third trunk spacer member to pivot about the third hinge;

wherein the third trunk spacer member is located between the first trunk top coat member and the surface of the trunk compartment;

wherein the first trunk top coat member covers substantially the entire third trunk spacer member;

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, second, and third hinges are living hinges.

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 surface of the trunk compartment;

wherein a first edge of the second trunk top coat member and a first edge of the second trunk spacer member are coupled with a second hinge allowing the second trunk spacer member to pivot about the second hinge;

wherein the second trunk spacer member is located between the second trunk top coat member and the surface of the trunk compartment;

wherein the second trunk top coat member covers substantially the entire second trunk spacer member;

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. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first trunk spacer member is located between the first trunk top coat member and the trunk floor.

13. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the second and third trunk spacer members are located between the first trunk top coat member and the front border.

15. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the first trunk spacer member is formed with a plurality of ridges providing structural support.

16. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the first trunk top coat member and the first trunk spacer member are substantially one continuous member.

17. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the first trunk spacer member includes a first edge pivotally connected to a first edge of the first top coat member with a hinge.

18. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the first trunk top coat member and the first trunk spacer member are formed of the same material.

19. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the first trunk top coat member and the first trunk spacer member are formed of different materials.

14. 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, the trunk compartment including a trunk floor, a front border, and first and second side borders;

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;

the trunk compartment comprising;

a trunk lining at least partially covering a surface of the trunk compartment, the trunk lining comprising;

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

a first trunk spacer member including at least one ridge providing structural support, the first trunk spacer member positioned substantially between the first trunk top coat member and the surface of the trunk compartment;

wherein the first trunk top coat member covers substantially the entire first trunk spacer member;

wherein the trunk compartment is positioned outside the passenger compartment.

20. 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, the trunk compartment including a trunk floor, a front border, and first and second side borders;

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 at least partially covering a surface of the trunk compartment, the 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, the first trunk top coat member covering at least a portion of the trunk floor and the front border; and

a first trunk spacer member having a first edge pivotally connected to a first edge of the first top coat member with a first hinge, wherein the first trunk spacer member is located between the first trunk top coat member and the trunk floor, and wherein the first trunk top coat member covers substantially the entire first trunk spacer member;

a second trunk spacer member having a first edge pivotally connected to a second edge of the first top coat member with a second hinge, wherein the second trunk spacer member is located between the first trunk top coat member and the front border, and wherein the first trunk top coat member covers substantially the entire first trunk spacer member;

a third trunk spacer member having a first edge pivotally connected to a third edge of the first top coat member with a third hinge, wherein the third trunk spacer member is located between the first trunk top coat member and the front border, and wherein the first trunk top coat member covers substantially the entire first trunk spacer member;

wherein the first trunk top coat member, the first trunk spacer member, the second trunk spacer member, and the third trunk spacer member are one continuous member;

wherein the trunk compartment is positioned outside the passenger compartment.