Vehicle interior trim panel

• US 8,186,709 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2010
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: She, Yimin
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRISBY, KEITH J
• Application Number:
  US12/722,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20110221172A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/728.1, 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 296/1.02, 296/193.06, 296/187.05, 296/191, 296/214, 264/271.1, 264/241, 264/257, 264/255, 264/259, 264/273, 264/274, 264/279.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/74 Moulding material on a relatively small portion of the preformed part, e.g. outsert moulding B29C70/845 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0046 Elastic
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/30 Vehicles, e.g. ships or aircraft, or body parts thereof vanes or blades B29L2031/08, air bags B29L2022/027
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0206 Arrangements of fasteners and clips specially adapted for attaching inner vehicle liners or mouldings devices for fastening or securing F16B
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/025 Pillars; Roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/215 characterised by the covers for the inflatable member B60R21/2176 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle interior trim panel is provided with a rigid trim portion and a flexible trim portion. The rigid trim portion includes an assist grip opening. The flexible trim portion is attached to the rigid trim portion along an edge of the assist grip opening with the flexible trim portion at least partially covering the assist grip opening of the rigid trim portion.

Claims

1. A vehicle interior trim panel comprising:

a rigid trim portion including an assist grip opening; and

a flexible trim portion fixedly attached to the rigid trim portion as an integral unit along an edge of the assist grip opening with the flexible trim portion at least partially covering the assist grip opening of the rigid trim portion such that the flexible trim portion and rigid trim portion are integrally separable from a vehicle pillar.

2. The vehicle interior trim panel according to claim 1, wherein

the rigid trim portion has an overall peripheral configuration of a pillar trim panel that covers the vehicle pillar.

3. The vehicle interior trim panel according to claim 1, wherein

the rigid trim portion completely surrounds the assist grip opening with the edge of the assist grip opening being a continuous annular edge.

4. The vehicle interior trim panel according to claim 3, wherein

the edge of the assist grip opening is an elongated aperture.

5. The vehicle interior trim panel according to claim 1, wherein

the flexible trim portion is molded onto the rigid trim portion.

6. The vehicle interior trim panel according to claim 1, wherein

the flexible trim portion has a vehicle interior side that flushly mates with a vehicle interior side of the rigid trim portion at the edge of the assist grip opening.

7. The vehicle interior trim panel according to claim 1, wherein

the flexible trim portion is directly attached on the edge of the assist grip opening.

8. The vehicle interior trim panel according to claim 1, wherein

the flexible trim portion is formed of an elastomer.

9. The vehicle interior trim panel according to claim 1, wherein

the rigid trim portion is formed of a polypropylene.

10. The vehicle interior trim panel according to claim 1, wherein

a portion of the flexible trim portion has an arcuate cross sectional shape.

11. The vehicle interior trim panel according to claim 1, wherein

the flexible trim portion is attached to the rigid trim portion by adhesive.

12. A vehicle body structure comprising:

a structural vehicle body section;

an assist grip handle fixedly secured to the structural vehicle body section;

a vehicle interior trim panel releasably secured to the structural vehicle body section, the vehicle interior trim panel including

a rigid trim portion including an assist grip opening with the assist grip handle projecting through the assist grip opening, and

a flexible trim portion fixedly attached to the rigid trim portion as an integral unit along an edge of the assist grip opening with the flexible trim portion at least partially covering the assist grip opening of the rigid trim portion such that the flexible trim portion and rigid trim portion are integrally separable from a vehicle pillar, and the flexible trim portion overlying a portion of the assist grip handle.

13. The vehicle body structure according to claim 12, further comprising

an airbag disposed between the vehicle interior trim panel and the structural vehicle body section.

14. The vehicle body structure according to claim 12, wherein

the structural vehicle body section is a portion of the vehicle pillar with the rigid trim portion being a pillar trim panel that covers the vehicle pillar.

15. The vehicle body structure according to claim 12, wherein

the rigid trim portion completely surrounds the assist grip opening with the edge of the assist grip opening being a continuous annular edge.

16. The vehicle body structure according to claim 15, wherein

the edge of the assist grip opening is an elongated aperture.

17. The vehicle body structure according to claim 12, wherein

the flexible trim portion is molded onto the rigid trim portion.

18. The vehicle body structure according to claim 12, wherein

the flexible trim portion has a vehicle interior side that flushly mates with a vehicle interior side of the rigid trim portion at the edge of the assist grip opening.

19. The vehicle body structure according to claim 12, wherein

the flexible trim portion is directly attached on the edge of the assist grip opening.

20. The vehicle body structure according to claim 12, wherein

the flexible trim portion is formed of an elastomer.

21. The vehicle body structure according to claim 12, wherein

the rigid trim portion is formed of a polypropylene.

22. The vehicle body structure according to claim 12, wherein

the flexible trim portion contacts the assist grip handle.

23. The vehicle body structure according to claim 12, wherein

a distal end of the flexible trim portion contacts the assist grip handle, the distal end being away from an end of the flexible trim portion that is fixedly attached to the rigid trim portion.

24. The vehicle body structure according to claim 12, wherein a portion of the flexible trim portion has an arcuate cross sectional shape.

25. The vehicle body structure according to claim 12, further comprising

a bezel extending around the assist grip handle.

26. The vehicle body structure according to claim 25, wherein

a width of the bezel is smaller than a width of the assist grip opening in the rigid trim portion.

27. The vehicle body structure according to claim 25, wherein the bezel has a planar main portion.

28. The vehicle body structure according to claim 25, wherein

the bezel is located between the assist grip handle and the structural vehicle body section.

29. The vehicle body structure according to claim 28, wherein

the bezel is disposed between the rigid trim portion and the structural vehicle body section.

30. The vehicle body structure according to claim 25, wherein

a portion of the flexible trim portion contacts the bezel.

31. The vehicle body structure according to claim 30, wherein

the portion of the flexible trim portion has an arcuate cross sectional shape.

32. The vehicle body structure according to claim 25, wherein

a distal end of the flexible trim portion contacts the bezel, the distal end being away from an end of the flexible trim portion that is fixedly attached to the rigid trim portion.