Vehicle interior trim panel

• US 8,297,645 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2010
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• 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: Thurston, Jeremy, Parkins, Lauren
• Primary Examiner(s): TO, TOAN C
• Application Number:
  US12/722,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20110221170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 296/193.06, 296/216.05, 296/216.07, 296/220.01
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• 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 first flexible trim portion. The rigid trim portion includes a first assist grip opening. The first flexible trim portion is attached to the rigid trim portion along an edge of the first assist grip opening with the first flexible trim portion at least partially covering the first assist grip opening of the rigid trim portion.

Claims

1. A vehicle interior trim panel comprising:

a rigid trim portion including a first assist grip opening; and

a first flexible trim portion attached to the rigid trim portion along an edge of the first assist grip opening with the first flexible trim portion at least partially covering the first assist grip opening of the rigid trim portion, the first flexible trim portion having a first assist grip receiving cutout configured to receive a first portion of an assist grip handle, the first assist receiving cutout being formed at a peripheral edge of the first flexible trim portion such that the first assist receiving cutout is open at the a peripheral edge of the first flexible trim portion.

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

the first assist grip opening is formed in a peripheral edge of the rigid trim portion such that the first assist grip opening is open at the peripheral edge of the rigid trim portion.

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

the first flexible trim portion is formed of an elastomer.

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

the first flexible trim portion is bonded to the rigid trim portion.

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

the rigid trim portion further includes a second assist grip opening, and

the vehicle interior trim panel further includes a second flexible trim portion attached to the rigid trim portion along an edge of the second assist grip opening with the second flexible trim portion at least partially covering the second assist grip opening of the rigid trim portion.

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

the first and second assist grip openings are formed in a peripheral edge of the rigid trim portion such that the first and second assist grip openings are open at the peripheral edge of the rigid trim portion.

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

the second flexible trim portion has a second assist grip receiving cutout configured to receive a second portion of the assist grip handle.

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

the second assist receiving cutout is formed at a peripheral edge of the second flexible trim portion such that the second assist receiving cutout is open at the peripheral edge of the second flexible trim portion.

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

the first and second assist grip openings are formed in a peripheral edge of the rigid trim portion such that the first and second assist grip openings are open at the peripheral edge of the rigid trim portion.

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

the first and second flexible trim portions are each formed of an elastomer.

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

the first and second flexible trim portions are bonded to the rigid trim portion.

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

an edge of the first flexible trim portion contacts the assist grip handle.

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

a portion of the first flexible trim portion is positioned behind an inner surface of the rigid trim portion between the inner surface and a vehicle component to which the assist grip handle is attached.

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

the rigid trim portion includes at least one projection that extends into the first flexible trim portion to assist in securing the first flexible trim portion to the rigid trim portion.

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

the first flexible trim portion defines the first assist grip receiving cutout as a U-shaped cutout.

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

the rigid trim portion defines the first assist grip opening as a U-shaped opening.

17. 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 a first assist grip opening with a first portion of the assist grip handle projecting through the first assist grip opening, and a second assist grip opening;

a first flexible trim portion attached to the rigid trim portion along an edge of the first assist grip opening with the first flexible trim portion at least partially covering the first assist grip opening of the rigid trim portion; and

a second flexible trim portion attached to the rigid trim portion along an edge of the second assist grip opening with the second flexible trim portion at least partially covering the second assist grip opening of the rigid trim portion.

18. The vehicle body structure according to claim 17, further comprising

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

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

at least one of the first assist grip opening and the second assist grip opening is formed in a peripheral edge of the rigid trim portion such that the at least one of the first assist grip opening and the second assist grip opening is open at the peripheral edge of the rigid trim portion.

20. The vehicle body structure according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the following

the first flexible trim portion has a first assist grip receiving cutout configured to receive a first portion of an assist grip handle;

and

the second flexible trim portion has a second assist grip receiving cutout configured to receive a second portion of the assist grip handle.

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

the first and second assist grip openings are formed in a peripheral edge of the rigid trim portion such that the first and second assist grip openings are open at the peripheral edge of the rigid trim portion,

the first flexible trim portion has a first assist grip receiving cutout formed at a peripheral edge of the first flexible trim portion such that the first assist receiving cutout is open at the peripheral edge of the first flexible trim portion, and

the second flexible trim portion has a second assist grip receiving cutout formed at a peripheral edge of the second flexible trim portion such that the second assist receiving cutout is open at the peripheral edge of the second flexible trim portion.

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

an edge of at least one of the first flexible trim portion and the second flexible trim portion contacts the assist grip handle.

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

a portion of at least one of the first flexible trim portion and the second flexible trim portion is positioned behind an inner surface of the rigid trim portion between the inner surface and a vehicle component to which the assist grip handle is attached.

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

the rigid trim portion includes at least one projection that extends into at least one of the first flexible trim portion and the second flexible trim portion to assist in securing the at least one of the first flexible trim portion and the second flexible trim portion to the rigid trim portion.

25. The vehicle body structure according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the following

the first flexible trim portion defines the first assist grip receiving cutout as a U-shaped cutout;

and

the second flexible trim portion defines the second assist grip receiving cutout as a U-shaped cutout.

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

the rigid trim portion defines at least one of the first assist grip opening and the second assist grip opening as a U-shaped opening.

27. A vehicle interior trim panel comprising:

a rigid trim portion including a first assist grip opening; and

a first flexible trim portion bonded to the rigid trim portion along an edge of the first assist grip opening with the first flexible trim portion at least partially covering the first assist grip opening of the rigid trim portion,

wherein a portion of the first flexible trim portion is positioned behind an inner surface of the rigid trim portion between the inner surface and a vehicle component to which the assist grip handle is attached.

28. The vehicle interior trim panel according to claim 27, wherein

an edge of the first flexible trim portion contacts the assist grip handle.

29. The vehicle interior trim panel according to claim 27, wherein

the rigid trim portion includes at least one projection that extends into the first flexible trim portion to assist in securing the first flexible trim portion to the rigid trim portion.

30. The vehicle interior trim panel according to claim 27, wherein

the first flexible trim portion defines the first assist grip receiving cutout as a U-shaped cutout.

31. The vehicle interior trim panel according to claim 27, wherein

the rigid trim portion defines the first assist grip opening as a U-shaped opening.

32. A vehicle interior trim panel comprising:

a rigid trim portion including a first assist grip opening and a second assist grip opening;

a first flexible trim portion attached to the rigid trim portion along an edge of the first assist grip opening with the first flexible trim portion at least partially covering the first assist grip opening of the rigid trim portion; and

a second flexible trim portion attached to the rigid trim portion along an edge of the second assist grip opening with the second flexible trim portion at least partially covering the second assist grip opening of the rigid trim portion.

33. The vehicle interior trim panel according to claim 32, wherein

an edge of at least one of the first flexible trim portion and the second flexible trim portion contacts the assist grip handle.

34. The vehicle interior trim panel according to claim 32, wherein

a portion of at least one of the first flexible trim portion and the second flexible trim portion is positioned behind an inner surface of the rigid trim portion between the inner surface and a vehicle component to which the assist grip handle is attached.

35. The vehicle interior trim panel according to claim 32, wherein

the rigid trim portion includes at least one projection that extends into at least one of the first flexible trim portion and the second flexible trim portion to assist in securing the at least one of the first flexible trim portion and the second flexible trim portion to the rigid trim portion.

36. The vehicle interior trim panel according to claim 32, wherein at least one of the following

the first flexible trim portion defines the first assist grip receiving cutout as a U-shaped cutout;

and

the second flexible trim portion defines the second assist grip receiving cutout as a U-shaped cutout.

37. The vehicle interior trim panel according to claim 32, wherein

the rigid trim portion defines at least one of the first assist grip opening and the second assist grip opening as a U-shaped opening.