Vehicle interior trim panel

• US 8,297,674 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2012
• 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: She, Yimin
• Primary Examiner(s): LYJAK, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US13/359,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20120119533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 278 Days
• Field of Search: 296/1.02, 296/146.7, 296/214, 296/1.08, 296/187.03, 161/101, 164/46
• US Class Current: 296/1.02
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/025 Pillars; Roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories

Abstract

A vehicle interior trim panel is provided with a rigid trim portion, a first flexible trim portion and a second flexible trim portion. The rigid trim portion includes a first opening and a second opening. The first flexible trim portion is attached to the rigid trim portion along an edge of the first opening. The first flexible trim portion at least partially covers the first opening. The second flexible trim portion is attached to the rigid trim portion along an edge of the second opening. The second flexible trim portion at least partially covers the second opening.

Claims

1. A vehicle interior trim panel comprising:

a rigid trim portion including a vehicle interior surface, a first opening defining surface extending transverse to the vehicle interior surface and defining a first opening, and a second opening defining surface extending transverse to the vehicle interior surface and defining a second opening;

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

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

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

an exterior surface of at least one of the first and second flexible trim portions is flush with the vehicle interior surface of the rigid trim portion.

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

an exterior surface of at least one of the first and second flexible trim portions is recessed with respect to the vehicle interior surface of the rigid trim portion.

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

the rigid trim portion includes a stepped configuration adjacent to the edge of at least one of the first and second openings.

5. A vehicle interior trim panel comprising:

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

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

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

a thickness of at least one of the first and second flexible trim portions tapering from an outer section that is proximate to the edge of a corresponding one of the first and second openings of the rigid trim portion toward an inner section of the at least one of the first and second flexible trim portions having a uniform thickness.

6. The vehicle interior trim panel according to claim 5, wherein the rigid trim portion includes a stepped configuration adjacent to the edge of the corresponding one of the first and second openings.

7. A vehicle interior trim panel comprising:

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

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

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

a thickness of an inner peripheral edge of at least one of the first and second flexible trim portions being greater than a thickness of an outer section of the at least one of the first and second flexible trim portions that is proximate to the edge of a corresponding one of the first and second openings of the rigid trim portion.

8. A vehicle interior trim panel comprising:

a rigid trim portion including a first opening, a second opening and a handle interface section that is recessed with respect to a surrounding portion of the rigid trim portion in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle interior trim panel;

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

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

9. The vehicle interior trim panel according to claim 8, wherein the handle interface section is disposed between the first and second openings.

10. The vehicle interior trim panel according to claim 8, wherein the handle interface section includes a stepped configuration adjacent to the edge of at least one of the first and second openings.

11. A vehicle interior trim panel comprising:

a rigid trim portion including an assist grip opening; and

a flexible trim portion 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, an exterior surface of the flexible trim portion being flush with a vehicle interior surface of the rigid trim portion.

15. The vehicle interior trim panel according to claim 11, wherein a thickness of the flexible trim portion tapers from an outer section of the flexible trim portion that is proximate to the edge of the assist grip opening toward an inner section of the flexible trim portion having a uniform thickness.

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

the rigid trim portion includes a stepped configuration adjacent to the edge of the assist grip opening.

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

a thickness of an inner peripheral edge of the flexible trim portion is greater than a thickness of an outer section of the flexible trim portion that is proximate to the edge of the assist grip opening.

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

the rigid trim portion includes a handle interface section that is recessed with respect to a surrounding portion of the rigid trim portion in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle interior trim panel.

19. The vehicle interior trim panel according to claim 18, wherein

the handle interface section extends from the edge of the assist grip opening.

20. The vehicle interior trim panel according to claim 18, wherein

the handle interface section includes a stepped configuration adjacent to the edge of the assist grip opening.

12. A vehicle interior trim panel comprising:

a rigid trim portion including an assist grip opening and a stepped configuration adjacent to the edge of the assist grip opening; and

a flexible trim portion 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.

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

an exterior surface of the flexible trim portion is flush with a vehicle interior surface of the rigid trim portion.

13. A vehicle interior trim panel comprising:

a rigid trim portion including an assist grip opening; and

a flexible trim portion 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, an exterior surface of the flexible trim portion being recessed with respect to a vehicle interior surface of the rigid trim portion.