Vehicle interior trim panel

• US 8,297,676 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2010
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Osterhout, Neal, Balakrishnan, Prasath, She, Yimin, Miranda Nieto, Jorge Adolfo
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Westbrook, Sunsurraye
• Application Number:
  US12/945,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20120119531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 296/1.08, 296/193.06, 296/191, 296/39.1, 296/70, 296/187.05, 280/730.2, 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 264/27.1
• US Class Current: 296/1.08
• 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

Abstract

A vehicle interior trim panel is provided with a main trim body and a tab extending from the bottom end of the main trim body. The main trim body is configured to releasably cover at least a portion of a pillar of a vehicle, and includes a pillar facing surface, a passenger compartment facing surface, a top end and a bottom end. The tab extends from the bottom end of the main trim body to a free end that is configured to be received in a vehicle component. The tab includes a first face, a second face and a peripheral edge surrounding the first and second faces, and further includes a retention member protruding from the first face of the tab, with the retention member being configured to retain the tab to the vehicle component while the main trim body is released from the pillar.

Claims

1. A vehicle interior pillar trim panel comprising:

a main trim body configured to releasably cover at least a portion of a pillar of a vehicle, the main trim body including a pillar facing surface, a passenger compartment facing surface, a top end and a bottom end; and

a tab extending from the bottom end of the main trim body to a free end that is configured to be received in a vehicle component, the tab including a first face, a second face and a peripheral edge surrounding the first and second faces, the tab further including a retention member protruding from the first face of the tab, the retention member being configured to retain the tab to the vehicle component while the main trim body is released from the pillar.

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

the retention member includes a retention surface that faces in a direction generally towards the top end of the main trim body.

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

the retention member includes a ramp surface extending from the retention surface to the first face such that the ramp surface is tapered toward the first face of the tab as the ramp surface approaches the free end of the tab.

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

the ramp surface ends at the free end of the tab.

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

the ramp surface ends at a location that is spaced from the free end of the tab.

6. The vehicle interior pillar trim panel according to claim 1, further comprising

at least one additional tab extending from the bottom end of the main trim body and including a retention member.

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

the tabs include a first tab and a second tab, with the retention member of the first tab being larger in size than the retention member of the second tab.

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

the tabs include a first tab and a second tab, with the first and second tabs spaced apart along the bottom end of the main trim body and the first tab being located closer to a rear peripheral edge of the main trim body than the second tab.

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

the first face is located on the same side of the tab as the pillar facing surface.

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

the retention member includes a retention surface that is substantially perpendicular to the first face of the tab.

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

the tab includes a first portion and a second portion deflectably configured with respect to the first portion, the second portion including the retention member.

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

the first portion defines an aperture, with the second portion being deflectably configured with respect to the first portion to deflect within the aperture.

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

the tab defines a recess between the first face of the tab and the retention member such that at least a portion of the retention member is deflectably arranged with respect to the first face of the tab.

14. A vehicle structure comprising:

a pillar;

an vehicle component defining an aperture; and

a vehicle interior pillar trim panel releasably coupled to the pillar, the pillar trim panel including

a main trim body including a pillar facing surface, a passenger compartment facing surface, a top end and a bottom end, and

a tab extending from the bottom end of the main trim body to a free end, the tab extending through the aperture of the vehicle component, the tab including a first face, a second face and a peripheral edge surrounding the first and second faces, the tab further including a retention member protruding from the first face of the tab, the retention member selectively retaining the vehicle interior pillar trim panel to the vehicle component while the main trim body is released from the portion of the pillar.

15. The vehicle structure according to claim 14, wherein

the retention member includes a retention surface that faces in a direction generally towards the top end of the main trim body.

16. The vehicle structure according to claim 15, wherein

the vehicle component includes a concealed surface, and the retention surface contacts the concealed surface of the vehicle component to prevent movement of the tab out of the aperture.

17. The vehicle structure according to claim 15, wherein

the retention member includes a ramp surface extending from the retention surface to the first face such that the ramp surface is tapered toward the free end of the tab to guide installation of the tab through the aperture.

18. The vehicle structure according to claim 14, further comprising

an airbag disposed between the pillar and the vehicle interior trim panel, the retention member engaging the vehicle component to maintain the tab within the aperture during deployment of the airbag.

19. The vehicle structure according to claim 14, wherein

the tab and the retention member are configured with respect to the aperture such that the tab releases from the aperture without deformation therebetween in a first position and prevented from being withdrawn from the aperture without deformation therebetween in a second position.

20. The vehicle structure according to claim 14, further comprising

an airbag disposed between the pillar and the vehicle interior trim panel, with the vehicle interior trim panel being configured to pivot relative to the vehicle component to allow deployment of the airbag.

21. The vehicle structure according to claim 20, wherein

the vehicle interior trim panel is pivotally arranged relative to the vehicle component by the second face contacting the vehicle component during deployment of the airbag.