Vehicle interior trim panel

• US 8,973,941 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2013
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Verner, Sarah
• Primary Examiner(s): VERLEY, NICOLE T
• Application Number:
  US13/867,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20140312600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/728.3
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/026 characterised by the fixing means B60N3/023 takes precedence
• 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 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars

Abstract

A vehicle interior trim panel includes a main portion, a first side portion and a second side portion. The main portion includes a grip assist handle. The first side portion extends along a first side of the main portion. The second side portion extends along a second side of the main portion. The first side portion includes a hinged attachment section configured to attach to a first region of a vehicle body structure. The second side portion includes an attachment section configured to releasably attach to a second region of the A-pillar structure. The first side portion, the second side portion, the main portion and the grip assist handle are integrally formed as a single, one-piece, unitary, monolithic structure.

Claims

1. A vehicle interior trim panel comprising

a main portion with a grip assist handle,

a first side portion extending along a first side of the main portion;

and

a second side portion extending along a second side of the main portion, wherein

the first side portion includes a hinged attachment section configured to attach to a first region of a vehicle body structure, the hinged attachment section comprising a single elongated hinge extending from an area proximate to an upper end of the first side portion to an area proximate to a lower end of the first side portion,

the second side portion includes an attachment section configured to releaseably attach to a second region of the vehicle body structure, and

the first side portion, the second side portion, the main portion and the grip assist handle are integrally formed as a single, one-piece, unitary, monolithic structure.

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

the main portion, the first side portion and the second side portion cooperate to define a U-shape in cross-section in areas adjacent to the grip assist handle.

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

the first side portion, the second side portion and the main portion at least partially cooperate to define a concave space dimensioned to conceal an airbag device.

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

the attachment section of the second side portion includes a plurality of snap-fitting projections configured to release from the vehicle body structure in response to airbag deployment.

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

the attachment section of the second side portion includes a plurality of frangible fasteners configured to separate from the second side portion in response to airbag deployment.

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

the single elongated hinge includes an extending section that is embedded within the first side portion.

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

the single elongated hinge includes an extending section embedded within the first side portion.

8. A vehicle comprising:

an A-pillar having a passenger compartment facing surface, a windshield side and a door side;

an airbag assembly extending along the passenger compartment facing surface of the A-pillar;

a hinge having a first section and a second section movably connected to one another for pivotal movement about a pivot pin; and

a trim panel movable between an airbag concealing orientation and an airbag deployed orientation, the trim panel having a main portion, a first side portion and a second side portion that cooperate to define a concave surface dimensioned to conceal the airbag assembly with the trim panel being in the airbag concealing orientation,

the main portion include a grip assist handle, the first side portion being attached to the first section of the hinge, the second section of the hinge being attached to the A-pillar structure at the windshield side thereof, and the second side portion includes an attachment section releaseably attached to the A-pillar at the door facing side such that in the airbag concealing orientation the second side portion is releaseably attached to the A-pillar at the door facing side, and in the airbag deployed orientation the second side portion is detached from the A-pillar, the trim panel pivoting about the pivot pin of the hinge during movement between the airbag concealing orientation and the airbag deployed orientation upon deployment of the airbag assembly, and

the first side portion, the second side portion, the main portion and the grip assist handle are integrally formed as a single, one-piece, unitary, monolithic structure such that the grip assist handle pivots with the trim panel during movement between the airbag concealing orientation and the airbag deployed orientation.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein

the main portion, the first side portion and the second side portion cooperate to define a U-shape in cross-section in areas adjacent to the grip assist handle.

10. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein

the attachment section of the second side portion includes a plurality of snap-fitting projections configured to release from the A-pillar structure in response to airbag deployment.

11. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein

the attachment section of the second side portion includes a plurality of frangible fasteners configured to separate from the second side portion in response to airbag deployment.

12. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein

the hinge comprises a single elongated hinge extending from an area proximate to an upper end of the first side portion to an area proximate to a lower end of the first side portion.

13. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein

the single elongated hinge includes an extending section that is embedded within the first side portion.

14. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein

the hinge comprises a plurality of spaced apart hinges attached to the first side portion.

15. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein

the second section of each of the plurality of hinges is embedded within the first side portion.

16. A vehicle comprising:

an A-pillar having a passenger compartment facing surface, a windshield side and a door side;

an airbag assembly extending along the passenger compartment facing surface of the A-pillar;

a hinge having a first section and a second section movably connected to one another for pivotal movement about a pivot pin; and

a trim panel movable between an airbag concealing orientation and an airbag deployed orientation, the trim panel having a main portion, a first side portion and a second side portion that cooperate to define a concave surface dimensioned to conceal the airbag assembly in the airbag concealing orientation,

the first side portion being attached to the first section of the hinge, the second section of the hinge being attached to the A-pillar structure at the windshield side thereof, and the second side portion of the trim panel including an attachment section such that in the airbag concealing orientation the second side portion is releaseably attached to the A-pillar at the door facing side, and in the airbag deployed orientation the second side portion is detached from the A-pillar, the trim panel pivoting about the pivot pin of the hinge during movement between the airbag concealing orientation and the airbag deployed orientation upon deployment of the airbag assembly,

the main portion including a grip assist handle fixedly attached to a section of the main portion of the trim panel, the airbag assembly being located directly between the passenger compartment facing surface of the A-pillar and the section of the main portion having the grip assist handle with the trim panel in the airbag concealing orientation, the grip assist handle being fixedly attached to the main portion of the trim panel such that forces applied to the grip assist handle from within the passenger compartment are transferred directly to the trim panel and to the hinge, and further directly transferred to the A-pillar via the hinge.

17. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein

the first side portion, the second side portion, the main portion and the grip assist handle are integrally formed as a single, one-piece, unitary, monolithic structure.

18. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein

the second section of the hinge is embedded within the first side portion of the trim panel.

19. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein

the hinge comprises a plurality of spaced apart hinges attached to the first side portion of the trim panel.

20. The vehicle according to claim 19, wherein

each of the plurality of spaced apart hinges includes a corresponding second section that is embedded within a corresponding area of the first side portion of the trim panel.