Console mounted to a headliner

• US 4,893,867 A
• Filed: 06/10/1988
• Issued: 01/16/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Automotive, Inc. (Lear Corporation)
• Inventors: McGarry, Stephen P., Hilborn, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Focarino, Margaret A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOGE, GARY CHAPMAN
• Application Number:
  US07/205,265
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.7, 296/37.8, 296/214, 296/39.1, 296/39.2
• US Class Current: 296/214
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0264 for control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0225 self supporting head liners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0275 comprising removable or hinged parts for accessing storage compartments B60R7/04; for airbag deployment B60R21/215
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0239 Electronic boxes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0028 Ceiling, e.g. roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0045 with visible part, e.g. flush mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0288 Apparatus made of several modules independently mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0281 made of a plurality of visible parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0293 Connection or positioning of adjacent panels
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/14 the sub-units or components being passenger compartment fittings, e.g. seats, linings, trim, instrument panels

Abstract

A combination headliner, retainer, console for use with a modular headliner for a motor vehicle. A substrate includes a depressed portion defining an opening therein. A retainer is mounted within the opening of the depressed portion and includes means for securing console mounted thereto. A console may be mounted to the retainer or directly to the substrate. Appropriate electrical connections may then be made between the retainer and console for providing electrical energy to the console. The retainer may further include extending wings for distributing the weight of the retainer and the console over a large area of the substrate.

Claims

1. A combination headliner and retainer for use with a motor vehicle which comprises:

a substrate generally configured to be mounted adjacent the roof of a motor vehicle, said substrate having a decorative surface observable to an occupant of the vehicle and a non-show surface facing the vehicle roof;

wherein said substrate includes a depressed portion extending downwardly from the adjacent substrate, said depressed portion defining a substrate opening therein; and

a retainer sized to extend through the substrate opening, said retainer having perimeter walls defining a central cavity in which a vehicle accessory may be mounted, and at least one shelf extending outwardly from a wall to engage the non-show surface of the substrate adjacent the substrate opening t mount the retainer to the substrate.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the retainer further comprises latching fingers mounted to the perimeter walls, said latching fingers extending to engage the decorative surface of the substrate to secure the substrate between the latching fingers and the shelf.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the shelf is provided with adhesive to secure the shelf to the non-show surface of the substrate.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the retainer further comprises at least one horizontally extending wing secured to a perimeter wall, said wing extending to engage a portion of the substrate other than the depressed portion.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the retainer comprises a pair of wings extending from opposed perimeter walls in opposite directions, each wing engaging a portion of the substrate other than the depressed portion.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the retainer further comprises fastening means positioned to be engaged by a vehicle accessory when mounted within the central cavity to assist in securing such vehicle accessory therewithin.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the retainer further comprises a back panel having a top surface and connected to each of the perimeter walls to collectively define an enclosure having an opening facing downwardly.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 and further comprising a slidable mesh fastener affixed to said top surface of the back panel and a mating mesh fastener secured to the vehicle roof, whereby upon assembly of the substrate and retainer to the motor vehicle the mesh fasteners engage.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a trim bezel sized to cover at least a portion of the central cavity of the retainer and means for mounting the trim bezel to the retainer.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 and including components to be mounted to the headliner wherein the components are secured with the retainer.

11. A combination headliner and console for a motor vehicle having a roof, which comprises:

a substrate generally configured to be mounted adjacent the roof, said substrate having a decorative surface facing the interior of the vehicle when the substrate is assembled to the vehicle and a non-show surface facing the roof of the vehicle;

said substrate defining a substrate opening therein; and

a console sized to fit within said opening, said console including fastening means for securing the console to the substrate with the console mounted within the opening, said console further including a trim bezel sized to cover said opening;

said trim bezel extending to mate with the decorative surface of the adjacent substrate to fully cover the opening and to eliminate large gaps between the bezel and the substrate;

said substrate including a depressed portion displaced downwardly therefrom and wherein the opening is defined within the depressed portion.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the trim bezel extends to mate with the decorative surface of the substrate within the depressed portion.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the console further comprises electrical accessories and wherein the console includes an electrical connector and wherein the substrate includes a wire harness mounted thereto and wherein the console electrical connector is connected to said wire harness.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the console includes an illumination means.

15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the console includes a vanity mirror.

16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the console includes a garage door opener operator means.

17. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the console includes a storage compartment.

18. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the console includes a display.

19. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 and further comprising a retainer mounted to the substrate about the opening and wherein the console fastening means mates with the retainer to secure the console to the substrate.

20. The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein the retainer further comprises a retainer electrical connector capable of being connected to the vehicle electrical system and wherein the console further comprises electrical components and a console electrical connector electrically connected to the electrical components of the console, said retainer electrical connector and said console electrical connector being appropriately aligned whereby upon assembly of the console to the retainer, the console electrical connector mates with the retainer electrical connector to form an electrical connection therebetween.

21. A headliner assembly for use with a motor vehicle which comprises:

a substrate configured to serve as the headliner of a motor vehicle, said substrate including a depressed portion extending downwardly therefrom and said depressed portion defining a substrate opening;

a retainer sized to fit within said substrate opening, said retainer including at least one shelf extending from said retainer to engage a surface of the substrate adjacent the substrate opening to hold the retainer in position; and

a console sized to fit through the substrate opening, said console including means to engage the retainer to secure the console to the retainer and the substrate and a trim bezel sized to cover the substrate opening and positioned on a surface of the substrate opposite that engaged by the retainer shelf.

22. The apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein the retainer includes a retainer electrical connector and wherein the console includes a console electrical connector, each positioned in alignment with the other whereby upon assembly of the console to the retainer the retainer electrical connector is electrically connected to the console electrical connector.

23. The apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein the console means to engage the retainer comprises at least one catch and wherein the retainer includes a flexible finger which may engage the catch to secure the console to the retainer.

24. The apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein the retainer comprises at least one flexible finger having an extending contact surface and wherein the console means to engage the retainer comprises a contact portion which may be engaged by the contact surface of the flexible finger to secure the console to the retainer.

25. The apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein the retainer comprises means to engage the substrate about the substrate opening on the opposite surface of the substrate from the engagement thereof with the shelf to secure the substrate therebetween.

26. The apparatus as set forth in claim 25 wherein the retainer and console have a characteristic weight associated therewith and the retainer further comprises a pair of oppositely extending wings positioned to engage the substrate at other than the depressed portion thereof, said wings acting to spread said weight over a large area of the substrate.

27. A retainer for mounting a console to a headliner and defining an opening therethrough, said retainer and console having a characteristic weight associated therewith, said retainer comprising

a retainer body defining a central cavity for the receipt of a console;

at least one planar shelf extending outwardly from the retainer body;

at least one latching finger extending from the retainer body and positioned to fit through the headliner opening such that the headliner adjacent the opening may be secured between the latching finger and the shelf; and

means for securing the console to the retainer body.

28. The apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein the means for securing comprises a flexible mounting finger including a contact surface positioned to engage a cooperating portion of the console.

29. The apparatus as set forth in claim 27 and further comprising a pair of wings extending horizontally from the retainer body, said wings being positioned to engage the headliner to distribute the weight of the retainer and console over the headliner.

30. The apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein the headliner includes a wire harness and the retainer includes a connector formed as a portion of the retainer body and electrically connected to the wire harness, said connector being positioned to be electrically mated with a counterpart connector on the console upon assembly of the console to the retainer.

31. The apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein the headliner includes a wire harness having conductors and a connector, and wherein the retainer further comprises a retainer connector holder into which the connector may be mounted such that upon assembly of the console to the retainer a mating console connector will electrically engage the connector secured in the retainer connector holder.