Vehicle trim panel interlock for limiting trim panel separation during an impact condition

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11247540-B2
Application number	US-202016814161-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2020
Priority date	May 3, 2018
Publication date	Feb 15, 2022
Grant date	Feb 15, 2022

Abstract

A vehicle door includes a first interlock coupled to an inner frame panel. A second interlock coupled to an inner trim panel. The first and second interlocks are separated to define a ready state. During an impact condition, the first and second interlocks selectively engage one another to define an impact state that resists deflection of the inner trim panel away from the inner frame panel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle door comprising:
a first interlock coupled to an inner frame panel; and
a second interlock coupled to an inner trim panel, the first and second interlocks defining a ready state that prevents lateral separation of the inner frame panel and the inner trim panel; wherein,
the first and second interlocks are positioned in the ready state to define a maintenance gap between the first and second interlocks;
the inner frame and the inner trim panel are selectively and vertically separable to define a maintenance state by expanding the maintenance gap between the first and second interlocks; and
the first and second interlocks in the maintenance state are positioned to laterally bypass one another to allow for selective and lateral separation of the inner frame panel and the inner trim panel.

2. The vehicle door of claim 1 , wherein a separation tool selectively engages the first and second interlocks in the ready state and within the maintenance gap, and wherein operation of the separation tool operates the first and second interlocks between the ready state and the maintenance state.

3. The vehicle door of claim 2 , wherein a trim seal extends over the maintenance gap in the ready state, where the trim seal is operable to provide access to the maintenance gap.

4. The vehicle door of claim 1 , wherein the first interlock is positioned between a beltline seal and the inner frame panel, and wherein the first interlock extends toward the inner trim panel.

5. The vehicle door of claim 4 , wherein the first interlock is pre-tensioned in the ready state, wherein the first interlock is biased toward a direction of an impact state, the impact state defined by selective engagement between the first and second interlocks to resist deflection of the inner trim panel away from the inner frame panel.

6. The vehicle door of claim 5 , wherein the inner trim panel includes a biasing member that biases the first interlock into the ready state and defines a pre-tensioned position of the first interlock.

7. The vehicle door of claim 1 , wherein the second interlock includes a locking member that extends partially around the first interlock in the ready state.

8. The vehicle door of claim 6 , wherein the biasing member of the inner trim panel includes a plurality of ribs, wherein adjacent ribs of the plurality of ribs define the maintenance gap of the first and second interlocks.

9. The vehicle door of claim 1 , wherein the first and second interlocks are elongated members having cooperative mating structures at respective ends of the first and second interlocks.

10. The vehicle door of claim 9 , wherein the cooperative mating structure of the second interlock is offset from an inner surface of the inner trim panel.

11. The vehicle door of claim 9 , wherein the cooperative mating structures are elongated flanges that are substantially parallel with an upper edge of the inner frame panel.

12. A vehicle door comprising:
inner trim and inner frame panels that define a door cavity therebetween; and
a deflection interlock disposed within the door cavity and selectively operable from a ready state that prevents lateral separation of the inner trim panel and the inner frame panel to a maintenance state that allows the inner trim panel to laterally separate from the inner frame panel, wherein,
cooperative mating structures of the deflection interlock are elongated flanges that are substantially parallel with an upper edge of the inner frame panel; and
the deflection interlock includes a maintenance gap that is selectively and vertically expandable to operate the deflection interlock and the cooperative mating structures thereof between the ready and maintenance states.

13. The vehicle door of claim 12 , wherein the deflection interlock comprises:
a first interlock coupled to the inner frame panel; and
a second interlock coupled to the inner trim panel, the first and second interlocks defining the cooperative mating structures.

14. The vehicle door of claim 13 , wherein the ready state is defined by the cooperative mating structures of the first and second interlocks being separated by a predetermined deflection distance, and wherein an impact state is defined by the cooperative mating structures being engaged together in an engaged state.

15. The vehicle door of claim 13 , wherein a separation tool selectively engages the first and second interlocks in the ready state and within the maintenance gap, and wherein operation of the separation tool operates the first and second interlocks between the ready state and the maintenance state.

16. The vehicle door of claim 14 , wherein the first interlock is positioned between a beltline seal and the inner frame panel, and wherein the first interlock extends toward the inner trim panel.

17. The vehicle door of claim 16 , wherein a biasing member of the inner trim panel includes a plurality of ribs, wherein adjacent ribs of the plurality of ribs define a maintenance access space of the first and second interlocks.

18. The vehicle door of claim 17 , wherein a mating structure of the second interlock is offset from an inner surface of the inner trim panel.

19. A vehicle comprising:
a door having a frame panel and an inner panel; and
a deflection interlock extending between the frame panel and the inner panel; wherein:
cooperative mating structures of the deflection interlock are elongated flanges that are separated by a maintenance gap and substantially parallel with an upper edge of the inner frame panel;
the deflection interlock is selectively operable from an aligned ready state to a misaligned maintenance state; and
the misaligned maintenance state is defined by the cooperative mating structures of the deflection interlock being in an offset position that allows the cooperative mating structures to bypass one another and allow the frame panel to be separated from the inner panel.

20. The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein a separation tool selectively engages the cooperative mating structures in the aligned ready state and within the maintenance gap, and wherein operation of the separation tool operates the cooperative mating structures between the aligned ready state and the misaligned maintenance state.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Mullen Gary
• Thota Bhavani
• Morin Daniel
• Koehler Juergen
• Doan Linh

Classifications

• B60R13/0206

  Arrangements of fasteners and clips specially adapted for attaching inner vehicle liners or mouldings (devices for fastening or securing F16B) · CPC title

• B60R13/0243 Primary

  Doors · CPC title

• B60J5/0458

  Passive coupling of the reinforcement elements to the door or to the vehicle body · CPC title

• B60J5/0456

  Behaviour during impact · CPC title

• B60J5/0461 Primary

  characterised by a pre-defined mode of deformation or displacement in order to absorb impact · CPC title