Vehicle interior structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2015232043-A1
Application number	US-201414180733-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 14, 2014
Priority date	Feb 14, 2014
Publication date	Aug 20, 2015
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle interior structure includes a main body, a first side trim panel and a top finisher panel. The main body has a first side defining a plurality of first side attachment portions. The first side trim panel at least partially covers the first side of the main body and has a plurality of first panel attachment portions attached to the first side attachment portions of the main body. The first side trim panel also includes at least one first projection spaced apart from the first panel attachment portions and located adjacent to the upper end of the main body, the at least one first projection having an aperture. The top finisher panel covers the upper end of the main body and has at least one downwardly extending second projection that extends into the aperture of the at least one first projection retaining the first side trim panel in position.

First claim

1 . A vehicle interior structure comprising:
a main body having a first side defining a plurality of first side attachment portions; a first side trim panel at least partially covering the first side of the main body, the first side trim panel having a plurality of first panel attachment portions attached to the first side attachment portions of the main body, and at least one first projection spaced apart from the first panel attachment portions and located adjacent to the upper end of the main body, the at least one first projection having an aperture; and a top finisher panel covering the upper end of the main body and having at least one downwardly extending second projection that extends into the aperture of the at least one first projection retaining the first side trim panel in position relative to the main body.

2 . The vehicle interior structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the main body, the first side trim panel and the top finisher at least partially define a vehicle center console assembly.

3 . The vehicle interior structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one first projection extends in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to an inner surface of the first side trim panel.

4 . The vehicle interior structure according to claim 1 , wherein
a distal end of the at least one second projection defines a snap-fitting projection.

5 . The vehicle interior structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one first projection of the first side trim panel includes a plurality of first projections, each of the plurality of first projections having a corresponding aperture, and the at least one second projection of the top finisher panel includes a plurality of second projections that extend downwardly into corresponding ones of the apertures of the plurality of first projections.

6 . The vehicle interior structure according to claim 1 , wherein
a main surface of the first side trim panel and a top surface of the top finisher panel extend substantially perpendicular to one another.

7 . The vehicle interior structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the first side trim panel includes a flexible outer portion and a rigid inner portion, with the flexible outer portion being fixedly attached to the rigid inner portion.

8 . The vehicle interior structure according to claim 7 , wherein
the first projection of the first side trim panel is integrally formed with the rigid inner portion as a one piece unitary monolithic element.

9 . The vehicle interior structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the main body has a second side defining a plurality of second side attachment portions, the vehicle interior structure further comprising: a second side trim panel at least partially covering the second side of the main body, the second side trim panel having a plurality of second panel attachment portions attached to the second side attachment portions of the main body, and a third projection spaced apart from the second panel attachment portions and located adjacent to the upper end of the main body, the third projection having an aperture, and the top finisher panel having a downwardly extending fourth projection that extends into the aperture of the third projection retaining the second side trim panel in position relative to the main body.

10 . The vehicle interior structure according to claim 9 , wherein
the third projection extends in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to an inner surface of the second side trim panel.

11 . The vehicle interior structure according to claim 9 , wherein
a distal end of the fourth projection defines a snap-fitting projection.

12 . The vehicle interior structure according to claim 9 , wherein
a main surface of the second side trim panel and a top surface of the top finisher panel extend substantially perpendicular to one another.

13 . The vehicle interior structure according to claim 9 , further comprising
the second side trim panel includes a flexible outer portion and a rigid inner portion, with the flexible outer portion being fixedly attached to the rigid inner portion.

14 . The vehicle interior structure according to claim 13 , wherein
the third projection of the second side trim panel is integrally formed with the rigid inner portion as a one piece unitary monolithic element.

15 . The vehicle interior structure according to claim 13 , wherein
the third projection extends in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a surface of the rigid inner portion that faces the main body.

16 . The vehicle interior structure according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a center stack trim panel installed to a vehicle instrument panel, the center stack trim panel being in an upright orientation and having at least one downwardly extending projection with a slot defined therein, and wherein the top finisher panel includes at least one snap-fitting projection extending from proximate a front end thereof, the snap-fitting projection being installed in the slot of the downwardly extending projection of the center stack trim panel.

17 . The vehicle interior structure according to claim 16 , wherein
the aperture defined by the at least one first projection of the first side trim panel has a first length in a longitudinal direction of the first side trim panel, and the at least one downwardly extending second projection of the top finisher panel has a second length in the longitudinal direction of the first side trim panel that is longer than the first length such that, as the top finisher panel is installed to the center stack trim panel, the at least one downwardly extending second projection slides downward and forward simultaneously within the aperture.

18 . The vehicle interior structure according to claim 1 , wherein
a front portion of the top finisher panel curves upward and away from an adjacent section of the top finisher panel.

19 . The vehicle interior structure according to claim 16 , wherein
a front portion of the top finisher panel curves upward and away from an adjacent section of the top finisher panel such that the at least one snap-fitting projection extends away from the top finisher panel at a non-orthogonal angle.

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Buza Jessica
• Norton Thomas
• Mally Thomas
• Yang Hsiao-Tung
• Eberlein Michael

Classifications

• B60R13/0206 Primary

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

• B60R2013/0293

  Connection or positioning of adjacent panels · CPC title

• B60R13/0262

  Mid-console liners · CPC title