Vehicle trim component having beverage retainer and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9114839-B2
Application number	US-201414164568-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 27, 2014
Priority date	May 25, 2011
Publication date	Aug 25, 2015
Grant date	Aug 25, 2015

Abstract

A vehicle trim assembly is provided having a beverage retainer formed in a storage compartment on the door of an automotive vehicle. The trim assembly includes a storage receptacle and a trim component such as a trim panel arranged to define at least a portion of the storage receptacle. The trim panel includes a base portion connected to a beverage retainer portion via a living hinge. The beverage retainer portion is pivoted about the living hinge into position within the storage receptacle. The trim assembly may include a trim component assembled onto a pillar and pivoted about the living hinge between a use position and a stored position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle trim component comprising:
a base portion;
a beverage retainer portion; and
an integrally formed living hinge connected to the base portion and the beverage retainer portion, wherein the beverage retainer portion is pivoted about the living hinge into a use position.

2. The trim component of claim 1 , wherein the beverage retainer portion is snap fit into engagement within a storage receptacle.

3. The trim component of claim 2 , wherein the trim component is located on a vehicle door.

4. The trim component of claim 3 , wherein the storage receptacle is a map pocket.

5. The trim component of claim 3 , wherein the trim component serves as an inner trim panel which matingly engages an outer trim panel of the vehicle door.

6. The trim component of claim 1 , wherein the trim component is located on a vehicle pillar, wherein the beverage retainer portion pivots about the living hinge into a use position extending from the pillar.

7. The trim component of claim 1 , wherein the base portion, the beverage retainer portion and living hinge are integrally formed.

8. The trim component of claim 1 , wherein the living hinge comprises a first living hinge and a second living hinge.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Langenbacher Kim
• Dreher Steve
• Dunham Scott H
• Bhatti Ammad

Classifications

• B60N3/101 Primary

  fixed · CPC title

• B29C45/0081

  of objects with parts connected by a thin section, e.g. hinge, tear line · CPC title

• B62D65/02 Primary

  Joining sub-units or components to, or positioning sub-units or components with respect to, body shell or other sub-units or components · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• B60N3/108

  with resilient holding elements · CPC title