Door trim panel for energy absorption

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9649916-B2
Application number	US-201514838699-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 28, 2015
Priority date	Aug 28, 2015
Publication date	May 16, 2017
Grant date	May 16, 2017

Abstract

A door trim panel assembly includes a door trim panel and an armrest supported by the door trim panel. The armrest includes a top portion and a bottom portion each extending from the door trim panel, and a middle portion extending from the top portion to the bottom portion. The bottom portion has a wall thickness greater than a wall thickness of the top portion and greater than a wall thickness of the middle portion. The wall thickness of the top portion is less than the wall thickness of the middle portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A door trim panel assembly comprising:
a door trim panel; and
an armrest supported by the door trim panel;
the armrest including a top portion and a bottom portion each extending from the door trim panel, and a middle portion extending from the top portion to the bottom portion;
wherein the bottom portion has a wall thickness greater than a wall thickness of the top portion and greater than a wall thickness of the middle portion, and wherein the wall thickness of the top portion is less than the wall thickness of the middle portion.

2. The door trim panel assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the middle portion includes a first part and a second part, the first part being integral with the top portion and the second part of the middle portion being integral with the bottom portion.

3. The door trim panel assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the first part is thicker than the second part.

4. The door trim panel assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a side portion extending from the top portion to the bottom portion, the side portion being thinner than the top portion and the bottom portion and the middle portion.

5. The door trim panel assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein the side portion includes a first part and a second part, the first part being integral with the top portion and the second part being integral with the bottom portion.

6. The door trim panel assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein the first part is thinner than the second part.

7. The door trim panel assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bottom portion is integral with the door trim panel.

8. The door trim panel assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the armrest includes an upper segment presenting the top portion, and a lower segment presenting the bottom portion, the lower segment being integral with the panel, and the upper segment being fixed to at least one of the lower segment and the door trim panel.

9. The door trim panel assembly as set forth in claim 8 further comprising shelves extending from the door trim panel and supporting the upper segment.

10. The door trim panel assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the top portion is made of 10% talc filled polypropylene.

11. The door trim panel assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a foam body supported by the door trim panel and disposed below the bottom portion.

12. The door trim panel assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein the foam body tapers toward the side portion.

13. The door trim panel assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a reinforcing bracket extending from the armrest.

14. The door trim panel assembly as set forth in claim 13 further comprising a finger well portion adjacent the top portion and supported by the reinforcing bracket.

15. The door trim panel assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein the finger well portion is integral with the top portion.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Hamdoon Muhsin M
• Elbkaily Marwan Ahmad
• Doan Linh
• Clarke Jonathan
• Bartus Robert
• Dreher Stephen

Classifications

• B60J5/0456 Primary

  Behaviour during impact · CPC title

• B60R13/0243

  Doors · CPC title

• B60R21/0428 Primary

  associated with the side doors or panels, e.g. displaced towards the occupants in case of a side collision · CPC title

• B60J5/04 Primary

  arranged at the vehicle sides {(panel mounted arm-rests B60N2/78; wall liners B60R13/02; door edge guards B60R13/043; padded linings associated with the side doors B60R21/0428)} · CPC title

• B60R19/02

  Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects ({B60R19/56 takes precedence; initiating brake action by contact of bumper with an external object B60T7/22; for rail vehicles B61F19/04; safety equipment for cycles B62J27/00;} integral with waterborne vessels or specially adapted therefor B63B59/02) · CPC title