Patent ID: 6276109
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A trim panel assembly for covering a motor vehicle body panel comprising:a molded plastic trim panel including a facia portion having an inside surface and an outside surface,a flat cantilever platform integral with the facia portion on the inside surface thereof adapted to face the vehicle body panel having a pair of side edges,a pair of flat side panels each having an arched edge matching the contour of the inside surface of the facia portion,a pair of living hinges integral with the flat cantilever platform and with respective ones of the pair of flat side panels supporting each of the pair of flat side panels on the flat cantilever platform at respective ones of the pair of side edges thereof for pivotal movement against a resilient restoring force of each of the pair of living hinges from a first position in the plane of the flat cantilever platform to a second position perpendicular to the flat cantilever platform with the arched edge thereof bearing against the inside surface of the facia portion,a retainer means operable to retain each of the pair of flat side panels in the second position thereof,a push-in fastener means, andan attachment means operable to attach the push-in fastener means to the flat cantilever platform,each of the pair of flat side panels in the second position thereof constituting a strut between the flat cantilever platform and the inside surface of the facia portion operable to prevent flexure of the flat cantilever platform when the push-in fastener means is thrust into a socket in the vehicle body panel by a force on the outside surface of the facia portion.