Abstract:
A motor vehicle door is provided. That door includes a door body that carries a door handle and a decorative trim feature remote from the door handle. A key cylinder is carried on the door body behind an access door in the decorative trim feature. The positioning of a hidden key cylinder at a position remote from the door handle frees designers to provide a motor vehicle door with a cleaner and more aesthetically appealing appearance.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This document relates generally to the motor vehicle equipment field and, more particularly, to a door for a motor vehicle including a key cylinder that is hidden behind a decorative trim feature carried on the body of the door at a location remote from the door handle. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    This document relates to a new and improved door for a motor vehicle. Such a door is characterized by enhanced craftsmanship and design quality resulting in a clean door outer panel wherein the key cylinder is provided within a decorative trim feature at a position on the door remote from the door handle. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, a door is provided for a motor vehicle. That door comprises a door body and a door handle carried on the door body. Further, the door includes a decorative trim feature carried on the door body that is remote from the door handle. A key cylinder is carried on the door body behind the decorative trim feature. 
         [0004]    The decorative trim feature may be a badge and may include the make or model of the motor vehicle. 
         [0005]    In some embodiments the door may also include a belt molding that is carried on the door body. The door handle may be carried on the belt molding. 
         [0006]    In some embodiments, the door body may include a leading edge or hinge edge and the decorative trim feature may be carried on the door body adjacent that leading or hinge edge. In some embodiments, the decorative trim feature is carried below the belt molding on the door body. 
         [0007]    In some embodiments, the decorative trim feature includes an access door that overlies the key cylinder. In some embodiments, that access door is pivotally connected to a remainder of the decorative trim feature. That access door may be square in profile. Further that access door may include rounded corners. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments, the access door is inward opening. Such an access door may include a projecting stop while the remainder of the decorative trim feature includes a recess for receiving and holding that stop when the access door is in a closed position flush with the face of the remainder of the decorative trim feature. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, the access door may include a spring that biases the access door to a closed position overlying the key cylinder. 
         [0010]    In the following description, there are shown and described several preferred embodiments of the motor vehicle door. As it should be realized, the motor vehicle door is capable of other, different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the door as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0011]    The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the motor vehicle door and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof. In the drawing figures: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a motor vehicle including a door constructed in accordance with the teachings of this document. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a detailed elevational view of one possible decorative trim feature provided on that door. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary and exploded perspective view of the decorative trim feature including a pivoting access door. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the access door in full line in a closed position concealing a key cylinder and in phantom line in an open position allowing access to the key cylinder. 
       
    
    
       [0016]    Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the motor vehicle door, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 1  illustrating a motor vehicle  10  equipped with a motor vehicle door  12  constructed in accordance with the teachings of this document. While a driver&#39;s side door  12  is illustrated, it should be appreciated that substantially any other door or closure of the motor vehicle  10  may include the features being described in this document. As illustrated, the door  12  includes a body  14  which includes an outer panel made from sheet metal, aluminum, fiberglass or other appropriate material. 
         [0018]    In the illustrated embodiment, the body  14  carries a door handle  16  for opening and closing the door  12 . In addition, the body  14  carries a belt molding  18  at the belt line of the motor vehicle  10  immediately below the door window  20 . In the illustrated embodiment, the door handle  16  is provided in the belt molding  18  adjacent the rear edge  22  of the door  12  and the B pillar  24  of the motor vehicle  10 . 
         [0019]    As also illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the door  12  carries a rear view mirror assembly  26  and a decorative trim feature  28 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the decorative trim feature  28  is carried on the door body  14  at a position or location remote from the door handle  16 . In the illustrated embodiment, the decorative trim feature  28  is carried adjacent a leading or front edge  30  of the door body  14  which is at the hinge side of the door opposite the door handle  16 . In the illustrated embodiment, the decorative trim feature  28  is carried on the door body  14  below the belt molding  18  which holds the door handle  16 . Further, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , it should be appreciated that the trim feature  28  may extend forward past the door body  14  along the front fender  32  if desired. 
         [0020]    As illustrated in detail in  FIG. 2 , the decorative trim feature  28  may comprise a badge incorporating indicia  34  indicating the make or model of the motor vehicle  10 . 
         [0021]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 , the decorative trim feature  28  may also include an access door  36  that overlies a key cylinder  38  that is carried on the door body  14  behind the decorative trim feature  28 . In the illustrated embodiment, the access door  36  has a square profile with rounded corners. It should be appreciated, however, that the access door  36  may assume profiles of other shapes including but not limited to various polygonal configurations that may even blend into or form part of the indicia  34  if desired. 
         [0022]    As best illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the access door  36  includes two lugs  40  and two opposed projecting stops  42 . The remainder of the decorative trim feature  28  includes an opening  44 . The rear of the decorative trim feature  28  includes two opposed pivot ears  48 . A pivot pin  50  extends through the pivot ears  48  and the lugs  40  to pivotally connect the access door  36  to the remainder of the decorative trim feature  28 . Recesses  52  provided adjacent the opening  44  in the rear wall of the decorative trim feature  28  receive and hold the stops  42  on the access door  36  when the access door is in a closed position. A spring  54 , such a torsion spring, may be provided at the pivot pin  50  to bias the access door  36  into a closed position wherein the stops  42  engage the bottom of the recesses  52  and hold the front of the access door  36  flush with the face  56  of the decorative trim feature  28  (see also  FIG. 4 ). An additional stop  58  formed at the rear of the decorative trim feature  28  above the opening  44  engages the rear of the access door when opened in order to establish the fully open position allowing access to the key cylinder  38 . Here it should be appreciated that the decorative trim feature  28  is shaped to provide a cavity  60  of sufficient depth between the decorative trim feature  28  and the key cylinder  38  carried on the door body  14  to allow full pivoting movement of the access door  36  between the open and closed positions. 
         [0023]    As should be appreciated, the access door  36  is opened to gain access to the key cylinder  38  by engaging the front of the access door  36  with the end of the key  62  and pushing inward in the direction of action arrow A in  FIG. 4  until the access door  36  pivots fully open and the key  62  engages in the key cylinder  38  allowing one to turn the lock. 
         [0024]    The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.