Vehicle trim structure

A vehicle trim structure includes a flange provided at a vehicle trim and configured to contact a counterpart member, wherein an end portion of the flange that is configured to contact the counterpart member is formed from a soft material, and a contact face of the end portion is configured with a circular arc-shaped cross-section profile.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-180743 filed on Sep. 26, 2018, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle trim structure.

Related Art

Japanese Patent No. 3579588 discloses an automobile door trim in which a thickened portion is formed along substantially the entire length of an upper edge flange of a lower base in order to provide rigidity. A protrusion is formed along substantially the entire length of an upper edge of the flange so as to provide the thickened portion with a step. The protrusion is pressure bonded (contacted against) an armrest portion formed to a center base from below. The contact position accordingly does not change even if the lower base warps or deforms.

However, in the trim structure disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3579588, there is a possibility that inward tucking or outward splaying of a contact portion occurring as a consequence of the profile of the center base, an assembly path of the lower base, the assembly method, or the like might cause a large angle of warp in the lower base, resulting in a gap through which it is possible to see all the way through to a front face side of the lower base, which would be detrimental to the appearance.

SUMMARY

In consideration of the above circumstances, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle trim structure in which the appearance of a contact location between a vehicle trim and a counterpart member is improved without being affected by the profile of the counterpart member, an assembly path, or an assembly method.

A vehicle trim structure of a first aspect of the present disclosure includes a flange provided at a vehicle trim and configured to contact a counterpart member, wherein an end portion of the flange that is configured to contact the counterpart member is formed from a soft material, and a contact face of the end portion is configured with a circular arc-shaped cross-section profile.

In the vehicle trim structure of the first aspect, the end portion of the flange on the vehicle trim that contacts the counterpart member is formed from a soft material, and the contact face of the end portion is configured with the circular arc-shaped cross-section profile. Accordingly, even if the manner in which the counterpart member and the end portion of the flange contact each other varies as a consequence of the profile of the counterpart member or as a consequence of a poor positional relationship between the end portion and the counterpart member, a contact angle between the two remains substantially constant. The appearance of the contact location between the vehicle trim and the counterpart member is therefore improved in comparison to cases in which, for example, the contact angle can vary by a large amount.

The flange may adopt a state either tucked inward or splayed outward (tilted outward) as a consequence of the profile of the counterpart member, the assembly path, assembly method, or the like. Even if the amount of tucking or the amount of splaying varies, the contact angle remains substantially constant. The appearance of the contact location between the vehicle trim and the counterpart member is therefore improved in comparison to cases in which, for example, the contact angle can vary by a large amount.

As described above, the vehicle trim structure is capable of improving the appearance of the contact location between the vehicle trim and the counterpart member without being affected by the profile of the counterpart member, the assembly path, or the assembly method.

A vehicle trim structure of a second aspect of the present disclosure is the vehicle trim structure of the first aspect, wherein a stylized face side of the end portion of the flange has a planar profile, and an opposite side from the stylized face side has a circular arc shape.

In the vehicle trim structure of the second aspect, the stylized face side of the end portion of the flange that contacts the counterpart member has a planar profile, and the opposite side thereto is configured with a circular arc shape, thereby improving the appearance of the end portion of the flange when viewed from its outer side. This enables the appearance of the contact location between the vehicle trim and the counterpart member to be improved.

A vehicle trim structure of a third aspect of the present disclosure is the vehicle trim structure of either the first aspect or the second aspect, wherein the vehicle trim is an onboard device cover, and the counterpart member is a vehicle interior decorative cover.

In the vehicle trim structure of the third aspect, the appearance of the contact location between the onboard device cover configuring the vehicle trim and the vehicle interior decorative cover configuring the counterpart member is improved.

A vehicle trim structure of a fourth aspect of the present disclosure is the vehicle trim structure of any one of the first aspect to the third aspect, wherein the end portion of the flange is configured to contact an outwardly visible face of the counterpart member.

In the vehicle trim structure of the fourth aspect, since the end portion of the flange of the vehicle trim contacts the outwardly visible face of the counterpart member, an effect of improving the appearance of the contact location between the vehicle trim and the counterpart member is further enhanced.

The present disclosure is capable of providing a vehicle trim structure in which the appearance of a contact location between a vehicle trim and a counterpart member is improved without being affected by the profile of the counterpart member, the assembly path, or the assembly method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Explanation follows regarding a vehicle trim structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, with reference toFIG. 1toFIG. 7.

Vehicle Trim Structure

As illustrated inFIG. 1toFIG. 3, a vehicle trim structure S of the present exemplary embodiment includes an onboard device cover20(also referred to hereafter as the “device cover20” as appropriate), serving as an example of a vehicle trim, and a vehicle interior decorative cover30(also referred to hereafter as the “interior decorative cover30” as appropriate), serving as an example of a counterpart member. The vehicle trim structure S is a trim structure used to improve the appearance of a contact location between the onboard device cover20and the vehicle interior decorative cover30.

In the drawings, the arrow UP indicates a vehicle upper side, the arrow FR indicates a vehicle front side, and the arrow R indicates a vehicle right side.

The vehicle interior decorative cover30will be described first, after which the onboard device cover20will be described.

Vehicle Interior Decorative Cover

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the interior decorative cover30of the present exemplary embodiment is a cover member used to cover a front pillar32, forming framework of a vehicle body, from the vehicle cabin inside. The interior decorative cover30is formed with an opening30A to allow a bracket34extending from the front pillar32toward the vehicle cabin inside to pass through the interior decorative cover30. The bracket34is used to attach a display40(or monitor), serving as an example of an onboard device. For example, information (images) from the vehicle exterior are displayed on the display40.

Onboard Device Cover

As illustrated inFIG. 1toFIG. 3, the device cover20of the present exemplary embodiment is a cover member used to cover the bracket34and wiring for the display40. The device cover20includes a frame-shaped frame portion22into which the display40is fitted, and a tube-shaped flange24extending from the frame portion22.

The frame portion22is formed in a frame shape from a hard resin material, and is formed with a size such that a gap is not formed between the frame portion22and the display40when the display40has been fitted in.

The flange24is formed in a tube shape from a hard resin material. An end portion24A side of the flange24on the opposite side of the flange24to the frame portion22is formed from a soft resin material (for example rubber or a rubber-like elastic body). Note that the end portion24A of the flange24is a portion that contacts an outwardly visible face30B of the interior decorative cover30(seeFIG. 5toFIG. 7).

The flange24is formed from the same resin material as the frame portion22, with the exception of the vicinity of the end portion24A. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the above configuration, and the flange24(excluding the end portion24A) may be formed from a different resin material to that of the frame portion22.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the flange24and the end portion24A thereof are formed by two-color molding. The present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration, and alternatively, the flange24and the end portion24A thereof may be joined together at a later stage.

As illustrated inFIG. 2andFIG. 5, a contact face of the end portion24A of the flange24is configured with a circular arc-shaped cross-section profile. Specifically, the end portion24A of the flange24has a planar profile on a stylized face25side, and has a substantially semicircular circular arc-shaped profile at a face26on the opposite side thereto.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the device cover20is formed by two connected cover members18,19. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. The device cover20may be configured by connecting together three or more cover members, or may be configured by a single cover member.

Explanation follows regarding operation and advantageous effects of the present exemplary embodiment.

In the vehicle trim structure S, the end portion24A of the flange24of the device cover20, in other words the end portion24A that contacts the outwardly visible face30B (vehicle cabin side face) of the interior decorative cover30, is formed from a soft material, and the contact face of the end portion24A is configured with a circular arc-shaped cross-section profile. Accordingly, even if the manner in which the outwardly visible face30B and the end portion24A of the flange24contact each other varies as a consequence of the profile of the interior decorative cover30or as a consequence of a poor positional relationship between the end portion24A and the interior decorative cover30, a contact angle θ between the two remains substantially constant. The appearance of the contact location between the device cover20and the interior decorative cover30is therefore improved in comparison to cases in which, for example, the contact angle θ can vary by a large amount.

Moreover, in the vehicle trim structure S, as illustrated inFIG. 5toFIG. 7, the flange24may adopt a state either tucked inward or splayed outward (tilted outward) as a consequence of the profile of the interior decorative cover30, the assembly path, assembly method, or the like. Even if the amount of tucking or the amount of splaying varies, the contact angle θ remains substantially constant. The appearance of the contact location between the device cover20and the interior decorative cover30is therefore improved in comparison to cases in which, for example, the contact angle θ can vary by a large amount.

As described above, the vehicle trim structure S enables the appearance of the contact location between the device cover20and the interior decorative cover30to be improved without being affected by the shape of the interior decorative cover30, assembly path, or assembly method. The vehicle trim structure S also suppresses the appearance of gaps between the device cover20and the interior decorative cover30, thus suppressing the interior thereof from becoming visible.

In the vehicle trim structure S, the stylized face25side of the end portion24A of the flange24is configured with a planar profile, and the face26on the opposite side is configured with a circular arc shape, thereby improving the appearance of the end portion24A of the flange24when viewed from its outer side. This enables the appearance of the contact location between the device cover20and the interior decorative cover30to be improved.

Furthermore, in the vehicle trim structure S, since the end portion24A of the flange24of the device cover20contacts the outwardly visible face30B of the interior decorative cover30, an effect of improving the appearance of the contact location between the device cover20and the interior decorative cover30is further enhanced.

Moreover, in the device cover20of the present exemplary embodiment, the flange24and the end portion24A thereof are formed by two-color molding. Accordingly, for example, the appearance of movement (movement during inward tucking or outward splaying) of the end portion24A of the flange24is improved in comparison to configurations in which the flange24is formed by assembling together component parts.

Although the stylized face25side of the end portion24A of the flange24is configured with a planar profile in the exemplary embodiment described above, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 8, the stylized face25side of the flange24may be configured in a substantially semicircular circular arc shape. In other words, the cross-section profile of the end portion24A of the flange24may be a profile with a rounded head. The principle advantageous effects of the present disclosure can still be obtained in such cases.

Although the end portion24A of the flange24is formed from a soft resin material in the exemplary embodiment described above, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 9, the entire flange24may be formed from a hard resin material, with a thinned portion27being formed on the end portion24A side of the flange24. Such a configuration facilitates deformation of the flange24about the thinned portion27. In addition to the principle advantageous effects of the present disclosure, the manufacturing process is simplified, and material costs can be suppressed since the flange24can be formed from a single resin material.

In the exemplary embodiment described above, the face26on the opposite side to the end portion24A of the flange24is configured in a substantially semicircular circular arc shape. This encompasses cases in which, for example, the end portion24A has a profile with a hollow interior, as illustrated inFIG. 10. Note that the cross-section profile of the end portion24A illustrated inFIG. 10corresponds to a substantially J-shaped profile. Alternatively, as illustrated inFIG. 11, an end portion24A with a J-shaped cross-section profile may be formed with the thinned portion27described above. The principle advantageous effects of the present disclosure can still be obtained in such cases.

Although explanation has been given regarding an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, this exemplary embodiment is merely an example, and various modifications may be implemented within a range not departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. The scope of rights encompassed by the present disclosure is obviously not limited by the above exemplary embodiment.