Door trim structure of automotive vehicle

A pocket member includes a flat-shaped first floor portion located forward and extending substantially horizontally and a flat-shaped second floor portion located in back of the first floor portion and rising obliquely rearward from the first floor portion. A trim recess portion recessed outward in a vehicle width direction is formed at a portion which is located above a trim opening portion and between a door armrest portion and a speaker storage portion which respectively protrude toward a vehicle-compartment side. The trim recess portion is configured to extend obliquely forward and upward from the trim opening portion along the direction substantially perpendicular to the second floor portion. Accordingly, an appropriate storage position of any stored bottle containers, regardless of its size (a large-sized one, a small-sized one) can be provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a door trim structure of an automotive vehicle, in which a pocket member is joined to a back face of a door trim having a trim opening portion formed at a door trim's lower portion so as to mach the trim opening portion and form a storage portion in the shape of a tube with a floor between the door trim and the pocket member.

Conventionally, it is known, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2008-273426, that a storage portion for storing a bottle container, such as a pet bottle, is provided at a door trim provided at an inside of a door for vehicle. In this patent document, a pocket portion is joined to a back face of a door trim having a trim opening portion formed at a door trim's lower portion so as to mach the trim opening portion and form a storage portion in the shape of a tube with a floor between the door trim and the pocket member.

In recent years, however, a small-sized bottle container having the capacity of about 350-500 mL and a large-sized bottle container having the capacity of about 1-2 L have become popular, so that there is a problem in that if a tall and large-sized bottle container is stored in the above-described storage portion in an upright position, for example, this large-sized bottle container may be difficult to be taken (picked) out of the storage portion because of its location close to other members (components) arranged at an upper portion of the door trim (an armrest, an inner handle, or the like, for example).

Then, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-216700 proposes a structure which comprises a storage portion to store a bottle container in a forward slant position for solving the above-described problem. Herein, a trim recess portion is formed between an armrest portion and a speaker storage portion storing a speaker, which extends obliquely forward, and a connection portion connecting the armrest portion and the speaker storage portion is provided so that the bottle container stored in the trim recess portion can be supported at the connection portion. Accordingly, the large-sized bottle container can be stored stably in the forward slant position, improving an easy taken-out operation of the large-sized bottle container.

However, since a small-sized bottle container may be also stored in its forward slant position according to the structure disclosed in the above-described second patent document, there is another problem in that a storage state of the small-sized bottle container may be inferior in appearance and also its taken-out operation may be difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a door trim structure of an automotive vehicle which can provide an appropriate storage position of any bottle container stored, regardless of its size (i.e., a large-sized one or a small-sized one).

According to the present invention, there is provided a door trim structure of an automotive vehicle, comprising a door trim provided at a vehicle-compartment side of a door body, the door trim having a trim opening portion which is formed at a lower portion of the door trim and opens upward, and a pocket member joined to a back face of the door trim so as to mach the trim opening portion and form a storage portion in the shape of a tube with a floor between the door trim and the pocket member, wherein the pocket member includes a flat-shaped first floor portion which is located forward and extends substantially horizontally and a flat-shaped second floor portion which is located in back of the first floor portion and rises obliquely rearward from the first floor portion, a trim recess portion which is recessed outward in a vehicle width direction is formed at a portion of the door trim which is located above the trim opening portion and between an armrest portion and a speaker storage portion which respectively protrude toward the vehicle-compartment side, and the trim recess portion is configured to extend obliquely forward and upward from the trim opening portion along a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the second floor portion of the pocket member.

According to the present invention, the small-sized bottle container can be stored substantially in the upright position by having its bottom placed onto the first floor portion of the pocket member. Thereby, the storage state of the small-sized bottle container can be superior (specifically, its good appearance and its easy taken-out operation). Further, the large-sized bottle container can be stored in the forward slant position by having its bottom placed onto the second floor portion of the pocket member and having its upper portion supported at the lower portion of the trim recess portion. Thereby, the storage state of the large-sized bottle container can be superior (specifically, its easy taken-out operation). Accordingly, the storage position of any bottle container stored can be appropriate, regardless of its size (i.e., a large-sized one or a small-sized one).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the pocket member includes a side face portion which rises upward from the first and second floor portions, and the side face portion has a restriction portion which is configured to advance into a first upper space extending upward along a direction perpendicular to the first floor portion and to be formed along a peripheral edge portion of a second upper space extending obliquely upward and forward along another direction perpendicular to the second floor portion. Thereby, the upper portion of the stored small-sized bottle container can be supported at the restriction portion advancing into the first upper space, thereby restricting the position of the stored small-sized bottle container. Accordingly, the small-sized bottle container substantially in the upright position can be stored stably. Meanwhile, since the above-described restriction portion is formed along the peripheral edge portion of the second upper space, when the large-sized bottle container stored in the forward slant position is taken out of the storage portion, it can be avoided that the large-sized bottle container is caught by the restriction portion. Accordingly, the restriction portion may not hinder a smooth taken-out operation of the large-sized bottle container.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the trim recess portion is configured such that a lower edge portion thereof is of an arch shape which projects upward along the speaker storage portion in a side view. Thereby, since the upper portion of the large-sized bottle container stored in the storage portion contacts the arc-shaped lower edge portion of the trim recess portion, the large-sized bottle container can be supported stably. Then, when it is taken out, the large-sized bottle container can be smoothly slid obliquely forward over and along the arc-shaped lower edge portion of the trim recess portion. Accordingly, the easy taken-out operation of the large-sized bottle container can be improved.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a front side portion of the pocket member and a lower portion of the trim recess portion form a continuous face extending upward and forward. Thereby, a space for providing the first floor portion of the pocket member can be easily formed by forming the continuous face extending upward and forward.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the pocket member includes a space expansion portion which expands rearward from an imaginary line connecting a rear end portion of the trim opening portion and a rear end portion of the second floor portion. When the large-sized bottle container stored in the forward slant position is taken out of the storage portion, the bottom of the large-sized bottle container tends to move upward and rearward. Herein, in a case in which the above-described space expansion portion is formed at the pocket member, the bottom of the large-sized bottle container can be allowed to move upward and rearward smoothly. Accordingly, the large-sized bottle container can be taken out easily without the bottom being caught by the rear portion of the pocket member.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a boundary portion of the first and second floor portions is of a valley shape which extends straightly in a vehicle width direction. Thereby, since the bottom of the large-sized bottle container or the small-sized bottle container in the stored position can be caught by the boundary portion in the valley shape, any of the large-sized bottle container and the small-sized bottle container can be stored stably.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereafter, a preferred embodiment of the present embodiment will be described specifically referring to the accompanying drawings.

The drawings show a door trim structure of an automotive vehicle.FIG. 1is a side view showing a right-side front door, when viewed from the inside of a vehicle compartment, andFIG. 2is a perspective view of a main part ofFIG. 1. InFIGS. 1 and 2, a front door1comprises a door body2and a door sash portion3, and the door body2comprises a door outer panel4and a door inner panel5. Door-trim base materials6,7,8are provided at a vehicle-compartment side of the door body2. In the present embodiment, a door trim9is comprised of, but not limited to, the plural door-trim base materials6,7,8: the first door-trim base material6which is located on a lower side; the second door-trim base material7which is located on a middle side; and the third door-trim base material8which is located on an upper side.

At a front portion of the first door-trim base material6are formed a trim recess portion10which extends obliquely forward and upward and is recessed outward in a vehicle width direction and a pocket member11as a storage portion which is continuous to the above-described trim recess portion10. A speaker13is stored at a speaker storage portion12which is provided at a front lower portion of the trim recess portion10, and a vehicle-compartment side of the speaker13is covered with a cover member14. A lower edge portion10aof the trim recess portion10is of an arc shape which projects upward along the speaker storage portion12in a side view.

The second door-trim base material7is configured such that it curves gradually outward in the vehicle width direction from its upper portion to its lower portion. A shell portion15which extends obliquely forward and upward is formed between a front portion of the second door-trim base material7and the trim recess portion10of the first door-trim base material6. Switches for operating window glasses and the like are arranged at the shell portion5.

A door armrest portion16which protrudes toward the inside of the vehicle compartment from a lower portion of the second door-trim base material7is formed between an upper portion of a rear part of the first door-trim base material6and the lower portion of the second door-trim base material7. The door armrest portion16, which is separate from the door-trim base materials6,7,8, is comprised of an armrest cover portion20which covers an opening portion (not illustrated) of the door-trim base materials6,7. Further, a door inner handle18which releases a door lock is arranged at a front portion of the third door-trim base material8.

A trim opening portion11awhich forms an opening portion of the pocket portion11is formed at a lower face portion of the first door-trim base material6, and a pocket member30, as a separate member, is arranged so as to correspond to the trim opening portion11a. The above-described trim recess portion10, which is located above the trim opening portion11a, is formed between the door armrest portion16and the speaker storage portion12.

FIG. 3is a side view showing a state in which a small-sized bottle container is stored,FIG. 4is a view from an X direction ofFIG. 3, which is a plan view of the pocket member when viewed from an upper position facing to a first floor,FIG. 5is a side view showing a state in which a large-sized bottle container is stored,FIG. 6is a view from a Y direction ofFIG. 5, which is a plan view of the pocket member when viewed from a front position facing to a second floor, andFIG. 7is a side view showing a state in which the large-sized bottle container is taken out of a storage portion. InFIGS. 1-7, the pocket member30is made from resin and integrally formed by first and second floor portions31,32which will be described, a side face portion33which rises upward from a portion of an edge portion of the first and second floor portion31,32except another portion of the above-described edge portion located on the vehicle-compartment side, a flange portion34which is formed along the above-described other portion of the edge portion of the first and second floor portion31,32and an edge portion of the side face portion33, and plural joint pieces35a-35fwhich project from the flange portion34.

The pocket member30is, as shown inFIGS. 1-7, is configured to open to the inside of the vehicle compartment and joined to a back face (an outward face in the vehicle width direction) of the first door-trim base material6so as to match the trim opening portion11a, which forms the pocket portion11in the shape of a tube with a floor.

Specifically, an upper edge portion of the side face portion33is formed along the trim opening portion11a, and the upper-side joint pieces35a-35care arranged at an outward portion in the vehicle width direction, a front portion, and a rear portion, respectively, along the trim opening portion11a. These joint pieces35a-35care joined to a back face of the first door-trim base material6by joint members40, such as clips, whereby the pocket member30is joined so as to match the trim opening portion11a.

Further, the lower-side joint pieces35d-35fare arranged at a lower portion of the trim opening portion11a, which are joined to the back face of the first door-trim base material6by the joint members40, whereby the floor portions31,32of the pocket member30are supported at the lower portion of the first door-trim base material6.

The pocket member30comprises the first floor portion31which is located forward and extends substantially horizontally and the flat-shaped second floor portion32which is located in back of the first floor portion31and rises obliquely rearward from the first floor portion31, and a boundary portion36of the first floor portion31and the second floor portion32is of a valley shape which extends straightly in the vehicle width direction. Further, the trim recess portion10is configured to extend obliquely forward and upward from the trim opening portion11aalong a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the second floor portion32as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

Further, the pocket member30has a restriction portion33aat an upper edge portion of the side face portion33. This restriction portion33ais formed at a position which overlaps part of the first floor portion31as shown inFIG. 4when the pocket member30is viewed from an upper position facing to the first floor portion31(an X direction indicated in a bold arrow shown inFIG. 3). In other words, the restriction portion33ais configured to advance into a first upper space (a space partitioned by bold two-dotted broken lines shown inFIG. 3) S1which extends upward along a direction perpendicular to the first floor portion31.

Further, the restriction portion33ais formed along a peripheral edge portion of the second floor portion32as shown inFIG. 6when the pocket member30is viewed from an obliquely-forward position facing to the second floor portion32(a Y direction indicated in a bold arrow shown inFIG. 5). In other words, the restriction portion33ais configured to be formed along a peripheral edge portion of a second upper space (a space partitioned by bold two-dotted broken lines shown inFIG. 5) S2which extends obliquely upward and forward along another direction perpendicular to the second floor portion32.

Moreover, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, a continuous face50which extends upward and forward is formed by a front side portion of the pocket member30and a lower portion of the trim recess portion10, and a space expansion portion37which expands rearward from an imaginary line L (indicated by a two-dotted broken line shown inFIGS. 3 and 7) which connects a rear end portion of the trim opening portion11aand a rear end portion of the second floor portion32is formed at a rear side portion of the pocket member30.

According to the present embodiment, in a case in which a small-sized bottle container P1(the capacity of about 350-500 mL) indicated by a two-dotted broken line shown inFIGS. 3 and 4is stored in the pocket portion11, the small-sized bottle container P1can be stored substantially in the upright position by having its bottom placed onto the first floor portion31as shown.

In the storage state of the small-sized bottle container P1, the position of the bottom of the small-sized bottle container P1is restricted by the edge portion and the boundary portion36of the first floor portion31, and also an upper portion of the small-sized bottle container P1near a bottle neck is supported at the restriction portion33aof the side face portion33so that the position of the upper portion of the small-sized bottle container P1can be restricted. Accordingly, the small-sized bottle container P1stored in substantially in the upright position can be stable despite vibrations of the vehicle or the like.

Meanwhile, in a case in which a large-sized bottle container P2(the capacity of about 1-2 L) indicated by a two-dotted broken line shown inFIGS. 5-7is stored in the pocket portion11, the large-sized bottle container P2can be stored in a forward slant position by having its bottom placed onto the second floor portion32as shown.

In the storage state of the large-sized bottle container P2, the position of the bottom of the large-sized bottle container P2is restricted by the edge portion and the boundary portion36of the second floor portion32, and also an upper portion of the large-sized bottle container P2is supported at the lower portion of the trim recess portion10which extends obliquely forward and upward from the trim opening portion11aalong a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the second floor portion32so that the position of the upper portion of the large-sized bottle container P2can be restricted. Accordingly, the large-sized bottle container P2stored in the forward slant position can be stable despite vibrations of the vehicle or the like.

When the large-sized bottle container P2stored in the forward slant position is taken out, the bottom of the large-sized bottle container P2tends to move upward and rearward as indicated by a bold arrow shown inFIG. 7. Herein, since the above-described space expansion portion37is formed at the pocket member30, the large-sized bottle container P2can be taken out easily without the bottom being caught by a rear portion of the pocket member30.

Further, since the above-described restriction portion33ais formed along the peripheral edge portion of the second upper space S2, when the large-sized bottle container P2is taken out, it can be avoided that the large-sized bottle container P2is caught by the restriction portion33a. Accordingly, the restriction portion33amay not hinder a smooth taken-out operation of the large-sized bottle container P2. In the figures, an arrow F shows a forward direction of the vehicle, and an arrow IN shows an inward direction in the vehicle width direction.

As described above, the door trim structure of an automotive vehicle of the present embodiment comprises the door trim9provided at the vehicle-compartment side of the door body2, the door trim9having the trim opening portion11awhich is formed at the lower portion of the door trim9and opens upward, and the pocket member30joined to the back face of the door trim9so as to mach the trim opening portion11aand form the pocket portion11in the shape of the tube with the floor between the door trim9and the pocket member30, wherein the pocket member30includes the flat-shaped first floor portion31which is located forward and extends substantially horizontally and the flat-shaped second floor portion32which is located in back of the first floor portion31and rises obliquely rearward from the first floor portion31, the trim recess portion10which is recessed outward in the vehicle width direction is formed at the portion of the door trim which is located above the trim opening portion11aand between the armrest portion16and the speaker storage portion12which respectively protrude toward the vehicle-compartment side, and the trim recess portion10is configured to extend obliquely forward and upward from the trim opening portion11aalong the direction which is substantially perpendicular to the second floor portion32of the pocket member30(seeFIGS. 1 and 2).

According to the present embodiment, the small-sized bottle container P1can be stored substantially in the upright position by having its bottom placed onto the first floor portion31of the pocket member30. Thereby, the storage state of the small-sized bottle container P1can be superior (specifically, its good appearance and its easy taken-out operation). Further, the large-sized bottle container P2can be stored in the forward slant position by having its bottom placed onto the second floor portion32of the pocket member30and having its upper portion supported at the lower portion of the trim recess portion10. Thereby, the storage state of the large-sized bottle container P2can be superior (specifically, its easy taken-out operation). Accordingly, the storage position of any bottle container stored can be appropriate, regardless of its size (the large-sized one P2or the small-sized one P1). The pocket member30includes the side face portion33which rises upward from the first and second floor portions31,32, and the side face portion33has the restriction portion33awhich is configured to advance into the first upper space S1extending upward along the direction perpendicular to the first floor portion31and to be formed along the peripheral edge portion of the second upper space S2extending obliquely upward and forward along the direction perpendicular to the second floor portion32(seeFIGS. 3-7).

Thereby, the upper portion of the stored small-sized bottle container P1can be supported at the restriction portion33aadvancing into the first upper space S1, thereby restricting the position of the stored small-sized bottle container P1. Accordingly, the small-sized bottle container P1substantially in the upright position can be stored stably. Meanwhile, since the above-described restriction portion33ais formed along the peripheral edge portion of the second upper space S2, when the large-sized bottle container P2stored in the forward slant position is taken out, it can be avoided that the large-sized bottle container P2is caught by the restriction portion33a. Accordingly, the restriction portion33amay not hinder a smooth taken-out operation of the large-sized bottle container P2. Further, the trim recess portion10is configured such that the lower edge portion10ais of the arch shape which projects upward along the speaker storage portion12in the side view (seeFIGS. 1 and 2).

Thereby, since the upper portion of the large-sized bottle container P2stored in the pocket portion11contacts the arc-shaped lower edge portion10aof the trim recess portion10, the large-sized bottle container P2can be supported stably. Then, when it is taken out, the large-sized bottle container P2can be smoothly slid obliquely forward over and along the arc-shaped lower edge portion10aof the trim recess portion10. Accordingly, the easy taken-out operation of the large-sized bottle container P2can be improved. Further, the front side portion of the pocket member30and the lower portion of the trim recess portion10form the continuous face50extending upward and forward (seeFIGS. 1 and 2).

Thereby, a space for providing the first floor portion31of the pocket member30can be easily formed by forming the continuous face50extending upward and forward. Further, the pocket member30includes the space expansion portion37which expands rearward from the imaginary line L connecting the rear end portion of the trim opening portion11aand the rear end portion of the second floor portion32(seeFIGS. 3,5and7).

When the large-sized bottle container P2stored in the forward slant position is taken out, the bottom of the large-sized bottle container P2tends to move upward and rearward. Herein, in the case in which the above-described space expansion portion37is formed at the pocket member30, the bottom of the large-sized bottle container P2can be allowed to move upward and rearward smoothly. Accordingly, the large-sized bottle container P2can be taken out easily without the bottom being caught by the rear portion of the pocket member30. Further, the boundary portion36of the first and second floor portions31,32is of the valley shape which extends straightly in the vehicle width direction (seeFIGS. 1-7).

Thereby, since the bottom of the large-sized bottle container P2or the small-sized bottle container P1in the stored position can be caught by the boundary portion36in the valley shape, any of the large-sized bottle container P2and the small-sized bottle container P1can be stored stably.

While the pocket portion11is formed by the lower portion of the first door-trim base material6and the pocket member30in the present embodiment, another structure may be applied. For example, a pocket member in the shape of a tube with a floor may be used, and the pocket portion may be formed by this pocket member.

While the storage portion of the present invention corresponds to the pocket portion11, the present invention should not be limited to the above-described embodiment, and any other modifications or improvements may be applied within the scope of a spirit of the present invention.