Patent Publication Number: US-2016229348-A1

Title: Interior trim assembly for a vehicle

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This document relates generally to trim assemblies for vehicle interiors, and more specifically to a multi-function armrest. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is known to provide automotive interiors with various trim assemblies to improve the aesthetic appearance of the automotive interior and for the comfort and convenience of vehicle passengers. Examples of such interior trim assemblies include the instrument panels, armrests, door trim panels, and consoles. In many of these, various storage areas are incorporated therein that allow the vehicle occupant to conveniently store one or more items, such as maps, glasses, tire gauges, coins, and other items typically carried in a vehicle. In many cases, such as for storage compartments in door panels, it is desirable for the compartment to include a door or cover that overlies the opening and secures the items within the compartment. The cover is typically attached to the compartment and moveable, such as by a hinge mechanism, so that the articles in the compartment may be accessed. Moreover, the cover may be supported by additional padding and provide an armrest for the door panel. 
     Such storage compartments in door panels, including beneath an armrest, however, have typically only provided a large singular storage space in the area where a core structure that supports the weight of the passenger&#39;s arm at rest and has sufficient stiffness beneficial for side or pole impact events typically resides. Accordingly, a need exists for a multi-purpose storage area positioned beneath an armrest. The storage area should provide multiple sub-compartments including lidded and unlidded sub-compartments, cup-holders, and possibly change holders and/or electronic ports for connecting hand-held devices to the audio system or charging such devices. Such a storage area should also account for the loss of the traditional core structure and include elements which are reinforced to absorb a force caused by a side or pole impact to the vehicle. These elements could include any combination of walls/floors of the compartment and sub-compartments, and may include use of corrugated plastics and various metal or plastic brackets to absorb the forces. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, an interior trim assembly for a vehicle is provided. The interior trim assembly may be broadly described as comprising a door trim substrate, a compartment supported by the door trim substrate, the compartment comprising an inner side wall, and end walls, and supporting at least one lidded sub-compartment for storing items therein, and an armrest connected by a hinge along an edge to the inner side wall of the compartment. 
     In one possible embodiment, the hinge includes a coil spring. In another, the coil spring is selected such that the spring is non-energized in a closed position. 
     In one other possible embodiment, the automotive interior trim assembly further includes a latch for securing the armrest in a closed position. 
     In another possible embodiment, the hinge allows the armrest to open to an open position more than 180 degrees from a closed position. 
     In still another possible embodiment, the compartment further supports a cup holder positioned within the compartment. 
     In one other possible embodiment, at least one of the inner side wall, the end walls, and the at least one lidded sub-compartment for storing items therein is reinforced to absorb a force caused by a side impact to the vehicle. 
     In yet another possible embodiment, at least one of the door trim substrate and the compartment are attached to a door of the vehicle, if not both. 
     In accordance with another possible embodiment, an interior trim assembly for a vehicle includes a door trim substrate, a compartment attached to the door trim substrate, the compartment comprising an inner side wall, end walls, and a floor, and supporting at least one sub-compartment for storing items therein, and an armrest hingedly connected to the inner side wall of the compartment, wherein at least one of the inner side wall, the end walls, and the floor are reinforced to absorb a force caused by a side impact to the vehicle. 
     In one possible embodiment, the at least one sub-compartment for storing items therein includes a lid. 
     In another possible embodiment, the hinge includes a coil spring. In another, the coil spring is non-energized in a closed position. 
     In yet another possible embodiment, the automotive interior trim assembly further includes a latch for securing the armrest in the closed position. 
     In still another possible embodiment, the hinge compartment is attached to a door of the vehicle. 
     In accordance with another possible embodiment, an interior trim assembly for a vehicle includes a door trim substrate, a compartment attached to the door trim substrate, the compartment comprising an inner side wall, and end walls, and supporting a sub-compartment comprising at least one lidded sub-compartment for storing items therein and a cup holder, and an armrest connected to the compartment by a coil spring hinge along an edge of the compartment. 
     In another possible embodiment, the at least one lidded sub-compartment for storing items therein includes side walls, end walls, and a floor, and at least one of the end walls and the floor are reinforced to absorb a force caused by a side impact to the vehicle. In another, the coil spring is non-energized in a closed position. In still another, the interior trim assembly further comprises a latch for securing the armrest in the closed position. 
     A vehicle incorporating any of the interior trim assemblies for a vehicle described above. 
     In the following description, there are shown and described several preferred embodiments of the interior trim assemblies for a vehicle. As it should be realized, the assemblies are capable of other, different embodiments and their several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the assemblies 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 
       The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the interior trim assembly for an vehicle and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof. In the drawing figures: 
         FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of a typical vehicle door assembly showing an arm rest in a closed position; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of a typical vehicle door assembly showing the arm rest in an open position providing access to a compartment; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of a compartment showing lidded sub-compartments, a sub-compartment, and a cup holder positioned therein; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of an alternate removeable compartment having lidded sub-compartments, a sub-compartment, and a cup holder; and 
         FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of the compartment showing lidded sub-compartments, a sub-compartment, and a cup holder, and an armrest supported in an open position by a hinge. 
     
    
    
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the interior trim assemblies for a vehicle, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures, wherein like numerals are used to represent like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 1  which illustrates a typical door assembly  10  of a vehicle (not shown). The door assembly  10  includes a door  12  and an interior trim assembly  14  which covers a portion of the interior of the vehicle to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance and additional comfort to the vehicle&#39;s passengers. While the described interior trim assembly is for a front door assembly, those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the interior trim assembly may be used in association with other vehicle doors, for example, a rear door or a third row door. 
     The interior trim assembly  14  includes a door trim substrate  16  which generally defines the shape of the interior trim assembly. The door trim substrate  16  may be a plastic, rigid or semi-rigid, or other materials such as a composite material. Portions of the door trim substrate  16 , for example panel  18 , may be made of a decorative fabric, a plastic having a wood grain, wood trim, or other materials known in the art. In the present described embodiment, the door trim substrate  16  is a molded plastic that supports a pocket  20  for receiving books, maps, etc., an armrest  22  for supporting a forearm of a passenger (P) and providing the noted additional comfort to the vehicle&#39;s passenger (P), a door grip  24 , a door release lever  26 , and various electrical controls  28 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the door trim substrate  16  also supports a compartment  30 . Armrest  22  serves as a lid for the compartment  30  which includes an inner side wall  32  adjacent the passenger (P), an outer side wall  34 , end walls  36 ,  38 , and a floor  40 . Although not shown, the compartment  30  may be attached directly to the door  12  or to brackets attached to the door to provide additional support beyond that provided by the door trim substrate  16 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the inner side wall  32  of the compartment  30  may be integrally formed and extend below the floor  40 . Alternatively, the inner side wall may extend only to the floor  40 . As shown, the compartment  30  includes two lidded sub-compartments  42 , a sub-compartment  44 , and a cup holder  46 . Other arrangements may include any combination of one or more lidded sub-compartments, one or more sub-compartments, and/or one or more cup holders. 
     The lidded sub-compartments  42  necessarily include a lid  48  hingedly connected thereto. The hinge  50  may be a living hinge integrally molded with the sub-compartment  42  or, as shown in the described embodiment, a hinge. The hinge  50  may be spring loaded or otherwise. The lid  48  may be connected to the sub-compartment  42  along a rear edge as shown, or along any of the four upper edges of the sub-compartment. 
     In the described embodiment, the armrest  22  is capable of moving to a closed position as shown in  FIG. 1 . In this closed position, the two lidded sub-compartments  42 , sub-compartment  44 , and cup holder  46  are enclosed within the compartment  30 . In other words, when the lids  48  of the two lidded sub-compartments  42  are in the closed position, the armrest  22  itself is able to be moved to a closed position without interference from any of the items positioned inside the compartment  30 . 
     A latch (not shown) secures the armrest  22  in the closed position (shown in  FIG. 1 ). As shown in  FIG. 5 , the armrest  22  may be moved to an open position by pressing down on the armrest which releases the latch and allows the armrest to rotate about a hinge  62  providing access to the compartment  30 . Similarly, to move the armrest from the open position to the closed position, the passenger (P) may rotate the armrest  22  (as shown by action arrow B) to a position adjacent the closed position. Pressing down on the armrest  22  further causes the latch to capture the armrest in the closed position. Other latching and/or locking mechanisms may be utilized in alternate embodiments to secure the armrest in the closed position and release the armrest for movement to an open position. 
     In an alternate described embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , a compartment  52  may be removeably supported by the interior trim assembly  14 . As shown by action arrows A, the compartment  52  may be inserted within a cavity, generally designed numeral  54 , formed in the interior trim assembly  14 . The compartment  52  may be supported by the interior trim assembly  14  by clips or fasteners (not shown) and/or may be attached directly to the door  12 . 
     In both embodiments, the compartments  30 ,  52  may include elements which are reinforced to absorb a force caused by a side impact to the vehicle. More specifically, any combination of the inner side wall  32 , the outer side wall  34 , the end walls  36 ,  38 , and/or the floor  40  may be reinforced as desired. Even more, walls  56  or floor  58  of the cavity  54  formed in the interior trim assembly  14 , and side walls  60  of the sub-compartments may be likewise reinforced. Reinforcement beneath an armrest in a typical door assembly may include use of corrugated plastics and various metal or plastic brackets to absorb the forces associated with a side impact, such as a pole impact, to the vehicle. Since the space where such reinforced materials are typically located is utilized in accordance with the present invention, by a compartment  30  or  52 , reinforcing materials, if used, must be positioned elsewhere. As noted above, these reinforcing materials may be utilized in various ways within the components of the compartment  30  or  52 . 
     As noted above, the interior trim assembly  16  supports a compartment  30 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the armrest  22  serves as a lid for the compartment  30  in addition to its primary function of supporting a forearm of the passenger (P). The armrest  22  is connected to the inner side wall  32  of the compartment  30  by a hinge  62 . In the described embodiment, the hinge  62  includes spring coils  64  which are non-energized in the closed position. In other words, the armrest  22  is biased by the spring coils  64  toward the closed position when the armrest is in the open position as shown. 
     In an alternate embodiment shown by dashed lines in  FIG. 5 , the hinge  62  may not include a spring coil allowing rotation of the armrest  22  from the closed position to an open position more than 180 degrees from the closed position, or a fully open position, wherein the armrest is essentially hanging adjacent the door trim substrate  16 . In yet another embodiment, a stop (not shown) may be utilized to maintain the armrest  22  in an open position wherein the armrest is essentially horizontal. In this position, the armrest  22  may serve as a tray similar to a seat back tray of an airplane. 
     In summary, numerous benefits result from an interior trim assembly for a vehicle as illustrated in this document. The interior trim assembly is capable of providing additional, specific storage area beneath an armrest. The additional storage area may include various combinations of lidded and unlidded sub-compartments and cup holders. In addition, elements of the compartments  30 ,  52  may be reinforced to absorb a force caused by a side impact to the vehicle. 
     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.