Patent Publication Number: US-2016244000-A1

Title: Vehicle interior panel with adjustable locator

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to vehicle interior panels with aesthetic features and, more particularly, to vehicle interior panels with aesthetic features that continue from one panel to another. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Vehicle interior panels typically include a decorative aspect, providing the passenger cabin of a vehicle with a desired aesthetic. Combinations of different types of materials, textures, shapes, tactile features, and visual features can be used with such panels to provide the passenger cabin with any of a variety of different ambiences, from luxurious to utilitarian. Modern materials can be shaped into complex contoured shapes and are used extensively in vehicle interiors due to the available design freedom. Cost-reduction activities and other innovations have enabled certain aesthetic features, such as authentic or simulated cut-and-sew features and multi-colored or multi-textured decorative surfaces, to be implemented in a wider range of vehicle interiors. When it is desired to include complimentary features on adjacent but separate interior surfaces, misalignment of the features can become visually noticeable and considered defective. 
     Solutions for visual defects related to the appearance of adjacent interior panels have generally been limited to addressing the width of the gap between panels. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 8,282,145 to Vasko et al. discloses a vehicle interior panel assembly including first and second panels with interior and exterior surfaces. A gap is defined between opposing edges of the panels. Vasko suggests including a projection that extends from one of the panels at a position inward from the exterior surface and toward the edge of other panel to span at least a portion of the gap to hide components located behind the panels so that such components are not visible through the gap. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment, a vehicle interior panel for mounting to a portion of a vehicle body includes a panel body having an outer side and an opposite inner side. The outer side faces the interior of the passenger cabin of the vehicle when mounted to said portion of the vehicle body. The vehicle interior panel also includes a plurality of locators extending from the inner side of the panel body. The plurality of locators is arranged to engage a corresponding plurality of receivers of the vehicle body at a fixed location with respect to said portion of the vehicle body. The locators and receivers cooperate to locate the panel body with respect to said portion of the vehicle body. The plurality of locators includes an adjustable locator that includes a post and an adjustment mechanism coupled with the post. The post engages a respective one of the receivers, and the adjustment mechanism is operable to change the position of the post with respect to the panel body. The adjustment mechanism thereby changes the location of the panel body with respect to said portion of the vehicle body when mounted to said portion of the vehicle body. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment, the adjustment mechanism includes a working surface, and the panel body comprises a reaction surface that forms an interface with the working surface. The working surface exerts a force on the reaction surface to translate the post with respect to the panel body in response to user-initiated movement of the working surface. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment, the adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment rotor that includes the working surface. The working surface exerts a force on the reaction surface to translate the post with respect to the panel body in response to user-initiated rotation of the adjustment rotor. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment, the working surface rotates about an axis of the post during operation of the adjustment mechanism. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment, the vehicle interior panel includes a recess formed in the outer side of the panel body, and the working surface and the interface are located in the recess. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment, the adjustment mechanism includes a gear coupled with the post. The gear is in contact with the panel body at an interface such that the gear exerts a force on the panel body at the interface to translate the post with respect to the panel body in response to rotation of the gear about an axis. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment, the gear comprises teeth that provide a working surface and the panel body comprises a rack of teeth that provides a reaction surface that is in contact with the working surface at the interface. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment, the adjustment mechanism includes a cam surface configured to rotate about an axis of the post such that rotation of the cam surface about the axis changes the distance from the axis to an interface between the cam surface and a reaction surface of the panel body. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment, the post is attached to the adjustment mechanism at the outer side of the panel body and extends through a slot formed through the panel body to engage said respective one of the receivers. The post is translated along the slot during operation of the adjustment mechanism. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment, opposing surfaces of the adjustable locator and the panel body include complimentary ratcheting features that maintain the post in a desired position with respect to the panel body by preventing movement of the adjustment mechanism below a threshold value of applied force. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment, the adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment rotor and a threaded rod having threads that interact with the adjustment rotor to rotate the adjustment rotor about a first axis in response to rotation of the threaded rod about a second axis that is oriented in a different direction from the first axis. The post is attached to the adjustment rotor. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment, the adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment rotor located at the inner side of the panel body and a remote actuator operatively coupled with the adjustment rotor. The remote actuator is accessible from the outer side of the panel body, and the post is attached to the adjustment rotor. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment, the adjustable locator is a 4-way locator and is the only 4-way locator of the vehicle interior panel. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment, the vehicle interior panel is a vehicle interior door panel. Said portion of the vehicle body is a portion of a vehicle door, and the vehicle interior door panel includes an aesthetic feature line at the outer side of the panel body that is visible from the passenger cabin of the vehicle. The adjustment mechanism is operable to translate the panel body when the interior door panel is mounted to said portion of the vehicle door and when the post is translated with respect to the panel body, thereby enabling alignment of the aesthetic feature line with a complimentary aesthetic feature line of an adjacent vehicle interior panel. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment, a method of aligning complimentary aesthetic feature lines in the passenger cabin of a vehicle includes the steps of: (a) providing a vehicle interior panel comprising a panel body and an adjustable locator extending from an inner side of the panel body, wherein at least a portion of the adjustable locator has a variable position with respect to the panel body and the panel body includes an aesthetic feature line; (b) mounting the vehicle interior panel to a portion of a body of the vehicle and adjacent to another vehicle interior panel having a complimentary aesthetic feature line, wherein the adjustable locator engages a receiver at a fixed position with respect to said portion of the body of the vehicle; and (c) adjusting the location of the panel body with respect to said portion of the body of the vehicle by changing said variable position by an amount sufficient to align the complimentary aesthetic feature lines. 
     It is contemplated that the various features set forth in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings may be taken independently or in any combination thereof. For example, features disclosed in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, except where there is incompatibility of features. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       One or more embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an illustrative vehicle interior panel as part of a vehicle door; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the vehicle interior panel in phantom outline with a plurality of locators arranged to engage a corresponding plurality of receivers; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an example of a static locator at the inner side of the vehicle interior panel; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 1  illustrating an example of an adjustable locator that includes a gear; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a top cross-sectional view of the adjustable locator of  FIGS. 4 and 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a side cross-sectional view of the adjustable locator of  FIGS. 4 and 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a rear view of the adjustable locator of  FIGS. 4 and 5 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of another example of the adjustable locator that includes a cam surface; 
         FIG. 10  is a side cross-sectional view of the adjustable locator of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of another example of the adjustable locator that includes a cam surface; 
         FIG. 12  is a side cross-sectional view of the adjustable locator of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a front view of another example of the adjustable locator that includes a remote actuator; 
         FIG. 14  is a side cross-sectional view of the adjustable locator of  FIG. 13 ; and 
         FIG. 15  is an exploded view of another example of the adjustable locator that includes a gear. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Described below is a vehicle interior panel with an adjustable locator that enables alignment of complimentary feature lines of adjacent but separately mounted vehicle interior panels. The adjustable locator and method of using it are described below as part of a vehicle interior door panel that is vertically adjustable for alignment with features of an adjacent instrument panel. However, skilled artisans in possession of these teachings will understand the applicability to other types of vehicle interior panels, such as trim panels for vehicle pillars, instrument panels, storage compartment panels, instrument panels, seat panels, roof panels, etc. Further, movement and adjustment of the interior panel is not limited to the vertical direction and may include adjustment in the horizontal direction, some other direction, or more than one direction and can offer advantages other than feature alignment, such as inter-panel gap reduction or gap size consistency. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates one example of a vehicle interior panel  10  as viewed from the passenger cabin of the vehicle. This example is an interior door panel  10  mounted adjacent a vehicle instrument panel  12  as part of a vehicle door. Each of the panels  10 ,  12  includes a respective aesthetic feature line  14 ,  16  that is visible from the passenger cabin. The feature lines  14 ,  16  are each complimentary to the other and may be considered to form a visually continuous interior feature line when sufficiently aligned. Each of the feature lines  14 ,  16  may include stitching (e.g., sewn thread and/or simulated stitches), a boundary between different colors or textures, a sharp transition between different portions of each respective panel, or an edge of a trim piece of the respective panel, to name a few examples. Each of the feature lines  14 ,  16  can also be in the form of an imaginary line along which complimentary three-dimensional surfaces lie. 
     With additional reference to the exploded view of  FIG. 2 , the panel  10  includes a panel body  18  and a plurality of locators  20  extending from an inner side  22  (not labeled in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) of the panel body. The panel body  18  is shown in phantom outline in  FIG. 2  in order to illustrate the locators  20 . The inner side  22  of the panel body  18  is opposite an outer side  24  that faces toward the interior of the passenger cabin in  FIG. 1 . A portion of the outer side  24  is decorative and visible from the passenger cabin and includes the feature line  14 . A portion of the vehicle body, in this case a vehicle door  26 , includes a corresponding plurality of receivers  28 , each at a fixed location with respect to the remainder of the door. The vehicle door  26  is also shown in phantom to illustrate exemplary locations for the receivers  28 . The locators  20  and receivers  28  cooperate in pairs to locate the panel body  18  with respect to the door  26  in the vertical (z) and longitudinal (x) directions in this example, by restricting movement in those directions. When more than one pair of locators  20  and receivers  28  is engaged, rotational movement of the panel body  18  (i.e., in the x-z plane of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) is also restricted. The locators  20  and receivers  28  may also serve to at least temporarily secure the panel  10  to the door  26 . 
     At least one of the locators  20  is an adjustable locator  30 , at least a portion of which has a variable position along the panel body  18 . In the example of  FIG. 2 , the plurality of locators  20  includes one adjustable locator  30 , and each of the other locators is a static locator with a fixed position relative to the panel body  18 . The panel  10  may include more than one adjustable locator  30 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, each locator  20  includes a post  32  that engages the corresponding receiver  28  via an opening  34  formed through or in each receiver (only one post and corresponding opening are labeled in  FIG. 2  for simplicity). Each locator  20  may be characterized as a 2-way locator or as a 4-way locator. In one example, a locator  20  with a generally cylindrical post  32  that engages a receiver  28  with a circular opening  34  is considered a  4 -way locator when there is a snug fit between the outer surface of the post and the inside of the opening, with post movement being restricted in all radial directions, including four Cartesian directions—i.e., fore-aft and up-down (±x and ±z-directions). A locator  20  with a post  32  that engages a receiver  28  with a slot or elongated opening  34  is considered a 2-way locator when there is a snug fit between the outside of the post and the long sides of the slot, as post movement is radially restricted in only two of the four Cartesian directions—i.e., fore-aft or up-down (±x or ±z-directions). 
     In the example of  FIG. 2 , the adjustable locator  30  is a 4-way locator, and each of the other locators  20  is a 2-way locator with their respective posts  32  free to move up-and-down or fore-and-aft in the respective slotted receiver  28  when initially engaged. Other types of engagement are possible. For example, each locator  20  may include an opening that engages a post of the corresponding receiver  28 , or each locator and receiver can include both a post and an opening. Each locator-receiver pair may also or alternatively include other complimentary and/or engaging features, such as snap-fits or clips. 
     In a particular embodiment, the panel  10  includes a 4-way locator at one corner or quadrant of the panel body and a 2-way locator elsewhere on the panel body. These two locators may be aligned either vertically (z-direction) or horizontally (x-direction). The additional locators may be configured with additional clearance to their respective receivers (e.g., the receivers may be oversized) to reduce, minimize, or eliminate interference with the cooperation of the 4-way locator and 2-way locator pair. In some cases, the panel can be over-constrained and include multiple 4-way and 2-way locators. For example, in embodiments where the panel body is relatively large and/or flexible, the first 4-way/2-way locator pair may not be effective in regions of the panel spaced too far from them. 
     One example of a static locator  20  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The post  32  of the locator  20  extends from the inner side  22  of the panel body  18  from a base  36  to an end  38 . Each locator  20  may also be configured to at least temporarily secure the panel  10  to the vehicle body. The illustrated locator  20  is configured to reversibly secure a portion of the panel body  18  to the door by engaging a corresponding opening or hole provided in the door, or other vehicle body portion, such as one of the receiver openings  34  ( FIG. 2 ). In this example, the end  38  of the post  32  is received by an opening sized to have a tight fit with a portion of the locator  20 , thus both locating and securing the illustrated portion of the panel body  18  to the underlying portion of the vehicle body. In the absence of other types of fasteners, this type of locator  20  allows easy installation and removal of the panel  10  by respectively pressing or pulling the panel toward or away from the vehicle body—i.e., in the transverse vehicle (y) direction for a door panel—and is useful to temporarily secure the panel to the vehicle body in a manufacturing environment with more aggressive or permanent fasteners (e.g., screws or bolts) subsequently added. Fasteners that cannot be easily removed by manual pulling may be used to further secure the panel  10  to the vehicle body at locations that are subjected to such forces during use, such as near the pull cup or grab handle of the panel. 
     The static locator  20  of  FIG. 3  is an integral feature of the panel  10  and may be molded together with the panel body  18  as a single piece (e.g., via injection molding). A gasket or insulator  35  may be provided to isolate the remainder of the panel from each of the mounting locations along the vehicle body. Locators  20  may also be separately formed pieces attached to the panel body  18  by snap fit or other means. In some cases, the locator  20  includes an opening that a post or protrusion of the vehicle body fits into. The locator can also be configured to non-reversibly secure the panel body to the vehicle body, such as by employing undercut features that engage the vehicle body. 
     In various embodiments, at least one of the locators is an adjustable locator, several examples of which are described below.  FIGS. 4 and 5  are enlarged views of a portion of  FIG. 1 , with the instrument panel  12  omitted, illustrating one example of the adjustable locator  30 . The adjustable locator  30  includes an adjustment mechanism  40  coupled with the post  32  (not visible in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) that is operable to change the position of the post along the panel body  18  and, more specifically, the position of the post  32  along the inner side of the panel body. The adjustment mechanism  40  includes a post translator  42 , which is in the form of a gear in this example, and is located at the outer side of  24  of the panel body  18 . The post translator  42  is operable to cause translational movement between the post  32  and the panel body  18 . The post extends from the gear  42  through a slot  44  in the panel body  18  and protrudes from the inner side  22  to engage the underlying portion of the vehicle body. The illustrated gear  42  includes a working surface  46  that exerts a force on a reaction surface  48  of the panel body  18  to translate the post with respect to the panel body in response to user-initiated movement of the gear  42 . In particular, the position along the panel body  18  of the illustrated gear  42  and post  32  with which it is coupled is variable in the vertical (z) direction such that there is relative movement between the post and panel body in the z-direction when the gear  42  is turned. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the gear  42  is located in a recess  50  at the outer side  24  of the panel body  18 . The post translator  42  and/or recess  50  may be included along a portion of the panel body  18  that is concealed during normal vehicle use, as shown in  FIG. 1 , or elsewhere along the panel body. In the example of  FIG. 1 , the adjustable locator  30  is located such that it is not accessible or visible when the vehicle door is closed but is accessible when the vehicle door is open. 
     The post translator  42  in this and the other illustrated examples may be referred to as an adjustment rotor, as it is configured to change the position of the post  32  along the panel body in response to user-initiated rotation in these examples. Non-rotating post translators are also contemplated. The gear  42  of  FIGS. 4 and 5  includes external teeth  52  arranged about its perimeter. The gear  42  moves along a corresponding rack of teeth  54  provided by the panel body  18 , in this case at the outer side  24  of the panel body and in the recess  50 . The teeth  52  provide the working surface  46  of the gear  42 , and the teeth  54  provide the reaction surface  48  of the panel body  18 . When the gear  42  undergoes user-initiated movement—rotation about an axis A, in this example—the working surface  46  exerts a force on the reaction surface  48  of the panel body  18  at an interface  56  and causes relative translational movement between the concentric coupled post  32  and the panel body, thereby changing the position of the post along the panel body. 
     In the illustrated example, the adjustable locator  30  and associated post  32  is translated in the positive z-direction with respect to the panel body  18  when the gear  42  rotates in a first or counter-clockwise direction and is translated in the negative z-direction with respect to the panel body  18  when the gear  42  rotates in an opposite second or clockwise direction. When the panel  10  is not attached to the vehicle body, the adjustable locator  30  is free to move up and down along the slot  44  when the gear  42  is rotated respectively counterclockwise and clockwise. When the panel  10  is mounted to the vehicle body such that the position of the rotational axis A is fixed in the manner of a 4-way locator, the co-acting working and reaction surfaces  46 ,  48  operate to translate the panel body  18  with respect to the vehicle body. In the illustrated example, clockwise rotation of the adjustment rotor  42  thus results in upward movement of the panel body  18  when installed in the vehicle, and counter-clockwise rotation of the adjustment rotor results in downward movement of the panel body. A tool interface  58 , such as the illustrated hex opening, may be provided to accommodate user-initiated movement. 
     The adjustable locator  30  thereby enables alignment of the above-described aesthetic feature lines, such as feature lines  14 ,  16  of  FIG. 1 . In a vehicle assembly operation, for example, the panel  10  can be secured to the vehicle door by an assembly operator via the plurality of locators  20  extending from the inner side of the panel, including the adjustable locator  30 . Further along the assembly line, other more permanent fasteners such as sheet metal screws can be driven through openings in the panel  10  to more firmly secure the panel to the door. Prior to application of such additional fasteners, an operator can adjust the location of the panel body  18  via the adjustment mechanism  40  to align the complimentary feature lines of the panel  10  and an adjacent interior panel. 
     In the case of the illustrated interior door panel  10 , visual alignment may be most noticeable with the vehicle door closed. Indicia or other markings may be included that are visible to the operator at the outer side  24  of the panel body  18  to indicate the amount of movement of the post of the adjustable locator while the operator is turning the adjustment rotor or otherwise operating the adjustment mechanism. In this manner, alignment of the complimentary feature lines of adjacent panels can be assessed with the vehicle door closed, an amount of necessary adjustment can be determined, and the door can be opened to access the adjustment mechanism to move the locator post by the necessary amount for alignment before driving sheet metal screws or other fasteners through the panel to secure the panel at its final location with respect to the underlying portion of the door. As is apparent in this example, the adjustable locator  30  may also be useful for adjustment by vehicle service departments or dealership personnel if necessary. 
       FIGS. 6-8  are additional views of the adjustable locator  30  of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , illustrating certain other useful features.  FIGS. 6 and 7  are respective top and side cross-sectional views, and  FIG. 8  is a rear view showing the inner side  22  of the panel body  18 . As shown, the post  32  and/or the adjustable locator  30  may be secured to the panel body  18  by a clip  60  or other fastener in a manner that accommodates limited post movement. In this case, the clip  60  is a one-way press-on clip with teeth or barbs  62  that engage the post  32  when the clip is installed. This clip  60  can be pressed on to the post  32  from the inner side  22  of the panel body to provide a suitable clamp load on the panel body  18  between the clip and the gear  42 . In this case, the slot  44  is provided in an elongated boss  64  extending from the inner side  22  of the panel body, and the clamp load is applied at the boss. Reinforcement ribs  66  are provided along the sides of the illustrated boss  64 . 
     An optional slider  68  may also be provided between the clip  60  and the panel body  18 , as shown, to provide the clamping surface at the inner side  22  of the panel body. The slider  68  may have a smooth surface in contact with the panel body and/or may be fabricated from a low friction material such as acetal or PTFE. The slider  68  may facilitate a higher clamp load while allowing sufficient post movement along the slot  44 , whereas a high friction material or rough interfacing surface would require a lower clamp load to accommodate post movement in response to rotation of the gear  42 . 
     Opposing surfaces of the adjustable locator  30  and the panel body  18  may include respective and complimentary ratcheting features  70 ,  72  that maintain the adjustable locator  30  and or post  32  in a desired position with respect to the panel body by preventing movement of components of the adjustment mechanism  40  below a threshold value of applied force. In the illustrated example, short nibs  70  protrude from the back of the gear  42  as ratcheting features that are complimentary to adjustment ribs  72  ( FIG. 5 ) provided on the panel body. The complimentary features are sized and spaced so that a threshold force, in this case a rotational force or torque, is required to move the opposing ratcheting features past one another. The ratcheting features  70 ,  72  can also serve to provide audible or tactile feedback to the user to provide an indication that the adjustable locator  30  has moved to the next available position along the slot  44 . For example, each click of the ratcheting features may indicate ½ mm or some other known amount of vertical movement of the panel body  18 . An optional cap or dust cover  74  may also be provided to conceal and/or protect the adjustable locator and/or its components. 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate another example of the adjustable locator  130 , with a front view of the locator showing the outer side  124  of the panel body  118  in  FIG. 9  and a side cross-sectional view of the locator in  FIG. 10 . The adjustable locator  130  of  FIGS. 9 and 10  is situated similarly to the example of  FIGS. 4-8  in that the adjustment rotor  142  is coupled with the post  132  at the outer side of  124  of the panel body  118  and is located in recess  150 . The post  132  extends through the slot  144  in the panel body  118  and protrudes from the inner side  122  of the panel body to engage the underlying portion of the vehicle body. 
     The illustrated adjustment rotor  142  is another example in which the working surface  146  and the post  132  rotate about the same axis A. In this embodiment, the working surface  146  is a cam surface shaped such that rotation of the adjustment rotor  142  changes a distance D from the rotational axis A to the interface  156  between the working surface  146  and the reaction surface  148 . When the adjustment rotor  142  rotates in at least one direction, the working surface  146  exerts a force on the reaction surface  148  and translates the post  132  along the panel body  118 , thereby changing the position of the post with respect to the panel body. 
     In the example of  FIGS. 9 and 10 , and with the adjustment rotor  142  in the illustrated orientation, the adjustable locator  130  is translated in the negative z-direction with respect to the panel body  118  when the adjustment rotor  142  rotates clockwise, due to the increased distance D. Unlike the working surface of the gear  42  in the previous example, which is shaped such that force can be applied against the reaction surface in both directions (±z), the cam surface  146  can only apply force to the reaction surface  148  in one direction. When the panel  110  is mounted to the vehicle body such that the position of the rotational axis A is fixed with respect to the underlying vehicle body in the manner of a 4-way locator, the co-acting working and reaction surfaces  146 ,  148  operate to translate the panel body  118  with respect to the vehicle body, with clockwise rotation of the adjustment rotor  142  thus resulting in upward movement of the panel body  118 . Counter-clockwise rotation of the adjustment rotor  142  results in downward movement of the panel body  118  under the force of gravity or some other downward force (e.g., a biasing force) not provided by the working surface  146 . The cam surface  146  can be configured such that the distance D varies with respect to the amount of rotation of the adjustment rotor  142  either linearly or non-linearly. This example also includes a hex tool interface  158  that accommodates user-initiated movement of the rotor  142 . 
     Other features of the example of  FIGS. 9 and 10  are common with those of the previous example of  FIGS. 4-8 . The adjustment rotor  142  is secured to the panel body  118  by a clip  160  that includes barbs  162  that engage the post  132  and provides a suitable clamp load between the clip and the adjustment rotor  142 , with the clamp load applied to the boss  164  on the inner side  122  of the panel body  118  and with reinforcement ribs  166  provided along the sides of the boss  164 . A slider  168  is provided between the clip  160  and the boss  164  and may facilitate a higher clamp load while allowing sufficient post movement along the slot  144 , as noted above. Opposing surfaces of the adjustable locator  130  and the panel body  118  include respective and complimentary ratcheting features  170 ,  172  that maintain the adjustable locator  130  and/or post  132  in the desired position with respect to the panel body by preventing movement below a threshold value of applied force. The ratcheting features include short nibs  170  that protrude from the back of the rotor  142  and adjustment ribs  172  provided on the panel body  118 . An optional cap  174  is shown in  FIG. 10  that conceals and/or protects the adjustable locator and/or its components. 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate another example of the adjustable locator  230 , with a front view from the outer side  224  of the panel body  218  in  FIG. 11  and a side cross-sectional view in  FIG. 12 . The adjustable locator  230  of  FIGS. 11 and 12  is situated similarly to the previous examples in that the adjustment rotor  242  is coupled with the post  232  at the outer side of  224  of the panel body  218 , with the post extending through the slot  244  in the panel body  218  and protruding from the inner side  222  of the panel body to engage the underlying portion  226  of the vehicle body by way of the receiver  228 . 
     The illustrated adjustment rotor  242  is another example of an adjustment rotor where both the working surface  246  and the post  232  rotate about the same axis A. In this embodiment, the working surface  246  is a cam surface shaped such that rotation of the adjustment rotor  242  changes a distance D from the rotational axis A to the interface  256  between the working surface  246  and the reaction surface  248 . When the adjustment rotor  242  rotates in at least one direction, the working surface  246  exerts a force on the reaction surface  248  and translates the post  232  along and with respect to the panel body  218 , thereby changing the position of the post with respect to the panel body. 
     With the adjustment rotor  242  in the illustrated orientation, the post  232  is translated in the negative z-direction with respect to the panel body  218  when the adjustment rotor rotates either clockwise or counter-clockwise, due to the resulting increase in the distance D. Like the cam surface  146  of the previous example, the cam surface  246  can only apply force to the reaction surface  248  in one direction and can be configured such that the distance D varies linearly or non-linearly with adjustment rotor angle. When the panel  210  is mounted to the vehicle body such that the position of the rotational axis A is fixed with respect to the underlying vehicle body in the manner of a 4-way locator, the co-acting working and reaction surfaces  246 ,  248  operate to translate the panel body  218  with respect to the vehicle body. In this example, the direction of movement of the panel body  218  with respect to the underlying body portion  226  when the adjustment rotor is rotated depends on the angular orientation of the adjustment rotor when rotation commences. In the illustrated angular orientation, the distance D will increase with either clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation, resulting in upward movement of the panel body  218 . At other starting orientations, panel body movement would be upward with one direction of rotation and initially downward (under the force of gravity or some other downward force not provided by the working surface  246 ) with an opposite direction of rotation. 
     The adjustment rotor  242  in this example is secured to the panel body  218  by a fastener  276  or other type of post that extends through an opening  278  in the rotor  242 . The fastener  276  is fixed to the panel body  218  at the outer side  224  of the panel body. For example, the fastener  276  may be a self-tapping screw, as shown. In addition to attaching the adjustment rotor  242  to the panel body  218 , the illustrated fastener  276  functions as a guide for rotation of the adjustment rotor  242  and can share the load of the weight of the panel body  218  with the post  232 . The fastener  276  can also function to help reversibly secure the rotor  242  in the desired final orientation. Alternatively or additionally, other types of fasteners may be employed, such as the previously described clips or other fastening means that may engage the post  232 . 
     Opposing surfaces of the adjustable locator  230  and the panel body  218  include respective and complimentary ratcheting features  270 ,  272  that maintain the adjustable locator  230  and/or post  232  in the desired position with respect to the panel body by preventing movement of the rotor  242  below a threshold value of applied force. The ratcheting features in this example include slots or openings  270  formed at least partly through rotor  242 , along with a corresponding protrusion  272  on the panel body  218 . In this arrangement, each slot  270  may correspond to a particularly amount of post and panel body movement from a starting location when engaged with the protrusion  272 . 
       FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate another example of the adjustable locator  330 , with a front view from the outer side  324  of the panel body  318  in  FIG. 13  and a side cross-sectional view in  FIG. 14 . In this example, the adjustment mechanism  340  includes components in addition to the rotatable adjustment rotor  342 . The adjustment rotor  342  and the working surface  346 , illustrated as another example of a cam surface, rotate about the same axis A in response to user-initiated movement. In this example, however, the adjustment mechanism  340  also includes a remote actuator  380  that is operatively coupled with the adjustment rotor  342 . The user interacts with the remote actuator  380  to cause rotation of the rotor  342 . In this example, the actuator  380  rotates about a second axis B that is oriented in a different direction (e.g., along the x-direction) from the rotational axis A, which is oriented along the y-direction. This configuration allows additional design freedom in that the adjustment rotor  342  is not required to be directly accessible to the user for operation. Thus, the rotor  342  could be located on the inner side of the panel body  318 . In addition, user interaction with the rotor  342  can be located away from the rotor, such as at an end or bottom of the panel body  318  or of a vehicle door. 
     In this example, the actuator  380  is a screw that includes a threaded rod  382 . The threaded portion of the screw  380  is coupled with the adjustment rotor  342  via a nut  384 . The nut  384  is coupled with the rotor  382  in a manner that allows free rotation of the nut about a third axis C. In this example, a cylindrical portion of the nut  384  extends into and through an opening in the rotor  342  (e.g., a vertically slotted opening) to accommodate the free rotation. 
     When installed as part of the vehicle interior panel  310 , with the rotational axis A and the screw  380  at fixed locations with respect to the underlying portion of the vehicle body, rotation of the screw  380  results in vertical translation of the post  332  with respect to the panel body  318  and corresponding translation of the panel body  318  with respect to the underlying portion of the vehicle body. With a right-handed thread in the illustrated example, clockwise rotation of the screw  380  about the axis B results in translation of the nut  384  in the x-direction (to the right in  FIG. 13 ) and counter-clockwise rotation of the adjustment rotor  342  about the axis A. The distance D between the axis A and the interface  356  between the working surface  346  and the reaction surface  348  increases, thereby translating the post  332  of the adjustable locator  330  along the slot  344  and with respect to the panel body  318  and moving the panel body in the positive z-direction (upward in  FIG. 13 ). In this embodiment, the rotor  342  and panel body  318  additionally include respective second working and reaction surfaces  386 ,  388  with an associated interface  390 . The surfaces  386 ,  388  cooperate to translate the post  332  and move the panel body  318  in the opposite direction when the screw is turned in the opposite direction. This example also includes an optional grommet  392  located where the post  332  engages the receiver  328  of the underlying portion  326  of the vehicle body. 
       FIG. 15  is an exploded view of another embodiment of the adjustable locator  430 , with the adjustment rotor  442  in the form of a gear and with an adjustment mechanism  440  that includes a remote actuator  480 . The remote actuator  480  includes a threaded rod  482  that rotates about an axis B and operates as a worm gear in this example. The actuator  480  also includes a thumb wheel  458 , which may be located so that a portion of the thumb wheel  458  is accessible from the outer side of the panel body  418 , such as through an opening in the panel body. The thumb wheel  458  or other user or tool interface may be discreetly located at a bottom or side edge of the panel  410 , in a location (such as in  FIG. 1 ) that is not visible or accessible during normal vehicle use, or in a recess or cutout of the panel body such as at the bottom of a cup holder. 
     In this example, the post  432  and the gear  442  are not concentric (i.e., each has its own central axis), but they rotate about the same axis A. The gear  442  is fixed to and rotates with a shaft or axle  494 , an outer surface of which provides the working surface  446  that interfaces with the reaction surface  448  of the panel body  418 . Here, the reaction surface  448  is provided by a boss  496  fixed to the inner side  422  of the panel body (e.g., molded-in by injection molding). In another example, the gear shaft  494  is molded-in and protrudes from the inner side  422  of the panel body  418  and does not rotate with the gear. For example, the gear  442  may include a central opening that snaps onto the end of a gear shaft protruding from the inner side  422  of the panel body  418 . 
     The post  432  of the locator  430  is fixed to the gear  442  and has an axis D that is offset from the axis A such that rotation of the gear results in rotation of the axis D about the axis A. This rotation has translational components with respect to the panel body  418  in both the x- and z-directions. When the post  432  is engaged at a fixed location with respect to the underlying portion of the vehicle body  426  in the manner of a 4-way locator, such as with receiver  428  as shown, the gear  442  and shaft  494  and their common axis A undergo rotational movement about the post  432  and axis D, translating in the x- and z-directions with respect to the vehicle body. With axis A and axis D horizontally aligned, as shown, the major component of translation is in the z-direction at small angles of movement. The radius of the gear  442  may be made sufficiently large such that small angular movement results in a sufficient amount of post translation to overcome manufacturing tolerances associated with misalignment of panel feature lines. 
     It is to be understood that the foregoing is a description of one or more preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention. The invention is not limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed herein, but rather is defined solely by the claims below. Furthermore, the statements contained in the foregoing description relate to particular embodiments and are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention or on the definition of terms used in the claims, except where a term or phrase is expressly defined above. Various other embodiments and various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiment(s) will become apparent to those skilled in the art. All such other embodiments, changes, and modifications are intended to come within the scope of the appended claims. 
     As used in this specification and claims, the terms “for example,” “for instance,” “such as,” and “like,” and the verbs “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and their other verb forms, when used in conjunction with a listing of one or more components or other items, are each to be construed as open-ended, meaning that the listing is not to be considered as excluding other, additional components or items. Other terms are to be construed using their broadest reasonable meaning unless they are used in a context that requires a different interpretation.