Abstract:
A self-retaining trim member secured to an interior panel of the vehicle. The self-retaining trim member is a glass laminate member having a glass layer, a resin layer and a glass layer. The trim member also includes a tether having one end disposed in the resin layer and another end secured to the body of the vehicle. The trim member may include an embedded switch that senses touch and transfers a signal to a controller in order to control a desired operation.

Description:
CROSS  REFERENCE  TO  RELATED  APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/143,970, filed Jan. 12, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to a vehicle, and more particularly to a glass interior trim member. 
       DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  RELATED  ART 
       [0003]    Vehicles interiors generally include various features that may be decorative or functional in nature. An example of a feature that has such a dual purposes is a trim panel that enhances the aesthetic appearance of the interior and incorporates functional features such as an arm rest, storage compartment, switches, or the like. The trim panel may serve a safety function, under certain circumstances. For example, the trim component, such as a panel or bezel or the like may be retained or moves minimally when a force is exerted on the vehicle. In addition, the trim panel may be fabricated from various types of materials, such as fabric, metal, glass, plastic, or a combination thereof. 
         [0004]    While various techniques are available to retain a trim component, they may not work as well with certain trim panel configurations or compositions. In addition, it may be desirable to embed another feature in the trim panel member, such as a switch. Thus, there is a need in the art for an improved method of limiting movement of a trim component due to an applied force to the exterior of the vehicle and for constructing the trim component. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Accordingly, the present disclosure relates to a self-retaining trim member secured to an interior panel of the vehicle. The self-retaining trim member is a glass laminate member having a glass layer, a resin layer and a glass layer. The trim member also includes a tether having one end disposed in the resin layer and another end secured to the body of the vehicle. The trim member may include an embedded switch that senses touch and transfers a signal to a controller in order to control a desired operation. 
         [0006]    The present disclosure also provides a method constructing a glass laminate trim member for a vehicle. The method includes the step of providing a first layer member made of glass, a second layer member made of resin, and a third layer member made of glass. -Another step of the method includes embedding an object within the second layer member. The method further includes a step of positioning the second layer member between the first layer member and the third layer member. The method further includes a step of compressing the first layer member, the second layer member, and the third layer member together and a step of heating the second layer member such that the layers and object are secured together. 
         [0007]    An advantage of the present disclosure is that an improved vehicle interior includes a trim member having an integral retention feature. Another advantage of the present disclosure is that the trim member is made from a glass laminate material. A further advantage of the present disclosure is that the trim member includes an embedded switch in the laminate layers. Still a further advantage of the present disclosure is that having a switch integrated into the glass eliminates the need for conventional interior mechanical switches. 
         [0008]    Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood after reading the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vehicle, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a vehicle interior illustrating the passenger compartment, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a vehicle door having a self-retaining trim member, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a vehicle door having a self-retaining trim member, according to an alternate embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the vehicle door with self-retaining trim member, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the self-retaining trim member having a tether, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the self-retaining trim member of  FIG. 5  removed from the interior panel, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a method of forming the self-retaining trim member with an integral touch sensitive switch, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating another method of forming the self-retaining trim member with an integral touch sensitive switch, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Referring generally to  FIGS. 1-7 , a vehicle  10  having a various compartments, including a passenger compartment  11  in the vehicle interior  12 , is illustrated. The passenger compartment  11  includes various interior panels  90 , such as an instrument panel, a door panel a side panel, a roof panel or the like. The interior panel  90  is generally planar, and may include an integrally formed feature. For example, the interior panel  90  may include an integrally formed door handle  13  or a storage compartment  14  or the like. In addition, the interior panel  90  may provide a support surface  15  for another component, such as gauges, instruments, screens, locking mechanisms, actuators or the like. 
         [0019]    The interior panel  90  includes a self retaining trim member  88 , which may be a separate member secured thereto or integrally formed thereof The trim member  88  may cover an opening formed in the interior panel  90 . The trim member  88  may be decorative in nature, and may assume various shapes. It is contemplated, however, that the trim member  88  can be fabricated from other suitable materials such as plastic, metal, composite material, or the like. 
         [0020]    In this example, the trim member  88  is generally planar, and formed using a glass laminate material  93 . The glass laminate  93  may be opaque or translucent. For example, the glass laminate material  93  includes a first glass layer  34 , a second resin layer  36  and a third glass layer  38  that are pressed together and heated. An example of a resin layer  36  is an ecologically friendly resin, such as PET. The resin layer  36  may include objects imbedded therein, such as for a decorative purpose. 
         [0021]    The trim member  88  may be illuminated, such as by using a light member  94  selectively positioned in the panel opening, to serve as a back light. Additionally, the trim member  88  may be edge-lit by L.E.D. application to provide enhanced detail of decorative formation (i.e., chamfer, polished, frosted, etched). In this example, the light member  94  is a plurality of L.E.D. lights  92  arranged in a predetermined manner. In another example the light member  94  is embedded within a layer of the laminate material  93 . 
         [0022]    The trim member  88  is initially secured to the panel  90  using a conventional connection technique, such as an adhesive, a fastener or the like. However, the trim member  88  may become displaced due to an application of a predetermined force to the vehicle  10 . The trim member  88  may include a connector  96 , such as a tether, for securing the trim member  88  to the vehicle  10  and limiting movement of the trim member  88 , such as movement that may occur due to the application of such a predetermined force to the vehicle  10 . The tether  96  has a predetermined overall length, with a first end  96   a  secured to the trim member  88 , and an opposed second end  96   b  secured to a portion of the vehicle  10 , such as the frame. The first end  96   a  of the tether  96  may be integrally formed with the trim member  88 , i.e. the tether  96  is an extension of the middle layer of the resin material  36 . The second end of the tether  96  may be secured, such as by using a connector  98  such as a fastener, or an adhesive or the like. The tether  96  may be formed from a suitable material, such as a Mylar material or a nylon material or the like. 
         [0023]    In operation, the trim member  88  is displaced from the panel  90  upon the application of a predetermined force to the vehicle  10 . However, the overall length of the tether  96  limits or restricts movement of the trim member  88  within the interior  12  of the vehicle  10 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the trim member  88  may have a switch  100  integrally formed within the trim member  88 . In an example shown in  FIG. 8 , the trim member  88  includes a first glass layer  34 , and a second resin layer  36  as previously described. In this embodiment, the switch function is integrated into the glass by the application of touching the glass at a targeted location (e.g., capacitive touch sense switch, etc.). The trim member  88  further includes a conductive material  102  embedded in the second layer  36 . An example of a conductive material  102  is a copper material, such as a copper wire. A switch  100 , such as a capacitive sensor is positioned adjacent the conductive material  102 , and is likewise embedded in the resin layer  36 . The placement of each sensor  100  overlaps the conductive material  102  with the conductive material  102  extending to the edge of the glass at least at one location. This enables a hardwire connection to the conductive material  102  at the edge of the glass. The capacitive sensor  100  of this example is touch sensitive. The capacitive sensor  100  transmits a signal to a controller  106  to perform an operation (e.g., light on/off, door open/close, etc.). In this example, the signal is transferred using a wire to a vehicle controller  106 . Referring now to  FIG. 9 , only the switch  100  is embedded in the resin layer  36 . The switch  100  of this example is a touch sensitive transmitter that may be activated by, for example, a finger-touch to transmit a signal. The signal is transferred wirelessly to a receiver  104 , such as a capacitive receiver, which in turn transmits the signal to the vehicle controller  106  to perform an operation (e.g., light on/off, door open/close, etc.). 
         [0025]    Generally, the process of manufacturing the laminated glass trim member  88  includes a number of steps performed in a predetermined combination and/or sequence. First, the layers (e.g., first layer  34 , second layer  36 , etc.) and components or objects (e.g., conductive material  102 , switch  100  (capacitive touch sense switch), tether  96 , etc.) to be included in the glass laminated trim member  88  are selected. Next, the layers are positioned relative to one another (e.g., on top of one another, etc.) and the components (e.g., conductive layer and/or switches  100  are embedded within the second layer  36 , etc.) are embedded in a predetermined layer (e.g., second layer (eco-resin)  36 , etc.). The layers and components are then compressed (e.g., applying pressure, etc.) or squeezed such that the layers and components are adjacent one another. Next, a heat source is applied to the second layer (eco-resin)  36  to heat the second layer  36  and secure (fix) the layers and the components or objects (e.g., conductive layer  102 , switches  100 , tether  96 , etc.) together. Next, other components (e.g., lighting, tethers  96 , etc.) are attached to the trim member  88 . It is noted that the steps outlined above are merely illustrative and that it is contemplated that the combination and sequence of these steps can be performed in other predetermined manners. 
         [0026]    Many modifications and variations of the present disclosure are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claim, the present disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically described.