Abstract:
A modular side lining for a motor vehicle includes a fastener, a first lining member including a first surface along an edge of the first lining member and at least one receiver for receiving the fastener, and a second lining member including a second surface along an edge of the second lining member. The second surface abuts the first surface to form a split line, and an extension extending from the second surface has at least one hole for receiving the fastener.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The embodiments described herein are related to the field of side linings of the interior of a motor vehicle. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    In the past, vehicle with different trim packages often included different parts in the same motor vehicle, such as two versions of a rear side lining, one with a storage pocket in the cargo area and a second with a vacuum in the cargo area. The two versions had separate base linings because of the different cargo area features, even though the armrest, cup holder, speaker grille, and electrical panel parts are the same between the two. A need exists to make as much of the vehicle parts standard as possible, thus limiting the need and size of exclusive parts for different trim variations of the same motor vehicle. 
       APPLICATION SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The features and advantages described in the specification are not all inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. 
         [0004]    According to one aspect, a modular side lining for a motor vehicle includes a fastener, a first lining member including a first surface along an edge of the first lining member and at least one receiver for receiving the fastener, a second lining member including a second surface along an edge of the second lining member, the second surface abutting the first surface to form a split line, and an extension extending from the second surface having at least one hole for receiving the fastener. 
         [0005]    According to another aspect, a motor vehicle includes a frame, wheels operatively attached to the frame, a body fixed to the frame, a rear compartment area having a floor and two walls, a rear seat fixed to the floor of the rear compartment area; a tailgate for providing access to the compartment area, and a modular side lining for covering the at least one of the two walls of the compartment area. The modular side lining includes a fastener, a first lining member including a first surface along an edge of the first lining member and at least one receiver for receiving the fastener, and a second lining member including a second surface along an edge of the second lining member, the second surface abutting the first surface to form a split line, and an extension extending from the second surface having at least one hole for receiving the fastener. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a view of a rear compartment of a motor vehicle. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a prior art rear side lining. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a side view of an alternate prior art rear side lining. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a first embodiment of a rear side lining. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a second embodiment of a rear side lining. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is an exploded side view of a comparison of the embodiments of  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a backside view of one embodiment of a rear side lining. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a close up view of a portion of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view along line A-A of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view along line B-B of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is an exploded view of a connection point. 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  is a side view of a rear compartment of a motor vehicle. 
           [0018]      FIG. 13  is a rear perspective view of a rear compartment of a motor vehicle. 
           [0019]      FIG. 14  is a side view of a wall of a rear compartment of a motor vehicle. 
           [0020]      FIG. 15  is a close up view of a portion of  FIG. 14 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 16  is a close up view of another portion of  FIG. 14 . 
       
    
    
       [0022]    The figures depict various embodiments of the embodiments for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the embodiments described herein. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    Embodiments are now described with reference to the figures, in which like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Also in the figures, the left most digits of each reference number corresponds to the figure in which the reference number is first used. 
         [0024]    With respect to  FIG. 1 , the rear interior  102  of a motor vehicle  100 , in this particular embodiment a minivan, is shown through the tailgate. The motor vehicle is of the typical type with a frame, wheels, and a body  108  on the frame. In the past, the rear side lining  104  of the rear interior  102  that covered a large portion of the side  106  of the body  108  of the motor vehicle  100 . Due to differences in interior packaging, two versions of a rear side lining  104 , illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , were produced. The first side lining  204 , illustrated in  FIG. 2 , included a storage pocket  200  in the rear compartment or cargo area  110 . The second side lining  304 , illustrated in  FIG. 3 , included a compartment  300  to hold an in-vehicle vacuum (not shown) in the cargo area  110 . The first side lining  204  and second side lining  304  have separate base linings because of the different cargo area features, even though the armrest  112 , cup holder  114 , speaker grille  116 , and electrical panel parts  118  are the same between the two. 
         [0025]    In the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 4-6 , the rear side lining  104  is separated into two modular parts, a front half  400  and a rear half  402 . The front half  400  contains the armrest  112 , cup holder  114 , and sunshade parts  404  that are common to every package version of the rear side lining  104 . The rear half  402  is interchangeable between multiple versions, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the rear half  402  is a storage pocket version that includes open storage pockets  404 ,  406  in the rear half  402  of the rear side lining  104 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the rear half  402 ′ is a vacuum version, which includes a vacuum storage area covered by doors  500 ,  502 . 
         [0026]    The embodiments described herein are interchangeable outside of the factory, and dealership associates may easily swap the storage pocket version of the rear half  402  and the vacuum version of the rear half  402 ′ at the request of a customer. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 7-11  illustrate the construction of the rear side lining  104 .  FIG. 7  illustrates an embodiment of the back side  700  of the rear side lining  104 .  FIG. 8  is a close up of a representative portion the connection between the front half  400  and rear half  402  of the rear side lining  104 . The front half  400  of the rear side lining  104  is common between all versions rear side lining  402 ,  402 ′.  FIG. 9  is a cross-section along line A-A of  FIG. 8 , and  FIG. 10  is a cross-section along line B-B of  FIG. 8 . The front half  400  includes a rearward edge  800  that may include a lip  900 . At connection points  702 , receivers  1000  for tapping screws  802  extend from the backside  700  of the rearward edge  800  as illustrated in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , which is an exploded view of a connection point  702 . In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the rearward edge  800  includes  10  receivers  1000 . 
         [0028]    The forward edge  804  of the rear half  402  has a complimentary shape to that of the rearward edge  800  of the front half  400 . The forward edge  804  includes a first portion  902  that rests against the lip  900  of the rearward edge  800  to create a minimal, and preferably unnoticeable, split line  904 . An extension  806  extends to the back and away from the forward edge  804  of the rear half  402 . Reinforced holes  1002  are located along the extension  806  that coincide with the receivers  1000 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7, 10  reinforced holes  1002  are located in the extension  806 . Tapping screws  802  are inserted through the reinforced holes  1002  and into the receivers  1000 , thereby joining the front half  400  and rear half  402  of the rear side lining  104 . In the illustrated embodiment, the front half  400  and rear half  402  are joined by ten  4 x 10 mm plastic tapping screws  802 . The reinforced holes  1002  are reinforced by ribs  1100  in the extension  806  to prevent degradation of the connection point  702 . 
         [0029]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 12-13 , the complimentary shape of the split line  904  is selected to ensure the armrest  112  is able to fit completely in the front half  400  of the rear side lining  104 . The complimentary shape of the split line  904  is also designed to complement the profile shape of the rearmost seat  1200  of the motor vehicle  100 . Therefore, the seat  1200  acts to further hide the split line  904  between the front half  400  and rear half  402  of the rear side lining  104 . 
         [0030]    As further illustrated in  FIGS. 14-16 , the split line  904  between the front half  400  and rear half  402  of the rear side lining  104  is forward of both the seat belt  1400  mounting location  1402  and the resting location of seat belt tongue  1404 , with the resting location of the seat belt tongue  1404  behind a forward bulge  1600  of the rear half  402  of the rear side lining  104 . The designed clearance, illustrated in  FIG. 16 , allows easier access to the seat belt tongue  1404  by a seat user. Additional, the clearance prevents rattle of the seat belt tongue  1404  against the rear side lining  104 . 
         [0031]    As further illustrated in  FIG. 14 , which shows a portion of the forward half  400  cut away, a the split line  904  is rearward of a hip bolster  1404  that is covered by front half  400  of the rear side lining  104 . Therefore, neither the split line  904  nor the connection points  702  interfere with operation of the hip bolter  1404  in a crash event. 
         [0032]    Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or to “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “an embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
         [0033]    In addition, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the embodiments, which is set forth in the claims. 
         [0034]    While particular embodiments and applications have been illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that the embodiments are not limited to the precise construction and components disclosed herein and that various modifications, changes, and variations may be made in the arrangement, operation, and details of the methods and apparatuses of the embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments as defined in the appended claims.