GB2304648A - Trim fixing - Google Patents
Trim fixing Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2304648A GB2304648A GB9617191A GB9617191A GB2304648A GB 2304648 A GB2304648 A GB 2304648A GB 9617191 A GB9617191 A GB 9617191A GB 9617191 A GB9617191 A GB 9617191A GB 2304648 A GB2304648 A GB 2304648A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- trim panel
- trim
- mounting
- vehicle
- leg
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R13/00—Elements for body-finishing, identifying, or decorating; Arrangements or adaptations for advertising purposes
- B60R13/02—Internal Trim mouldings ; Internal Ledges; Wall liners for passenger compartments; Roof liners
- B60R13/0206—Arrangements of fasteners and clips specially adapted for attaching inner vehicle liners or mouldings
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
- B60R21/04—Padded linings for the vehicle interior ; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R13/00—Elements for body-finishing, identifying, or decorating; Arrangements or adaptations for advertising purposes
- B60R13/02—Internal Trim mouldings ; Internal Ledges; Wall liners for passenger compartments; Roof liners
- B60R13/0237—Side or rear panels
- B60R13/025—Pillars; Roof rails
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
- B60R21/04—Padded linings for the vehicle interior ; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings
- B60R2021/0435—Padded linings for the vehicle interior ; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings associated with the side or roof pillars
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Vehicle Interior And Exterior Ornaments, Soundproofing, And Insulation (AREA)
Abstract
A trim fixing for attaching a plastic trim panel to the interior structure of a vehicle comprises one or more plastic mounting members 10 and a fixing means 18 for cooperation with a mounting means C associated with the vehicle structure, wherein each of the mounting members has a frangible portion 24, 32 adapted to fracture under a predetermined applied impact force. The mounting member may comprise two legs 12, 14, each comprising an upper leg 28, 36, a lower leg 22, 30 joined to the trim panel, a cross member 26, 34 thinner than either the upper or lower legs, forming a discontinuity between the upper and lower legs and a recess 24, 32 in the cross member acting as a failure initiator. The two legs may meet in an upper joining portion 16 from which the fixing means in the form of a flange 18 may project and engage with a spring clip C. The mounting member may alternatively be in the form of two cylindrical portions (51, 52 figure 5) joined by an annular flange (53 figure 5).
Description
A TRIM PANEL
This invention relates to a fixing for trim used to enhance the visual appearance of a vehicle. More specifically, the invention relates to plastic trimming used to cover the interior surface of parts of the body structure of the vehicle.
It is known to provide plastic trim comprising a channel-form component having a substantially flat main portion with lateral components inclined thereto which taper towards the interior surface of the vehicle body.
This type of trim is connected to a mounting on a vehicle body panel using a fixing which is rigidly attached to the main portion of the trim. The fixing comprises a rigid component having an end flange which passes through an aperture in the body panel mounting and is held therein using a spring clip.
Known fixings are made of a rigid but resilient material such as polypropylene plastic which are strong in compression. Accordingly, under impact conditions known trim fixings do not yield or provide significant energy absorption.
The present invention seeks to avoid or at least mitigate the problem of the prior art.
According to the invention there is provided a plastic trim
panel for attachment to part of the interior structure
of a vehicle, the trim panel including a plate like
portion for overlying the structural part to be covered
and a number of spaced apart trim fixings for attaching
the plate like portion to the structural part of the
vehicle, each trim fixing comprising of a plastic
mounting member and a fixing means for cooperation, in
use, 'with a mounting means associated with the
structural part of the vehicle characterised in that
each of said mounting members has a frangible portion
adapted to shear under a predetermined applied impact
force thereby to absorb energy from the impact force.
The frangible portion of each of the mounting members extends substantially parallel to the trim panel to be attached.
Each of the mounting members may have two leg portions each having an upper leg portion and a lower leg portion connected together by the frangible portion so as to form a discontinuity therebetween.
Each frangible portion may be thinner than the adjoining upper and lower leg portions to which it is connected.
The frangible portion may have a recess therein to act as a failure initiator.
The upper leg portions and the fixing means may be formed as a single integral part.
The or each lower leg member may be attached to the trim panel by welding or adhesive bonding.
The mounting member and the fixing means may be formed as an integral part of the trim panel.
Each mounting member may be formed by a lower cylindrical portion and an upper cylindrical portion connected by an annular flange forming said frangible portion.
The annular flange may be thinner than the adjoining upper and lower cylindrical portions that it connects.
The annular flange may have a circumferentially extending recess therein.
The annular flange may form a discontinuity between said upper and lower cylindrical portions.
Advantageously, one or more blocks of resilient foam may be interposed between the plate like portion of the trim panel and the structural part of the vehicle body to absorb energy during failure of the mounting members.
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Fig.1 is a cross-section through a trim panel according to
the invention attached to part of the body structure of
a vehicle showing a first embodiment of a trim fixing;
Fig.2 is a cross-section through a second embodiment of a
trim fixing according to the invention;
Fig.3 is a side elevation view of the trim fixing shown in Fig.2; Fig.4 is a cross-section through a third embodiment of a
trim fixing according to the invention; and
Fig.5 is a perspective view of the trim fixing shown in
Fig.4.
Referring to figure 1, there is shown a trim fixing 10 attached to a trim panel T. The trim panel, comprising a plate like structure having a main panel portion 2 and lateral panel portions 4 and 6.
The trim fixing 10 is integrally moulded as part of trim panel T which is made from a resilient plastic material such as polypropylene.
The trim fixing comprises of a mounting member 10 having a first leg 12 and second leg 14 which meet at an upper joining portion 16 and extending upwardly from portion 16 a fixing means in the form of a flange 18. The trim fixing 10 and the flange 18 are formed as an integral part of the trim panel T by being co-moulded therewith.
The legs 12 and 14 each comprise of three portions.
The leg 12 has a lower leg portion 22 which is joined to trim moulding panel portion 2, an upper leg portion 28 which is joined to the upper joining portion 16 and a cross member 26.
At the inner end of the cross member 26 there is a recess in the form of a groove 24. The groove 24 reduces the thickness of the cross member 26 and acts as a failure initiator during use.
The cross member 26 bridges a discontinuity between the upper and lower portion 28, 22 of the leg 12 and extends between a position near the upper end 22U of the leg portion 22 to a lower end 28L of the upper leg portion 28.
This discontinuity ensures that during failure of the frangible portion formed by the cross member 26 it is not possible for pure compressive loads to be transmitted from the upper portion 28 to the lower portion 22 of the leg 12 which would otherwise compromise the energy absorbing properties and the predictability of failure of the trim fixing.
The cross member 26 is thinner than either of the lower and upper portions 22 and 28 and is designed to fail when a pre-determined shear load is applied, but prior to actual failure the cross member 26 undergoes plastic deformation in which energy is absorbed. The presence of the groove 24 ensures a more uniform failure mode by acting as a failure initiator.
The leg 14 has a lower leg portion 30 which is joined to the main panel portion 2, an upper leg portion 36 which is joined to the upper joining portion 16 and a cross member 34.
At the inner end of the cross member 34 there is a recess in the form of a groove 32. The groove 32 reduces the thickness of the cross member 34 and acts as a failure initiator during use.
The cross member 34 bridges a discontinuity between the upper and lower portion 36, 30 of the leg 14 and extends between a position near the upper end 30U of the leg portion 30 to a lower end 36L of the upper leg portion 36.
This discontinuity ensures that during failure of the frangible portion formed by the cross member 34 it is not possible for pure compressive loads to be transmitted from the upper portion 36 to the lower portion 30 of the leg 14 which would otherwise compromise the energy absorbing properties and predictability of failure of the trim fixing.
The cross member 34 is thinner than either of the lower and upper portions 30 and 36 and is designed to fail when a pre-determined shear load is applied, but prior to actual failure the cross member 34 undergoes plastic deformation in which energy is absorbed. The presence of the groove 32 ensures a more uniform failure mode by acting as a failure initiator
The cross member 34 is thinner than either of the lower and upper portions 30 and 36 and is designed to fail when a pre-determined load is applied, but prior to actual failure undergoes plastic deformation in which energy is absorbed.
In use a mounting means in the form of a spring clip C is used to grip the fixing flange 18 within an aperture in a mounting aperture on a body panel B of a vehicle. The resilience of the spring clip C inhibits withdrawal of the flange 18 from the aperture.
In the event of a body part impacting against the panel portion 2, the fixing 10 is designed to deform and then break at cross members 26 and 34 thereby to provide energy absorption when an impact force I.
The impact force I urges movement of the leg portions 22 and 30 towards the body panel B thus effecting a shear force S1 along their length which force is resisted by leg members 28 and 36 respectively, as indicated by arrow S2.
The relative motion of leg members 22 and 28, and 30 and 36, effects a plastic deformation and ultimately a shearing at cross members 26 and 34 respectively. If the force I is sufficiently great, then a shear fracture S will result in cross members 26 and 34 causing trim panel 2 to move closer to the body panel B. This movement of the trim panel 2 towards the body panel B causes a resilient foam block F which is interposed therebetween to be compressed thereby absorbing more energy.
Advantageously, since a pre-determined and effective weakness 24, 32 is provided in trim fixing 10 at points 26 and 34, both the required magnitude of impact force to break the points of weakness and the position at which breakage occurs are controllable. For example the thickness of cross members 26 and 34 can be adapted to break under a pre-determined impact force.
With reference to figures 2 and 3 there is shown a trim fixing which in most respects is the same as that previously described and for which the same reference numerals are used but in which the trim fixing and the trim panel are made separately and then joined by adhesive bonding or welding instead of being formed as an integral part of the trim panel..
Such a construction is useful if the material from which the main trim panel is made is not suitable for the manufacture of the mounting member.
With reference to figures 4 and 5 there is shown a trim fixing that in many respects is similar to that shown and described with reference to figures 1 to 3.
In this case the mounting member 50 is formed by an upper cylindrical portion 51 and a lower cylindrical portion 52 joined together by an annular flange 53.
The annular flange 53 forms a frangible portion that is sheared during collapse of the trim fixing. The annular flange is of a thinner section than the upper and lower 51, and 52 portions and has a circumferentially extending recess 55 therein to act as a failure initiator.
At the upper end of the upper portion 51 there is integrally formed a fixing means in the form of a flange 57 which, in use, co-operates with a spring clip used to fasten the trim fixing 50 to part of the body structure.
Each of the trim fixings 50 is attached to the trim panel T2 by spin welding.
It will be appreciated by the man skilled in the art that each trim panel would have several such trim fixing means spaced out along its length.
Claims (13)
1. A plastic trim panel for attachment to part of the
interior structure of a vehicle, the trim panel
including a plate like portion for overlying the
structural part to be covered and a number of spaced
apart trim fixings for attaching the plate like portion
to the structural part of the vehicle, each of the trim
fixings comprising of one or more plastic mounting
members and a fixing means for cooperation, in use,
with a mounting means associated with the structural
part of the vehicle wherein each of said mounting
members has a frangible portion therein adapted to
shear under a predetermined applied impact force
thereby to absorb energy from the impact force.
2. A trim panel as claimed in claim 1 in which the
frangible portion of each of the mounting members
extends substantially parallel to the trim panel to be
attached.
3. A trim panel as claimed in Claim 1 or in Claim 2 in
which each of the mounting members has two leg portions
each having an upper leg portion and a lower leg
portion connected together by the frangible portion so
as to form a discontinuity therebetween.
4. A trim panel as claimed in Claim 3 in which each
frangible portion is thinner than the adjoining upper
and lower leg portions to which it is connected.
5. A trim panel as claimed in any preceding Claim in
which the frangible portion has a recess therein to act
as a failure initiator.
6. A trim panel as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5 in
which the lower leg members are attached to the trim
panel by welding or adhesive bonding.
7. A trim panel as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 in
which the mounting member and the fixing means are
formed as an integral part of the trim panel.
8. A trim panel as claimed in Claim 1 or in Claim 2 in
which each mounting member is formed by a lower
cylindrical portion and an upper cylindrical portion
connected by an annular flange forming said frangible
portion.
9. A trim panel as claimed in Claim 8 in which the
annular flange is thinner than the adjoining upper and
lower cylindrical portions that it connects.
10. A trim panel as claimed in Claim 8 or in Claim 9 in
which the annular flange has a circumferentially
extending recess therein.
11. A trim panel as claimed in any of Claims 8 to 10 in
which the annular flange forms a discontinuity between
said upper and lower cylindrical portions.
12. A trim panel as claimed in any preceding claim in
which one or more blocks of resilient foam is
interposed between the plate like portion of the trim
panel and the structural part of the vehicle body so as
to absorb energy during failure of the mounting
members.
13. A plastic trim panel for attachment to part of the
interior structure of a vehicle substantially as
decribed herein with reference to the accompanying
drawing.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9617191A GB2304648B (en) | 1995-09-06 | 1996-08-16 | A trim panel |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GBGB9518123.6A GB9518123D0 (en) | 1995-09-06 | 1995-09-06 | Trim fixing |
GB9617191A GB2304648B (en) | 1995-09-06 | 1996-08-16 | A trim panel |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB9617191D0 GB9617191D0 (en) | 1996-09-25 |
GB2304648A true GB2304648A (en) | 1997-03-26 |
GB2304648B GB2304648B (en) | 1999-07-14 |
Family
ID=26307694
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB9617191A Expired - Fee Related GB2304648B (en) | 1995-09-06 | 1996-08-16 | A trim panel |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (1) | GB2304648B (en) |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE29721805U1 (en) * | 1997-12-10 | 1998-02-05 | Rehau Ag + Co, 95111 Rehau | Spring clip for concealed fastening of flat foam parts |
EP0849123A1 (en) * | 1996-12-17 | 1998-06-24 | General Motors Corporation | Energy absorbing molding assembly |
EP0878357A2 (en) * | 1997-05-12 | 1998-11-18 | Inoac Corporation | Energy absorbing structure |
FR2797616A1 (en) * | 1999-08-18 | 2001-02-23 | Cera | Coating to protect a car's interior comprises a rigid sheet surrounded by foam with damping elements embedded one into the other when the material bridges collapse under the stress applied |
FR2797669A1 (en) * | 1999-08-18 | 2001-02-23 | Cera | Shock absorber for motor vehicle bodywork has pile of stackable monobloc cone sections each connected to adjacent sections by frangible bridging areas |
GB2318551B (en) * | 1996-10-25 | 2001-04-18 | Nissan Motor | Interior material for automotive vehicle |
WO2002070304A1 (en) * | 2001-03-07 | 2002-09-12 | Steyr-Daimler-Puch | Fastening element for part of a trim inside a motor vehicle |
GB2434343A (en) * | 2006-01-18 | 2007-07-25 | Lear Corp | A trim panel with a frangible clip portion |
FR2996885A1 (en) * | 2012-10-16 | 2014-04-18 | Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa | Attachment system for parallelepiped housing of air conditioning control panel of vehicle, has interface secured to parallelepiped housing and comprising locking unit to engage with fixing lug in order to lock fixing lug on interface |
WO2015008001A1 (en) * | 2013-07-19 | 2015-01-22 | Renault | Lining part pertaining to a bodywork element of a motor vehicle |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5341544A (en) * | 1993-05-07 | 1994-08-30 | General Motors Corporation | Fastener assembly for detachably connecting a door trim panel |
US5362102A (en) * | 1992-09-14 | 1994-11-08 | Volkswagen Ag | Support arrangement for supporting a trim member from a structural member of a vehicle |
US5419606A (en) * | 1993-12-27 | 1995-05-30 | Ford Motor Company | Trim panel attaching pin with water seal |
-
1996
- 1996-08-16 GB GB9617191A patent/GB2304648B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5362102A (en) * | 1992-09-14 | 1994-11-08 | Volkswagen Ag | Support arrangement for supporting a trim member from a structural member of a vehicle |
US5341544A (en) * | 1993-05-07 | 1994-08-30 | General Motors Corporation | Fastener assembly for detachably connecting a door trim panel |
US5419606A (en) * | 1993-12-27 | 1995-05-30 | Ford Motor Company | Trim panel attaching pin with water seal |
Cited By (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2318551B (en) * | 1996-10-25 | 2001-04-18 | Nissan Motor | Interior material for automotive vehicle |
EP0849123A1 (en) * | 1996-12-17 | 1998-06-24 | General Motors Corporation | Energy absorbing molding assembly |
EP0878357A3 (en) * | 1997-05-12 | 2000-02-23 | Inoac Corporation | Energy absorbing structure |
EP0878357A2 (en) * | 1997-05-12 | 1998-11-18 | Inoac Corporation | Energy absorbing structure |
DE29721805U1 (en) * | 1997-12-10 | 1998-02-05 | Rehau Ag + Co, 95111 Rehau | Spring clip for concealed fastening of flat foam parts |
FR2797616A1 (en) * | 1999-08-18 | 2001-02-23 | Cera | Coating to protect a car's interior comprises a rigid sheet surrounded by foam with damping elements embedded one into the other when the material bridges collapse under the stress applied |
FR2797669A1 (en) * | 1999-08-18 | 2001-02-23 | Cera | Shock absorber for motor vehicle bodywork has pile of stackable monobloc cone sections each connected to adjacent sections by frangible bridging areas |
WO2002070304A1 (en) * | 2001-03-07 | 2002-09-12 | Steyr-Daimler-Puch | Fastening element for part of a trim inside a motor vehicle |
GB2434343A (en) * | 2006-01-18 | 2007-07-25 | Lear Corp | A trim panel with a frangible clip portion |
GB2434343B (en) * | 2006-01-18 | 2008-05-28 | Lear Corp | Trim panel for a motor vehicle |
FR2996885A1 (en) * | 2012-10-16 | 2014-04-18 | Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa | Attachment system for parallelepiped housing of air conditioning control panel of vehicle, has interface secured to parallelepiped housing and comprising locking unit to engage with fixing lug in order to lock fixing lug on interface |
WO2015008001A1 (en) * | 2013-07-19 | 2015-01-22 | Renault | Lining part pertaining to a bodywork element of a motor vehicle |
FR3008673A1 (en) * | 2013-07-19 | 2015-01-23 | Renault Sa | CARRIAGE PIECE OF A BODY COMPONENT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2304648B (en) | 1999-07-14 |
GB9617191D0 (en) | 1996-09-25 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
732E | Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977) | ||
PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20070816 |