GB2536332A

GB2536332A - An interior trim arrangement for a vehicle and a vehicle with the interior trim arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2536332A
Application number: GB1522164.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Blanck Matthias
Original assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Current assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Priority date: 2014-12-20
Filing date: 2015-12-14
Publication date: 2016-09-14
Also published as: GB201522164D0; DE102014019331A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an interior trim arrangement for a vehicle with a trim component 2, which has a boundary edge 5 and a groove 4 extending within a surface extension of the trim component, wherein the groove subdivides the trim component 2 into a first surface section (6, figure 2) and into a second surface section (7), wherein the groove extends transversely to the boundary edge and opens into the boundary edge (figure 2), and comprising a lining device 8 which is arranged on the first surface section and forms a visible side S of the first surface section, wherein the lining device comprises a first end section 9 and a second end section 10, wherein the first end section is arranged in the groove and wherein the second end section covers the boundary edge. The lining device may extend around the boundary edge so as to partially cover a rear surface R of the trim component. The trim arrangement may comprise a further trim component (3, figure 1) with first and secondary boundary edges, where the first boundary edge optically extends and/or continues the groove.

Description

GM Global Technology Operations LLC An interior trim arrangement for a vehicle and a vehicle with the interior trim arrangement

Field of the invention:

The invention relates to an interior trim arrangement for a vehicle with the features of claim 1 and a vehicle with the interior trim arrangement with the features of claim 15.

Background of the invention:

Trim arrangements for lining a surface of a passenger compartment of a vehicle are arranged in many vehicles. Linings are often applied to a visible side of the trim component for improving the visual appearance and surface feel. It is known that the edges of the lining open into grooves which are incorporated in the respective trim component.

The specification DE 10 2009 042 550 A1, which seems to form the closest prior art, describes a method for example for producing an interior trim component. The trim component comprises a lining which is arranged in a covered way in a groove of the trim component.

Description:

The invention is based on the object of providing a functionally improved and visually appealing interior trim arrangement for a vehicle. This object is achieved by an interior trim arrangement with the features of claim 1 and by a vehicle with the features of claim 15. Preferred or advantageous embodiments of the invention are provided in the dependent claims, the description below and/or the enclosed drawings.

An interior trim arrangement for a vehicle, in particular a passenger car or truck, is proposed. The interior trim arrangement can preferably be arranged in the interior space of the vehicle, e.g. on the inside walls or trim of the vehicle.

The interior trim arrangement comprises a trim component. The trim component is preferably formed as a flat component. The trim component especially comprises a carrier material which is formed from a flexurally stiff plastic material. The trim component preferably comprises a front side and a rear side opposite the front side.

The trim component comprises at least one boundary edge and at least one groove. The groove extends within a surface extension of the trim component, wherein the groove is preferably introduced on the front side of the trim component. The groove is especially formed on the front side in the carrier material. The groove is preferably enclosed along its longitudinal extension on both sides by the carrier material. The groove subdivides the trim component into a first surface section and a second surface section. It extends transversely, especially angularly, in relation to the boundary edge and opens into the boundary edge. The boundary edge forms at least one corner or edge with the groove in an especially preferred way, wherein the corner or edge has an acute or obtuse angle or a 90° angle.

The interior trim arrangement comprises a lining device The lining device is arranged on the first surface section, especially on the front side of the first surface section. The lining device thus forms a visible side of the first surface section. The second surface section is preferably not covered by the lining device and/or is formed in a manner free from the lining device.

The lining device comprises a first end section and a second end section. For example, the first and second end section are arranged as edges of the lining device. The first end section is arranged in the groove. In particular, the first end section strikes a groove base of the groove with an end section edge. The second end section covers the boundary edge of the trim component. The second end section is preferably bent and/or folded around the boundary end.

It is advantageous that the first end section, as a result of the arrangement in the groove, and the second end section, as a result of the arrangement on the boundary edge, are arranged transversely, especially angularly, with respect to each other. Preferably, the first and the second end section jointly form at least one corner lining in at least one abutting region where they abut each other for the at least one corner or edge formed between the groove and the boundary edge. In particular, the corner or edge is completely covered by the corner lining. The boundary edge, the groove and the corner or edge are completely covered by the end sections and the corner lining. As a result, lined trim components can form corners edges either alone or in combination with a further trim component. This promotes the freedom of design in the arrangement of the interior trim arrangement. -3 -

A potential embodiment of the invention provides that the rear side of the trim component comprises at least one boundary region. The at least one boundary region preferably adjoins the at least one boundary edge. In particular, the boundary region extends along a longitudinal extension of the boundary edge. The second end section preferably covers the boundary region, and it especially covers the boundary region in addition to the boundary edge. For this purpose, the second end section is bent and/or folded from the front side over the boundary edge up to the rear side. The second end section optionally extends on the rear side in a cross-section of the boundary edge parallel to the lining device on the front side of the trim component.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the boundary region covered by the second end section has a width, especially a distance from the boundary edge, of at least 5 mm, preferably at least 12 mm and especially at least 17 mm. Alternatively or optionally in addition, the boundary region covered by the second end section has a width of a maximum of 22 mm, preferably a maximum of 27 mm and especially a maximum of 32 mm. In particular, the boundary region which is covered by the second end section has a width which is necessary for fixing the second end section. In particular, the boundary region is provided with such a wide configuration that the second end section can be and/or is fixed securely and permanently thereto.

A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the interior trim arrangement comprises a further trim component. The further trim component is preferably arranged and/or can be arranged adjacent to the trim component. In particular, the further trim component is and/or can be arranged in a common plane on the visible side with the trim component. The further trim component is made of the same base material for example, especially a flexurally rigid plastic material. The further trim component is further optionally formed free from the lining device. It is also possible that the further trim component has a further lining device.

The further trim component preferably comprises a first further boundary edge and a second further boundary edge. The first and second further boundary edges preferably extend transversely, especially angularly, with respect to each other. The first and second further boundary edges optionally form a further corner or edge.

For example, the further trim component is adjacent with the further corner or edge to the corner or edge of the trim component formed by the groove and the boundary edge. The -4 -first further boundary edge preferably continues the groove especially in a visual respect, and/or extends said groove.

In a preferred implementation of the invention, the further trim component is adjacent with the second further boundary edge to the boundary edge covered by the second end section. The second further boundary edge is preferably formed by a step, an offset to the rear or a concavity, especially by a curvature and/or bending, a radius or an extension of radii, in a surface extension of a base material of the further trim component. For example, the further trim component extends in its surface extension in a stepped or concave manner, especially bent or curved, to the rear towards the rear side of the trim component, especially behind the trim component. In particular, the further flat component yields backwardly with the step, the offset to the rear or concavity from the common plane with the trim component. As a result, the further trim component engages behind the trim component with the concavity. For example, the step, the offset to the rear or concavity is formed as a channel or groove in the surface extension of the base material of the further trim component.

In an especially preferred embodiment of the invention, the step, the offset to the rear or the concavity forms a receiving area for the second end section which is fixed on the rear side of the trim component in the boundary region. The receiving area is preferably offset to the rear from the common plane of both trim components. In particular, the receiving area is and/or can be arranged in a covered manner behind the trim component, especially behind the boundary region. The receiving area is optionally formed to accommodate therein the boundary region enlarged by the second end section.

The second end section is and/or can be arranged in an especially preferred way in the receiving area. The receiving area preferably rests on the second end section in an interlocking manner. In particular, the second end section is secured in an interlocking manner in the receiving area against inadvertent detachment from the boundary region.

In a potential implementation of the invention, the lining device is firmly bonded with the trim component. For example, the lining device is glued and/or welded together the trim component. For example, the lining device is formed as a cover made of a textile fabric or knitted fabric, a micro-fibre material, leather or a flexible and/or non-rigid plastic material, so-called artificial leather. The lining device can additionally optionally comprise a soft insert or a nonwoven material on the rear side for improving the surface feel. -5 -

A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the interior trim arrangement is formed for lining on the inside a vehicle door, a vehicle pillar, a roof lining, a centre console, an instrument panel and/or a car boot wall of the vehicle.

A further object of the invention relates to a vehicle with the interior trim arrangement according to the description above and/or according to one of the claims 1 to 14. The vehicle is preferably formed as a passenger car or truck.

Further features, advantages and effects of the invention are provided in the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a top view from the front of an interior trim arrangement for a vehicle with a trim component, a further trim component and a supplementary trim component; Fig. 2 shows the trim component in a perspective top view without the lining device; Fig. 3 shows the trim component of Fig. 2 with the lining device; Fig. 4 shows a sectional view of the trim component of Fig. 3 along the line of intersection A-A without adjacent components; Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of the trim component and a further trim component of Fig. 1 along the line of intersection B-B.

Parts that correspond to each other or are similar are respectively shown in the drawings with the same reference numerals.

Fig. 1 shows a top view of an interior trim arrangement 1 for a vehicle, especially for a passenger car or truck, as an embodiment of the invention. The interior trim arrangement 1 lines at least one interior surface of the vehicle, e.g. an inner side of a vehicle door, a vehicle pillar, a car boot wall, a centre console, a roof lining and/or an instrument panel of the vehicle.

The interior trim arrangement 1 comprises a trim component 2, a further trim component 3 and a supplementary trim component 13. The trim component 2 is arranged adjacent to the further trim component 3 and to the supplementary trim component 13. In particular, the trim component 2 adjoins the further trim component 3 and the supplementary trim component 13. All trim components 2, 3, 13 extend in a common plane and cover at least one of the aforementioned inner surfaces of the vehicle. In particular, the front sides V of the trim components 2, 3, 13 face the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

The trim components 2, 3, 13 are formed as flat components made of a base material.

The base material comprises a flexurally rigid plastic material. The trim component 2 is covered partly by a lining device 8. The further trim component 3 and/or the supplementary trim component 13 can optionally be formed free from a lining device. Alternatively, the further trim component 3 and/or the supplementary trim component 13 can have a further or supplementary lining device.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective top view of the front side V of the trim component 2. The trim component 2 comprises a groove 4 and a boundary edge 5. The groove 4 has a bent and/or curved longitudinal extension and extends transversely in relation to the boundary edge 5, especially angularly thereto, wherein the groove opens into the boundary edge 5.

The groove 4 forms a corner or edge 15 with an acute or obtuse angle together with the boundary edge 5. The angle has at least 20° for example, preferably at least 40°, and especially at least 60°, and/or a maximum of 145°, especially a maximum of 170°.

The groove 4 subdivides the trim component 2 into a first surface section 6 and a second surface section 7, wherein the first and the second surface section 6, 7 are formed from the base material. The first surface section 6 adjoins one side of the groove 4 along a longitudinal extension of the groove 4 and the second surface 7 adjoins the groove 4 on the other side.

Fig. 3 shows the trim component 2 of Fig. 2 with the lining device 8. The lining device 8 is arranged on the front side V of the trim component 2 and covers the first surface section 6. The second surface section 7 is free from the lining device, it is especially not covered by the lining device 8.

The lining device 8 forms a visible side S of the first surface section 6. The lining device 8 is connected to the first surface section 6 in a firmly bonded manner, especially glued and/or welded thereon. The lining device 8 is formed of a textile fabric or knitted fabric, a micro-fibre material, leather or a flexible and/or non-rigid plastic material, especially so-called artificial leather material. The lining device 8 can optionally comprise on the rear side a soft insert or a nonwoven material in order to improve the surface feel of the lining device.

The lining device 6 comprises a first end section 9 and a second end section 10. Both end sections 9, 10 are formed as lateral edges of the lining device 8 and/or the extend along the lateral edges. In this case, the end sections 9, 10 extend transversely with respect to each other and meet each other in an abutment point, wherein they jointly form a corner lining 11 for the corner or edge 15 in the abutment point.

Fig. 4 shows a sectional view through the trim component 2 along the line of intersection A-A of Fig. 3. The first end section 9 is arranged in the groove 4, and it is especially pressed into said groove and fixed therein. The second end section 10 covers the boundary edge 5 of the first surface section 6. For this purpose, the second end section is folded, bent and/or turned down around the boundary edge 5.

The first surface section 9 comprises a boundary region 12 on the rear side R, which boundary region adjoins the boundary edge 5. The boundary region 12 is covered by the second end section 10. The boundary edge 5 and the boundary region 12 are especially completely covered by the lining device 6. In the boundary region 12, the second end section 10 is arranged parallel or substantially parallel to the lining device 8 on the front side V of the first surface section 6.

As is shown in Fig. 1, the further trim component 3 has a first further boundary edge 16 and a second further boundary edge 17. The first further boundary edge 16 and the second further boundary edge 17 extend transversely, especially angularly, with respect to each other and form a further corner or edge 18 with a further acute or obtuse angle.

The further trim component 3 meets with the further corner or edge 18 the corner or edge 15 of the trim component 2 covered by the corner lining 11. In particular, the further trim component 3 rests with the further corner or edge on the corner or edge 15 of the trim component 2 which is covered by the corner lining 11. As a result, the first further boundary edge 16 extends the groove 4 optically, and/or optically continues the groove 4.

The further trim component 3 rests with the second further boundary edge 17 on the boundary edge 5 of the trim component 2 which is covered with the second end section 10.

The supplementary trim component 13 adjoins the second surface section 7 of the trim component 2 and the first further boundary edge 16 of the further trim component 3.

Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of the trim component 2 and the further trim component 3 along the line of intersection B-B of Fig. 1. The further trim component 3 engages behind the trim component 2 with an offset to the rear or a concavity, especially with a bend, curvature and/or with a radius or progression of radii in the surface extension of the base material. Alternatively, the further trim component 3 can also engage behind the trim component 2 with a step or edge. This forms a receiving region 14 for the second end section 10 of the lining device 8, wherein the second end section 10 is arranged in the receiving area 14. The receiving area 14 lies in an interlocking manner on the second end section 10 and secures said section against inadvertent detachment from the boundary region 12 on the rear side R of the trim component 2. The visible sides S of both trim components 2, 3 remain in the common plane because of the rearward engaging of the further trim component 3.

As is shown in Fig. 1, the corner or edge 15 is covered with the comer lining 11 (Fig. 3). For the purpose of achieving a visually appealing appearance, the first end section 9 is fixed in the groove. The second end section 10 covers the boundary edge 5 and is folded around said edge, wherein it is fixed to the rear side R of the trim component 2 in the boundary region 12. The corner lining 11 is inserted and/or guided through in the boundary region between the further trim component 3 and the supplementary trim component 13. The corner lining 11 is fixed in the boundary region 12 of the first section 6 in an optionally supplementary manner. As a result, a completely lined corner or edge 15 can be provided between the trim component 2 and the further trim component 3, which offers special advantages with respect to the design freedom in the configuration of the interior trim arrangement.

Whereas at least one embodiment was disclosed in detail above, it is recognised that there exist a plurality of variants in accordance with the invention. It is also recognised that the at least one embodiment is only of an exemplary nature and does not represent any limitation in the scope of protection, the fields of application or the configuration. Instead, the present disclosure shall offer a smooth route for implementing at least one embodiment. It should thus be recognised that different variations in the function or the arrangement of the elements of the at least one embodiment can be implemented without leaving the scope which is predetermined by the claims and their legal equivalents.

List of reference numerals: 1 Interior trim arrangement 2 Trim component 3 Further trim component 4 Groove Boundary edge 6 First surface section 7 Second surface section 8 Lining device 9 First boundary section Second boundary section 11 Corner lining 12 Boundary region 13 Supplementary trim component 14 Receiving area Corner or edge 16 First further boundary edge 17 Second further boundary edge 18 Further corner or edge R Rear side S Visible side V Front side -9 - _10 -

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. An interior trim arrangement (1) for a vehicle, comprising a trim component (2) which comprises at least one boundary edge (5) and a groove (4) extending within the surface extension of the trim component (2), wherein the groove subdivides the trim component (2) into a first surface section (6) and into a second surface section (7), wherein the groove (4) extends transversely to the at least one boundary edge (5) and opens into the at least one boundary edge (5), a lining device (8), which is arranged on the first surface section (6) and forms a visible side (S) of the first surface section (6), wherein the lining device (8) comprises a first end section (9) and a second end section (10), wherein the first end section (9) is arranged in the groove (4) and wherein the second end section (10) covers the at least one boundary edge (5).
2. An interior trim arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the trim component (2) has a rear side (R) which is opposite the visible side (S), wherein the rear side (R) comprises at least one boundary region (12) which adjoins the at least one boundary edge (5), wherein the second end section (10) is bent and/or folded around the at least one boundary edge (5) and covers the at least one boundary region (12).
3. An interior trim arrangement (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one boundary region (12) which is covered by the second end section (10) has a width in the longitudinal extension of the boundary edge (5) of at least 5 mm, preferably at least 12 mm, especially at least 17 mm, and/or a width of a maximum of 22 mm, preferably a maximum of 27 mm, especially a maximum of 32 mm.
4. An interior trim arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lining device (8) comprises at least one corner lining (11), which is formed by at least one abutting region in which the first and the second end section (9, 10) abut one another.
5. An interior trim arrangement (1) according to claim 4, wherein the groove (4), together with the boundary edge (5), forms at least one corner or edge (15) with an acute or obtuse angle, wherein the at least one corner or edge (15) is covered by the at least one corner lining (11).
6. An interior trim arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the interior trim arrangement (1) comprises a further trim component (3) with a first further boundary edge (16) and with a second further boundary edge (17), wherein the first further boundary edge (16) optically extends and/or continues the groove (4).
7. An interior trim arrangement (1) according to claim 6, wherein the further trim component (3) adjoins with the second further boundary edge (17) the boundary edge (5) covered by the second end section (10).
8. An interior trim arrangement (1) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the second further boundary edge (17) is formed by a step, an offset to the rear or concavity in a surface extension of a base material of the further trim component (3).
9. An interior trim arrangement (1) according to claim 8, wherein the further trim component (3) engages behind the trim component (2) with the step, the offset to the rear or concavity.
10. An interior trim arrangement (1) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the concavity forms a receiving area (14) for the second end section (10) arranged in the boundary region (12).
11. An interior trim arrangement (1) according to claim 10, wherein the second end section (10) is arranged in the receiving area (14) and is thus secured in an interlocking manner against detachment from the boundary region (12). -12 -
12. An interior trim arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lining device (8) is connected in a firmly bonded manner to the trim component (2).
13. An interior trim arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lining device (8) is formed as a cover made of a textile fabric or knitted fabric, a micro-fibre material, leather or a flexible and/or non-rigid plastic material.
14. An interior trim arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the interior trim arrangement (1) is formed for lining an inner surface of the vehicle, especially for lining a vehicle door, a vehicle pillar, a centre console, a roof lining, an instrument panel and/or a car boot wall.
15. A vehicle with the interior trim arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims.