阅读说明：本技术 用于将装饰板附接到车门组件的自对准系统 (Self-aligning system for attaching trim panels to vehicle door assemblies ) 是由 J·E·多明格斯·奎瓦斯 A·巴瑞拉·托雷斯 E·拉米雷斯·帕拉西奥斯 A·瓦伦西亚·安杰利斯 于 2019-05-21 设计创作，主要内容包括：提供了一种用于将装饰板附接到车辆门组件的自对准系统。该系统包括装饰板,该装饰板具有限定壳体平台的内表面,从壳体平台延伸的至少一个对准销,以及与对准销相邻的至少一个定位销。该系统还包括内侧门板,该内侧门板限定多个通孔,所述多个通孔配置为接收对准和定位销。对准销包括从壳体平台整体延伸的刚性基部和从刚性基部整体延伸到远端的分叉弹性锥形部。刚性基部包括外环形壳和同心设置在外环形壳内的内环形壳。分叉弹性锥形部包括由多个肋限定的前半锥形部分和后半锥形部分。(A self-aligning system for attaching a trim panel to a vehicle door assembly is provided. The system includes a trim panel having an inner surface defining a housing platform, at least one alignment pin extending from the housing platform, and at least one alignment pin adjacent the alignment pin. The system also includes an interior door panel defining a plurality of through-holes configured to receive the alignment and locating pins. The alignment pin includes a rigid base portion integrally extending from the housing platform and a bifurcated resilient tapered portion integrally extending from the rigid base portion to a distal end. The rigid base includes an outer annular shell and an inner annular shell concentrically disposed within the outer annular shell. The bifurcated resilient cone includes a forward half cone portion and a rearward half cone portion defined by a plurality of ribs.)

1. A trim panel, comprising:

an inner surface defining a housing platform; and

at least one alignment pin includes a rigid base portion integrally extending from the housing platform and a resilient tapered portion integrally extending from the rigid base portion to a distal end.

2. The trim panel of claim 1 wherein the resilient taper of the alignment pin is bifurcated into a front half taper and a rear half taper.

3. The trim panel of claim 2 further comprising at least one push-in fastener assembled to an inner surface of the trim panel proximate the housing platform, the push-in fastener including a distal end closer to the trim panel than a distal end of the alignment pin.

4. The trim panel of claim 2 wherein the rigid base comprises an outer annular shell and an inner annular shell concentrically disposed within the outer annular shell.

5. The trim panel of claim 4 wherein at least one of the outer annular shell and the inner annular shell comprises an elliptical annular cross-section.

6. The trim panel of claim 4 wherein the alignment pin further comprises a first set of ribs interconnecting the outer and inner annular shells, and wherein the first set of ribs extend from the outer and inner annular shells, tapering distally toward the front half to define the front half taper.

7. The trim panel of claim 6 wherein said first set of ribs includes a central rib disposed between a pair of support ribs spaced from said central rib, said central rib including a chamfer extending from a distal end of said front half to an outer surface of said outer annular shell.

8. The trim panel of claim 7 wherein at least one of said support ribs includes a ramp extending from the distal end to the edge surface of the outer annular shell.

9. The trim panel of claim 7 further comprising:

a first toothed sector plate and a second toothed sector plate located in a front half of the inner surface of the decorative plate;

a third sector-shaped toothed plate and a fourth sector-shaped toothed plate which are positioned in the rear half part of the inner surface of the decorative plate; and

the first positioning pin and the second positioning pin are respectively arranged in the first sector toothed plate and the second sector toothed plate;

wherein each of the third and fourth scalloped plates includes at least one of the alignment pins.

10. The trim panel of claim 9 wherein said alignment pin and said alignment pin are injection molded with the trim panel as a unitary unit.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a system for attaching an interior trim panel to a vehicle door, and more particularly to an interior trim panel having a self-aligning pin.

Background

Automotive door assemblies typically include a passenger compartment door assembly having an outer door panel that serves as the exterior surface of the automobile and an opposing inner door panel to which a trim panel is attached. The outer and inner door panels are typically formed of a metallic material, such as a steel or aluminum plate. A typical trim panel is a rigid or semi-rigid panel formed of molded plastic material having a finished exterior surface facing the interior of the passenger compartment and an opposite interior surface attached to the interior door panel.

The trim panel is typically attached to the inner door panel by a plurality of panel fasteners, such as push-in fasteners, inserted through corresponding holes, or through-holes defined in the inner door panel. Push-in fasteners are typically preassembled to the interior surface of the trim panel and the subassembly so formed is then secured to the inside door panel. The push-in fastener extends outwardly from the interior surface of the trim panel and is spaced adjacent the peripheral edge of the trim panel. The trim panel is attached to the inner door panel by aligning and pushing the push-in fasteners on the trim panel into corresponding through holes in the door panel. The corresponding through-hole is configured to receive and cooperate with a feature of the push-in fastener to retain the interior trim panel on the inner door panel.

Prior to assembly of the trim panel to the inner door panel, the trim panel may be subjected to structural stresses due to packaging of the shipping panel during shipping, extreme temperature changes, and/or continued curing of the molded door panel, which may result in slight dimensional deformation of the trim panel, such as warping of the trim panel. Minor dimensional deformation of the trim panel does not compromise the structural or aesthetic integrity of the trim panel, but may be sufficient to cause slight misalignment of the pre-assembled push-in fastener when the trim panel is assembled to the inner door panel. Slight misalignment of the push-in fastener may require additional force to insert the push-in fastener into the through-hole.

Thus, while current systems that align and push the push-in fasteners on the interior trim panel into corresponding through-holes in the door panel to attach the trim panel to the interior door panel achieve their intended purpose, there is a need for a system that improves the alignment of the push-in fasteners to the corresponding through-holes during assembly.

Disclosure of Invention

According to several aspects, a self-aligning trim panel is provided. The trim panel includes an inner surface defining a housing platform and at least one alignment pin. The alignment pin includes a rigid base portion integrally extending from the housing platform and a resilient tapered portion integrally extending from the rigid base portion to a distal end.

In another aspect of the invention, the resilient taper of the alignment pin is bifurcated into a forward half taper and a rearward half taper.

In another aspect of the disclosure, the trim panel further includes at least one push-in fastener assembled to an inner surface of the trim panel proximate the housing platform. The push-in fastener includes a distal end that is closer to the trim panel than the distal end of the alignment pin.

In another aspect of the invention, the rigid base includes an outer annular shell and an inner annular shell concentrically disposed within the outer annular shell.

In another aspect of the invention, at least one of the outer annular shell and the inner annular shell comprises an elliptical annular cross-section.

In another aspect of the present invention, the alignment pin further includes a first set of ribs interconnecting the outer annular shell and the inner annular shell. A first set of ribs extends from the outer and inner annular shells, tapering distally toward the forward half to define a forward half tapered portion.

In another aspect of the invention, the first set of ribs includes a central rib disposed between a pair of support ribs spaced from the central rib. The central rib includes a chamfer extending from the distal end of the front half to the outer surface of the outer annular shell.

In another aspect of the disclosure, the at least one support rib includes a chamfer extending from the distal end to the edge surface of the outer annular shell.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the decorative plate defines first and second scalloped plates located in a front half of an inner surface of the decorative plate; the third sector-shaped toothed plate and the fourth sector-shaped toothed plate are positioned at the rear half part of the inner surface of the decorative plate. First and second locator pins are disposed within the first and second scalloped plates, respectively, and each of the third and fourth scalloped plates includes at least one alignment pin.

In another aspect of the invention, the alignment pin and the locating pin are injection molded as a unitary unit with the trim panel.

According to several aspects, a self-aligning pin for a trim panel is disclosed. The self-aligning pin includes a rigid base having an outer annular shell and an inner annular shell concentrically disposed within the outer annular shell, and a bifurcated portion integrally extending from the rigid base. The bifurcated portion includes a first semi-tapered portion and a second semi-tapered portion.

In another aspect of the invention, the alignment pin further includes a first set of ribs and a second set of ribs interconnecting the outer annular shell and the inner annular shell. The first set of ribs tapers to the forward half tip to define a forward half taper. The front half-cone is spaced apart from the rear half-cone such that the front half-distal end and the rear half-distal end are elastically deformable relative to each other.

According to several aspects, the first set of ribs includes a central rib having a chamfer extending from the distal end of the anterior half to the outer surface of the outer annular shell.

In another aspect of the invention, the central rib is disposed between a pair of support ribs spaced from the central rib. At least one support rib includes a ramp extending from the distal end of the anterior half to the edge surface of the outer annular shell.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the alignment pin is injection molded integrally with the trim panel.

According to several aspects, a self-aligning system for attaching a trim panel to an inside door panel is provided. The system includes a trim plate having an inner surface defining first and second upper scalloped plates, and third and fourth lower scalloped plates; a locating pin extending away from the inner surface in each of the two upper scalloped plates; an alignment pin extending away from the inner surface in each of the two lower scalloped plates; the inner door panel has respective locator pin through holes configured to receive the locator pins in each upper scalloped plate and respective alignment pin through holes configured to receive the alignment pins in each lower scalloped plate. The alignment pin includes a rigid base portion extending integrally from the inner surface and a bifurcated taper portion extending integrally from the rigid base portion toward the distal end.

In another aspect of the present invention, one of the alignment pin through holes defines a circular cross-section, another of the dowel pin through holes defines an oblong circle, and the alignment pin through holes defines an oblong circle.

According to aspects, the trim plate, the alignment pin and the alignment pin are integrally molded as a single unit. The inside door panel is formed of a metal material.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, at least one of the oblong shapes includes two parallel edges extending in a horizontal direction, and a width between the two parallel edges is sufficient to receive and then retain the alignment pin.

In another aspect of the disclosure, the interior surface of the trim panel includes a plurality of push-in fasteners. At least one fastener is adjacent one of the alignment pins.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

Drawings

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a door assembly having a trim panel with a fishmouth self-alignment pin spaced from an inside door panel according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fishmouth self-alignment pin of FIG. 1, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the fishmouth self-alignment pin of FIG. 2, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an interior surface of a trim panel according to an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an inside door panel, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Detailed Description

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. The illustrated embodiments are disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent corresponding parts throughout the several views. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular features. Specific structural and functional details disclosed are not to be interpreted as limiting, but as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to practice the disclosed concepts.

Fig. 1 illustrates a partial perspective view of a door assembly, generally designated by the reference numeral 100, having a trim panel 102 spaced from an interior door panel 104. The trim panel 102 is attached to the inner door panel 104 by a plurality of panel fasteners 106 (e.g., push-in fasteners 106). Examples of push-in fasteners 106 include, but are not limited to, nylon push-in fasteners, christmas tree fasteners, rivet clip fasteners, and the like. The push-in fastener 106 is typically pre-assembled into a fastener slot 108 defined on an inner surface 110 of the trim panel 102. The push-in fasteners 106 extend outwardly from an inner surface 110 of the trim panel 102 and are spaced adjacent a peripheral edge 112 of the trim panel 102. The inner door panel 104 defines corresponding fastener through holes 114, the fastener through holes 114 being aligned to receive the push-in fasteners 106 pre-assembled on the trim panel 102. The trim panel 102 is attached to the inside door panel 104 by first aligning the trim panel 102 with the inside door panel 104 and then pushing the trim panel 102 toward the inside door panel 104 until the push-in fasteners 106 are fully inserted into the corresponding through holes 114.

The door assembly 100 includes at least one self-aligning pin 116, also referred to as fishmouth alignment pin 116 or alignment pin 116, to ensure proper positioning of the trim panel 102 to the inner door panel 104 during the assembly process, minimizing or eliminating any dimensional distortion or warping of the trim panel 102, thereby providing proper alignment of the push-in fasteners 106 with the corresponding through holes. Self-aligning pins 116 extend from a housing platform 118 defined on the interior surface of trim panel 102. The self-aligning pins 116, housing platform 118 and trim panel 102 are molded as a single integral unit so that any force applied to the self-aligning pins is transmitted through the housing platform 118 to the trim panel 102. The self-aligning pin 116 includes a distal end 120, the distal end 120 extending farther from the peripheral edge 112 of the trim panel 102 than either distal end 122 of the push-in fastener 106.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the self-aligning pin extending along the A-axis, and FIG. 3 shows an end view of the self-aligning pin of FIG. 2. Referring to both fig. 1 and 2, the self-aligning pin includes a rigid base portion 122 extending from the housing platform 118 and a resilient tapered portion 124 extending from the base portion 122 to the distal end 120. The tapered portion 124 is bifurcated into a forward half tapered portion 124A shown above the a-axis and a rearward half tapered portion 124B shown below the a-axis, thereby defining an axial space between the forward half tapered portion 124A and the rearward half tapered portion 124B. The axial space includes a sufficient width (W) such that the forward-half distal end 120A of the forward-half conical portion 124A and the aft-half distal end 120B of the aft-half conical portion 124B are elastically deformable toward the a-axis, thereby reducing the cross-sectional profile of the distal end 120.

The base portion 122 of the self-aligning pin is defined by an outer annular shell 126 disposed about the a axis and an inner annular shell 128 concentrically disposed within the outer annular shell 126. The self-aligning pin includes a first set of ribs 130A, 130B' interconnecting the outer and inner annular shells 126, 128, thereby further increasing the structural integrity and rigidity of the base 122. A first set of ribs 130A, 130B 'extend from the outer and inner annular shells 126, 128, tapering toward the front half distal end 120A, wherein the first set of ribs 130A, 130B' are connected together. The first set of ribs includes a center rib 130A disposed between two support ribs 130B, 130B' spaced apart from the center rib 130A. The center rib 130A includes a tapered ramp 134 extending from the front-half distal end 120A to an outer surface 135 of the outer annular shell 126. Each of the two support ribs 130B, 130B' includes a tapered ramp 136 extending from the front-half distal end 120A to an edge surface 137 of the outer annular shell 126.

Similarly, a second set of ribs 132A, 132B 'interconnects the outer annular shell 126 and the inner annular shell 128, tapering the rear-half end 120B where the second set of ribs 132A, 132B' are connected. The second set of ribs 132A, 132B 'includes a central rib 132A disposed between two support ribs 132B, 132B'. The central rib 132A includes a tapered ramp 138 extending from the rear distal end 120B to the outer surface 135 of the outer annular shell 126. Each of the two support ribs 132B, 132B' includes a tapered ramp 140 extending from the rear-half distal end 120B to the edge surface 137 of the outer annular shell 126.

Shown in fig. 4 and 5 is a self-aligning system for attaching a trim panel 102 to an inner door panel 104 of a vehicle door assembly 100. The system includes a plurality of locating pins 150A, 150B and self-aligning pins 116A, 116B injection molded integrally with the trim panel 102 and a plurality of corresponding locating pins 150A, 150B through holes 152A, 152B and aligning pin through holes 154A, 154B defined in the inner door panel 104 configured to receive the locating pins 150A, 150B and the self-aligning pins 116A, 116B, respectively. As disclosed in detail below, the locating pins 150A, 150B and the self-aligning pins 116A, 116B are strategically located on the interior surface 110 of the trim panel 102 such that when the trim panel 102 is attached to the inner door panel 104, the locating pins 150A, 150B and the self-aligning pins 116A, 116B cooperate with the respective through holes 152A, 152B, 154A, 154B to minimize or eliminate any dimensional distortion of the trim panel 102, thereby properly aligning the push-in fasteners 106 with the respective fastener through holes.

Fig. 4 shows interior surface 110 of interior trim panel 102. The interior surface 110 of the trim panel 102 includes a plurality of push-in fasteners 106, the plurality of push-in fasteners 106 being preassembled into fastener slots 108 defined on the interior surface 110. The push-in fasteners 106 extend outwardly from an inner surface 110 of the trim panel 102 and are spaced adjacent a peripheral edge 112 of the trim panel 102. The trim panel 102 is shown divided into four scalloped plates, including first (I) and second (II) scalloped plates located in an upper portion of the trim panel 102, and third (III) and fourth (IV) scalloped plates located in a lower portion of the trim panel 102.

The inner surface 110 of the trim plate 102 includes a first alignment pin 150A and a second alignment pin 150B molded within the first and second tooth segment plates, respectively, and a first self-alignment pin 116A and a second self-alignment pin 116B molded within the third and fourth tooth segment plates, respectively. The alignment pins 150A, 150B and the self-alignment pins 116A, 116B extend further from the interior surface 110 of the trim panel 102 than the push-in fastener 106, thereby ensuring that the alignment pins 150A, 150B and the self-alignment pins 116A, 116B engage the inner door panel 104 before the push-in fastener 106 engages the inner door panel 104.

Fig. 5 shows the inner door panel 104 with corresponding through holes 114 configured to receive the push-in fasteners 106 disposed on the trim panel 102. The inside door panel 104 defines a circular through hole 152A, the circular through hole 152A having a diameter greater than an outer diameter of the first locating pin 150A such that the first locating pin 150A may be received and retained within the circular through hole 152A. The inside door panel 104 also defines three oblong through holes 152B, 154A, 154B configured to receive the second locating pin 150B, the first self-alignment pin 116A, and the second self-alignment pin 116B, respectively. Each oblong through-hole includes two horizontally extending parallel sides 160A, 160B and two semi-circular ends 162A, 162B. The distance between the parallel sides 160A, 160B is greater than the diameter of the second locating pin 150B and the base portion 122 of the self-aligning pins 116A, 116B such that the second locating pin 152B and the base portion 122 are receivable and retainable between the two parallel sides 160A, 160B, but slidable between the semi-circular ends 162A, 162B.

The trim panel 102 is attached to the inside door panel 104 by first aligning the locating pins 150A, 150B and the self-aligning pins 116A, 116B with respective through-holes defined in the inside door panel 104 and then pushing the trim panel 102 toward the inside door panel 104. The first and second locating pins 150A, 150B cooperate with each other to locate the trim panel 102 vertically and horizontally on the inner door panel 104. The first and second self-aligning pins 116A, 116B cooperate with the first and second alignment pins 150A, 150B to eliminate any distortion of the trim panel 102.

During initial insertion of the self-aligning pins 116A, 116, the tapered portions 124 of the self-aligning pins mate with the respective through- holes 154A, 154B such that the base portion 122 of the self-aligning pin 116 is centered between the two parallel sides of the oblong through-hole. The divergence of the tapered portion 124 provides additional elastic deformation to the tapered portion 124 such that the tapered portion 124 guides the rigid base 122 into the through holes 154A, 154B. When the rigid base 122 is inserted into the through holes 154A, 154B and into contact with the inside door panel 104, the rigid base 122 transmits the insertion force through the structural shell platform 118 and to the trim panel 102, thereby minimizing or eliminating any dimensional distortion of the trim panel 102 and properly aligning the push-in fasteners 106 with the corresponding through holes 116.

The description of the disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and variations that do not depart from the gist of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.