VEHICLE INTERIOR MEMBER

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001]

The present invention relates to a vehicle interior member.

BACKGROUND

[0002]

As a vehicle interior member mounted to a vehicle body, a garnish to cover a dash board provided in front of a driver seat, a front pillar, a center pillar, a rear pillar, a side sill or the like is well known, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application, Publication No. H4-39407.

In case of these vehicle interior members, a clip member is used at a mounting part to a vehicle body side. And the vehicle interior member is engaged and fixed to the vehicle body via the clip member.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0003]

However, according to the prior art in which the vehicle interior member and the clip member are separately formed, an increasing number of the components is a problem.

[0004]

An object of an aspect of the present invention is to provide a low cost vehicle interior member with a reduced number of the components.

MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM

[0005]

A vehicle interior member according to an aspect of the present invention is a vehicle interior member, mounted in a periphery of a door opening part of a vehicle body includes: a lower cover part located below the lower edge part of the door opening part, and arranged along the lower edge part of the door opening part; and an upper cover part located above the lower cover part. The lower cover part includes a clip member, formed separately from the lower cover part, and configured to be fixed to the vehicle body. The upper cover part includes a fixing part configured to be fixed to the vehicle body. The fixing part includes an engaging part, integrally formed with the upper cover part, and configured to engage with the vehicle body by elastic deformation.

[0006]

According to an aspect of the present invention, the upper cover part includes a fixing part configured to be fixed to the vehicle body, and the fixing part includes an engaging part, integrally formed with the upper cover part, and configured to engage with the vehicle body by elastic deformation. Thus, it is possible to fix the upper cover part to the vehicle body without such clip member as provided in the prior art. Therefore, it is possible to provide a low cost vehicle interior member with a reduced number of the components.

[0007]

In the vehicle interior member described above, the upper cover part can include a plurality of fixing parts. And a direction of elastic deformation in the engaging part of at least one of the plurality of the fixing parts can be different from a direction of elastic deformation in the engaging part of at least the other one of the plurality of the fixing parts.

[0008]

According to an aspect of the present invention, a direction of elastic deformation in the engaging part of at least one of a plurality of the fixing parts is different from a direction of elastic deformation in the engaging part of at least the other one of the plurality of the fixing parts. Thus, those engagement forces generated by each of the engaging parts of the plural fixing parts are arranged to be in different directions. Therefore, it is possible to stabilize the vehicle interior member mounted to the vehicle body. Additionally, even when vibration is applied from outside by such reason of travelling of the vehicle or the like, rattling of the vehicle interior member is prevented.

[0009]

In the vehicle interior member described above, the engaging part can be configured to be engaged by being inserted to a fixing part mounting hole provided in the vehicle body, and the fixing part can include a restriction part configured to restrict a movement of the engaging part in a different direction from the direction of the elastic deformation.

[0010]

According to an aspect of the present invention, the fixing part includes a restriction part configured to restrict a movement of the engaging part in a different direction from the direction of the elastic deformation. Thus, it is possible to highly stabilize the vehicle interior member mounted to the vehicle body. Additionally, even when vibration is applied from outside by such reason of travelling of the vehicle or the like, rattling of the vehicle interior member is even securely prevented.

[0011]

In the vehicle interior member described above, the clip member can be configured to be engaged by being inserted to a clip mounting hole provided in the vehicle body, and can include a choking part configured to choke the clip mounting hole.

[0012]

According to an aspect of the present invention, the clip member is configured to be engaged by being inserted to a clip mounting hole provided in the vehicle body, and includes a choking part configured to choke the clip mounting hole. Therefore, it is possible to provide a vehicle interior member which is resistant to water immersion from the clip mounting hole into the vehicle interior space.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION

[0013]

According to an aspect of the present invention, the upper cover part includes a fixing part configured to be fixed to the vehicle body, and the fixing part includes an engaging part, integrally formed with the upper cover part, and configured to engage with the vehicle body by elastic deformation. Thus, it is possible to fix the upper cover part to the vehicle body without such clip member as provided in the prior art. Therefore, it is possible to provide a low cost vehicle interior member with a reduced number of the components. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle interior.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory drawing showing a right side, exterior view of a side garnish a vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a magnified view of a clip member.

FIG. 4 is a magnified view of a upper cover member.

FIG. 5 is a magnified view of one of fixing parts.

FIG. 6 is a magnified drawing of an interior side view a lever compartment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0015]

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. In the following descriptions, unless otherwise specified, a front-to-rear direction and a right-to-left direction respectively correspond to a front-to-rear direction and a right-to-left direction with respect to the travelling direction of a vehicle. In the drawings, an arrow "T" indicates front direction of the vehicle, an arrow "RB" indicates right side of the vehicle, and an arrow "H" indicates upper side of the vehicle respectively. Further, in the description below, a vehicle of right-side steering wheel will be described as an example in which a driver seat 11 is located on the right side of the vehicle 1 and a passenger seat 9 is located on the left side of the vehicle 1.

[0016]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle interior 2 of the vehicle 1. As shown in the FIG. 1, in the front part of the vehicle interior 2 of the vehicle 1, a dash board 10 is provided facing both of a driver seat 11 and passenger seat 9. An area in the dash board 10 facing the driver seat 11 is configured as a driver seat side panel 3. In the driver seat side panel 3, a steering wheel 5 A is provided via a steering column. Above the steering column 5, an instrument cluster is arranged to display a vehicle speed or the like to the driver.

[0017]

Below the steering column 5, a pair of vertically aligned levers (a lever 16 and a lever 17) are disposed in a position corresponding to a front lower pillar 15 The lever 16, for example, is a lever for opening a lid of a rear trunk (not shown). The lever 17, for example, is a lever for opening a lid of a fuel tank (now shown). An area in the dash board 10 facing the passenger seat 9 is configured as a passenger seat side panel 4. In the passenger seat side panel 3, a glove compartment 8 is disposed with a flexibly openable lid.

[0018]

A pair of side sills 12 extending in a front-rear direction are provided on both left side and right side of the vehicle 1. The side sill 12 is a framework member of the vehicle body 1A, and configured as a lower side of a door opening part 18. The door opening part 18 is provided around a front door 6 in an approximately rectangular shape in a side view, defined by such surrounding members as the side sill 12 as the framework member of the vehicle body 1A, a front pillar 13, a center pillar 14 and the front lower pillar 15. A cross section of the side sill 12 in the right-left lateral direction is configured to be closed cross section structure. In the vicinity of the door opening part 18 of the vehicle body 1A, a side garnish 20 (corresponding to a vehicle interior member in claims) is disposed.

[0019]

FIG. 2 is an explanatory drawing showing a right side, exterior view of a side garnish a vehicle. In FIG. 2, the side sill 12 and the front lower pillar 15 are displayed in two dot chain line. Roughly describing, a major part of the side garnish 20 is arranged in a way to cover the side sill 12 and the front lower pillar 15 from the vehicle interior 2 side. As shown in FIG. 2, the side garnish 20 is formed in approximately L-shape in the side view, including a lower cover part 30 and an upper cover part 40.

[0020]

The lower cover part 30 is located below a lower edge part of the door opening part 18. The lower cover part 30 is arranged along the lower edge part of the door opening part 18. A major part of the lower cover part 30 is arranged in a way to cover the side sill 12 below the lower edge part of the door opening part 18 from the vehicle interior 2 side. The upper cover part 40 is located above the lower cover part 30. The upper cover part 40 extends upwards along the front edge of the door opening part 18 from a front end part of the lower cover part 30. A major part of the upper cover part 40 is arranged in a way to cover the front lower pillar 15 above the lower cover part 30 from the vehicle interior 2 side. [0021]

FIG. 3 is a magnified view of a clip member. As shown in FIG. 3, the lower cover part 30 includes a clip mounting part 31 and a clip member 50. The clip mounting part 31 is formed to project in the outward direction of the vehicle 1 from a vehicle exterior surface 20a of the lower cover part 30 of the side garnish 20. The clip mounting part 31 includes a leg part formed to have an approximately U-shape cross section, and a pedestal part 33 configured to hold the clip member 50 at the front end of the leg part 32. In the pedestal part 32, a slit 33a extending in the front-rear direction is formed, where the clip member 50 is configured to be inserted. The pedestal part 33 holds the clip member 50 inserted into the slit 33a. As shown in FIG. 2, plural of the clip mounting parts 31 are provided on the vehicle exterior surface 20a of the lower cover part 30. The clip mounting parts 31 are arranged on 3 locations in the center of the vertical direction, and are spaced from each other with approximately equal intervals in the front-rear direction.

[0022]

As shown in FIG. 3, the clip member 50 includes a locking pin 51, a choking part 53 and a convex holding part 55. The locking pin 51 is formed in an approximately cone shape as a whole. A diameter of the locking pin 51 gradually shrinks from the base end towards the front end. On the outer circumferential surface of the locking pin 51, a latch part (not shown) is formed to stretch outwards in the radial direction. The locking pin 51 is inserted to a clip mounting hole 12a provided on the side sill 12. The latch part of the locking pin 51 is configured to be engaged with an edge part of the clip mounting hole 12a as the locking pin 51 is inserted into the clip mounting hole 12a. In this way, the lower cover part 30 is fixed to the side sill 12 through the clip member 50.

[0023]

The base end of the locking pin 51 is connected to the choking part 53. The choking part 53 is formed in a disk-like shape, and disposed in concentrically with the locking pin 51. The choking part 53 is formed to have a larger diameter than the maximum outer diameter of the locking pin 51. Thus, the outer edge part of the choking part 53 comes in contact with the side sill 12 at all the circumferences when the latch part of the locking pin 51 is engaged with the edge part of the clip mounting hole 12a. In this way, the clip mounting hole 12a is choked by the choking part 53 from the inside of the vehicle 1. [0024]

The convex holding part 55 is disposed on the opposite side with respect to the locking pin 51 with the choking part 53 placed therebetween. The convex holding part 55 is approximately formed to have a cross section of T-shape as a whole, including a narrow part which is narrow enough to be inserted into the slit 33a, and a wide part formed in the front end of the convex holding part 55. The clip member 50 is configured to be caught by the clip mounting part 31 as the narrow part of the convex holding part 55 is inserted into the slit 33 a.

[0025]

FIG. 4 is a magnified view of an upper cover member 40. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper cover part 40 includes plural (two in the present embodiment) fixing parts 41 (a fixing part 41 A and a fixing part 4 IB), and 2 lever compartments (a lever compartment 48 and a lever compartment 49). Each of the fixing parts 41 is provided on an upper end part and a lower end part of the upper cover part 40, respectively.

[0026]

FIG. 5 is a magnified view of one of fixing parts. The one of the fixing part 41 A is provided on the upper end part of the upper cover part 40. As shown in FIG. 5, the one of the fixing part 41 A includes a leg part 42, a pedestal part 43, a contact part 44, an engaging part 45, and a restriction part 46. The leg part 42 is formed to project in the outward direction of the vehicle 1 from a vehicle exterior surface 20a of the upper cover part 40 of the side garnish 20. The leg part 42 is formed to have an approximately U-shape cross section across the front-rear direction, and an opening of U-shape faces upwards. The pedestal part 43 is formed as a flat wall along the front-rear direction, located at the end of the leg part. The both edge of the pedestal part in the front-rear direction are formed to reach the leg part. The contact part 44 is formed approximately in a U-shape in the side view, and an opening of the U-shape faces upwards. The contact part 44 is formed to erect in the perpendicular direction with respect to the pedestal part 43. When the fixing part 41 A ix fixed to the side sill 12, the front end of the contact part 44 comes into contact with a surface of the side sill 12.

[0027]

The engaging part 45 includes a pin part 45a and a base part 45b. The engaging part 45 is formed to be a hollow body with openings facing both upward and downward respectively. The pin part 45a in a top view is formed so that a length in the front-rear direction gradually increases and then degreases along the direction from the vehicle exterior side towards the vehicle interior sides. The base part 45b connects the pin part 45a to the pedestal part 43. The engaging part 45 of the one of the fixing part 41 A is configured so that an elastic deformation of the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1 is possible, when the length of the pin part 45a in the front-rear direction increases and decreases. As shown in FIG. 5, the largest length of the pin part 45a in the front-rear direction in the top view is configured to be larger than a length of the fixing part mounting hole 15a in the front-rear direction in the top view. Thus, the pin part 45a is inserted to the fixing part mounting hole 15a while shrinking in the front-rear direction by the elastic deformation. And the pin part 45 is engaged with the fixing part mounting hole 15a when a restoring force is applied.

[0028]

Under the engaging part 45, a restriction part 46 is disposed. The restriction part 46 is formed in an approximately rectangular plate shape, and stretches out toward in the vehicle exterior direction. A length between a lower end surface of the restriction part 46 and an upper end surface of the engaging part 45 is configured to be approximately equal to a length of the vertical dimension of the fixing part mounting hole 15a. In this configuration, when the engaging part 45 is engaged with the fixing part mounting hole 15 a, a vertical movement of the upper cover part 40 of the side garnish 20 is restricted. That is, the movement of the upper cover panel 40 in a different direction from the front-rear elastic deformation direction is restricted.

[0029]

As shown in FIG. 4, the other one of the fixing part 4 IB is provided on the lower end part of the upper cover part 40. The other one of the fixing part 41 A includes a leg part 42, a pedestal part 43, a contact part 44, an engaging part 45, and a restriction part 46. The other one of the fixing part 41B is identical to the one of the fixing part 41 A in shape except for the alignment direction of those parts including the leg part 42, the pedestal part 43, the contact part 44, the engaging part 45, and the restriction part 46. Therefore, the configuration of the other one of the fixing part 4 IB in details will not be described.

[0030]

The leg part 42 of the other one of the fixing part 4 IB is formed so that an opening of U-shape faces frontwards. The engaging part 45 is formed to be a hollow body with openings facing both frontward and backward respectively. The engaging part 45 of the other one of the fixing part 4 IB is configured so that an elastic deformation of the vertical direction of the vehicle 1 is possible, when the length of the pin part 45a in the vertical direction increases and decreases. The largest length of the pin part 45a in the vertical direction in the front view is configured to be larger than a length of the fixing part mounting hole 15b in the vertical direction in the front view. Thus, the pin part 45a is inserted to the fixing part mounting hole 15b while shrinking in the vertical direction by the elastic deformation. And the pin part 45 is engaged with the fixing part mounting hole 15b when a restoring force is applied. As described above in comparison, the direction of the elastic deformation of the engaging part 45 of the one of the fixing part 41 A is the front-rear direction, while the direction of the elastic deformation of the engaging part 45 of the other one of the fixing part 4 IB is the vertical direction. In this way, the direction of elastic deformation in the one of the engaging part 41 A and the direction of elastic deformation in the other one of the engaging part 4 IB are configured to be different from each other.

[0031]

As shown in FIG. 4, the lever compartment 48 and the lever compartment 49 are vertically aligned on the upper cover part. The lever compartment 48 and the lever compartment 49 are configured to be recessed from the vehicle interior surface 20b towards the vehicle exterior side. Inner dimensions of the lever compartment 48 and the lever compartment 49 are configured to be larger than outer dimensions of the lever 16 and the lever 17 levers respectively. Thus, the lever 16 and the lever 17 can be accommodated in the lever compartment 48 and the lever compartment 49 respectively.

[0032]

In exterior end walls of the lever compartment 48 and the lever compartment 49 compartment, a lever inserting hole 48a and a lever inserting hole 49b are arranged. The lever 16 and the lever 17 are inserted from the vehicle exterior surface 20a towards the vehicle interior surface 20b through the lever inserting hole 48 a and the lever inserting hole 49b respectively while the side garnish 20 being mounted to the vehicle body 1A.

[0033]

FIG. 6 is a magnified drawing of an interior side view a lever compartment.

As shown in FIG. 6, a rear edge part 48b of the lever inserting hole 48a and a rear edge part 49b of the lever inserting hole 48b are positioned in front of the rear edge parts of the lever 16 and the lever 17 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1 respectively. That is to say, the exterior end walls of the lever compartment 48 and the lever compartment 49 partially covers the lever 16 and the lever 17 in the right-left direction of the vehicle 1. Thus, even in case where the fixing part 41 A and the fixing part 4 IB are disengaged from the vehicle body 1A, the exterior end walls of the lever compartment 48 and the lever compartment 49 are hooked by the lever 16 and the lever 17. Therefore, the side garnish 20 will not be dropped off the vehicle body 1 A.

[0034]

According to the present embodiment, the upper cover part 40 includes the fixing part 41 configured to be fixed to the vehicle body 1A, and the fixing part 41 includes the engaging part 45, integrally formed with the upper cover part 40, and configured to engage with the vehicle body 1A by elastic deformation. Thus, it is possible to fix the upper cover part 40 to the vehicle body 1 A without such clip member as provided in the prior art. Therefore, it is possible to provide a low cost vehicle interior member with a reduced number of the components.

[0035]

According to the present embodiment, each of the fixing part 41 A and the fixing part 4 IB includes the restriction part 46 configured to restrict a movement of the engaging part 45 in a different direction from the direction of the elastic deformation. Thus, it is possible to highly stabilize the side garnish 20 mounted to the vehicle body 1 A. Additionally, even when vibration is applied from outside by such reason of travelling of the vehicle 1 or the like, rattling of the side garnish 20 is even securely prevented.

[0036]

According to the present embodiment, the direction of elastic deformation in the one of the fixing part 41 A out of two of the fixing part 41 A and 4 IB is in the front-rear direction while the direction of elastic deformation in the other one of the fixing part 4 IB is in the vertical direction. That is to say, the directions of the elastic deformations in the engaging parts 45 are generated in different directions from each other between the one of the fixing part 41 A and the other one of the fixing part 41B. Thus, those engagement forces generated by each of the engaging parts 41 A and 4 IB are arranged to be in different directions. Therefore, it is possible to stabilize the side garnish 20 mounted to the vehicle body 1A. Additionally, even when vibration is applied from outside by such reason of travelling of the vehicle 1 or the like, rattling of the side garnish 20 is prevented.

[0037]

According to the present embodiment, the clip member 50 is configured to be engaged by being inserted to the clip mounting hole 12a provided in the vehicle body 1 A, and includes the choking part 53 configured to choke the clip mounting hole 12a. Therefore, it is possible to provide the side garnish 20 which is resistant to water immersion from the clip mounting hole 12a into the vehicle interior space.

[0038]

Locations and numbers of the fixing part 41 and the clip mounting part 31 are not limited to the embodiment. In the present embodiment, the side garnish 20 was described as an example of a vehicle interior member. However, the scope of the vehicle interior member of the present invention is not limited to the side garnish 20.

[0039]

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and shown above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Accordingly the invention is not to be considered as being limited by the foregoing description, and is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.