Panel assembly for a vehicle
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsWade W. Bryant, Thiago Canola Afonso, Junglim Huh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A panel assembly for a vehicle door includes an interior panel that has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface and the outer surface collectively define a body and a trim element that is integrally formed with the body with a living hinge disposed therebetween. The panel assembly also includes an exterior panel that has an inner surface that is coupled to the body at the inner surface of the interior panel and has an opposing outer surface that is coupled to the trim element in a folded position of the trim element.
Claims18
A panel assembly for a vehicle, the panel assembly comprising:
- an interior panel including an upper portion having an outer surface and an inner surface, a lower portion integrally formed with the upper portion and having a first surface and a second surface, and a living hinge defined between the upper portion and the lower portion, the lower portion operable between an extended position and a folded position about the living hinge;
- and
- an exterior panel coupled to the interior panel to define a cavity and including a first end and an opposing second end coupled to the lower portion of the interior panel via an attachment flange in the folded position with the lower portion at least partially disposed over the second end of the exterior panel, the attachment flange being disposed between the exterior panel and the interior panel, the exterior panel including a flange coupled to the attachment flange of the lower portion in the folded position of the lower portion.
A vehicle panel assembly, comprising:
- a first panel having an outer surface and an inner surface and including an upper portion and a lower portion hingedly coupled to the upper portion via a living hinge and operable about the living hinge between a first position and a second position;
- and
- a second panel having an outer surface and an opposing inner surface coupled to the inner surface of the first panel and defining a cavity with the first panel, the lower portion of the first panel coupled to the outer surface of the second panel in the second position of the lower portion.
A panel assembly for a vehicle door, the panel assembly comprising:
- an interior panel having an inner surface and an outer surface collectively defining a body and a trim element integrally formed with the body with a living hinge disposed therebetween;
- and
- an exterior panel having an inner surface coupled to the body at the inner surface of the interior panel and an opposing outer surface coupled to the trim element in a folded position of the trim element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.