US 2016/0107566 A1Published application

Vehicle interior lighting structure

AssigneeNissan North America, Inc.

InventorsGeorge Henry GASAHL, IV, Jeremy THURSTON, Christopher BIGGS

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Abstract

A first panel has a first attachment structure and a contoured section adjacent to the first attachment structure. A second panel has outboard and inboard surfaces with a peripheral edge defined therebetween. The outboard surface has a lighting element retaining structure and a second attachment structure attached to the first attachment structure. The second panel conceals the first attachment portion with a first edge section thereof extending along the contoured section spaced apart from the contoured section defining a gap therebetween. A lighting element is installed to the lighting element retaining structure and illuminates the contoured section via light emitted through the gap. The contoured section and the first edge section are dimensioned to obstruct sightlines between the lighting element and areas inboard of the first panel and the second panel while exposing the contoured section illuminated by the lighting element.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A vehicle interior lighting structure, comprising:

a first panel having an inboard surface that includes a first attachment section and a contoured section adjacent to the first attachment section;
a second panel having an outboard surface and an inboard surface with a peripheral edge extending around the second panel between the outboard surface and the inboard surface, the peripheral edge having a first edge section, the outboard surface having a lighting element retaining structure and a second attachment section coupled to the first attachment section, the first edge section extending proximate the contoured section of the first panel and being spaced apart from the contoured section defining an elongated gap therebetween;
and
a lighting element installed to the lighting element retaining structure illuminating a portion of the contoured section of the first panel via light emitted through the gap, the contoured section and the first edge section being dimensioned and contoured to obstruct sightlines between the lighting element and areas inboard of both the first panel and the second panel while exposing the portion of the contoured section illuminated by the lighting element.

1 more element

A vehicle interior lighting structure, comprising:

a first panel having an inboard surface that includes a contoured section;
a second panel having an outboard surface and an inboard surface with a peripheral edge extending around the second panel between the outboard surface and the inboard surface, the peripheral edge having a first edge section, the outboard surface having a lighting element retaining structure and an attachment section coupled to the first panel, the first edge section having a light blocking rib that is spaced apart from the contoured section defining an elongated gap therebetween;
and
a lighting element installed to the lighting element retaining structure illuminating a portion of the contoured section of the first panel via light emitted through the gap, the contoured section and the first edge section being dimensioned and contoured to obstruct sightlines between the lighting element and areas inboard of both the first panel and the second panel while exposing the portion of the contoured section illuminated by the lighting element.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.