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US 5,535,571 AGranted
Automotive interior trim panel with pocket edge molding
AssigneeDavidson Textron Inc.
InventorLawrence R. Nichols
Life of this patent
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AssigneeDavidson Textron Inc.
InventorLawrence R. Nichols
Estimating the term…
A thermoplastic automotive interior trim panel of uniform wall thickness has an integral outwardly projecting storage pocket of complex curvature to which is added an extruded elastomeric thermoplastic edge molding to form a relatively large smooth rounded edge at the opening to the pocket. A top margin of the pocket is curved inward so that the pocket edge faces inward and the edge molding is held in place by internal ribs that snap onto locking tabs formed integral with the curved top pocket margin at locations spaced therealong. In one embodiment, the locking tabs are located on the sides of the top margin of the pocket at the pocket edge and the edge molding extends completely over this edge to be located thereby. In another embodiment, the molding abuts with the top edge of the pocket, the locking tabs are formed integral with the sides of a locking/locating rib on the inner side of the pocket that also cooperates with the ribs to properly locate the molding, and a convex surface on the molding cooperates with a convex surface on the pocket to form a relatively large rounded edge on the pocket. In both embodiments, the locking tabs are divided into two sets that project in opposite directions and with those in one set staggered in relation to those in the other set to facilitate their molding.
A molded thermoplastic automotive interior trim panel having a uniform wall thickness, said panel including an integral pocket that projects outwardly from an outer side of said panel, said pocket having a curved edge portion extending along a top margin thereof, said curved edge portion having a convex outer side and a concave inner side and an edge, said edge extending between said sides and facing inward of said pocket, a plurality of wedge-shaped locking tabs integral with said curved edge portion and spaced along the length thereof parallel to said edge, an extruded elastomeric thermoplastic pocket edge molding having a locking cavity with adjoining locking ribs extending the length thereof, said locking cavity adapted to receive said locking tabs, said locking ribs adapted to be deflected apart by said locking tabs to allow said locking tabs to forcibly enter said locking cavity and to then snap back to capture said locking tabs to lock said molding at said attaching side to said curved edge portion in conforming curved relationship therewith, said curved edge portion having a molding locating portion of uniform thickness extending along the length thereof, and said locking ribs further adapted to tightly clamp said molding locating portion while capturing said locking tabs to locate said molding in aligned locked relationship with said curved edge portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.