Automotive door trim assembly with removable access panel

An automotive door assembly, comprising:

• a door frame adapted to be hingedly mounted to an automobile;
• an exterior door panel coupled to said door frame;
• and
• an interior door trim assembly coupled to said door frame, generally opposite said exterior door panel, and comprising:
• an interior door trim panel,
• an access opening formed in said door trim panel and sized to facilitate the installation and servicing of door accessories within the interior of the automotive door assembly,
• a plurality of first connecting members disposed on said door trim panel, proximate said access opening,
• an access panel slidably coupled to said door trim panel, proximate said access opening, for movement between a first position wherein said access panel is removable from said door trim panel to expose said access opening, and a second position wherein said access panel is secured to said door trim panel and covers said access opening, and
• a plurality of second connecting members disposed on said access panel, said second connecting members slidably engaging said first connecting members when said access panel is moved in a direction parallel to a surface of said door trim panel to thereby retain said access panel on said door trim panel.

A method of securing an access panel proximate an access opening in an interior door trim panel, the access opening sized to facilitate the installation and servicing of door accessories within the interior of an automobile door, the method comprising:

• positioning the access panel proximate the access opening;
• sliding the access panel relative to the door trim panel, generally along a direction parallel to a planar surface of the door trim panel;
• and
• engaging connectors on the access panel with corresponding connectors on the door trim panel while sliding the access panel relative to the door trim panel.