# US 9,517,727 B2 · Pocket forming trim panel for a vehicle door and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,727 B2 - Document ID: US9517727B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/277,879 - Filed: 2014-05-15 - Published: 2015-11-19 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2014-05-15 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Adelchi R. Tiboni; Fernando A. Siqueira - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517727B2 ## CPC - B60R 7/046: {mounted on door} - B29C 65/606: {the rivets being integral with one of the parts to be joined, i.e. staking} - B29D 99/001: {Producing wall or panel-like structures, e.g. for hulls, fuselages, or buildings (articles with hollow walls B29D24/00)} - B60J 5/04: arranged at the vehicle sides {(panel mounted arm-rests B60N2/78; wall liners B60R13/02; door edge guards B60R13/043; padded linings associated with the side doors B60R21/0428)} - B60R 13/0243: {Doors} - B62D 65/14: the sub-units or components being passenger compartment fittings, e.g. seats, linings, trim, instrument panels - B29L 2031/3041: {Trim panels} - Y10T 29/49828: Progressively advancing of work assembly station or assembled portion of work - Y10T 29/49877: of flexible wall, expansible chamber devices [e.g., bellows] - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05) - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A pocket forming trim panel for a vehicle door is provided. The pocket forming trim panel includes a panel portion and a pocket enclosure portion. The panel portion is configured to form a pocket opening. The pocket enclosure portion has a pocket floor portion and a pocket wall portion. The pocket enclosure portion is foldable with respect to the panel portion to complete the formation of a pocket on the door. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pocket forming trim panel for a vehicle door comprising: a panel portion configured to form a pocket opening; and a pocket enclosure portion having a pocket floor portion and a pocket wall portion; and wherein the pocket enclosure portion is foldable with respect to the panel portion sufficiently to complete the formation of a pocket on the door. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pocket forming trim panel of claim 1, wherein the panel portion and the pocket enclosure portion are formed as a single unitary component. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pocket forming trim panel of claim 1, wherein the pocket enclosure portion is foldable with respect to the panel portion via a living hinge. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pocket forming trim panel of claim 1, wherein the panel portion has a panel portion feature and the pocket enclosure portion has a pocket enclosure portion feature configured to cooperate with the panel portion feature to facilitate fastening of the pocket enclosure portion to the panel portion when the pocket enclosure portion is folded with respect to the panel portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The pocket forming trim panel of claim 4, wherein the panel portion feature includes a panel fastener portion and the pocket enclosure portion feature includes a pocket enclosure fastener portion configured to cooperate with the panel fastener portion to facilitate fastening of the pocket enclosure portion to the panel portion when the pocket enclosure portion is folded with respect to the panel portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The pocket forming trim panel of claim 4, wherein the panel portion feature is a boss configured to facilitate heat stake fastening of the pocket enclosure portion to the panel portion when the pocket enclosure portion is folded with respect to the panel portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The pocket forming trim panel of claim 6, wherein the pocket enclosure portion feature defines an opening formed in the pocket enclosure portion; and wherein the boss is configured to cooperate with the opening to facilitate the heat stake fastening of the pocket enclosure portion to the panel portion when the pocket enclosure portion is folded with respect to the panel portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The pocket forming trim panel of claim 4, wherein the configurations of the panel portion feature and the pocket enclosure portion feature cooperate to facilitate snap-fit fastening of the pocket enclosure portion to the panel portion when the pocket enclosure portion is folded with respect to the panel portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The pocket forming trim panel of claim 4, wherein the panel portion feature is a snap-fit feature and the pocket enclosure portion feature defines an opening formed in the pocket enclosure portion; and wherein the snap-fit feature is configured to cooperate with the opening to facilitate snap-fit fastening. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The pocket forming trim panel of claim 1, wherein the panel portion includes a support feature configured to support the pocket floor portion when the pocket enclosure portion is folded with respect to the panel portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The pocket forming trim panel of claim 10, wherein the support feature includes a duck bill feature having an upper rib and a lower rib; and wherein the ribs are configured to prevent the pocket floor portion from moving up or down when the pocket enclosure portion is folded with respect to the panel portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The pocket forming trim panel of claim 10, wherein the support feature is further configured to cooperate with the pocket floor portion to facilitate snap-fit fastening of the pocket floor portion to the panel portion when the pocket enclosure portion is folded with respect to the panel portion. ### Claim 13 A method to manufacture a pocket forming trim panel for a vehicle door comprising: forming a vehicle trim panel having a panel portion configured to form a pocket opening, a pocket enclosure portion having a pocket floor portion and a pocket wall portion, and a living hinge portion between the panel portion and the pocket enclosure portion; folding the pocket enclosure portion with respect to the panel portion via the living hinge sufficiently to complete the formation of a pocket on the door; and fastening the pocket enclosure portion to the panel portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein forming includes molding the panel portion, the pocket enclosure portion, and the living hinge portion as a single unitary component. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein forming includes molding a support feature on the panel portion for supporting the pocket floor portion when the pocket enclosure portion is folded with respect to the panel portion; and wherein forming includes molding respective attachment features on the panel portion and the pocket enclosure portion that cooperate with each other to facilitate fastening of the pocket enclosure portion to the panel portion when the pocket enclosure portion is folded with respect to the panel portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein fastening includes cooperation of the respective attachment features on the panel portion and the pocket enclosure portion to facilitate heat stake fastening of the pocket enclosure portion to the panel portion when the pocket enclosure portion is folded with respect to the panel portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein fastening includes cooperation of the respective attachment features on the panel portion and the pocket enclosure portion to facilitate snap-fit fastening of the pocket enclosure portion to the panel portion when the pocket enclosure portion is folded with respect to the panel portion. ### Claim 18 A vehicle comprising: a door having a door panel; and a trim panel attached to the door panel, the trim panel having a panel portion configured to form a pocket opening, a pocket enclosure portion having a pocket floor portion and a pocket wall portion, and a living hinge portion between the panel portion and the pocket enclosure portion; wherein the pocket enclosure portion is folded with respect to the panel portion via the living hinge portion sufficiently to complete the formation of a pocket on the door. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the panel portion, the pocket enclosure portion, and the living hinge portion are formed as a single unitary component. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the panel portion and the pocket enclosure portion have respective attachment features configured to cooperate with each other to facilitate heat stake fastening of the pocket enclosure portion to the trim panel portion when the pocket enclosure portion is folded with respect to the trim panel portion via the living hinge; and wherein the trim panel portion has a duck bill feature having an upper rib and a lower rib; and wherein the ribs are configured to prevent the pocket floor portion from moving up or down when the pocket enclosure portion is folded with respect to the panel portion via the living hinge.