Description:A ROOF LINING STRUCTURE
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter described herein relates to a roof lining structure in a vehicle. The present invention is particularly related to an edge mounting portion of the roof lining structure to reduce crumpling and bending forces at a roof lining edge that are induced by a pillar trim.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present subject matter.
[0003] Referring to Fig. 1a, A roof lining completely encloses the interior of a roof panel that is installed on top of a vehicle. The roof lining structure has an edge mounting portion (101) that is protruded from sides in an outwards direction and includes flange (102) that is given on the edge mounting portion (101).
[0004] The edge mounting portion that is formed between the roof lining structure and the flange is connected to an inner panel of the vehicle. The roof lining edge formed of the roof lining structure and the edge mounting portion forms a roof lining edge. The roof lining edge is butted with a pillar trim forming an abutted (105) (refer to FIG. 1a) portion.
[0005] The roof lining structure gets bent and crumpled when the roof lining edge is pushed from the vehicle interior side at the abutted portion. Additionally, the roof liner gets twisted, creating a space or a gap between it and the inner panel of the vehicle.
[0006] Referring to Fig. 1b, In the existing design, the pillar trim (103) is butted on the surface of the roof lining edge (104) forming an abutted portion (105). Due to the force exerted by the pillar trim (103) on the roof lining edge (104), there appears a gap between the pillar trim (103) and roof lining edge (104) after some time which degrades aesthetics, soundproofing as well as thermal insulation. Currently, no features are provided to cater to the crumpling and bending of the roof lining.
[0007] In a prior art, a solution for catering the crumpling and bending of the roof lining is provided by using a plurality of ribs on the flange. The prior does not cater to the bending defect that might occur due to the force exerted at the abutted portion created between roof lining edge and the pillar trim.
[0008] It is therefore desirable to improve the strength of the roof lining edge on the roof lining to cater to the crumpling and bending of the roof lining and avoid gap that might get created due to force induced by the pillar trim.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0009] It forms an object of the present disclosure to overcome the aforementioned and other drawbacks/limitations in the existing solutions available in the form of related prior arts.
[0010] It is a primary object of the present disclosure is to reduce the crumpling and bending of a roof lining structure.
[0011] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a plurality of first ribs and a plurality of second ribs to strengthen a roof lining edge.
[0012] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a cost-effective solution for improving the rigidity of the roof lining structure.
[0013] These and other objects and advantages of the present subject matter will be apparent to a person skilled in the art after consideration of the following detailed description taken into consideration with accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present subject matter are illustrated.
SUMMARY
[0014] A solution to one or more drawbacks of existing technology and additional advantages are provided through the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the technicalities of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered to be a part of the claimed disclosure.
[0015] The present disclosure provides a solution in the form of a roof lining structure to reduce crumpling and bending during mounting of the roof lining structure with pillars of vehicle. The roof lining structure defines a U shape profile according to shape of roof of the vehicle and has an edge mounting portion for mounting the roof lining structure with the pillar, the edge mounting portion defines a flange extending perpendicularly away from vertical side of the roof lining structure in vehicle width direction (Y), wherein joinery of the flange and the vertical side defines roof lining edge. The roof lining structure has a plurality of first ribs provided on the flange and a plurality of second ribs provided on the vertical side, wherein the plurality of first ribs and the plurality of second ribs are joined with each other at the roof lining edge forming an L shape rib structure.
[0016] In an aspect, wherein the plurality of first ribs provided in vehicle width direction (Y) and the plurality of second ribs provided in the vehicle height direction (Z).
[0017] In an aspect, the plurality of second ribs are in transverse direction with the plurality of first ribs.
[0018] In an aspect, the roof lining edge of the edge mounting portion is butted with a pillar trim from vehicle cabin side.
[0019] In an aspect, the height of the plurality of second ribs matches with an abutted portion of a pillar trim that adjoins on the roof lining edge of the roof lining structure from a vehicle cabin side.
[0020] In an aspect, the pillar is selected from A-pillar, B-pillar, and C-pillar of the vehicle.
[0021] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0022] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the present disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods or structure in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0023] Fig. 1a illustrates an edge mounting portion of a roof lining structure according to the prior art;
[0024] Fig. 1b illustrates a side view showing abutted portion according to the prior art;
[0025] Fig. 2 illustrates a top view showing the roof lining structure according to the present disclosure;
[0026] Fig. 3 illustrates a side view showing an abutted portion on the roof lining structure according to the present disclosure.
[0027] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0028] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0029] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0030] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0031] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0032] In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration of specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0033] Hereinafter, a description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0034] The present invention discloses a roof lining structure. The roof lining structure is has an edge mounting portion that are provided with ribs to reduce crumpling and bending and improve overall aesthetic and also aid in effective soundproofing around the area.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 2, it shows a roof lining structure (200). The roof lining structure (200) is provided with ribs to reduce crumpling and bending that usually occurs during mounting of the roof lining structure (200) with pillars of the vehicle.
[0036] The roof lining structure (200) defines a U-shaped profile and the U-shaped profile of the roof lining structure (200) matches according to the shape of roof of the vehicle. Further, the roof lining structure (200) has an edge mounting portion (101) that surrounds the roof lining structure (200) from all sides and a vertical side (201) that faces the inner panel of the vehicle.
[0037] The edge mounting portion (101) mounts the roof lining structure (200) with the pillarThe pillar is selected from A-pillar, B-pillar, and C-pillar of the vehicle. The edge mounting portion (101) includes a flange (102).
[0038] Further, the flange (102) is extended in a perpendicular direction and away from the vertical side (201) of the roof lining structure (200) in the vehicle width direction (Y). The joinery at which the flange (102) and the vertical side (201) of the roof lining structure (200) are connected to each other defines a roof lining edge (104). The roof lining edge (104) of the edge mounting portion (101) is abutted with a pillar trim (103) from a vehicle cabin side.
[0039] The flange (102) has a plulraity of first ribs (202) that are provided along the width of the flange (102). The vertical side (201) of the roof lining structure (104) has a plurality of second ribs (203) that are provided along the width of the vertical side (201). The plurality of first ribs (202) and the plurality of second ribs (203) are positioned adjacent to each other.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 3, the plurality of first ribs (202) are provided in a vehicle width direction (Y) and the plurality of second ribs (203) are provided in the vehicle height direction (Z). Thereby it is disclosed that the surfaces on which the plurality of first ribs (202) and the plurality of second ribs (203) are located have different planes. Each single rib that forms a part of the plurality of first ribs (202) is connected to each single rib that forms a part of the plurality of second ribs (203).
[0041] The plurality of first ribs (202) and the plurality of second ribs (203) are joined with each other at the roof lining edge (104). The plurality of second ribs (203) are in a transverse direction with the plurality of first ribs (202) forming a plurality of L shape rib structures.
[0042] The plurality of first ribs (202) are provided to cater to the loads that are capable of crumbling the flange (102) of the roof lining structure (200) and the plurality of second ribs (203) reduce the loads that are capable of bending the roof lining structure (200) in a downwards direction.
[0043] Further, the height of the plurality of second ribs (203) that are located on the vertical side of the roof lining structure (200) are extended (301) in a vertical upwards direction to match with the abutted portion (105) of the pillar trim (103) (as shown in FIG. 1a) that abuts on the roof lining edge (104) of the roof lining structure (200) from vehicle cabin side. This is ensured to cater the loads that are exerted by the pillar trim (103).
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0044] With the help of the solution as proposed herein in the context of the present disclosure, the gap between the roof lining structure and the inner panel of the vehicle is prevented.
[0045] By introducing the first ribs on the flange and the second ribs on the vertical side, the crumpling and bending of the roof lining structure is prevented.
[0046] Lastly, the first ribs on the flange and the second ribs makes the edge mounting portion of the roof lining structure rigid.
[0047] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation, no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to disclosures containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. Also, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general, such construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances, where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general, such construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
[0048] It will be further appreciated that functions or structures of a plurality of components or steps may be combined into a single component or step, or the functions or structures of one-step or component may be split among plural steps or components. The present disclosure contemplates all of these combinations. Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various structures depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the disclosure, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. Also, while a feature of the present disclosure may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance with the present disclosure. The present disclosure also encompasses intermediate and end products resulting from the practice of the methods herein. The use of “comprising” or “including” also contemplates embodiments that “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the recited feature. , Claims:We claim:
1. A roof lining structure (200) to reduce crumpling and bending during mounting of the roof lining structure (200) with pillars of vehicle, the roof lining structure (200) define a U shape profile according to shape of roof of the vehicle, the roof lining structure (200) comprising:
an edge mounting portion (101) for mounting the roof lining structure (200) with the pillar (), the edge mounting portion (101) defines a flange (102) extending perpendicularly away from vertical side (201) of the roof lining structure (200) in vehicle width direction (Y), wherein joinery of the flange (102) and the vertical side (201) defines roof lining edge (104);
characterized in that
a plurality of first ribs (202) provided on the flange (102) and a plurality of second ribs (203) provided on the vertical side (201),
wherein the plurality of first ribs (202) and the plurality of second ribs (203) are joined with each other at the roof lining edge (104) forming an L shape rib structure.

2. The roof lining structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of first ribs (202) are provided in vehicle width direction (Y) and the plurality of second ribs (203) are provided in the vehicle height direction (Z).

3. The roof lining structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of second ribs (203) are in a transverse direction with the plurality of first ribs (202).

4. The roof lining structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the roof lining edge (104) of the edge mounting portion (101) is butted with a pillar trim (103) from a vehicle cabin side.

5. The roof lining structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the height of the plurality of second ribs (203) matches with an abutted portion (105) of the pillar trim (103) that adjoins on the roof lining edge (104) of the roof lining structure (200) from vehicle cabin side.

6. The roof lining structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pillar is selected from A-pillar, B-pillar, and C-pillar of the vehicle.