Description:A VEHICLE INTERIOR TRIM WITH PROVISION OF ACCOMMODATING A HOSE
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to a trim of a vehicle. The present invention, in particular, relates to a trim for covering interior side of a vehicle having provision to accommodate a hose.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Generally, vehicles are equipped with a variety of different panels that make up their bodies or exterior chassis. Panels are fundamental structural elements of a car’s body and quarter panel is one of them. The quarter panel is the body panel between a rear door and trunk of the vehicle, typically in C-pillar area. The quarter panel is welded on uni-body structure. The quarter panel is usually provided with trim to make the inside of the car a comfortable environment for passengers. The trim is usually fitted over the quarter panel using a clip.
[0003] In quarter panel region of the vehicle, multiple components such as seat belt with integrated ELR, wiring harness etc. are provided. The components are secured between the quarter panel and the trim. To accommodate these components, provisions are provided in the trim to secure and restrict the movement of these component locally.
[0004] Vehicles are provided with sunroofs which is a panel on the roof of a car that either slides back or can be taken out to allow light, air or both to come into the vehicle. However, during rain, the sunroof is closed so that water does not enter into the passenger cabin. A drainage system is provided on the sunroof which drain the water accumulating over the sunroof. The drainage system has a hose which provides a passage to the water accumulated on the sunroof. The hose is passed through the quarter panel region. As the quarter panel, in the quarter panel region, already has different components to accommodate, it becomes difficult to additionally provide a hose.
[0005] One of the way to accommodate the hose in the quarter panel region is by specifying a path for the hose and fix the hose over the quarter panel using fasteners. However, it is not always possible to fix the hose over the quarter panel due to limited space.
[0006] Another solution to the problem is provide the provision to fix the hose on the trim. However, the trim already has to accommodate the clip for mounting the trim over the quarter panel in the same area.
[0007] Accordingly, there is a need for a solution to provide provision for accomodating the hose in the trim along with the clip mounting for covering interior side of a quarter panel.

SUMMARY
[0008] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a vehicle interior trim with provision of mounting a hose. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0009] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle interior trim with provision of mounting a hose. The vehicle interior trim comprises a trim body and a dog house. The dog house integrally extends from the trim body to facilitate mounting of the trim body on the quarter panel. The dog house comprises a base member, a hollow mounting member and a first snap fit joint. The base member integrally extends from the trim body. The hollow mounting member integrally extends from the middle of the base member bifurcating the base member to create a channel in junction region of the base member and the hollow mounting member. The hollow mounting member has a top wall, a side wall, a back wall, and a front wall with a hole to accommodate a clip for fixedly mounting the trim body on the quarter panel. The first snap fit joint is provided adjacent to the channel opposite to the side wall of the hollow mounting member. The first snap fit joint has a cantilever member with a protrusion integrally provided at an end ingress into the channel.
[0010] In an aspect, wherein ribs are provided inside the hollow mounting member to strengthen structural rigidity of the hollow mounting member.
[0011] In an aspect, contour of the channel is similar to the contour of the hose.
[0012] In an aspect, a second snap fit joint is provided on the channel opposite to the first snap fit joint in offset position.
[0013] In an aspect, the second snap fit joint has a cantilever member with a protrusion integrally provided at an end ingress into the channel.
[0014] In an aspect, clearance is maintained by the first snap fit joint with the top wall and the bottom face of the hollow mounting member for proper flexing of the first snap fit joint during assembling of the hose.
[0015] In an aspect, clearance is maintained by the first snap fit joint with the front wall of the hollow mounting member to facilitate mounting of the clip in the hole on the front wall.
[0016] In an aspect, a groove is created on the front wall of the hollow mounting member to guide the clip into the hole.
[0017] In an aspect, ribs are provided inside the base member to strengthen structural rigidity of the base member.
[0018] To further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit the scope of the present subject matter.
[0019] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0020] The illustrated embodiments of the present disclosure will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and processes that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates back view (point of view from outside the vehicle) of an exemplary trim that can be utilized to implement one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates isometric view of an exemplary trim that can be utilized to implement one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates back view of an exemplary doghouse with clip that can be utilized to implement one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0024] FIG. 4 illustrates back view of an exemplary doghouse without clip that can be utilized to implement one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure; and
[0025] FIG. 5 illustrates bottom view of an exemplary doghouse that can be utilized to implement one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0026] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of 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
[0027] A few aspects of the present disclosure are explained in detail below with reference to the various figures. Example implementations are described to illustrate the disclosed subject matter, not to limit its scope, which is defined by the claims. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a number of equivalent variations of the various features provided in the description that follows.
Definitions
[0028] In the disclosure hereinafter, one or more terms are used to describe various aspects of the present disclosure. For a better understanding of the present disclosure, a few definitions are provided herein for better understating of the present disclosure.
[0029] “Quarter Panel Region” may be defined, in context of the disclosure, as regions between a rear door and trunk of the vehicle. Usually, quarter panel is mounted in this region, hence, the term “quarter panel region” is used in the disclosure to refer to this region.
[0030] “Junction Region” may be defined, in the context of the disclosure, as the region of intersection of the base member and the hollow mounting member of the doghouse. Junction region is just a hypothetical region used to clarify the subject matter. It is to be noted that the doghouse is a single structure assembly.
[0031] “Opened Faces” may be defined, in the context of the disclosure, as the faces of the hollow mounting member which does not have physical wall or boundary.
[0032] “Offset Position” may be defined, in the context of the disclosure, as the position which is out of line and not directly in front. The term “offset position” is used in the disclosure to define that, in one of the embodiments, second snap fit joint is not directly in front of the first snap fit joint.

EXEMPLARY IMPLEMENTATIONS
[0033] While the present disclosure may be embodied in various forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will hereinafter be described, some exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. Not all of the depicted components described in this disclosure may be required, however, and some implementations may include additional, different, or fewer components from those expressly described in this disclosure. Variations in the arrangement and type of the components may be made without departing from the scope of the claims as set forth herein.
[0034] During rain, sunroof of a vehicle is kept closed to stop water from entering into the passenger compartment of the vehicle. This rain water gets accumulated on the sunroof which may lead to rusting in the sunroof area of the vehicle. To reduce possibility of rusting, water accumulated on the sunroof is drained through a hose. The hose needs to be passed thorough the quarter panel region. However, due to limited space in quarter panel region it becomes difficult to fixedly provide the hose in the quarter panel region due to multiple mountings.
[0035] In order to provide the hose in the quarter panel region, a trim for covering interior side of a quarter panel may be utilized. The trim is described in more detail below.
[0036] FIG. 1 illustrates back view (point of view from outside the vehicle) of an exemplary trim that can be utilized to implement one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The trim 100 comprises a trim body 101 and a doghouse 102. The doghouse 102 is provided to facilitate mounting of the trim body 101 on the quarter panel (not shown) as well as for mounting hose 103 in the quarter panel region. The doghouse 102 integrally extends from the trim body 101, such that, the trim body 101 and the doghouse 102 is a single body structure. The trim 100 is mounted in the quarter panel region to cover the quarter panel from inside the vehicle. Various components are also provided in the quarter panel region. The components include seat belt 104 with integrated emergency locking retractor 104a, wiring harness, etc. In an aspect, the doghouse 102 is mounted over the emergency locking retractor 104a of the seat belt 104. Due to presence of components like seat belt 104 with integrated emergency locking retractor 104a, wiring harness in the quarter panel region, it becomes difficult to accommodate the hose 103 in the quarter panel region. Accordingly, in the present disclosure, provision for hose 103 mounting is provided in the trim 100, particularly, in the doghouse 102 of the trim 100.
[0037] FIG. 2 illustrates isometric view of an exemplary trim that can be utilized to implement one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The doghouse 102 of the trim 100 comprises a base member 102a, a hollow mounting member 102b and a first snap fit joint 102c. The base member 102a integrally extends from the trim body 101. In an aspect, the base member 102a is in the form of a cuboid. The base member 102a attaches the hollow mounting member 102b with the trim body 101. The hollow mounting member 102b integrally extending from the middle of the base member 102a creating a junction region 105. Length (L1) of the hollow mounting member 102b is less than the length (L2) of the base member 102a. Accordingly, the hollow mounting member 102b bifurcates the base member 102a creating two separate regions. A channel 104 is created in one of the two separate regions created by the hollow mounting member 102b. In an aspect, the channel 104 is created in the junction region 105 of the base member 102a and the hollow mounting member 102b. Contour of the channel 104 is similar to the contour of the hose 103. The dimensions of the channel 104 are kept in accordance with the dimensions of the hose 103 provided in the quarter panel region. This ensures that the hose 103 passing through the channel 104 does not get much space for movement during vehicle running condition.
[0038] FIG. 3 illustrates back view of an exemplary doghouse with clip that can be utilized to implement one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The hollow mounting member 102b has a top wall 301, a side wall 302, a front wall 303 and a back wall (not shown). Bottom face of the hollow mounting member 102b is opened. The front wall 303 of the hollow mounting member 102b is provided to accommodate a clip 304 to facilitate mounting of the trim 100 over the panel. The first snap fit joint 102c is provided adjacent to the channel 104 opposite to the side wall 302 of the hollow mounting member 102b. The first snap fit joint 102c is provided to restrict the movement of the hose 103 inside the channel 104. The first snap fit joint 102c is designed to flex during assembling of the hose 103. A clearance is maintained between the first snap fit joint 102c and the top wall 301, front wall 303 and bottom face of the hollow mounting member 102b. The clearance maintained by the first snap fit joint 102c with the top wall 301 and the bottom face of the hollow mounting member 102b facilitates proper flexing of the first snap fit joint during assembling of the hose. The clearance maintained by the first snap fit joint 102c with the front wall 303 of the hollow mounting member 102b facilitates mounting of the clip 304 in the front wall 303. In addition to the first snap fit joint 102c, a second snap fit joint 305 is provided on the channel 104. The second snap fit joint 305 ensures complete restriction of movement of the hose 103 inside the channel 104.The second snap fit joint 305 is provided opposite to the first snap fit joint 102c. In an aspect, the second snap fit joint 305 is provided opposite to the first snap fit joint 102c in offset position. The relative offset position of the first snap fit joint 102c with the second snap fit joint 305 ensures that proper gap is always maintained, within the channel, for ease of assembly of the hose 103 in the channel 104. The relative offset position of first snap fit joint 102c with respect to the second snap fit joint 305 ensures that the compression of hose 103, in the region of snap fit joints 102c, 305, during assembly is not maximized and excessive force is not needed to secure the hose 103 in the channel 104.
[0039] FIG. 4 illustrates back view of an exemplary doghouse without clip that can be utilized to implement one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. A hole 401 is provided in the front wall 303 of the hollow mounting member 102b to accommodate the clip 304 for fixedly mounting the trim body 101 on the panel. A passage in the form of a groove 402 is created on the front wall 303 of the hollow mounting member to guide the clip 304 into the hole 401.
[0040] FIG. 5 illustrates bottom view of an exemplary doghouse that can be utilized to implement one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The base member 102a and the hollow mounting member 102b together creates a cantilever type doghouse which may bend on application of excessive force during mounting of the trim 100 over the quarter panel. To avoid bending, ribs 501 are provided inside the hollow mounting member 102b to strengthen structural rigidity of the hollow mounting member 102b. A gap is maintained between the front wall 303 of the hollow mounting member 102b and the ribs 501. The gap eliminates any possibility of restriction in movement of the clip inside the hole during assembling. In addition to the ribs 501 in the hollow mounting member 102b, ribs 502 are provided inside the base member 102a to enhance rigidity of the base member 102a. In an aspect, the ribs 502 provided inside the base member 102a are integrally extending from the ribs 501 provided inside the hollow mounting member 102b.
[0041] The first snap fit joint 102c has a cantilever member 503 with a protrusion 504 integrally provided at an end. The protrusion 504 of the first snap fit joint 102c ingresses into the channel 104 to restrict movement of the hose 103 after assembly. In addition, the protrusion 504 ensures that the hose 103 does not slide out of the channel 104 easily. Similarly, the second snap fit joint 305 has a cantilever member 505 with a protrusion 506 integrally provided at an end. The protrusion 506 of the second snap fit joint 305 also ingresses into the channel 104 to restrict movement of the hose 103 after assembly. To provide proper gap for mounting of the hose 103, protrusion 504 of the first snap fit joint 102c and the protrusion 506 of the second snap fit joint 305 are provided in offset position. The relative offset position of the protrusion 504 with respect to the protrusion 506 ensures that the compression of hose 103, in the region of snap fit joints 102c, 305, during assembly, is not maximized and excessive force is not needed to secure the hose 103 in the channel 104.

[0042] Although, the exemplary embodiment discussed in the disclosure takes into consideration the quarter panel area for passing of the hose. Any person skilled in the art would understand that the hose can be passed through other regions of the car. Accordingly, the teaching of the disclosure could be applied to other panels of the car without getting deviated from the scope of the invention.
ADVANTAGES
[0043] The proposed trim has a provision for accomodating the hose in the trim for covering interior side of a quarter panel. Further, the trim is designed with ribs which ensures that the trim does not get damage during mounting at the quarter panel. The proposed trim ensures that the hose is secured tightly, so that, water accumulated in sunroof is removed effectively which eliminate generation of rust in the sunroof area.
[0044] The above description does not provide specific details of the manufacture or design of the various components. Those of skill in the art are familiar with such details, and unless departures from those techniques are set out, techniques, known, related art or later developed designs and materials should be employed. Those in the art are capable of choosing suitable manufacturing and design details.
[0045] Further, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. It will be appreciated that several of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into other systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may subsequently be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as encompassed by the following claims.
[0046] The claims, as originally presented and as they may be amended, encompass variations, alternatives, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and substantial equivalents of the embodiments and teachings disclosed herein, including those that are presently unforeseen or unappreciated, and that, for example, may arise from applicants/patentees and others.
[0047] It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims
, Claims:We Claim:
1. A vehicle interior trim (100) with provision of mounting a hose, the vehicle interior trim (100) comprises:
a trim body (101);
a doghouse (102) integrally extending from the trim body (101) to facilitate mounting of the trim body (101) on the quarter panel, the doghouse (102) comprises:
a base member (102a) integrally extending from the trim body (101);
a hollow mounting member (102b) integrally extending from the middle of the base member (102a) bifurcating the base member (102a) to create a channel (104) in junction region (105) of the base member (102a) and the hollow mounting member (102b), wherein the hollow mounting member has a top wall (301), a side wall (302), a back wall, and a front wall (303) with a hole (401) to accommodate a clip (304) for fixedly mounting the trim body (101) on the quarter panel; and
a first snap fit joint (102c) provided adjacent to the channel (104) opposite to the side wall (302) of the hollow mounting member (102b), wherein the first snap fit joint (102c) has a cantilever member (503) with a protrusion (504) integrally provided at an end ingress into the channel 104.
2. The vehicle interior trim (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein ribs (501) are provided inside the hollow mounting member (102b) to strengthen structural rigidity of the hollow mounting member (102b).
3. The vehicle interior trim (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein contour of the channel (104) is similar to the contour of the hose (103).
4. The vehicle interior trim (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second snap fit joint (305) is provided on the channel (104) opposite to the first snap fit joint (102c) in offset position.
5. The vehicle interior trim (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second snap fit joint (305) has a cantilever member (505) with a protrusion (506) integrally provided at an end ingress into the channel (104).
6. The vehicle interior trim (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein clearance is maintained by the first snap fit joint (102c) with the top wall (301) and the bottom face of the hollow mounting member (102b) for proper flexing of the first snap fit joint (102c) during assembling of the hose.
7. The vehicle interior trim (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein clearance is maintained by the first snap fit joint (102c) with the front wall (303) of the hollow mounting member (102b) to facilitate mounting of the clip (304) in the hole (401) on the front wall 303
8. The vehicle interior trim (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a groove (402) is created on the front wall (303) of the hollow mounting member (102b) to guide the clip (304) into the hole (401).
9. The vehicle interior trim (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein ribs (502) are provided inside the base member (102a) to strengthen structural rigidity of the base member (102a).