[0001] The present disclosure in general relates to automotive trim interiors components and more particularly to an automotive trim assembly of a wrap-around trim on an automobile pillar for eliminating warpage problems and increase aesthetic appearance.
BACKGROUND
[0002] An automobile body is made of a structure that is formed from steel. The automobile body includes components such as roof, pillars, and floor. The pillars stand in a near-vertical position which supports the automobile’s roof. The pillars are identified from the side while moving from front to rear of an automobile. The pillars are named A-pillar, B-pillar, C-pillar, and D-pillar respectively. Sometimes, the automobile designers also refer to the pillars as ‘posts’. However, the A-pillar and the D pillar stand inclined in some automobiles for aerodynamic reasons.
[0003] B-pillar is the most complex structure of the automobile body. This is because the front door closes on the B-pillar while the rear door hinges onto it. The B-pillar is between the front and the rear door that connects the body to the roof. As mentioned above, the B-pillar or the center pillar in the automobile is made of steel. It is welded to the roof panel on top and the automobile’s floor panel at the bottom. The B-pillar provides structural support to the automobile’s roof.
[0004] In the conventional automobile structures, the B-pillar has wrap-around trim. Trim or a substrate is a covering over any body panel. The trim is a decorative piece that is mounted on the vertical door and window pillars of an automobile. A B-pillar wrap-around trim is a combination of two parts, one is upper trim and another is lower trim. At the matching area of the upper trim and the lower trim, wrap-around flange or the bend structure of the substrate is required to keep in flush.
[0005] It is observed that a trim plastic part is prone to warpage due to its design or manufacturing defects. As a result, desirable flush in the trim assembly of the upper trim and lower trim is not achieved.
[0006] Such defects leading to a gap and uneven flush is formed between the upper trim and the lower trim. Said undesirable flush results in degrading the aesthetic aspect of the automobile and may also induce vibrations leading to substantial mechanical stress.
[0007] The vibrations result in noise which has an enormous impact on a user’s perception of comfort, quality, and performance.
[0008] The relevant industry produced various developments to overcome the warpage and improper fitment concerns such as, fastening using metal clips, snap fits, etc. But to dismay, none of the solutions worked in accordance to eliminate the warpage drawback and achieving a complete proper coupling of the trim assemblies of the upper and lower trim on the respective pillar.
[0009] The snap fits provide weak forces due to less space and thus the fit has a feeble structure. On the other hand, the metal clips are proved to be an additional cost in the structure and are not preferable within the industry.
[0010] In the prior art, JPH0872627A, which discloses an automobile interior material joining structure for joining an interior material such as a center pillar garnish disposed in the interior of an automobile. The automobile interior in which the center pillar upper is disposed in the automobile interior and joined to an end portion of a center pillar lower in an overlapping manner. In a joining structure, in the center pillar upper, elastic skin is attached to the surface of the core material, and a notch similar to a locking portion is formed in the uncovered end portion. This prior art discloses joining of the center pillar lower and the center pillar upper through claws formed on the upper end of the center pillar lower and notch provided on center pillar upper.
[0011] However, in the prior art, it fails to provide any reference for a wrap-around condition of trims and uses the skin between upper and lower trim as a sealing member.
[0012] In another prior art, JP2016135619A which relates to an automobile interior material connection part structure claiming to be appropriately fitting and connecting the joint parts of trim materials and preventing any interference with the fitting work of the trim materials is disclosed. The joint portion at the end of the first trim material is formed in an open cross-section with at least the connecting wall and the sidewall, and the joint portion at the end of the second trim material is fitted to the joint portion of the first trim material. Center pillar trim (or first trim material) and side trim (or second trim material) are joined through hook formed on an inner wall surface of the side trim and locking hole provided on center pillar trim. The joint portion is provided with a rib for providing strength against the breakage of the joint portion.
[0013] However, in the prior art, the connecting portion structure is disposed to cover the automobile compartment side panel surface in which the joint portion is provided with a rib for providing strength against the breakage of the joint portion. The said prior art fails to provide a wrap-around structure of the trim assembly. The structure and placement of the hook or the locking member are varied from the solution offered in the present invention.
[0014] Therefore, it became a pressing requirement to invent a structure that can overcome the warpage issue and control a flush with the desired flush value and zero level difference.
[0015] Simultaneously, it was desirable to create solutions that promote the accurate fitment of the trim assembly and eliminates any egregious aesthetic appeal.
OBJECTS OF PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[0016] It is therefore the object of the present disclosure to overcome the aforementioned and other drawbacks in prior method/product/apparatus.
[0017] A general object of the present disclosure is to provide an automotive trim assembly mounted on a pillar of an automobile so as to reduce the warpage in a wrap-around flange of a pillar trim for maintaining the automative trim assembly at a desired flush value.
[0018] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a locking structure at a bend area between a front surface and a flange surface of a first substrate mounted on a lower portion of the pillar. The locking structure is formed to get coupled with a second substrate mounted on an upper portion of the pillar.
[0019] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide the locking structure with a guiding face extending in parallel direction with a flange surface of the pillar.
[0020] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide the locking structure with a locking face which is in interference with the second substrate mounted on the pillar, thus encapsulating the second substrate to control a flush.
[0021] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY
[0022] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to an automotive trim assembly for mounting to an automobile pillar. 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.
[0023] The present disclosure provides an automotive trim assembly for mounting to an automobile pillar including a first substrate, a second substrate, and a locking structure. The first substrate forms at least a part of the trim assembly, wherein the first substrate has a front surface adapted to face the interior of the automobile and a flange surface adapted to face the exterior of the automobile.
[0024] The present disclosure thus provides a solution to overcome the tendency of warpage in the trim assembly specifically in the wrap-around flange and achieve a desired flush value. The present invention proposes a locking structure integrally molded with a first substrate of the trim assembly which couples with the second substrate.
[0025] The first and second substrates are mounted to lower and upper portions of the pillar respectively. A guiding face of the locking structure in the first substrate extends parallel to the flange surface of the pillar is adapted to accept the second substrate . The first and second substrates are assembled with controlled flush to give the same or a similar appearance of a one-piece trim assembly. Thus, achieving an exactly proper fitment eliminating warpage, vibrations and enhances the aesthetic aspect of the trim mounting on the pillar of the automobile.
[0026] In an aspect, the second substrate forms at least a part of the trim assembly, wherein the second substrate has a front surface adapted to face the interior of the automobile and a flange surface adapted to face the exterior of the automobile.
[0027] In an aspect, the locking structure is integrally molded with the first substrate.
[0028] In another aspect, the first substrate is mounted on lower portion of the pillar of the automobile, and the second substrate is mounted on upper portion of the pillar of the automobile.
[0029] In another aspect, the first substrate is formed to control a flush with the second substrate.
[0030] In yet another aspect, the locking structure is formed to couple the first substrate with the second substrate.
[0031] In yet another aspect, the locking structure has a guiding face and a locking face wherein the guiding face extends parallel to the flange surface of the pillar.
[0032] In yet another aspect, the locking face is in interference with the flange surface of the second substrate and completely encapsulating the second substrate therein.
[0033] In yet another aspect, the trim assembly is mounted on a B-pillar of the automobile.
[0034] In a further aspect, the locking structure is integrally molded on the left position of the flange surface of the first substrate.
[0035] 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 THE DRAWINGS
[0036] 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 invention 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:
[0037] FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of the pillar and the mounted trim assembly from inside of an automobile;
[0038] FIG. 2 is an illustrative view of the first substrate and its bend surface in the form of wrap-around structure;
[0039] FIG. 3 is a visual depiction of the first substrate and the second substrate after assembly;
[0040] FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of the first and second substrate after assembly;
[0041] FIG. 5 is another cross-section view of the first and second substrate after assembly;
[0042] FIG. 6A is an illustration of a top cross-sectional view of trim assembly of the first and second substrates of the pillar respectively; and
[0043] FIG. 6B is an enlarged version derived from FIG. 6A representing interference between the first and second substrates and the placement of trim assembly inside and outside of the automobile.
[0044] 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
[0045] While the embodiments of the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, a specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.
[0046] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof used in the disclosure, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a device, system, assembly that comprises a list of components does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such system, or assembly, or device. In other words, one or more elements in a system or device proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or device.
[0047] FIGS. 1 to 6 illustrates an automotive trim assembly 100 for mounting to an automobile pillar 102 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG. 1, the pillar 102 is shown as a B-pillar of an automobile; however, as can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the pillar 102 can be any other pillar of the automobile without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
[0048] The trim assembly 100 is a two-part assembly formed from a first substrate 104 and a second substrate 106.
[0049] The first substrate 104 is formed for being mounted on a lower portion of the pillar 102. The first substrate 104 has a front surface 104-1 adapted to face an interior of the automobile and a flange surface 104-2 (shown in FIG. 2) adapted to face an exterior of the automobile. In an example, the flange surface 104-2 of the first substrate is wrapped around the pillar 102 outside a cabin of the automobile.
[0050] The second substrate 106 is formed for being mounted on an upper portion of the pillar 102. The second substrate 106 has a front surface 106-1 adapted to face the interior of the automobile and a flange surface 106-2 adapted to face the exterior of the automobile. In an example, the flange surface 106-2 of the second substrate is wrapped around the pillar 102 outside a cabin of the automobile.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 1, the first substrate 104 is mounted on the lower portion of the pillar 102 and the second substrate 106 is mounted on the upper portion of the pillar 102. The mounting of first and second substrates 104, 106 on the pillar 102 forms the trim assembly 100 collectively.
[0052] For either substrate 102, 104, the part which is presently facing towards inside cabin forms the front face and the part which is facing outside cabin forms the flange surface in form of a wrap-around projection.
[0053] FIG. 2 illustrates a locking structure 202 integrally molded with the first substrate 104. The locking structure 202 has a guiding face 202-1 (shown in FIG. 6B) that extends parallel to a flange surface 102-1 of the pillar 102 (shown in FIG.6B ).
[0054] FIG. 3 illustrates the second substrate 106 coupled with the first substrate 104 through the locking structure 202 present at bend area between the front surface 104-1 and the flange surface 104-2 of the first substrate 104.
[0055] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate cross-section views of the second substrate 106 in coupled position or the second substrate 106 encapsulated by the first substrate 104. The locking structure 202 is responsible for the proper fitment of the substrates 104, 106 with controlled flush.
[0056] FIGS. 5, 6A, and 6B represent the locking structure 202 including the guiding face 202-1 and a locking face 202-2. The locking structure 202 is integrally molded with the first substrate 104. The guiding face 202-1 extends parallel to the flange surface 102-1 of the pillar 102 and the locking face 202-2 is towards an open end to achieve interference 602 (FIG. 6B) with the flange surface 106-2 of the second substrate 106.
[0057] As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the locking structure 202 is integrally molded on the left portion of the first substrate 104 mounted on the pillar 102, preferably a B-pillar and is situated outside the cabin.
[0058] FIG. 6B shows that the flange surface 104-2 of the first substrate 104 or the flange surface 106-2 of the second substrate 106 is present in form of a wrap around the pillar 102 outside the cabin. Therefore, the locking structure 202 is actually present outside the cabin and the guiding face 202-1 is parallel to the flange surface 102-1 of the pillar 102. The front surfaces 104-1, 106-1 of the first substrate 104 and the second substrate 106 respectively are present towards the inside of the cabin. The locking face 202-2 of the locking structure 202 achieves an interference 602 such that the locking face 202-2 is formed to get coupled with the second substrate 106, thereby controlling a flush between the first substrate 104 and the second substrate 106 after assembly.
[0059] As the guiding face 202-1 of the locking structure 202 is extended in a parallel direction to the flange surface 102-1 of the pillar 102, it is inserted parallelly into the second substrate 106 mounted on the upper portion of the pillar 102, causing interference at a coupling juncture. Such an arrangement controls any level difference between the first and second substrates 104, 106 at the bend region or the wraparound region.
[0060] The present subject matter has technical effects in form of eliminating the warpage issues due to the integral molding of the locking structure with the first substrate. The locking face in form of an inclined surface, coupled with the B-pillar upper trim or the second substrate producing an interference fit is a superior fitment structure. Such a structure leaves no room for gaps and thus eliminates the vibrations problem at the same time enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the structure.
[0061] The first substrate mounted on lower portion of the pillar with the locking structure is adapted to accept the second substrate. The first substrate of the pillar and the second substrate of the pillar rest so as to control the flush. Thus, maintaining the assembly at a desired flush value and overcoming warpage issue at the matching area of the first substrate and the second substrate.
[0062] 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 inventions 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.”
[0063] 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 invention 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 invention, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. Also, while a feature of the present invention 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 invention. The present invention 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:1. An automotive trim assembly (100) for mounting to an automobile pillar (102), comprising:
a first substrate (104) forming at least a part of the trim assembly (100), wherein the first substrate (104) has a front surface (104-1) adapted to face an interior of an automobile and a flange surface (104-2) adapted to face an exterior of the automobile;
a second substrate (106) forming at least a part of the trim assembly (100), wherein the second substrate (106) has a front surface (106-1) adapted to face the interior of the automobile and a flange surface (106-2) adapted to face the exterior of the automobile;
a locking structure (202) integrally molded with the first substrate (104) and provided at bend area between the front surface (104-1) and the flange surface (104-2) of the first substrate (104).
2. The automotive trim assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first substrate (104) is mounted on a lower portion of the pillar (102) of the automobile.
3. The automotive trim assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second substrate (106) is mounted on an upper portion of the pillar (102) of the automobile.
4. The automotive trim assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first substrate (104) is to control a flush with the second substrate (106).
5. The automotive trim assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking structure (202) is to couple the first substrate (104) with the second substrate (106).
6. The automotive trim assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking structure (202) has a guiding face (202-1) and a locking face (202-2).
7. The automotive trim assembly (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the guiding face (202-1) extends parallel to the flange surface (102-1) of the pillar (102).
8. The automotive trim assembly (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the locking face (202-2) is in interference (602) with the flange surface (106-2) of the second substrate (106) and completely encapsulates the second substrate (106) therein.
9. The automotive trim assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pillar (102) is a B-pillar of the automobile.
10. The automotive trim assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking structure (202) is integrally molded on a left position of the flange surface (104-2) of the first substrate (104).