Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ammad Bhatti

Scott Holmes Dunham

Kim Langenbacher

Steve Dreher

Ian Brewster Hall

John Pinkerton

Zhibing Deng

Srinivas Sanikommu

Leiping Huang

A vehicle trim panel assembly is provided having a beverage retainer formed in a storage compartment on the door of an automotive vehicle. The trim panel assembly includes a storage receptacle and a trim panel arranged to define at least a portion of the storage receptacle. The trim panel includes a base portion connected to a beverage retainer portion via a living hinge. The beverage retainer portion is pivoted about the living hinge into position within the storage receptacle.

Vehicle trim panel having beverage retainer

A vehicle trim assembly is provided having a beverage retainer formed in a storage compartment on the door of an automotive vehicle. The trim assembly includes a storage receptacle and a trim component such as a trim panel arranged to define at least a portion of the storage receptacle. The trim panel includes a base portion connected to a beverage retainer portion via a living hinge. The beverage retainer portion is pivoted about the living hinge into position within the storage receptacle. The trim assembly may include a trim component assembled onto a pillar and pivoted about the living hinge between a use position and a stored position.

Method of manufacturing vehicle trim component having beverage retainer

Vehicle trim component having beverage retainer and method

Vehicle trim panel having beverage retainer and method

An integrated door substrate and pelvic bolster is provided for use in a vehicle. The integrated component is formed from a polymerizable material by injection molding. The pelvic bolster is formed from thin lateral walls that buckle and tear under compressive loading. The pelvic bolster is designed to bend but not fracture under load, thus maintaining a continuous loading curve.

Door trim-integrated pelvic impact energy-absorbing construction for vehicle

A side impact door trim buckle initiator design is provided in a vehicle armrest and grab handle region. The disclosed support structure design induces buckling in the door handle supports while continuing to provide acceptable durability and strength. Two modifications to the door armrest and grab handle structures are made. First, an angled section is added to the material flow strap of the armrest supporting structure to promote buckling. This approach overcomes the difficulty of known material flow straps which tend to be horizontal, thus introducing a strong compressive load path. By adding an angle to the flow straps the vertical motion is forced upon a lateral impact. Second, vertical components of the door handle support structure are removed while a buckle initiator in the door handle support is added.

Side impact door trim buckle initiatory design in armrest and grab handle region

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Canton, MI, United States of America

Ammad Bhatti