Door trim structure

Abstract

To provide a door trim structure capable of preventing damage to a door trim caused by a side collision.SOLUTION: A door trim structure includes: a door trim; an arm rest provided on the door trim; and a switch unit forming a part of an upper surface of the armrest; wherein the switch unit is provided such that a first side portion positioned on a vehicle outer side is rotated downward about a part of a second side portion positioned on a vehicle inner side by means of a lateral pressure along a vehicle width direction in association with a side collision; and wherein the door trim includes a buffer portion at a position where the switch unit collides with the door trim due to the rotation of the switch unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a door trim structure.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle door trim structure including a door trim and a switch bezel. Predetermined switches are arranged on the switch bezel. The switch bezel on which the switches are arranged is fitted into the door trim so as to form the upper surface of an armrest provided on the door trim. Hereinafter, the switches will be referred to as a switch unit.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The armrest may be arranged to be inclined such that the upper surface of the armrest faces the inside of the vehicle. In this case, the switch unit is also arranged to be inclined such that the upper surface of the switch unit faces the inside of the vehicle. When the switch unit is arranged to be inclined as described above, if a body panel constituting the side door is deformed by a side collision and contacts the switch unit, the switch unit may come off the armrest so as to hit the back surface of the design surface of the door trim. When the switch unit hits the back surface of the design surface of the door trim, the door trim may be damaged. In the technology of Patent Document 1, a configuration capable of suppressing damage to the door trim caused by the switch unit accompanying a side collision has not been studied.

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide a door trim structure capable of suppressing damage to the door trim accompanying a side collision.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A door trim structure according to an aspect of the present invention includes a door trim, an armrest provided on the door trim, and a switch unit that constitutes a part of the upper surface of the armrest. The switch unit is provided such that a first side portion located on the outer side of the vehicle rotates downward about a part of a second side portion located on the inner side of the vehicle under a lateral pressure along the vehicle width direction associated with a side collision. The door trim includes a buffer portion at a location where the switch unit collides due to the rotation of the switch unit.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the door trim structure of the present invention, even if the switch unit comes off the armrest due to a lateral pressure along the vehicle width direction associated with a side collision, damage to the door trim caused by contact with the switch unit can be suppressed. When a body panel constituting a side door is deformed by a side collision, the deformed body panel further deforms while pushing the first side portion of the switch unit. The first side portion of the switch unit rotates downward about a part of the second side portion under the lateral pressure along the vehicle width direction received from the body panel. A buffer portion is provided at a predetermined location on the door trim where the switch unit collides due to the rotation. By the switch unit colliding with the buffer portion, a part of the energy of the switch unit colliding with the back surface of the design surface of the door trim can be absorbed by the buffer portion. By this buffer portion, damage to the door trim can be suppressed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] The door trim structure of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same components. In each drawing, for the sake of convenience of explanation, a part of the configuration may be shown in an exaggerated or simplified manner. The dimensional ratios of the respective parts in the drawings may also differ from the actual ones. In the following description, "front", "rear", "left", "right", "upper", and "lower" mean the front of the vehicle as "front" and the directions based on this. Also, the center in the vehicle width direction is "inner side", and the side away from the center in the vehicle width direction is "outer side". In the drawings, "FR" indicates the front side in the vehicle longitudinal direction, "RR" indicates the rear side, "UP" indicates the upper side in the vehicle height direction, "LWR" indicates the lower side, "IN" indicates the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and "OUT" indicates the outer side. The vehicle longitudinal direction is the vehicle length direction. The vehicle left-right direction is the vehicle width direction. The vehicle up-down direction is the vehicle height direction.

[0010] <Overview> As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the door trim structure 1 of the embodiment includes a door trim 2, an armrest 3, and a switch unit 32. The armrest 3 is provided on the door trim 2. The switch unit 32 forms a part of the upper surface 3m of the armrest 3. One of the features of the door trim structure 1 of the embodiment is that, as shown in FIG. 2, the switch unit 32 is provided so as to rotate with a side collision, and a buffer portion 5 is provided at a predetermined location on the door trim 2. The white arrow in FIG. 2 indicates the direction of the side collision. The black arrow in FIG. 2 indicates the rotation direction of the switch unit 32 accompanying the side collision. In FIG. 2, an example of the switch unit 32 rotated with the side collision is shown by a dashed line.

[0011] <Door Trim> The door trim 2 is arranged to cover the inner side of the body panel that constitutes the side door, and constitutes the inner design surface of the side door. The body panel includes an outer panel arranged on the outer side of the vehicle and an inner panel 7 arranged on the inner side of the vehicle. The outer panel constitutes the outer design surface of the side door. The inner panel 7 and the outer panel are arranged at a predetermined interval. In FIG. 2, for convenience of explanation, only the inner panel 7 is shown. The body panel including the inner panel 7 is typically a molded body formed by press-molding a metal plate into a predetermined shape. The door trim 2 is typically a molded body of resin.

[0012] The door trim 2 includes a main body portion 20 and a bulging portion 21. The bulging portion 21 is a portion that bulges inward of the vehicle compared to other locations. The bulging portion 21 forms a relatively large interval between the door trim 2 and the inner panel 7. An armrest 3 is provided in this interval. The arrangement, shape, and size of the bulging portion 21 are provided corresponding to the arrangement, shape, and size of the armrest 3. An opening 22 is provided in the upper portion of the bulging portion 21. The opening 22 is blocked by the armrest 3. The opening 22 is provided along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A corner portion 26 to which the armrest 3 is fixed is provided in the upper portion of the bulging portion 21. The corner portion 26 is formed by bending the upper portion of the bulging portion 21 outward of the vehicle.

[0013] A rib 28 is provided on the corner portion 26. The rib 28 protrudes outward from the back surface of the design surface of the corner portion 26, that is, the surface facing the outside of the vehicle in the corner portion 26. In this example, a plurality of ribs 28 are provided in the vehicle length direction. By providing a plurality of ribs 28, a wide total area of the surfaces facing the outside of the vehicle at the tips of the respective ribs 28 is ensured. Therefore, when the switch unit 32 rotates as described later due to a side collision, it is easy to ensure a large contact area between the switch unit 32 and the rib 28. One rib 28 extending long in the vehicle length direction may be provided.

[0014] When the switch unit 32 rotates due to a side collision as described later, part of the energy applied to the door trim 2 can be absorbed by the rib 28. The rib 28 is the buffer portion 5. The rib 28 has a protruding length capable of absorbing part of the above energy. The protruding length of the rib 28 is, for example, the length in contact with a second line segment 920 described later. The rib 28 may extend to any position outside or inside the vehicle with respect to the second line segment 920. The protruding direction of the rib 28 may be along the vehicle width direction or may be slightly inclined with respect to the vehicle width direction.

[0015] A downward load acts on the armrest 3 when a passenger places an arm on the armrest 3. By providing the rib 28 at the corner portion 26, the corner portion 26 where stress concentration occurs can be reinforced, and it can also withstand the above downward load. The rib 28 in this example has both the function of the buffer portion 5 and the function of reinforcing the corner portion 26.

[0016] <Armrest> The armrest 3 is fitted into the door trim 2 so as to close the opening 22. The armrest 3 includes a switch bezel 31 and a switch unit 32. The switch bezel 31 constitutes the pedestal portion of the armrest 3. The switch bezel 31 is fixed to the door trim 2 by an engaging portion (not shown) and closes the opening 22. The lower edge portion on the vehicle interior side of the switch bezel 31 is supported by the upper portion of the corner portion 26. The lower edge portion on the vehicle interior side of the switch bezel 31 is also supported by a part of the bulging portion 21 from the outside of the vehicle by a protrusion configured to extend slightly outward from the corner portion 26 and then fold back inward. An opening 310 is provided on the upper surface of the switch bezel 31. The switch bezel 31 constitutes a part of the upper surface 3m of the armrest 3.

[0017] <Switch unit> The switch unit 32 is fitted into the opening 310. The switch unit 32 is fixed to the switch bezel 31 by an engaging portion (not shown). The switch unit 32 forms a part of the upper surface 3m of the armrest 3. The armrest 3 is arranged to be inclined such that the upper surface 3m of the armrest 3 faces the inside of the vehicle. The upper surface 3m is inclined such that the edge on the inner side of the vehicle is lower and the edge on the outer side of the vehicle is higher. That is, the switch unit 32 is arranged to be inclined such that the upper part 323 of the switch unit 32 faces the inside of the vehicle. The switch unit 32 includes a switch mechanism portion having an external operating tool, a circuit portion having electrical contacts, and a connector. The external operating tool is, for example, a power window switch and a side door unlock switch. Connectors are attached to various switches. In FIG. 2, for convenience of explanation, only the portions constituting the appearance of the switch unit 32 are shown. The switch unit 32 shown in FIG. 2 includes a first side portion 321, a second side portion 322, an upper part 323, and a lower part 324.

[0018] The first side portion 321 is a side portion located on the outer side of the vehicle. The first side portion 321 is inclined such that the upper edge is on the inner side and the lower edge is on the outer side. Therefore, the lower edge of the first side portion 321 has a first point 91 where the inner panel 7 deformed by a side collision first hits within the switch unit 32.

[0019] The second side portion 322 is a side portion located on the inner side of the vehicle. The second side portion 322 is inclined such that the upper edge is on the inner side and the lower edge is on the outer side. The fixing point of the second side portion 322 to the switch bezel 31 is the rotation center 8 described later. The rotation center 8 in this example is located at approximately the middle portion in the vertical direction of the second side portion 322.

[0020] The upper part 323 connects the upper edges of the first side portion 321 and the second side portion 322 and is inclined to face the inside of the vehicle. The upper part 323 is inclined such that the edge on the inner side of the vehicle is lower and the edge on the outer side of the vehicle is higher. The lower part 324 connects the lower edges of the first side portion 321 and the second side portion 322. The lower part 324 is inclined in the same manner as the upper part 323 such that the edge on the inner side of the vehicle is lower and the edge on the outer side of the vehicle is higher.

[0021] Since the switch unit 32 is disposed in an inclined manner as described above, due to the side pressure along the vehicle width direction associated with a side collision, the first side portion 321 rotates downward with a part of the second side portion 322 as the rotation center 8. Due to this rotation, the switch unit 32 may collide with the back surface of the design surface of the door trim 2.

[0022] <Positional relationship between the corner portion and the switch unit> The switch unit 32 is disposed so as to satisfy the following relationship with respect to the corner portion 26 of the door trim 2. The length of the first line segment 910 connecting the rotation center 8 and the first point 91 is equal to or greater than the length of the second line segment 920 connecting the rotation center 8 and the second point 92. The second point 92 is a point located at a predetermined distance on the vertical line from the rotation center 8. The predetermined distance is a distance corresponding to the length of the line segment connecting the rotation center 8 and the corner portion 26. In FIG. 2, a part of an arc centered on the rotation center 8 and having the second line segment 920 as the radius is also shown by a two-dot chain line.

[0023] When the length of the first line segment 910 is equal to or greater than the length of the second line segment 920, when the switch unit 32 rotates due to the side pressure along the vehicle width direction associated with a side collision, the lower edge of the first side portion 321 may collide with the bulging portion 21 of the door trim 2. When the rib 28 is not provided on the corner portion 26, the upper length of the corner portion 26 is short enough for the switch bezel 31 to be fixed. When the rib 28 is not provided on the corner portion 26, if the lower edge of the first side portion 321 collides with the inclined surface below the corner portion 26 in the bulging portion 21, a large amount of energy due to the side collision is applied to the bulging portion 21, and the bulging portion 21 is pushed inward of the vehicle so as to widen the inner angle of the corner portion 26. At this time, stress concentrates on the corner portion 26, and the corner portion 26 may become a starting point for cracking.

[0024] <Function and effect> In the door trim structure 1 of this embodiment, since the rib 28 is provided as the buffer portion 5 on the back surface of the design surface at the corner portion 26, when the length of the first line segment 910 is equal to or greater than the length of the second line segment 920, the following behavior occurs due to a side collision. When a side collision occurs and the body panel including the inner panel 7 is deformed, the deformed inner panel 7 hits the first side portion 321 and further deforms while pushing the first side portion 321. The switch unit 32 causes the first side portion 321 to rotate downward about a part of the second side portion 322 as the rotation center 8 due to the side pressure along the vehicle width direction received from the inner panel 7. When the switch unit 32 rotates, before the lower edge of the first side portion 321 collides with the bulging portion 21, among the components of the switch unit 32, the portion below the first line segment 910, that is, the second side portion 322 or the lower portion 324 collides with the rib 28. In this example, as shown by the broken line of the switch unit 32 in FIG. 2, the second side portion 322 collides with the rib 28. The switch unit 32 rotates while crushing the rib 28 with the second side portion 322. Due to the crushing of this rib 28, part of the energy due to the side collision is absorbed by the rib 28. Therefore, when the first side portion 321 collides with the bulging portion 21, part of the above energy is absorbed by the rib 28, and the energy applied to the bulging portion 21 becomes smaller compared to the case where the rib 28 is not provided. Since part of the above energy is absorbed by the rib 28, stress is less likely to concentrate on the corner portion 26, and the corner portion 26 is less likely to become the starting point of cracking. By being able to suppress the starting point of cracking of the corner portion 26, damage to the door trim 2 is suppressed.

[0025] The present invention is not limited to these examples, but is shown by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims. For example, the buffer portion 5 may be of any shape or material that can absorb part of the energy when the switch unit 32 collides with the back surface of the design surface of the door trim 2. The buffer portion 5 may be composed of an elastic material. The buffer portion 5 is, for example, rubber or a compression spring. The buffer portion 5 that is rubber or a compression spring is fixed, for example, to the back surface of the design surface of the door trim 2. As the buffer portion 5, a rib 28 may be provided, and further, rubber or a compression spring may be attached to the rib 28.

Description of Symbols

[0026] 1 Door Trim Structure 2 Door Trim 20 Main Body 21 Bulging Portion 22 Opening 26 Corner 28 Rib 3 Armrest 3m Upper Surface 31 Switch Bezel 310 Opening 32 Switch Unit 321 First Side 322 Second Side 323 Upper Part 324 Lower Part 5 Buffer 7 Inner Panel 8 Rotation Center 91 First Point 910 First Line Segment 92 Second Point 920 Second Line Segment

Claims

1. A door trim, an armrest provided on the door trim, and a switch unit that forms a part of the upper surface of the armrest, wherein the switch unit is provided so as to rotate downward about a part of a second side portion located on the inner side of the vehicle with respect to a first side portion located on the outer side of the vehicle by a lateral pressure along the vehicle width direction accompanying a side collision, the door trim includes a buffer portion at a location where the switch unit collides due to the rotation of the switch unit, a lower edge of the first side portion has a first point where a body panel deformed by the side collision first hits the switch unit, the buffer portion is provided at a location where a portion below a first line segment in the switch unit collides, the first line segment is a line segment connecting the first point and the center of rotation of the switch unit, A door trim structure.

2. The door trim has a bulging portion that bulges partially toward the inner side of the vehicle, an upper portion of the bulging portion has a corner portion to which the armrest is fixed, The door trim structure according to claim 1, wherein the buffer portion has a rib provided on the back surface of the corner portion.

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