Vehicle trim component mounting structure

Abstract

To provide a vehicle trim member fitting structure which can reliably prevent a clip for fitting a trim member from falling.SOLUTION: A vehicle trim member fitting structure comprises: a clip (2); a trim member (1) formed with an insertion hole (10) through which the clip (2) is inserted; a component (3) to be fitted to which the trim member (1) is fitted; and an intermediate member (4). The intermediate member (4) has: an engaging part (41) engaging with the component (3) to be fitted; and an engaged hole (40) in which the clip (2) inserted through the insertion hole (10) is engaged. Herein, fastening power of the intermediate member (4) to the component (3) to be fitted via the engaging part (41) is so set as to be smaller than fastening power of the clip (2) to the intermediate member (4) via the engaged hole (40).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3B

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle trim member mounting structure.

Background Art

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle trim member mounting structure. More specifically, a structure is disclosed in which a roof lining as a trim member is attached to a roof brace spanned in the vehicle width direction between a pair of roof side rails. The roof lining is attached to the roof brace via a shock absorber. The shock absorber absorbs shock by crushing when shock is input. A clip is fixed to the upper surface of the shock absorber, and the shock absorber is attached to the roof brace by engaging this clip with an engaged hole formed on the lower surface of the roof brace. An insertion hole is formed in the roof lining, and an engaged hole is also formed on the lower surface of the shock absorber corresponding to this insertion hole. The roof lining is attached to the roof brace via the shock absorber by inserting the clip into the insertion hole from the vehicle interior side and engaging it with the engaged hole.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In other words, through holes are formed in the trim member (roof lining), and engagement holes are formed in the mounting member (shock absorber) to which the trim member is attached. The trim member is then attached to the mounting member using clips through these holes. In this type of mounting structure, vibrations from the vehicle may act on the trim member, potentially causing the clips to disengage from the engagement holes. If the trim member disengages from the engagement holes, the clips will easily disengage from the through holes formed in the trim member, causing them to fall off on their own. Since trim members are usually attached at multiple points, it is very unlikely that the entire trim member will fall off, but there is a risk of the clips falling off individually. Clips are small parts and can be lost or damaged by being stepped on.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle trim member mounting structure that can reliably prevent the clips used to attach the trim member from falling off. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The vehicle trim member mounting structure according to the present invention comprises a clip, a trim member having an insertion hole through which the clip is inserted, a member to which the trim member is attached, and an intermediate member. The intermediate member has an engaging portion that engages with the member to which the clip is inserted, and an engaging hole into which the clip inserted through the insertion hole engages. Here, the fastening force of the intermediate member to the member to which the clip is attached via the engaging portion is set to be smaller than the fastening force of the clip to the intermediate member via the engaging hole. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The vehicle trim member mounting structure according to the present invention reliably prevents the clips used to attach the trim member from falling off. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is an exploded perspective view showing a vehicle trim member mounting structure according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] This is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of the above mounting structure. [Figure 3A] This is a cross-sectional view along line III-III in Figure 2 (engaged state). [Figure 3B] This is a cross-sectional view along line III-III in Figure 2 (disengaged state). [Figure 4A] This is a side view showing the relationship between the curtain airbag module and the trim member. [Figure 4B] This is a side view showing the initial state of the curtain airbag deployment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The vehicle trim member mounting structure according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3B. In the mounting structure of this embodiment, the roof lining side 1, which is a trim member, is attached to the roof lining center 3, which is a member to be mounted, by clips 2. The left side in Figure 1 is the front of the vehicle, and the mounting part located furthest forward among the multiple mounting parts of the roof lining side 1 shown in Figure 1 (through hole 10 and mounted part 30) is equipped with the mounting structure of this embodiment. The other mounting parts of the roof lining side 1 (through hole 10X and mounted part 30X, and through hole 10Y and mounted part 30Y) have different mounting structures. Although only the right side of the vehicle is shown in Figure 1, a similar structure is constructed symmetrically on the left side as well.

[0010] The vehicle in this embodiment is a minivan, and the roof lining center 3, as the mounting member, covers the inner surface of the roof above the driver's and passenger's seats, and the inner surface of the roof above the seat immediately behind them. Another roof lining is also attached behind the roof lining center 3, but it is not shown. The roof lining side 1, as a trim member, is attached to the rear of both sides of the roof lining center 3 and covers the side panel 5 of the vehicle body. Another roof lining is also attached behind the roof lining side 1, but it is not shown. The roof lining side 1 and the roof lining center 3 have a two-layer structure in which a decorative nonwoven fabric layer is formed on the surface of a resin base material (see Figures 3A and 3B).

[0011] At the foremost mounting section (insertion hole 10 and mounting section 30) described above, the roof lining side 1 is attached only to the roof lining center 3 by clip 2 via clip bracket 4 (described later), and is not attached to the vehicle body's side panel 5. At the adjacent mounting section (insertion hole 10X and mounting section 30X), the clip bracket 4 is not used, and the roof lining side 1 is attached only to the roof lining center 3 by clip 2X (see Figure 4B), and is not attached to the vehicle body's side panel 5. On the other hand, at the other mounting sections (insertion hole 10Y and mounting section 30Y), the roof lining side 1 is attached to the side panel 5 together with the roof lining center 3 by clip (not shown). Therefore, on the back side of each mounting section 30Y, a mounting section for a clip is provided on the side panel 5.

[0012] As shown in Figure 2, a circular insertion hole 10 is formed in the roof lining side 1 through which the clip 2 is inserted. The clip 2 in this embodiment is made of resin and has a two-piece structure consisting of a main body made of a flange 20 and an elastic deformation portion 21 protruding from the back surface of the flange 20, and a pin portion 22 attached to the main body. Multiple slits extending in the axial direction are formed evenly in the circumferential direction in the elastic deformation portion 21. Therefore, when the pin portion 22 is not pressed into the main body (see Figure 2), the elastic deformation portion 21 can be elastically deformed to reduce its outer diameter. When the pin portion 22 is pressed into the main body (see Figures 3A and 3B), the elastic deformation of the elastic deformation portion 21 described above is suppressed. In other words, the clip 2 has a locking mechanism that restricts its elastic deformation.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a clip bracket 4, which is an intermediate member made of a thin metal plate, is pre-engaged in the mounting portion 30 of the roof lining center 3 to which the roof lining side 1 is attached. An engagement hole 40 is formed in the center of the clip bracket 4 into which the clip 2 is engaged. The inner diameter of the engagement hole 40 is smaller than the outer diameter of the elastically deformable portion 21 of the clip 2. The inner diameter of the insertion hole 10 of the roof lining side 1 is the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the elastically deformable portion 21 of the clip 2, but smaller than the outer diameter of the flange 20. When the elastically deformable portion 21 engages with the engagement hole 40, the elastically deformable portion 21 elastically deforms so that its outer diameter becomes smaller. The clip bracket 4 has four engagement pieces 41 that extend radially outward from the engagement hole 40 as engagement portions.

[0014] The mounting portion 30 of the roof lining center 3 has insertion and engagement holes 31 into which each of the engagement pieces 41 of the clip bracket 4 is inserted. Each engagement piece 41 extends radially outward when inserted into the insertion and engagement hole 31 and is bent in a crank shape at the portion of the insertion and engagement hole 31. A through hole 42 is formed in the portion of each engagement piece 41 that is inserted into the insertion and engagement hole 31, which locally reduces the bending rigidity of the engagement piece 41. A circular step 43 is formed around the engagement hole 40 of the clip bracket 4. The mounting portion 30 of the roof lining center 3 has a circular storage hole 32 that accommodates this circular step 43. By housing the circular step 43 in the storage hole 32, the clip bracket 4 is accurately positioned relative to the mounting portion 30 of the roof lining center 3. The storage hole 32 also avoids interference between the clip 2 engaged in the engagement hole 40 and the roof lining center 3. The inner diameter of the storage hole 32 is smaller than the outer diameter of the flange 20 of the clip 2.

[0015] The mounting structure of this embodiment, configured as described above, has the structure shown in Figure 3A. First, the attachment of the roof lining side (trim member) 1 to the roof lining center (mounted member) 3 will be described. As described above, a clip bracket 4 is pre-attached to the mounting portion 30 of the roof lining center 3. The clip bracket 4 is manufactured in such a form that its engaging piece 41 can be inserted into the insertion engagement hole 31, and after the engaging piece 41 is inserted into the insertion engagement hole 31, the engaging piece 41 is bent to conform to the roof lining center 3.

[0016] The engagement hole 40 of the clip bracket 4, which is pre-attached to the mounting portion 30, and the insertion hole 10 of the roof lining side 1 are aligned, and the elastic deformation portion 21 of the unlocked clip 2 is pushed into the insertion hole 10 and the engagement hole 40. At this time, the elastic deformation portion 21 elastically deforms and engages with the engagement hole 40. The clip 2 is pushed in until the flange 20 contacts the surface of the roof lining side 1. In this state, the clip 2 is locked by pushing the pin portion 22 of the clip 2 into the main body. When the clip 2 is locked, the pin portion 22 contacts the inside of the elastic deformation portion 21, and the elastic deformation of the elastic deformation portion 21 is restricted. This state is shown in Figure 3A. Note that in Figures 3A and 3B, the clip 2 is shown by a dashed line.

[0017] At this time, the fastening force of the clip bracket (intermediate member) 4 to the roof lining center (member to be attached) 3 via the engaging piece (engaging portion) 41 is set to be smaller than the fastening force of the clip 2 to the clip bracket (intermediate member) 4 via the engaging hole 40. The fastening force of the clip bracket 4 to the roof lining center 3 is equal to the force that fixes the roof lining center 3 and pulls the clip bracket 4 out in the axial direction of the clip 2. When the clip bracket 4 is pulled out from the roof lining center 3, the engaging piece 41 deforms as shown in Figure 3B. This deformation is made easier to occur by the through hole 42 formed in the engaging piece 41. In other words, the fastening force of the clip bracket 4 to the roof lining center 3 is weakened by the through hole 42.

[0018] Similarly, the fastening force of the clip 2 to the clip bracket 4 is equal to the force for fixing the clip bracket 4 and pulling out the clip 2 in its axial direction. As described above, the clip 2 is provided with a locking mechanism, and since the elastic deformation of the elastic deformation portion 21 of the clip 2 in the locked state is restricted, the elastic deformation portion 21 is not easily pulled out from the engaged hole 40. That is, the fastening force of the clip 2 to the clip bracket 4 is strengthened by the locking mechanism. As a result, the fastening force of the clip bracket 4 to the roof lining center 3 is set to be smaller than the fastening force of the clip 2 to the clip bracket 4.

[0019] As shown by the arrow in FIG. 3B, when a force for peeling off the roof lining side 1 from the roof lining center 3 acts, due to the above-described relationship of the fastening force, the fastening (engagement of the engaging piece 41 and the insertion engaged hole 31) of the clip bracket 4 to the roof lining center 3 is released. However, the fastening of the clip 2 to the clip bracket 4 (engagement of the elastic deformation portion 21 and the engaged hole 40) is maintained. As a result, the clip 2 does not drop off alone and remains held on the roof lining side 1 together with the clip bracket 4. Since the roof lining side 1 is fixed to the side panel 5 at the attachment portions of the insertion hole 10Y and the attachment portion 30Y, it does not drop off from the side panel 5 or the roof lining center 3.

[0020] Such an attachment structure of the present embodiment can be suitably used in the vicinity of the mounting position of the curtain airbag module 6, as shown in FIG. 4A. In FIG. 4A, the roof lining center 3 is not shown so that the curtain airbag module 6 can be easily seen, but the roof lining side 1 is shown to indicate the position of the attachment structure of the present embodiment. The curtain airbag module 6 is firmly fixed to the metal side panel 5. Above the curtain airbag module 6, a bracket 50 to which the side portion of the roof lining center 3 is fixed is provided on the side panel 5. The fixing of the roof lining center 3 to the bracket 50 is performed by a fastener such as a clip attached to the back side of the roof lining center 3.

[0021] The attachment structure of the present embodiment (see the insertion hole 10 in FIG. 4A) is located near the curtain airbag module 6. FIG. 4B schematically shows the initial stage of deployment of the airbag 60 inside the curtain airbag module 6. In FIG. 4B, the roof lining center 3 is also shown, and the roof lining side 1 is attached to the roof lining center 3 and the side panel 5 with clips 2 or the like. The airbag 60 is deployed downward from between the side panel 5 and the roof lining center 3 by being filled with gas generated by an inflater inside the curtain airbag module 6.

[0022] When the airbag 60 is deployed, a force like the arrow in FIG. 3B may act on the attachment structure of the present embodiment. Even in such a case, the clip 2 does not drop off alone and remains held on the roof lining side 1 together with the clip bracket 4. Since the roof lining side 1 is attached to the side panel 5 at the attachment position of its insertion hole 10Y, the whole does not drop off. Similarly, since the roof lining center 3 is fixed to the side panel 5 and the roof panel at multiple locations, the whole does not drop off.

[0023] According to the mounting structure of this embodiment, the fastening force of the clip bracket (intermediate member) 4 to the roof lining center (member to be mounted) 3 via the engaging piece (engaging portion) 41 is set to be smaller than the fastening force of the clip 2 to the clip bracket (intermediate member) 4 via the engaging hole 40. Therefore, if a force is applied that pulls the roof lining side 1 away from the roof lining center 3 or pulls out the clip 2, the fastening between the clip bracket 4 and the roof lining center 3 is released before the fastening between the clip 2 and the clip bracket 4. As a result, the clip 2 is held to the roof lining side 1 together with the clip bracket 4, preventing it from falling off on its own.

[0024] In this embodiment, the mounting structure is made of resin, and the clip 2 engages with or disengages from the engagement hole 40 by its elastic deformation, and has the aforementioned locking mechanism that restricts such elastic deformation. Therefore, the fastening force of the clip 2 to the clip bracket (intermediate member) 4 via the engagement hole 40 can be increased, and the relative magnitudes of the two fastening forces described above can be realized more reliably.

[0025] Furthermore, according to the mounting structure of this embodiment, the intermediate member is a clip bracket 4 made of a thin metal plate, with an engagement hole 40 formed in its center and a plurality of engagement pieces (engagement parts) 41 extending radially outward from the engagement hole 40. The roof lining center (mounted member) 3 has a plurality of insertion engagement holes 31 into which each of the plurality of radially extending engagement pieces (engagement parts) 41 is inserted. In other words, fastening of the clip bracket (intermediate member) 4 to the roof lining center (mounted member) 3 via the engagement pieces (engagement parts) 41 is achieved by the engagement of the plurality of radially extending engagement pieces 41 made of a thin metal plate with an insertion engagement hole 31.

[0026] The fastening of the clip bracket 4 to the roof lining center 3 is released by the deformation of the engaging piece 41, which is made of a thin metal plate (see Figure 3B). Since the engaging piece 41 is made of a thin metal plate and is easily deformable, the fastening force of the clip bracket (intermediate member) 4 to the roof lining center (member to be attached) 3 via the engaging piece (engaging portion) 41 can be weakened, thereby reliably achieving the above-mentioned relationship of magnitude between the two fastening forces.

[0027] As described above, the multiple engaging pieces 41 extend radially outward. Therefore, when the peeling or pulling forces described above are applied, these forces are received on the outside of the multiple insertion-engagement holes 31 into which the multiple engaging pieces 41 are inserted. The outside of the insertion-engagement holes 31 has a large surface area, and by receiving these forces over a large surface area, the fracture of the roof lining center 3 can be suppressed.

[0028] If the tip of the engaging piece 41 were folded inward instead of extending outward, these forces would act on a narrow area inside the multiple insertion-engagement holes 31. In this case, cracks would form between the multiple insertion-engagement holes 31, causing damage to the roof lining center 3. However, even in such a case, the inner portion of the fractured insertion-engagement hole 31 would be held in place by the multiple engaging pieces 41. Therefore, the clip 2 would not detach independently, nor would the fractured portion of the roof lining center 3 detach independently, but the roof lining center 3 would be damaged. By extending the engaging piece 41 outward as in this embodiment, the fracture of the roof lining center 3 can be prevented.

[0029] In this embodiment, the mounting structure includes a through-hole 42 formed in the insertion portion of the engaging piece 41 into the insertion hole 31, which locally reduces the bending rigidity of the engaging piece 41. Therefore, when the aforementioned peeling or pulling force is applied, the engaging piece 41 can be easily deformed. As a result, the fastening force of the clip bracket (intermediate member) 4 to the roof lining center (mounted member) 3 via the engaging piece (engaging portion) 41 can be reliably weakened, and the relative magnitudes of the two fastening forces described above can be more reliably realized.

[0030] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the locking mechanism of the clip 2, the pin portion 22 is locked when it is pressed into the main body. However, the locking mechanism may be constructed with a screw structure, and the locking state may be achieved when the pin portion 22 is screwed into the main body. Also, in the above embodiments, the trim member was the roof lining side 1, and the member to be attached was the roof lining center 3. However, the present invention can also be established when the trim member is the roof lining center 3 and the member to be attached is the side panel 5. In this case, an insertion hole for inserting the clip 2 is formed in the roof lining center 3, an insertion and engagement hole is formed in the side panel 5, and a clip bracket 4 can be used as an intermediate member in the same way. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1. Roof lining side (trim material) 10 Through hole 2 clips 3. Roof lining center (mounted component) 30 Mounted part 31 Insertion and engagement hole 4. Clip bracket (intermediate component) 40 Engagement hole 41 Engaging piece (engaging part) 42 Through hole

Claims

1. A vehicle trim member mounting structure, Clip and A trim member having an insertion hole through which the clip is inserted, The mounting member to which the trim member is attached, It comprises an engaging portion that engages with the mounting member, and an intermediate member having an engaging hole into which the clip inserted through the insertion hole engages, The fastening force of the intermediate member to the member to be attached via the engagement portion is set to be smaller than the fastening force of the clip to the intermediate member via the engagement hole. A vehicle trim member mounting structure wherein the clip is made of resin and engages with or disengages from the engagement hole by elastic deformation, and has a locking mechanism that restricts said elastic deformation.

2. A vehicle trim member mounting structure, Clip and A trim member having an insertion hole through which the clip is inserted, The mounting member to which the trim member is attached, It comprises an engaging portion that engages with the mounting member, and an intermediate member having an engaging hole into which the clip inserted through the insertion hole engages, The fastening force of the intermediate member to the member to be attached via the engagement portion is set to be smaller than the fastening force of the clip to the intermediate member via the engagement hole. The intermediate member is a clip bracket made of a thin metal plate, with the engagement hole formed in its center and having a plurality of engagement pieces extending radially outward from the engagement hole as the engagement portion. A vehicle trim member mounting structure, wherein the mounting member has a plurality of insertion engagement holes into which a plurality of the engagement pieces, each extending radially outward, are inserted.

3. The vehicle trim member mounting structure according to claim 2, wherein a through hole is formed in the portion of the engaging piece that is inserted into the insertion hole, thereby locally reducing the bending rigidity of the engaging piece.

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