Side door for a motor-vehicle provided with a functional decorative trim

Abstract

Side door (1) for a motor-vehicle, comprising an internal part (2) on the cabin side and a related functional decorative trim (3) having a contoured body provided with a main opening (10), defining an internal face (3') arranged against the internal part (2) of the side door (1) and an external face (3") exposed to view in the final assembled configuration.

Description

[0001] DE SCRIPTION of the industrial invention entitled:

[0002] "Side door for a motor-vehicle provided with a functional decorative trim"

[0003] ****

[0004] TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION

[0005] Field of the invention

[0006] The present invention relates to a side door for a motor-vehicle, comprising an internal cabin-side part and a related functional decorative trim.

[0007] Prior art

[0008] As known, trims of the type indicated above are widely used by vehicle manufacturers to improve the overall aesthetics of the cabin, also providing possible practical advantages such as the protection of some internal components, the integration of control buttons, the creation of storage compartments, as well as the possible reduction of noise and vibrations. Such trims are typically made of durable materials such as plastic, metal, or wood, possibly coated with fabrics or synthetic materials to improve aesthetics and tactile feel. The present invention stems from the desire to propose a functional decorative trim for a side door of a motor-vehicle that can be particularly advantageous from several points of view.

[0009] Object and summary of the invention

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to realize a side door for a motor-vehicle and a related functional decorative trim that can satisfy the aforementioned needs.

[0011] According to the embodiments described herein, these objects are achieved by a vehicle door having the features recited in the claims that follow.

[0012] The claims form an integral part of the teachings provided herein in relation to the embodiments of the solutions described herein.

[0013] Brief description of the figures

[0014] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided by way of non-limiting example only, in which:

[0015] - figure 1 is a front view of a side door for a motor-vehicle provided with a functional decorative trim, according to possible embodiments,

[0016] - figure 2 is an enlarged scale exploded perspective view of a part of the side door and the functional decorative trim, according to possible embodiments,

[0017] - figure 3A is an exploded perspective view highlighting further features of the functional decorative trim, according to possible embodiments,

[0018] - figure 3B is a perspective view of a handle module bearing a door opening handle of the side door,

[0019] - figure 3C is an enlarged scale view of the functional decorative trim, showing features related to a lighting module, and

[0020] - figure 4 illustrates further functions of the trim, according to possible embodiments. Detailed description of the invention

[0021] In the following description, various specific details are illustrated for the purpose of an in-depth understanding of examples of one or more embodiments. The embodiments may be realized without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc.

[0022] In other instances, known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of the embodiments. Reference to "an embodiment" within this description indicates that a particular configuration, structure, or feature described in relation to the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment.

[0023] Therefore, phrases such as "in one embodiment", possibly present in different places in this description, are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment.

[0024] Furthermore, particular configurations, structures, or features may be suitably combined in one or more embodiments and / or associated with the embodiments in a different way than illustrated herein, so that for example a feature exemplified here in relation to one figure may be applied to one or more embodiments exemplified in a different figure.

[0025] The references illustrated herein are for convenience only and do not therefore limit the scope of protection or the scope of the embodiments.

[0026] With reference to the accompanying drawings, reference numeral 1 indicates as a whole a side door for a motor-vehicle. The side door 1 comprises an internal part 2 on the cabin side, comprising an inner panel made of various materials covering the sheet metal constituting the side door.

[0027] Reference numeral 3 indicates as a whole a functional decorative trim mounted on the internal part 2 of the door 1, in particular on a part of the related inner panel.

[0028] The functional decorative trim 3 has a shaped covering body, suitable for covering a portion of the side door 1, in particular a portion of the internal part 2 on the cabin side. This shaped covering body comprises an internal face 3' arranged against the internal part 2 of the door 1 (and thus hidden from view in the final assembled configuration) and an external face 3" on the cabin side exposed to view in the final assembled configuration.

[0029] As will be appreciated below, the functional decorative trim 3 is a multifunction component, as in addition to performing a main function for which it is intended - in particular allowing easy closing of the door 1 from inside the cabin - it is at the same time configured to perform further completion functions.

[0030] Figure 2 is an enlarged scale exploded perspective view of a part of the side door 1 and the functional decorative trim 3, according to possible embodiments. Note that the functional decorative trim 3 comprises a plurality of fastening portions 4 receiving respective fasteners 4' adapted to cooperate with respective counterparts 4" made on the side door 1.

[0031] According to a further feature, the functional decorative trim 3 may advantageously comprise respective aesthetic covering portions 5 configured for covering the fasteners 4', spaced along respective parts of the external face 3". Preferably, one or more aesthetic completion components 5' may also be fixed on the external face 3".

[0032] Figure 3A is an exploded perspective view highlighting further features of the functional decorative trim 3, according to possible embodiments. As illustrated in this figure, the functional decorative trim 3 comprises a plurality of connection zones 6 made on the inner face 3', arranged to connect a handle module 7 bearing a door opening handle 8 of the side door 1. The handle module 7, illustrated by way of example only in figure 3B, may comprise a support structure 9 fixed to the functional decorative trim 3 by means of a plurality of connecting members arranged at the connection zones 6. Naturally, to allow access to the opening handle 8, the contoured body of the trim 3 is provided with a main opening 10 from which it is possible to grasp the opening handle 8.

[0033] According to a further feature, also illustrated in figure 3A, the functional decorative trim 3 comprises an installation portion 11 - made on said internal face 3' - for installing an ambient light lighting module. The lighting module can be made in any known way, including for example an LED light source.

[0034] With particular reference to figure 3C, note that the trim 3 comprises an angular end portion 14 near the installation portion 11, shaped to directly hide from view the light produced by the lighting module, so as to allow visual perception only of a related luminous halo.

[0035] According to a further feature, also illustrated in figure 3A, the functional decorative trim 3 comprises a grip portion 12, commonly called a "pullcup", integrated into the shaped body of the trim, to allow the user to firmly pull the vehicle door and close it from the inside. More particularly, this grip portion 12 is substantially a shaped recess to allow a comfortable and secure grip, for closing the door easily once the user is seated on the seat. With reference to a preferred embodiment, the shaped recess is made on the body of the trim along a lateral end portion thereof, so as to provide a firm grip point, making the door closing movement easy without requiring too much force and dexterity.

[0036] According to a further feature, illustrated in particular in figure 4, the functional decorative trim 3 may comprise a protective grille 13, mounted along the outer face 3", behind which a speaker device is positioned. This grille 13 is in fact configured to protect the speaker also contributing to the cabin aesthetics and to the optimization of sound diffusion inside the cabin.

[0037] In light of the set of described features, it will therefore be appreciated that the functional decorative trim 3 is a multifunction component, as in addition to performing a main function for which it is intended - in particular allowing easy closing of the door 1 from inside the cabin through the grip portion 12 - it is at the same time configured to perform further completion functions, such as integrating advantageous features for mounting to the side door, integrating aesthetic completion features, supporting the opening handle, allowing the installation of an ambient light module, directly hiding from view the light produced by the ambient light module, and supporting a protective grille in association with a speaker device.

[0038] Naturally, without prejudice to the invention, the construction details and the embodiments may vary widely from what has been described and illustrated by way of example only, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Side door (1) for motor-vehicles, comprising an internal part (2) on the side of the passenger compartment and a related functional decorative trim (3) having a contoured body provided with a main opening (10), defining an internal face (3') arranged against the internal part (2) of the side door (1) and an external face (3") exposed to view in the final assembled configuration, wherein said functional decorative trim (3) comprises:- a plurality of fastening portions (4) receiving respective fasteners (4') arranged to cooperate with respective counterparts (4") obtained on the side door (1),- a handle module (7) comprising an opening handle (8) for opening the side door (1) and a support structure (9) carrying the handle (8), connected to said contoured body by a plurality of connecting members (6) obtained on the internal face (3’), in such a way that the handle (8) is accessible through said main opening (10),- a grip portion (12) integrated with the contoured body, arranged to enable a user to firmly pull and close the side door from the passenger compartment, wherein said grip portion (12) is substantially a shaped recess obtained on the trim body along its lateral end portion, so as to provide a firm grip point which makes easier the closing movement of the side door (1).

2. Side door (1) according to claim 1, wherein the functional decorative trim (3) comprises aesthetic covering portions (5) spaced along respective parts of the external face (3"), respectively configured to cover one fastener (4').

3. Side door (1) according to claim 1, wherein the functional decorative trim (3) comprises an ambient light module connected to an installation portion (11) obtained on said internal face (3') of said contoured body.

4. Side door (1) according to claim 1, wherein the functional decorative trim (3) comprises a protective grille (13) mounted along the external face (3"), configured to protect a speaker device and optimize the sound diffusion inside the passenger compartment.

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