Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Door or window with specified vehicle feature
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-18
2001-04-10
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Door or window with specified vehicle feature
C296S146700, C296S146100, C248S479000, C248S487000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213537
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to a minor trim panel that secures to a door trim panel and, more particularly, to a mirror trim panel with a hinge that maintains a lowered position during transit and an upright position during use.
BACKGROUND
Mirror trim panels have been widely used for many years to improve the aesthetic appearance of the interior of a vehicle. Although often used successfully, there are several problems and disadvantages with conventional mirror trim panels.
One of the disadvantages is related to the transportation of door trim panel assemblies having mirror trim panels formed as a part of or attached to the door trim panel. Such door trim panel assemblies are packaged and shipped with the mirror trim panel projecting upward from the top forward comer of the door trim panel. This method of packaging and shipping causes the mirror trim panel to be susceptible to damage, as other boxes or loads are placed near the carton containing the mirror trim panel. Furthermore, the size of the carton containing the door trim panel assembly must be greatly increased to accommodate the upward-projecting mirror trim panel, therefor affecting packing density within the transporter. Thus, both packaging and shipping costs are increased significantly, since the number of door trim panel assemblies which are transported is quite substantial, and each of these assemblies requires a larger carton to accommodate the mirror trim panel.
Another disadvantage is the method used to hold mirror trim panels in place. If the door trim panel is not formed with an integral mirror trim panel, the mirror trim panel must be separately attached to the sheet metal of the vehicle door. The space available for separate attachment, and alignment features to improve quality, is limited in the mirror attachment area. As a result, the attachment or locating provisions are at times less adequate than desired. Further, a separate mirror trim panel requires additional components within the final assembly plant, and also requires added assembly labor at the final assembly plant.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, this invention provides for a mirror trim panel that overcomes the problems and disadvantages of the conventional techniques in the art. The present invention provides for a mirror trim panel that improves packaging density and reduces shipping cost of the door trim panel assembly. The present invention also provides for a mirror trim panel which attains a higher degree of quality and reliability.
Briefly, the mirror trim panel of the present invention includes a cover portion, a primary attachment portion, and a hinge between the cover portion and the primary attachment portion. The hinge allows the mirror trim panel to be secured to the door trim panel and to be lowered into a transit position to improve packaging density and to reduce shipping costs of the door trim panel assembly.
The present invention also utilizes two locating apertures which align the mirror trim panel to the door trim panel thereby improving fit and finish of the system. Further, the mirror trim panel is held in a fixed position relative to the door trim panel which is positively located relative to the vehicle door. Accordingly, the present invention attains a higher degree of quality and reliability than conventional separately attached mirror trim panels.
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Butz Andrew R.
Gard Michael
McCarthy David J.
Reichard Brent A.
Foley & Lardner
Pape Joseph D.
Patel Kiran
Prince Technology Corp
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