IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,662,059
Granted Patent B2
US 12,662,059 · App. 17/538,112 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Vehicle interior assembly with tambour door

Inventors: Hugo Piccin (Cupertino, CA); Julien Rea (Sunnyvale, CA); Adrián Balbuena Méndez (Puebla, MX); Maxime Leclercq (Fremont, CA)
Assignee: FAURECIA INTERIOR SYSTEMS, INC.
B60R7/04B60R2011/0007B60R2011/0094E06B2009/135E06B2009/17092
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,662,059
App. No.
17/538,112
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle interior assembly includes a tambour door that is moveable along end guides between an open position and a closed position. The tambour door includes a plurality of slats interconnected by a unidirectional cord embedded in a plastic material of each one of the slats. The cord, such as yarn of aramid fibers can be molded-in to each one of the slats to simplified formation of the articulated joints between slats.

Claims (26)

1 . A vehicle interior assembly comprising a tambour door that is moveable along end guides of the assembly between an open position and a closed position, the tambour door comprising a plurality of discrete slats interconnected by a unidirectional cord embedded in a plastic material of each one of the slats,

wherein the cord is molded-in to each one of the slats,

wherein the cord comprises synthetic fibers, and

wherein the synthetic fibers have a glass transition temperature higher than said plastic material.

2 . The vehicle interior assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cord comprises a yarn comprising bundled strands.

3 . The vehicle interior assembly of claim 1 , wherein the synthetic fibers have a higher melting point than said plastic material.

4 . The vehicle interior assembly of claim 1 , wherein the synthetic fibers comprise aramid fibers.

5 . The vehicle interior assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plastic material completely surrounds the cord.

6 . The vehicle interior assembly of claim 1 , wherein each slat comprises opposite ends and a central portion extending between the opposite ends, the central portion being made from the same plastic material in which the cord is embedded.

7 . The vehicle interior assembly of claim 1 , wherein adjacent slats of the plurality of discrete slats are not connected by the plastic material.

8 . The vehicle interior assembly of claim 1 , wherein adjacent slats of the plurality of discrete slats are not connected by any molded material.

9 . The vehicle interior assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tambour door further comprises a decorative layer coupled with one side of the slats to move together with the slats during movement of the door between the open and closed positions.

10 . The vehicle interior assembly of claim 9 , wherein the decorative layer is a non-segmented layer.

11 . The vehicle interior assembly of claim 9 , wherein the decorative layer comprises a natural wood layer.

12 . A vehicle interior assembly comprising a tambour door that is moveable along end guides of the assembly between an open position and a closed position, the tambour door comprising a plurality of discrete slats interconnected by a unidirectional cord embedded in a plastic material of each one of the slats,

wherein the cord is molded-in to each one of the slats,

wherein the cord comprises synthetic fibers, and

wherein the synthetic fibers have a higher melting point than said plastic material.

13 . The vehicle interior assembly of claim 12 , wherein the tambour door further comprises a non-segmented decorative layer coupled with the slats to move together with the slats during movement of the door between the open and closed positions.

14 . The vehicle interior assembly of claim 13 , wherein the decorative layer is a non- segmented layer.

15 . The vehicle interior assembly of claim 13 , wherein the decorative layer comprises a natural wood layer.

16 . The vehicle interior assembly of claim 12 , wherein the cord comprises a yarn comprising bundled strands.

17 . The vehicle interior assembly of claim 12 , wherein the synthetic fibers comprise aramid fibers.

18 . The vehicle interior assembly of claim 12 , wherein the plastic material completely surrounds the cord.

19 . The vehicle interior assembly of claim 12 , wherein each slat comprises opposite ends and a central portion extending between the opposite ends, the central portion being made from the same plastic material in which the cord is embedded.

20 . The vehicle interior assembly of claim 12 , wherein adjacent slats of the plurality of discrete slats are not connected by any molded material.