Pocketed panel assembly

1. A pocketed panel assembly for a vehicle door, said pocketed panel assembly comprising:

a trim panel having a pivotal edge;

a partial pocket structure having a pivotal edge; and

a living hinge integrally joining said pivotal edge of said trim panel to said pivotal edge of said partial pocket structure;

whereby said partial pocket structure can be rotated about said living hinge and substantially abutted against said trim panel so as to form an open pocket on said trim panel;

wherein said partial pocket structure has a designated front side that retains a feature insert; and

wherein said feature insert includes carpet.

2. A pocketed panel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said trim panel has a designated front side that is structurally adapted for forming said open pocket thereon, and said trim panel has a designated back side that is structurally adapted for being mounted on said vehicle door.

3. A pocketed panel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each of said trim panel, said partial pocket structure, and said living hinge comprises a plastic material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, a thermoplastic elastomer, a thermoplastic olefin, a thermoplastic polyolefin, and acrylonitrile butadiene styreneplastic.

4. A pocketed panel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said trim panel has a designated bottom edge, and said pivotal edge of said trim panel is located at said designated bottom edge.

5. A pocketed panel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said partial pocket structure has a designated front side that is structurally adapted for accomodating an add-on feature.

6. A pocketed panel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said partial pocket structure has a designated bottom side, and said pivotal edge of said partial pocket structure is located on said designated bottom side.

7. A pocketed panel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said living hinge is particularly a composite living hinge that comprises a plurality of complementary living hinges.

8. A method of assembling a pocketed panel for a vehicle door, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) performing an injection-molding process to form a pocketed panel assembly that includes (i) a trim panel having a pivotal edge, (ii) a partial pocket structure having a pivotal edge, and (iii) a living hinge integrally joining said pivotal edge of said trim panel to said pivotal edge of said partial pocket structure;

(b) rotating said partial pocket structure about said living hinge so as to substantially abut said partial pocket structure against said trim panel;

(c) fixing said partial pocket structure onto said trim panel so as to form an open pocket on said trim panel; and

wherein said partial pocket structure has a designated front side, and step

(a) includes the sub-step of performing an insert-molding process so as to retain a feature insert on said designated front side of said partial pocket structure.

9. A method of assembling a pocketed panel according to claim 8 , wherein step (a) includes the sub-steps of forming a plurality of tabs on said partial pocket structure and also defining a matching plurality of slots in said trim panel, and step (c) includes the sub-step of inserting said tabs into said slots so as to capture said tabs therein.

10. A method of assembling a pocketed panel according to claim 8 , wherein step (c) is accomplished by means of at least one fastener selected from the group consisting of a sonic weld, a heat stake, and glue.