Exterior trim for a motor vehicle
View Patent ↗An exterior trim for a motor vehicle has a body that forms a surface of the exterior trim. The body has an exterior surface and an interior surface, and defines a recess or cut-out. The body has a single undulating wall formed on the interior surface of the body substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the body, and the single undulating wall at least partially surrounds the recess or cut-out. The exterior trim also includes a human-machine interface (HMI) device disposed at least partially within the recess or cut-out of the body. The HMI device may be used to externally control certain features of the motor vehicle.
1. An exterior trim for a motor vehicle comprising:
a body that forms a surface of the exterior trim, the body defining a recess or cut-out, and the body having an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein the exterior surface of the body is a decorative or covering surface that is substantially continuous with an exterior component of the motor vehicle; and
an undulating wall formed on the interior surface of the body, wherein the undulating wall at least partially surrounds the recess or cut-out.
2. The trim of claim 1 wherein the body and undulating wall are integral.
3. The trim of claim 1 wherein the exterior surface of the body is planar overtop the undulating wall.
4. The trim of claim 1 wherein the undulating wall completely surrounds the recess or cut-out.
5. The trim of claim 1 wherein the exterior surface of the body forms an optically continuous surface of the exterior trim.
6. The trim of claim 1 further comprising a clear coating disposed over substantially the entire exterior surface of the body, wherein the body is formed of an opaque material.
7. The trim of claim 1 further comprising a backing plate connected to the interior surface of the body, wherein the backing plate includes a slot that receives the undulating wall.
8. The trim of claim 1 wherein the undulating wall includes a plurality of sections, each of the plurality of sections having a first portion angled with respect to a second portion.
9. The trim of claim 8 wherein the first portion is connected with the second portion.
10. The trim of claim 8 wherein each of the plurality of sections includes a third portion angled with respect to the second portion, and a fourth portion parallel to the second portion.
11. The trim of claim 8 wherein the plurality of sections are repeating sections.
12. The trim of claim 11 wherein the repeating sections are sporadic.
13. The trim of claim 8 wherein the body has a first thickness, the undulating wall has a second thickness, and the first thickness is substantially equal to the second thickness.
14. The trim of claim 13 wherein at least one of the first and second portions have a third thickness, the third thickness less than the first thickness.
15. The trim of claim 8 wherein each of the plurality of sections includes a gusset that provides structural rigidity to the undulating wall.
16. The trim of claim 8 wherein the undulating wall includes undulations that are wavelike.
17. The trim of claim 8 wherein the undulating wall includes undulations that are block-like.
18. The trim of claim 8 wherein the undulating wall includes undulations that are angular.
19. The trim of claim 8 wherein the undulating wall has a distal end and the distal end is planar.
20. An exterior trim for a motor vehicle comprising:
a body that forms a surface of the exterior trim, the body defining a recess or cut-out, and the body having an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein the exterior surface of the body is a decorative or covering surface that is substantially continuous with an exterior component of the motor vehicle; and
an undulating wall formed on the interior surface of the body, wherein the undulating wall completely surrounds the recess or cut-out.
21. An exterior trim for a motor vehicle comprising:
a body that forms a surface of the exterior trim, the body defining a recess or cut-out, the body having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and the body having a first thickness, wherein the exterior surface of the body is substantially continuous with an exterior component of the motor vehicle;
an undulating wall formed on the interior surface of the body, wherein the undulating wall at least partially surrounds the recess or cut-out, the undulating wall includes a plurality of sections, each of the plurality of sections having a first portion angled with respect to a second portion, wherein at least one of the first and second portions having a wall thickness that is less than the first thickness; and
an exterior coating disposed over the exterior surface of the body, wherein the exterior coating is at least partially translucent, transparent or semi-transparent.
22. The exterior trim of claim 21 wherein the body has a first thickness, the undulating wall has a second thickness, and the first thickness is substantially equal to the second thickness.
23. The exterior trim of claim 21 wherein the body and undulating wall are integral.
24. The exterior trim of claim 21 wherein the undulating wall completely surrounds the recess or cut-out.
25. The exterior trim of claim 21 wherein the exterior surface of the body forms an optically continuous surface of the exterior trim.
26. The exterior trim of claim 21 wherein the body is formed of an opaque material.
27. The exterior trim of claim 21 further comprising a backing plate connected to the interior surface of the body, wherein the backing plate includes a slot that receives the undulating wall.
28. The exterior trim of claim 21 wherein the undulating wall includes a plurality of sections, each of the plurality of sections having a first portion angled with respect to a second portion.
29. The exterior trim of claim 28 wherein the first portion is connected with the second portion.
30. The exterior trim of claim 28 wherein each of the plurality of sections includes a third portion angled with respect to the second portion, and a fourth portion parallel to the second portion.
31. The exterior trim of claim 28 wherein the plurality of sections are repeating sections.
32. The exterior trim of claim 28 wherein each of the plurality of sections includes a gusset that provides structural rigidity to the undulating wall.
33. The exterior trim of claim 28 wherein the undulating wall includes undulations that are wavelike.
34. The exterior trim of claim 28 wherein the undulating wall includes undulations that are block-like.
35. The exterior trim of claim 28 wherein the undulating wall includes undulations that are angular.
36. The exterior trim of claim 28 wherein the undulating wall has a distal end and the distal end is planar.