Vehicle trim panel storage systems
A trim storage system for a vehicle includes a guide slot that extends along a longitudinal axis, and a guide including a first flange opposite a second flange. The first flange defines one or more first ribs that extend from the first flange, and the second flange defines one or more second ribs that extend toward a respective first rib of the first ribs to define one or more slots spaced apart along the longitudinal axis. A pocket is defined between adjacent slots of the slots. The trim storage system includes a fastener removably coupled to the pocket of the guide having an attachment portion configured to retain an item.
1 . A trim storage system for a vehicle, comprising:
a cover coupled to the vehicle and defining a guide slot that extends along a longitudinal axis;
a guide disposed on a first side of the cover, the guide being U-shaped and including a first flange opposite a second flange, the first flange defining one or more first ribs that extend from the first flange, the second flange defining one or more second ribs that extend toward a respective first rib of the first ribs to define one or more slots spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, and a pocket is defined between adjacent slots of the slots; and
a fastener removably coupled to the pocket of the guide having an attachment portion configured to retain an item and disposed on a second side of the cover, the fastener having a coupling portion extending through the guide slot of the cover,
wherein the coupling portion includes a first coupling tab and a second coupling tab, that are at least partially received within the pocket to removably couple the fastener to the pocket,
wherein the coupling portion includes a first arm spaced from a second arm,
wherein the first arm includes a first end and a second end and the second arm includes a third end and a fourth end,
wherein the second end of the first arm is coupled to the first coupling tab and the fourth end of the second arm is coupled to the second coupling tab,
wherein the first end of the first arm and the third end of the second arm are interconnected by a C-shaped spring part so that the first arm and the second arm are elastically deformable to removably couple the fastener to the pocket,
wherein, when the fastener is coupled to the pocket, the first arm presents, on the second side of the cover and opposite from the guide, a first concave depression, and the second arm presents, on the second side of the cover and opposite from the guide, a second concave depression by which the removable coupling of the fastener to the pocket is operable.
2 . The trim storage system of claim 1 , wherein the fastener extends from the C-shaped spring part.
3 . The trim storage system of claim 1 , wherein one first rib of the first ribs comprises a first guide rib that includes a first guide ramp, one second rib of the second ribs comprises a second guide rib that includes a second guide ramp, and the first guide ramp and the second guide ramp are defined proximate a keyed section of the guide slot, wherein the first guide ramp includes a first guide ramp surface, wherein a second guide ramp surface cooperates with the first guide ramp surface to define a compressing slope to compress the coupling portion as the fastener is moved into the guide from the keyed section of the guide slot.
4 . The trim storage system of claim 1 , wherein the first coupling tab includes a first contact surface that extends along a first axis that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the second coupling tab includes a second contact surface that extends along a second axis that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the first contact surface and the second contact surface are removably coupled to the pocket.
5 . The trim storage system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first coupling tab and the second coupling tab includes a first surface that contacts the cover and a second surface that contacts the guide.
6 . The trim storage system of claim 1 , wherein the attachment portion is a hook.
7 . The trim storage system of claim 1 , wherein the attachment portion is coupled to a cupholder.
8 . The trim storage system of claim 7 , wherein the C-shaped spring part is coupled to the cupholder.
9 . The trim storage system of claim 1 , wherein the attachment portion is coupled to a storage receptacle.
10 . The trim storage system of claim 9 , further comprising a second fastener having a second coupling portion and a second attachment portion, and the attachment portion and the second attachment portion are each coupled to the storage receptacle.
11 . The trim storage system of claim 1 , wherein one first rib of the first ribs comprises a first guide rib that includes a first guide ramp, one second rib of the second ribs comprises a second guide rib that includes a second guide ramp, and the first guide ramp and the second guide ramp are defined proximate a keyed section of the guide slot.
12 . A vehicle, comprising:
a trim panel; and
a trim storage system coupled to the trim panel, and the trim storage system comprises:
a cover coupled to the vehicle and defining a guide slot that extends along a longitudinal axis;
a guide disposed on a first side of the cover, the guide being U-shaped and including a first flange opposite a second flange, the first flange and the second flange coupled to the trim panel, the first flange defining a plurality of first ribs, each first rib of the plurality of first ribs extends from a first surface of the first flange toward the second flange, the second flange defining a plurality of second ribs, each second rib of the plurality of second ribs extends from a second surface of the second flange toward a respective first rib of the plurality of first ribs to define a plurality of slots spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, and a respective pocket of a plurality of pockets is defined by the first surface and the second surface between adjacent slots of the plurality of slots; and
a fastener including a coupling portion and an attachment portion, the coupling portion removably coupled to the pocket of the guide and the attachment portion configured to retain an item and disposed on a second side of the cover, wherein the coupling portion extends through the guide slot of the cover,
wherein the coupling portion includes a first coupling tab and a second coupling tab, that are at least partially received within the pocket to removably couple the fastener to the pocket,
wherein the coupling portion includes a first arm spaced from a second arm,
wherein the first arm includes a first end and a second end and the second arm includes a third end and a fourth end,
wherein the second end of the first arm is coupled to the first coupling tab and the fourth end of the second arm is coupled to the second coupling tab,
wherein the first end of the first arm and the third end of the second arm are interconnected by a C-shaped spring part so that the first arm and the second arm are elastically deformable to removably couple the fastener to the pocket,
wherein, when the fastener is coupled to the pocket, the first arm presents, on the second side of the cover and opposite from the guide, a first concave depression, and the second arm presents, on the second side of the cover and opposite from the guide, a second concave depression by which the removable coupling of the fastener to the pocket is operable.
13 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the fastener extends from the C-shaped spring part.
14 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein one first rib of the first ribs comprises a first guide rib that includes a first guide ramp, one second rib of the second ribs comprises a second guide rib that includes a second guide ramp, and the first guide ramp and the second guide ramp are defined proximate a keyed section of the guide slot, wherein the first guide ramp includes a first guide ramp surface, wherein a second guide ramp surface cooperates with the first guide ramp surface to define a compressing slope to compress the coupling portion as the fastener is moved into the guide from the keyed section of the guide slot.
15 . The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the first coupling tab includes a first contact surface that extends along a first axis that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the second coupling tab includes a second contact surface that extends along a second axis that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the first contact surface and the second contact surface are removably coupled to the pocket.
16 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein each of the first coupling tab and the second coupling tab includes a contact surface that contacts the cover and a second surface that contacts the guide.
17 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the attachment portion is a hook.
18 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the attachment portion is coupled to a cupholder or is coupled to a storage receptacle.
19 . An accessory for a vehicle, comprising:
a cover coupled to the vehicle and defining a guide slot that extends along a longitudinal axis;
a guide disposed on a first side of the cover, the guide being U-shaped and including a first flange opposite a second flange, the first flange defining one or more first ribs that extend from the first flange, the second flange defining one or more second ribs that extend toward a respective first rib of the first ribs to define one or more slots spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, and a pocket is defined between adjacent slots of the slots; and
a fastener having an attachment portion configured to be coupled to an item, the attachment portion disposed on a second side of the cover, the fastener having a coupling portion extending through the guide slot of the cover,
wherein the coupling portion is coupled to the attachment portion, the coupling portion including a body having a first coupling tab and a second coupling tab, the first coupling tab spaced apart from the second coupling tab by a distance, and the body is compressible to move the first coupling tab and the second coupling tab to removably couple the accessory to the vehicle,
wherein the first coupling tab and the second coupling tab are at least partially received within the pocket to removably couple the fastener to the pocket,
wherein the coupling portion includes a first arm spaced from a second arm,
wherein the first arm includes a first end and a second end and the second arm includes a third end and a fourth end,
wherein the second end of the first arm is coupled to the first coupling tab and the fourth end of the second arm is coupled to the second coupling tab,
wherein the first end of the first arm and the third end of the second arm are interconnected by a C-shaped spring part so that the first arm and the second arm are elastically deformable to removably couple the fastener to the pocket,
wherein, when the fastener is coupled to the pocket, the first arm presents, on the second side of the cover and opposite from the guide, a first concave depression, and the second arm presents, on the second side of the cover and opposite from the guide, a second concave depression by which the removable coupling of the fastener to the pocket is operable.
20 . The accessory of claim 19 , wherein one first rib of the first ribs comprises a first guide rib that includes a first guide ramp, one second rib of the second ribs comprises a second guide rib that includes a second guide ramp, and the first guide ramp and the second guide ramp are defined proximate a keyed section of the guide slot, wherein the first guide ramp includes a first guide ramp surface, wherein a second guide ramp surface cooperates with the first guide ramp surface to define a compressing slope to compress the coupling portion as the fastener is moved into the guide from the keyed section of the guide slot.