A module trim element having a body defining an upper bearing surface, at least one first covering element defining a first upper bearing surface, mounted rotating about a first axis of rotation between a retracted position and at least one deployed position, and at least one second covering element defining a second upper bearing surface and mounted rotating about a second axis of rotation between a retracted position and at least one deployed position. The first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are substantially parallel and extend at different heights relative to the body, with at least one of the upper bearing surfaces being a flexible surface and at least another one of the upper bearing surfaces being a rigid surface.

A vehicle interior panel and method of making a vehicle interior panel having a substrate that can be used in either a seam-based or seamless application. The vehicle interior panel includes a substrate having a seam ditch, a first retaining step adjacent a first side of the seam ditch, and a second retaining step adjacent a second side of the seam ditch. The vehicle interior panel includes a bridging support member situated in the seam ditch at least partially between the first retaining step and the second retaining step in the substrate. A decorative covering is situated over the bridging support member, the decorative covering having a continuously contoured seamless surface that extends over the seam ditch.

A vehicle interior panel and method of making a vehicle interior panel having a substrate that can be used in either a seam-based or seamless application. The vehicle interior panel includes a substrate having a seam ditch, a first retaining step adjacent a first side of the seam ditch, and a second retaining step adjacent a second side of the seam ditch. The vehicle interior panel includes a bridging support member situated in the seam ditch at least partially between the first retaining step and the second retaining step in the substrate. A decorative covering is situated over the bridging support member, the decorative covering having a continuously contoured seamless surface that extends over the seam ditch.

A vehicle door includes a door panel, a corner piece that is disposed at a door waist portion of the door panel and that includes a protrusion, a weather strip that is disposed to extend along an outer peripheral edge of the door panel and that has a hole portion with which the protrusion is engaged, and a door trim that is disposed to cover the corner piece. The protrusion has a hollow structure and includes an outer peripheral side wall, and an opening is provided in a part of the outer peripheral side wall.

An installation apparatus for mounting a garnish on a vehicle can include a jig, a tool and a controller. The jig can be placed on a predetermined portion of the flange and in a predetermined orientation relative to the flange. The jig can orient the tool in a predetermined orientation relative to the garnish when the jig is placed on the vehicle and the garnish is positioned adjacent to the vehicle. The controller can be configured to indicate an install complete condition based on force data and tool proximity data, where the force data is indicative of a force applied by the tool onto the garnish while the tool installs the garnish onto the first portion, and the tool proximity data is indicative of a proximity of the tool relative to a portion of the vehicle after the tool mounts the garnish onto the vehicle.

A multiple-part surface covering for the cladding of support structures includes at least two surface covering parts, respective portion of a first and second surface covering parts, and a cover. The at least two surface covering parts are sewn to one another by way of a connecting seam. The respective portion of a first surface covering part and a respective portion of a second surface covering part form a seam overhang. The cover is sewn to the two surface covering parts by way of the connecting seam and covers the seam overhang. An edge strip core is arranged between the cover and the seam overhang.

A method of applying stitching to an interior component is provided herein. The interior component having only a single layer of a substrate layer. The method including the steps of: a) penetrating substrate layer with an awl to form a piercing therethrough; b) retracting the awl from the substrate layer; c) inserting a needle of a sewing head through the piercing through the substrate layer to grasp a thread positioned on a show surface of the outer skin layer; d) pulling the thread through the substrate layer; e) looping the thread with a previous stitch passed through the substrate layer; f) advancing the sewing head to another position with respect to the interior component, wherein a backside of the substrate layer is free of obstructions; and g) repeating steps a-f until a predetermined amount of stitches are applied to the interior component.

A detachable interior trim panel assembly for a vehicle is provided. The assembly includes an interior trim panel that has an inside surface, an outside surface, and a trim panel perimeter. The interior trim panel includes at least one finger and at least one spring snap that are positioned along the trim panel perimeter. The at least one finger and the at least one spring snap are configured to detachably retain the interior trim panel on a trim panel mounting location of the vehicle. The at least one finger extends outwardly from the trim panel perimeter and is sized to be received in at least one finger receptacle positioned along the trim panel mounting location and the at least one spring snap includes a moveable leg that is configured to engage at least one spring snap receptacle that is also positioned along the trim panel mounting location.

The present disclosure provides a trim panel assembly of a vehicle. The trim panel assembly includes a first member having a first surface and a second surface, and including a first assembling area, a first groove positioned on the first surface along a peripheral of the first assembling area, and a plurality of first through-holes positioned in the first groove and spaced apart from each other; and a second member including a first main body corresponding to the first assembling area, and a plurality of leg portions extending from the first main body. The plurality of the first leg portions correspond to the plurality of the first through-holes, respectively, and the plurality of the first leg portions pass through corresponding a plurality of the first through-holes, extend onto and connect to the second surface of the first member.

A method of applying stitching to an interior component having an outer skin layer, a substrate layer and an intermediary layer located between the outer skin layer and the substrate layer is provided herein. The method including the steps of: a) penetrating the interior component to form a piercing therethrough; b) retracting the awl from the interior component; c) inserting a needle of a robotic sewing head through the piercing to grasp a thread; d) pulling the thread through the interior component; e) looping the thread with a previous stitch passed through the component; f) advancing the robotic sewing head to another position with respect to the interior component, wherein a backside of the substrate layer is free of obstructions; and g) repeating steps a-f until a predetermined amount of stitches are applied to the interior component.