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An automotive door assembly comprises a door frame, an interior trim panel removably secured to the door frame by a plurality of connecting members, and one or more door accessories disposed between the door frame and the interior trim panel and connected to the door frame and interior trim panel by

An automotive door assembly comprises a door frame, an interior trim panel removably secured to the door frame by a plurality of connecting members, and one or more door accessories disposed between the door frame and the interior trim panel and connected to the door frame and interior trim panel by the connecting members. The connecting members include first engagement portions that fixedly attach the door accessories to the door frame, and second engagement portions that releasably attach the door frame and door accessories to the trim panel. The door accessories are initially supported on the interior trim panel for assembly onto the door frame when the trim panel is installed on the door frame. Thereafter, the door accessories remain fixed to the door frame when the trim panel is removed.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An automotive door assembly, comprising: a door frame; an interior trim panel selectively removably secured to said door frame to define a space therebetween; a plurality of connecting members disposed between said door frame and said interior trim panel, each said connecting

What is claimed is: 1. An automotive door assembly, comprising: a door frame; an interior trim panel selectively removably secured to said door frame to define a space therebetween; a plurality of connecting members disposed between said door frame and said interior trim panel, each said connecting member including a first engagement portion fixedly attached to said door frame, and a second engagement portion selectively releasably attached to said interior trim panel; and a door accessory disposed between said door frame and said interior trim panel, said door accessory fixedly attached to said door frame by said first engagement portion of at least one of said connecting members, and selectively releasably coupled to said interior trim panel by said second engagement portion of said at least one connecting member. 2. The automotive door assembly of claim 1, wherein said door accessory is selected from one of an audio speaker, a door lock, a door lock actuator, a window actuator, a door release mechanism, and a window regulator. 3. The automotive door assembly of claim 1, wherein said first engagement portion of said connecting member comprises resilient fingers that firmly engage said door frame, and said second engagement portion comprises spaced, resilient discs in a tapered arrangement. 4. The automotive door assembly of claim 1, wherein said first engagement portion of said connecting member comprises outwardly extending resilient fingers engaging said door frame, and said second engagement portion comprises toggle members with first and second hingedly connected elongate sections extending radially outward to engage the interior trim panel. 5. An automotive trim assembly, comprising: an interior door trim panel; a door accessory supported on said interior door trim panel; and a plurality of connecting members coupling said door accessory to said interior door trim panel, each said connecting member including a first engagement portion fixedly attached to said door accessory, and a second engagement portion selectively releasably attached to said interior trim panel. 6. The automotive trim assembly of claim 5, wherein said connecting members are arranged on said interior door trim panel to fixedly attach said door accessory to an automotive door frame with said first engagement portions when said interior door trim panel is engaged with the door frame, and to release said interior door trim panel from the door frame while retaining said door accessory on the door frame when said interior door trim panel is moved to separate said interior door trim panel from the door frame. 7. The automotive trim assembly of claim 5, wherein said door accessory is selected from one of an audio speaker, a door lock, a door lock actuator, a window actuator, a door release mechanism, and a window regulator. 8. The automotive trim assembly of claim 5, wherein said first engagement portion of said connecting member comprises outwardly extending resilient fingers engaging said door frame, and said second engagement portion comprises spaced, resilient discs in a tapered arrangement. 9. The automotive trim assembly of claim 5, wherein said first engagement portion of said connecting member comprises outwardly extending resilient fingers engaging said door frame, and said second engagement portion comprises toggle members with first and second hingedly connected elongate sections extending radially outwardly to engage the interior trim panel. 10. A method of assembling an automotive door, comprising: positioning a door accessory on an interior door trim panel; securing the door accessory to the interior door trim panel with a connecting member having a first engagement portion fixedly engaging the door accessory and a second engagement portion releasably engaging the interior door trim panel; and coupling the interior door trim panel to a door frame with the first engagement portion of the connecting member such that the door accessory is fixedly secured to the door frame and the interior door trim panel is selectively releasably secured to the door frame. 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: separating the interior door trim panel from the door frame by releasing the interior door trim panel from the second engagement portion of the connecting member while retaining the door accessory on the door frame with the first engagement portion of the connecting member. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: securing the door accessory to the door frame with an additional fastener. 13. The method of claim 10 wherein the first engagement portion comprises outwardly extending resilient fingers and the second engagement portion comprises spaced, resilient discs in a tapered arrangement, and wherein: securing the door accessory to the interior door trim panel includes engaging the resilient fingers of the connecting member with the door accessory and engaging the resilient discs of the connecting member with the interior trim panel; and coupling the interior door trim panel to a door frame includes engaging the resilient fingers of the connecting member with the door frame. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the door frame includes apertures formed therethrough, and engaging the resilient fingers of the connecting member with the door frame comprises: inwardly compressing the resilient fingers through an aperture in the door frame; and expanding the resilient fingers outwardly of the aperture to engage the door frame. 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the first engagement portion comprises outwardly extending resilient fingers and the second engagement portion comprises toggle members with first and second hingedly connected elongate sections extending radially outward, and wherein: securing the door accessory to the interior door trim panel includes engaging the resilient fingers of the first engagement portion with the door accessory and engaging the toggle members of the second engagement portion with the interior trim panel; and coupling the interior door trim panel to a door frame includes engaging the resilient fingers of the first engagement portion with the door frame.