Interior parts for a vehicle

An interior part for a vehicle including a first rib(s) extending on the side that faces a vehicle body at a time of mounting the interior part to the vehicle body, and a second rib(s) extending to cross the first rib, in which an inserting portion(s) that is inserted into an opening(s) provided in the vehicle body is formed at portion(s) where the first rib and the second rib cross each other and projects toward the vehicle body, and this inserting portion(s) is provided with a third rib(s) that extends toward the vehicle body from the first rib and a fourth rib(s) that extends toward the vehicle body from the second rib.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to interior parts for a vehicle, which have a shock absorber equipped with a rib structure.

2. Description of the Related Art

A vehicle comes with various safety measures for passengers. In one safety measure as shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, for example, a pillar garnish31, which is an interior part of a vehicle that covers a front pillar10of the vehicle body, is provided with a shock absorber60that has a rib structure.

The pillar garnish31is an elongated member bulging toward a passenger compartment22at its short-width directional cross section, and is attached to the front pillar10by clips34. As shown inFIG. 7, the shock absorber60is provided in space D defined between the pillar garnish31and the front pillar10. The shock absorber60includes a plurality of ribs62formed on the bottom of the pillar garnish31, and fulfills FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) 201 (hereinafter, called “Standard 201”).

The shock absorber60with a rib structure takes various modes, such as the ribs62combined like a lattice as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-310009, and the ribs62extending in the short-width direction of the pillar garnish31and aligned at intervals therebetween in the longitudinal direction as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-318543.

When an impact caused by an accident or the like is applied to the pillar garnish31, the edges of the ribs62of the shock absorber60which face the front pillar10abut on the front pillar10and are supported thereby. At this time, impact force is further applied to the ribs62with the edges being supported by the front pillar10, so that the ribs62are collapsed to absorb the impact. In other words, the ribs62should be configured so that the edge of each rib62is supported at the front pillar10even when an impact is applied to the hit point of the pillar garnish31, which is defined by the Standard 201, from any direction defined by the Standard 201.

As another safety measure, as shown inFIG. 6or7, an airbag unit70which protects the head of a passenger may be installed at a portion extending from the front pillar10to a roof side16of the vehicle body as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-162201. The airbag unit70includes an airbag72accommodated in space D defined in the bottom of the pillar garnish31and a roof side garnish18or a roof lining20, and an inflator (not shown) disposed at a lower portion of the front pillar10. When a shock sensor detects an impact of a predetermined value or greater, the inflator is activated and the airbag72presses the interior part of the vehicle, such as the pillar garnish31, deforming the interior part toward the passenger compartment22. The airbag72is inflated to come out from the clearance between the interior part and the vehicle body by the deformation, and unfolded in the passenger compartment22, covering the side window24.

As shown inFIG. 7, the pillar garnish31provided with the shock absorber60that has a rib structure secures space for accommodating the airbag72between the front pillar10and the edges of the ribs62by way of lowering the height of the ribs62. In this case, when an impact is applied to the hit point of the pillar garnish31, which is defined by the Standard 201, in the short-width direction of the pillar garnish31, the ribs62are not easily supported by the front pillar10. In other words, the ribs62cannot receive the impact so that the entire pillar garnish31is displaced from the front pillar10as indicated by the two-dot chain lines inFIG. 7, disabling sufficient shock absorption.

The pillar garnish31is attached to the front pillar10by the clips34provided apart from each other on the inner side of the pillar garnish31in the longitudinal direction.

Another pillar garnish structure is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-162201 andFIG. 8in which the engagement projections36provided on the bottom of the pillar garnish31are inserted into the engagement holes12provided in the front pillar10to prevent the pillar garnish31from coming off when the airbag is unfolded.

When the pillar garnish31receives impact in its short-width direction, the entire pillar garnish31is displaced in the short-width direction. Then, stress is concentrated on the engaging portions of the clips34and the engagement projections36with the front pillar10, or the engagement-projections of the pillar garnish31. However, because the clips34and the engagement projections36are not designed to take the force that acts in the short-width direction of the pillar garnish31into account, the clips34and the engagement projections36tend to be easily deformed or broken, and thus they do not contribute greatly to shock absorption.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an interior part for a vehicle which overcomes the inherent problem of the existing interior parts for a vehicle and further provide interior parts for a vehicle that is excellent in shock absorption.

The interior part for a vehicle according to the present invention is provided with an inserting portion, so that an excellent shock absorbing performance is demonstrated even when impact force is applied to the interior part from any direction where shock absorption is needed.

More specifically, the above object is accomplished by a unique structure of the present invention for an interior part for a vehicle that includes a first rib(s) extending on the side that faces a vehicle body at a time of mounting the interior part to the vehicle body, and a second rib(s) extending to cross the first rib, and in this structure:an inserting portion(s) that is inserted into an opening(s) provided in the vehicle body is formed at portion(s) where the first rib and the second rib cross each other and projects toward the vehicle body, andthe inserting portion(s) is provided with a third rib(s) that extends toward the vehicle body from the first rib and a fourth rib(s) that extends toward the vehicle body from the second rib.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An interior part for a vehicle according to the present invention will now be described below referring to the accompanying drawings. To avoid-redundant descriptions, the same reference numerals are given to those elements which are the same as the corresponding elements of the front pillar and the airbag unit shown inFIGS. 6 to 8. As an interior part for a vehicle, a pillar garnish will be described below as an example; however, it is not restrictive. The interior part of the present invention has an outer side, it is the side that faces the passenger compartment at the time that the interior part is mounted to a vehicle body, and in the present invention, the “inner side” is the side that faces the vehicle body. Further, front and rear or up and down of the pillar garnish are the directions based on the state that the pillar garnish is attached to the front pillar of a vehicle.

As shown in the bottom view ofFIG. 1, a pillar garnish30or an interior part for a vehicle of this invention is a molded member made of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene, and a shock absorber40is molded integrally at the same time as the molding of the pillar garnish30is performed. As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, in this pillar garnish30, its short-width directional cross section is curved so that the pillar garnish30has a shape of an elongated gutter capable of covering a front pillar10. As shown inFIG. 1, clip bases32where clips34are respectively disposed are integrally formed on the inner side of the pillar garnish30so as to be apart from each other in the longitudinal direction. In the shown embodiment, the clip bases32,32are formed at two locations in correspondence to the upper position and the middle position of the pillar garnish30when the pillar garnish30is attached to the front pillar10. The shock absorber40is provided between the upper clip base32and lower clip base32. The clip base32and the clip34may be formed integral with each other.

The shock absorber40includes a first rib42extending on the inner side of the pillar garnish30, and second ribs44extending to cross the first rib42. Inserting portions46are formed integrally at portions where the first rib42and the second ribs44cross each other in a cross shape. The first rib42and each second rib44are thin plate-like members formed integrally on the bottom of the pillar garnish30. The thickness of each one of the ribs is set within a range of, for example, 0.5 mm to 2 mm according to the required shock absorbing performance.

The first rib42extends in the longitudinal direction of the pillar garnish30and is provided continuously between the upper clip base32and lower clip base32. Each second rib44extends orthogonal to the first rib42in the short-width direction of the pillar garnish30. The first rib42is provided approximately in the center of the pillar garnish30in the short-width direction. The dimension of the first rib42projecting from the bottom of the pillar garnish30is set equal to or shorter than the dimension from the mount position of the pillar garnish30to the front pillar10. The first rib42and the second rib44in the embodiment are provided at right angles or approximately at right angles with respect to the bottom of the pillar garnish30.

A plurality of second ribs44are disposed in parallel to one another at intervals therebetween in the longitudinal direction of the pillar garnish30. The second ribs44are basically provided so as to extend between both side portions30a,30bof the pillar garnish30and to be orthogonal to the first rib42to form a cross shape. Some ribs44can be provided so as to extend between the first rib42and one side portion30aof the pillar garnish30and to be orthogonal to the first rib42in a T shape as shown inFIG. 1.

As best seen fromFIG. 3, some or all of the second ribs44formed between the first rib42and the rear side portion30a(that is a portion positioned on the rear side of the vehicle when the pillar garnish30is attached to the front pillar10) of the pillar garnish30are formed in such a way that the height of the ribs44from the bottom of the pillar garnish30is lower than the first rib42. Accordingly, a space for accommodating an airbag72and an airbag support member74can be secured between the first rib42and the rear side portion30aof the pillar garnish30.

Furthermore, some or all of the second ribs44formed between the first rib42and the front side portion30b(that is a portion positioned on the front side of the vehicle when the pillar garnish30is attached to the front pillar10) of the pillar garnish30are likewise formed in such a way that the height of the ribs44from the bottom of the pillar garnish30is lower than the first rib42. Accordingly, a space for accommodating a piping system76, such as electric wires and pipes, can be secured between the first rib42and the front side portion30bof the pillar garnish30.

The cross shape and the T shape at the intersections of the first rib42and the second ribs44are the shapes when the pillar garnish30provided with the shock absorber40is seen from the inner side.

Each inserting portion46is provided at an intersection where the first rib42and the second rib44are orthogonal in a cross shape. As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the inserting portion46is formed to project toward the front pillar10from the intersection of the first rib42and the second rib44, and it is formed so as to be integral with the first rib42and second rib44. The inserting portion46in the embodiment has a cross shape formed by third ribs48, which are provided to extend toward the front pillar10from the first rib42, and fourth ribs50, which are provided to extend toward the front pillar10from the second ribs44. One or a plurality of inserting portions46are provided at a proper position or proper positions of the cross-shaped intersection of the first and second ribs42and44. In the shown embodiment, two inserting portions46are provided between the upper clip base32and lower clip base32. The cross shape formed by the third and fourth ribs48and50extends in the same direction as the cross shape formed by the first and second ribs42and44.

Further, the inserting portion46is formed so that the intersection of the first rib42and the second rib44projects within a dimensional range needed for the required shock absorbing performance. Each third rib48extends from the first rib42within a range of about 7 mm with the intersection of the first and second ribs42and44in between. Each fourth rib50extends from each second rib44within a range of about 7 mm with the intersection of the first and second ribs42and44in between. Though, in the shown embodiment, the thickness of the third rib48is set equal to the thickness of the first rib42, and the thickness of the fourth rib50is set equal to the thickness of the second rib44. But those thicknesses may be changed.

The amount of projection of the inserting portion46from the edge of the first rib42is set to a dimension that is large enough for the projecting portion to be inserted into an opening14provided in the front pillar10when the pillar garnish30is attached to the front pillar10. The shapes of both side portions of the third rib48may take any one of (i) a relation in which the both side portions are parallel to each other, (ii) an inclined relation in which they come closer to each other toward the distal ends, and (iii) a combination of those relations (i) and (ii). Likewise, the shapes of both side portions of the fourth rib50may take any one of (i) a relation in which the both side portions are parallel to each other, (ii) an inclined relation in which they come closer to each other toward the distal ends, and (iii) a combination of those relations (i) and (ii). The corner portions of the distal ends of the third rib48and the fourth rib50may be chamfered like an arc shape or a tapered shape.

The front pillar10is provided with engagement holes (not shown) formed respectively at a position corresponding to each clip bases32of the pillar garnish30so that the clips34disposed on the clip bases32are inserted into the engagement holes, respectively. Each one of the openings14provided in the front pillar10is for inserting therein the associated inserting portion46, and it is provided at a position corresponding to each inserting portion46of the shock absorber40. The opening14is circular shape and is large enough so that the inserting portion46is inserted tightly. The size of the each engagement hole is set smaller than the size of the maximum expanding portion of the clip34, so that the clip34when inserted is engaged with the engagement hole and not easily pulled out therefrom.

The pillar garnish30with the structure described above is secured when each clip34placed on the clip base32is inserted in and engaged with the corresponding engagement hole of the front pillar10after each inserting portion46is inserted and positioned in the associated opening14(seeFIG. 2). The airbag72or the airbag support member74is accommodated on the rear side of the first rib42so that it is in the space that is defined between a portion of the second rib44set lower than the first rib42and the front pillar10when the pillar garnish30is attached to the front pillar10. The piping system76is accommodated in the space on the front side of the first rib42.

Next, the action of the pillar garnish30according to the shown embodiment will be described below.

If an impact is applied to the pillar garnish30, which is attached to the front pillar10, in a direction toward (outward) the front pillar10from a passenger compartment22side as indicated by an arrow A inFIG. 2, the impact force acts in a direction substantially identical to the upright direction of the first rib42and second rib44and in the projecting direction of the inserting portion46. At this time, the pillar garnish30deforms toward the front pillar10and, the edges of the first rib42and second rib44that face the front pillar10abut on the front pillar10, so that the first rib42and second rib44are supported by the front pillar10. Then, the first rib42and second rib44are collapsed, so that the impact is absorbed. Because the first rib42extends continuously in the longitudinal direction of the pillar garnish30, a stable shock absorbing performance is demonstrated.

By way of contrast, if an impact is applied to the rear side portion30aof the pillar garnish30in a direction toward a front window26from the passenger compartment22which is the frontward in the short-width direction as indicated by an arrow B inFIG. 2, the impact force acts in a direction intersecting the projecting direction of the inserting portion46. When the ribs are not supported by the front pillar10so that the pillar garnish30is entirely displaced, the impact applied to the rear side portion30aof the pillar garnish30is not absorbed effectively as mentioned in the foregoing description regarding the related art. However, in the shock absorber40of the present invention, since the inserting portion46is inserted in the opening14of the front pillar10, the inserting portion46engages upon the impact the opening periphery of the opening14, and the pillar garnish30is prevented from being displaced as a whole. More specifically, in the shock absorber40of the present invention, the force, which is applied to the rear side portion30aof the pillar garnish30with the inserting portion46being engaged with the opening14, acts on the first rib42to which the third rib48is coupled to and on the second rib44to which the fourth rib50is coupled to. In the pillar garnish30, therefore, the third rib48and the fourth rib50deform to absorb the impact, and the first rib42and the second rib44also deform to absorb the impact; and as a result, effective shock absorption is ensured. Furthermore, in the pillar garnish30, the inserting portion46inserted into the opening14of the front pillar10receives the impact applied to the rear side portion30aof the pillar garnish30, so that the front portion of the fourth rib50of the inserting portion46eats into the opening periphery of the opening14, and thus the inserting portion46is prevented from coming off. This can restrain the pillar garnish30from being displaced inward or toward the passenger compartment22from the front pillar10.

As mentioned above, the second rib44is provided with a portion where the rib height from the bottom of the pillar garnish30is set lower to define a space for accommodating the airbag72, the airbag support member74, the piping system76or the like. More specifically, when an impact is applied to the pillar garnish30from the rear side portion30a,the edge of the second rib44which faces the front pillar10is not supported by the front pillar10. Therefore, the shock absorbing performance of the second rib44itself is not sufficient for the impact applied from the rear side portion30aof the pillar garnish30. In the pillar garnish30according to the embodiment, however, the inserting portion46is engaged with the opening14and supported by the front pillar10when a force is applied to the front pillar10in a direction intersecting the projecting direction of the inserting portion46; as a result, the pillar garnish30can sustain the impact. Even if there are fewer second ribs44or the dimensions thereof are small, therefore, the shock absorbing performance of the shock absorber40can be supplemented by the inserting portion46. The shock absorber40can therefore demonstrate, as a whole, adequate shock absorbing performance with respect to the impact applied from the rear side portion30aof the pillar garnish30.

The inserting portion46of the shock absorber40is formed not independently of the first rib42and the second ribs44but integrally formed with the intersections of the first rib42and the second ribs44and projects toward the front pillar10. In addition, the third rib48and the fourth rib50constituting the inserting portion46are coupled to each other in a cross shape and configured to respectively extend from the first rib42and the second rib44, and all the ribs are in a continual fashion. In other words, since each rib supports another rib, the shock absorbing performance of the shock absorber40is higher as compared with the structure in which the inserting portions46are provided individually.

The force that acts on the inserted portion of the inserting portion46inserted into the opening14when the impact is applied to the rear side portion30aof the pillar garnish30is distributed to the first rib42and second rib44that are continuous to the third rib48and the fourth rib50. This makes the inserting portion46hard to be broken at the inserted portion and improves the shock absorbing performance. Further, the provision of the inserting portion46at the cross-shaped intersection of the first and second ribs42and44can allow the first rib42and the second rib44to deform when an impact is applied to the rear side portion30aof the pillar garnish30, so that stable shock absorbing performance can be provided.

As described above, the first rib42, the second rib44and the inserting portion46(third rib48, fourth rib50) of the shock absorber40are integrally formed and continuous to one another. More specifically, even when an outward impact or frontward impact is applied to the pillar garnish30, stress is applied to the first rib42, the second rib44and the inserting portion46, so that the first rib42, the second rib44and the inserting portion46each deforms to absorb the impact. The pillar garnish30according to the embodiment, as a result, shows a required shock absorbing performance for the hit point of the pillar garnish30, which is defined by the Standard 201, in any directions demanded by the Standard 201.

As is apparent from the above, with the presence of the inserting portion46, the shock absorber40according to the present invention as a whole provides a required shock absorbing performance against the impact applied to the pillar garnish30even when the second ribs44are set lower. In other words, the pillar garnish30that includes the shock absorber40of the present invention can share the pillar garnish30not only in a type provided with the airbag72but also in a type not provided with the airbag72. This makes it possible to reduce the kinds of parts, contributing to the cost reduction.

The above-described embodiment can be modified as follows.

(1) After the shock absorber is molded separately from the pillar garnish, the shock absorber may be connected to the pillar garnish by ultrasonic welding, an adhesive or the like. The separate molding of the shock absorber from the pillar garnish provides an advantage that the degree of freedom of the shape of the shock absorber is increased.

(2) The shock absorber may be provided in a roof side garnish or a roof lining that are the interior parts of a vehicle disposed on the roof side of a vehicle body, or in any other interior part of a vehicle which a passenger is likely to make physical contact with.

(3) While the first rib and the second rib according to the embodiment are configured to be provided upright at set positions from the bottom at right angles or approximately right angles, the upright direction of the ribs may be set in the direction in which an impact is applied to the interior part of a vehicle. In this case, there is an advantage that each rib demonstrates more effective shock absorbing performance.

(4) The cross shape in the present invention is not limited to a structure in which the first rib and the second rib are orthogonal, and it also includes a structure in which the first rib and the second rib cross each other obliquely.

(5) Although the opening formed in the front pillar is circular in the shown embodiment, the opening may take any other shape, such as a square shape, as long as the inserting portion can be inserted.

(6) Although the height of the second rib is set lower than the height of the first rib in the shown embodiment, the heights of the first rib42and the second rib may be set identical to each other.

(7) The inserting portion is provided at the cross-shaped intersection of the first rib and the second rib in the embodiment described above. The inserting portion may, however, be provided at a Y-shaped intersection where one of the first rib and the second rib is bent and the other is connected to this bent portion. Further, the inserting portion may be provided at a portion where the first rib and the second rib intersect each other in an L shape, a T shape and so on.

(8) Another structure is also applicable wherein a cushion member, such as a non-woven cloth or resin cap, is provided at the inserting portion, so that when the inserting portion is inserted into the opening14of a vehicle body, the inserting portion come in contact with the inside edge of the opening via the cushion member. The provision of the cushion member at the inserting portion can prevent the inserting portion inserted into the opening from directly contacting the inside edge of the opening14in the vehicle body and suppress the occurrence of noise caused by vibration or the like while the vehicle is running.

(9) Although the shock absorber according to the embodiment has a cross-shaped intersection formed by the first rib and the second rib, as shown inFIG. 4, a shock absorber80may have a modified shape in which the corner portion formed by the first rib42and the second rib44is buried in an arc shape. In the shock absorber80according to this modification, an inserting portion82is formed at an intersection of the first rib42and the second rib44; and at this intersection, the inserting portion82can be formed with (1) a cylindrical portion projecting toward the front pillar (vehicle body)10from the first rib42and the second rib44, (2) a third rib48which is continuous to the first rib42and extending along the cylindrical portion, and (3) a fourth rib50which is continuous to the second rib44and extending along the cylindrical portion. The third ribs48may be configured so that it is linked between the adjoining inserting portions82and82and formed integrally.

(10) In the above-described embodiment, the first rib extends in the longitudinal (lengthwise) direction of the pillar garnish and the second rib extends in the width direction of the pillar garnish. However, the first rib42may extend in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the pillar garnish30as in a shock absorber90according to another modification shown inFIG. 5. In this shock absorber90, the second rib44extends in a direction that the second rib intersects the first rib42. The shock absorber90in another modification may take a structure that the end portion of the first rib42is connected to the end portion of the second rib44, so that the first ribs42and the second ribs44are continuous in a polygonal line shape.