Energy absorbing vehicle trim molding

A vehicle body interior trim molding for attachment to a pillar curved metal shell structure for absorbing energy to protect occupants of the passenger compartment in case of an accident. The molding includes an elongated molding panel of generally concavo-convex curved section having an outwardly facing concave surface formed with a plurality of saber-shaped parallel transversely disposed ribs. Each rib has a proximal convex curved base edge, integrally molded to the concave surface, and a distal concave curved free edge positioned in juxtaposed conformity with an opposed convex curved surface of the pillar shell. The molding panel ribs cooperate with the shell for absorbing forces exerted thereon by an occupant striking the molding panel by initial deflection of the panel together with one for more of the ribs, and thereafter permanent deformation of the panel and one or more of the ribs if the force is sufficiently great.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to vehicle body moldings and, more particularly, to 
a plastic interior trim molding for absorbing energy to protect occupants 
of the vehicle passenger compartment in case of accident. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
It is known in the art to provide energy absorbing arrangements for the 
interior of vehicles to reduce injuries during an accident. U.S. Pat. No 
5,040,335, issued Aug. 20, 1991 to Grimes, discloses an inner door panel 
assembly for a vehicle which is adapted to be connected to an outer door 
panel to form a space therebetween for a window and a window regulator. 
The panel assembly is an all plastic composite assembly including a 
plurality of integrally formed hollow boxes thereon faced in the direction 
of the interior space to absorb side impact energy directed against the 
side of the outer door panel. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,100 issued Nov. 22, 1988 to Kleemann et al., discloses 
a vehicle side door the inside of which is provided with an integrated 
molded part including cross webs constructed to be variably deformable 
under energy dissipation in case of impact of a body of a passenger seated 
in the vehicle. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides an energy absorption molding in a vehicle 
body passenger compartment intended to absorb impact energy when an 
occupant impacts the molding during a collision. During a front or rear 
impact collision, the vehicle occupants may be thrust into the windshield, 
pillars, headliner, or dashboard. 
It is a feature of the present invention to provide a vehicle interior trim 
molding having an elongated concavo-convex panel defining an outwardly 
facing concave surface integrally formed with a plurality of transversely 
extending parallel saber-shaped ribs extending normally from the panel 
concave surface. Each rib has a proximal convex curved base edge, 
integrally molded with the panel concave surface, and a distal concave 
curved free edge positioned in juxtaposed conformity with an opposed 
convex curved surface of a vehicle pillar inner sheet metal shell. The 
panel ribs cooperate with the shell for absorbing forces exerted thereon 
by a vehicle occupant striking the panel by initial deflection of the 
panel together with deflection of one or more of the ribs, and thereafter 
permanent deformation of the panel and one or more of the ribs if the 
force is sufficiently great.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring now to the drawings in detail, numeral 10 generally indicates a 
vehicle body showing a portion of an interior passenger compartment 12 
including a front windshield 14 supported by front corner posts or 
A-pillars, the right hand one of which is shown at 15. As seen in FIG. 3, 
the A-pillar 15 is comprised of an inner concavo-convex curved sheet metal 
shell 16 and an outer concavo-convex curved sheet metal shell 17 which 
shells are connected at a leading joint 18 and a trailing joint 19, to 
form a closed hollow cross section. FIG. 3 shows the inner shell 16 formed 
with a forward flange portion 20 spot welded to an inner concave surface 
21 of the outer shell 17. The outer shell 17 is formed with an aft flange 
portion 22 spot welded to an outer surface 23 of the inner shell 16. It 
will be noted that the outer shell is formed with an offset forward reveal 
flange 24 which supports a right hand border of the windshield 14. 
With reference to FIG. 1, a right hand A-pillar 15 supports an interior 
trim molding of suitable elastomeric or plastic material such as synthetic 
resin, for example, indicated generally by numeral 30. As seen in FIGS. 2 
and 3, the molding 30 is of one-piece construction including an elongated 
concavo-convex curved panel section 32 having a generally forward facing 
free front edge 34. The molding panel 32 terminates in a generally 
outboard extending rear curvedly bent boarder portion 35 terminating in a 
generally outboard facing rear free edge 36. It will be noted that the 
rear border portion rear free edge 36 is in flush abutting contact with a 
convex surface 28 of the A-pillar inner shell 16. The front free edge 34 
is shown positioned in opposed spaced relation to the forward reveal 
flange 24 of the A-pillar outer shell 17. 
The molding panel, as seen in FIG. 2, defines an inner concave surface 37, 
providing an inwardly bowed recess 38, integrally molded with a plurality 
of substantially identical parallel ribs 40 separated by uniform spaces 
42. The series of ribs 40 are shown interrupted by a wide space 44 to 
accommodate an intermediate of one of three integral pillar attachment 
clips 46. 
As best seen in FIG. 3, each of the ribs 40 is generally saber-shaped in 
plan, including an outboard or distal transverse concave free edge 47 
which is positioned in matching juxtaposed relation to the A-pillar 
inwardly bowed convex surface 28. It will be observed that each rib 40 has 
a proximal convex base edge 48 integrally molded to the panel inner 
concave surface 37 of the trim panel 32 along its full transverse length. 
The base edge 48 is seen extending from radiused juncture 50 of rib 
forward edge 52 to the rib aft point 54, defined by the rear convergence 
juncture of the rib free edge 47 and the rib base edge 48. The rib forward 
edge 52 is spaced a predetermined dimension from the panel section free 
end 34. It will be noted that the rib forward edge 52 is sloped at an 
obtuse angle of the order of 165 degrees from the adjacent portion of the 
panel inner surface 37. 
With reference to FIG. 4A, it will be seen that the panel ribs 40 are 
adapted to cooperate with the body structure inner metal shell 16 to 
provide an energy absorbing composite arrangement for absorbing a force 
thereon by an occupant striking the molding panel 32. FIG. 4A shows a 
resultant force "F1" impacting the panel 32 substantially aligned in a 
plane defined by rib 40B. FIG. 4B shows the force "F1" causing the panel 
32 to bow inwardly with resultant permanent deformation or breaking of the 
frangible rib 40B caused by the deflection of its free edge 47 with the 
inner metal shell 16. The adjacent ribs 40A and 40C have undergone 
permanent deformation upon being deflected in opposite diverging 
directions caused by the angular engagement of their free ends 47 with the 
metal shell 16. 
Referring to FIG. 5A, a resultant force "F2" is shown impacting the panel 
32 substantially intermediate an adjacent pair of ribs 40B and 40C. 
Assuming the force "F2" equals force "F1", FIG. 5B shows the force "F2" 
causing the panel 32 to bow inwardly substantially the same amount as the 
panel of FIG. 4B by virtue of the adjacent pair of ribs 40B and 40C 
diverging laterally outwardly to a permanently deformed angular position. 
At the same time the next adjacent pair of ribs 40A and 40D are shown 
having diverged laterally outwardly to a permanently deformed lesser 
angular position because of their greater lateral distance from the 
resultant force "F2". 
Although the invention has been described by reference to a specific 
embodiment, it should be understood that numerous changes may be made 
within the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts described. 
Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the 
described embodiment, but that it have the full scope defined by the 
language of the following claims.