Trim component having energy absorbing feature

Abstract: A trim component (10) for mounting to a structural member (22) of an automotive vehicle including a body (30) fixedly mounted to a structural member (22), the body including a plurality of energy absorbing ribs (38,40,42,43) spaced relative to one another along the body (30) and disposed adjacent to the structural member (22) when the trim component (10) is mounted thereto. The energy absorbing ribs (38,40,42,43) include a series of fingers extending from the body and spaced relative to one another. The fingers (38,40,42,43) deflect upon contact with the structural member (22) in response to a force acting on the body (30) to absorb and dissipate the energy generated by the force.

Description: The present invention relates generally to trim components and, more specifically, to automotive trim components having energy absorbing features. Trim components are used in automotive applications to present an aesthetically pleasing appearance in the interior of the vehicle, to smooth contours and to cover structural load bearing components of the vehicle. For example, trim components are employed for these purposes in connection with the A, B, C and D pillars of the vehicle, the side rails as well as the roof rails or the front and rear headers. In addition to the aesthetic purposes of such trim components, they also absorb energy in the event of an impact or collision. Thus, there is a need in the art for trim components having enhanced energy absorbing capabilities which also meet the design objectives identified above without sacrificing the interior space of the vehicle. In DE-A-3 742 233 there is described a trim component for mounting to a structural member of an automotive vehicle. The trim component comprises a body fixed to the structural member and including a plurality of energy absorbing ribs. The ribs are spaced relative to one another along the body and are disposed adjacent to the structural member when the trim component is mounted to the structural member. According to the present invention, there is provided a trim component for mounting to a structural member of an automotive vehicle, said trim component comprising; a body fixedly mounted to a structural member, said body including a plurality of energy absorbing ribs spaced relative to one another along said body and disposed adjacent to the structural member when said trim component is mounted thereto; characterised in that; the energy absorbing ribs additionally include at least one finger extending in cantilevered fashion from said ribs and deflecting upon contact with the structural member in response to a force acting on said body to absorb and dissipate the energy generated by the force. The present invention may be employed in connection with all interior trim components and especially in connection with upper trim components such a the A, B, C and D pillars as well as side and roof rails. Furthermore, the present invention meets those objectives without sacrificing the interior space of the vehicle. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an automotive vehicle; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the trim component of the present invention illustrating the inner face thereof; Figure 3 is a partial perspective view illustrating the trim component of the present invention mounted to a structural member in cross-section; Figure 4 is a partial perspective view illustrating the trim component of the present invention mounted to a structural member in cross-section during the course of an impact; Figure 5 is a partial perspective view illustrating the trim component of the present invention mounted to a structural member in cross-section; and Figure 6 is a partial perspective view illustrating the trim component of the present invention mounted to a structural member in cross-section during the course of an impact. The present invention is directed toward an energy absorbing trim component, generally shown at 10 in Figure 2. Trim components 10 are often employed in connection with structural components on automotive vehicles, one example of which is illustrated at 12 in Figure 1. The structural components often associated with interior trim components may include A, B, C and D pillars shown at 14, 16, 18 and 20, respectively in Figure 1 as well as side and roof rails (not shown). It will be appreciated, however, that the trim component 10 of the present invention may be employed at many locations in a vehicle to present an aesthetically pleasing appearance in the interior of the vehicle, to smooth contours and to cover structural load bearing components of the vehicle. For illustration purposes, in Figures 3 through 6, the trim component 10 of the present invention is shown mounted to a structural, load bearing member 22 of the vehicle 12. The load bearing member 22 may be any of the pillars or side and roof rails mentioned above. Such structural load bearing members are typically fabricated from sheet metal components. As shown in Figures 3 through 6, the structural load bearing members 22 may include a central elongated planar member 24 with a pair of side members 26 extending therefrom. The side members 26 may terminate in peripheral flanges 28. However, it should be appreciated that the structural member 22 of the vehicle 12 may take on any configuration dictated by the application. Similarly, the trim component 10 of the present invention is configured in a manner to properly cover the structural member 22 in an aesthetically pleasing, efficient manner and therefore may also take many shapes. More specifically and referring now to Figure 2, the trim component 10 includes a body, generally indicated at 30. The body 30 is adapted to be fixedly mounted to the structural member 22 using any suitable means. Such means may include the clips 23 located near the top and bottom of the body 30 as illustrated in Figure 2. The body 30 also includes a plurality of energy absorbing ribs, generally indicated at 32, spaced relative to one another along the body 30 and disposed adjacent to the structural member 22 when the trim component 10 is mounted thereto. The body 30 conforms to the structural member 22 to be covered by the trim component 10 and in the example shown here is substantially U-shaped in cross-section and includes a pair of edges 34 and a substantially planar expanse 36 extending between the pair of edges 34. The pair of edges 34 extend substantially perpendicular to the planar expanse 36 and toward the structural member 22 of the vehicle. However, it should be appreciated that the edges 34 may extend at any angle relative to the planar expanse 36 necessary to carry out the purpose of the trim component 10. The body 30 is a one piece, plastic, injection moulded part having a plurality of energy absorbing ribs 32 moulded integrally thereto. The ribs 32 may be strategically placed on the internal surface of the planar expanse 36 and sides 34 of the body, facing the structural member 22. In the event of an impact, energy may be effectively absorbed as discussed in greater detail below. The side of the body 30 opposite the structural member 22 may also be covered or wrapped in vinyl, cloth, leather or any other material suitable for the purpose. The energy absorbing ribs 32 include at least one finger extending in cantilevered fashion from the body 30. The ribs 32 deflect upon contact with the structural member 22 in response to a force acting on the body 30 to absorb and dissipate the energy generated by the force. More specifically, the energy absorbing ribs 32 include a series of flexible plastic fingers 38, 40, 42, disposed parallel relative to one another and spaced relative to one another. The fingers 38, 40, 42 deflect one after another in response to a force acting on the body 30. The fingers include a primary member 38 located directly adjacent the structural component 22, a secondary member 40 spaced from the primary member 38 and a third member 42 also spaced from the secondary member 40 such that the fingers 38, 40, 42 deflect in series in response to a force acting on the body. It should be appreciated that the ribs may include additional fingers 43 depending on space requirements and other considerations. As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 the series of fingers 38, 40, 42, 43 may extend perpendicular to the pair of edges 34 and substantially parallel to the planar expanse 36 of the body. Alternatively, and as shown in Figures 2 and 5, the series of fingers 38, 40, 42, 43 may also extend perpendicular to the planar expanse 36 and substantially parallel to the pair of edges 34. In addition, it is not uncommon for a secondary structural member, generally indicated at 44 in Figure 2, to be mounted to or otherwise attached to a trim component. For example, in this Figure the trim component includes a D-ring panel 46 which is slideably mounted to the body 30 via the channel member 48. The D-ring panel 46 may be employed to accommodate the motion of a D-ring (not shown) which is part of a passenger restraint system such as a seat belt. Such passenger restraint components are often mounted to the structural member 22 which, in turn, have trim components 10. In these cases, the secondary structural component 44 may include a plurality of energy absorbing ribs 32 spaced relative to one another along the secondary support member 44 and disposed adjacent to the structural member when the trim component is mounted thereto. As with the ribs 32 moulded directly to the body 30 of the trim component, the energy absorbing ribs 32 of the secondary structural component 44 include a series of fingers 38, 40, 42, 43 extending from the secondary support structure 44 and spaced relative to one another. Similarly, the fingers 38, 40 and 42, 43 of the secondary structural component deflect upon contact with the structural member 22 in response to a force acting on the body to absorb and dissipate the energy generated by the force. The ribs 32 may be located at multiple places along the body 30 and may also serve to locate the trim component 10 relative to the support structure 22. In the event of an impact force acting on the trim component 10, the series of fingers 38, 40, 42, 43 of the ribs 32 will be consecutively engaged as the body 32 is forced toward the structural member 22. Specifically, in response to a force, the primary member 38 will first be engaged, bending toward the secondary member 40. If the force is great enough, the secondary member 40 will then also be engaged as will the third member 42 and any additional member 43 thereafter. In this way, the resistance to the force acting on the trim component and the energy absorbed increases as a function of the force acting thereon. It should be appreciated, however, that the ribs 32 may all comprise either a single cantilevered finger or a plurality of fingers extending from the body 30. These objectives and advantages are achieved in an aesthetically pleasing trim component 10 without sacrificing the interior compartment space of the vehicle.

Claims: A trim component for mounting to a structural member of an automotive vehicle, said trim component comprising; a body (30) fixedly mounted to a structural member (14,16,18,20,22), said body including a plurality of energy absorbing ribs (32) spaced relative to one another along said body (30) and disposed adjacent to the structural member when said trim component is mounted thereto; characterised in that; the energy absorbing ribs (32) additionally include at least one finger (38,40,42,43) extending in cantilevered fashion from said ribs and deflecting upon contact with the structural member (22) in response to a force acting on said body (30) to absorb and dissipate the energy generated by the force. A trim component a claimed in claim 1, wherein said energy absorbing ribs (32) include a series of fingers (38,40,42,43) disposed parallel relative to one another and deflecting one after another in response to a force acting on said body (30). A trim component as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fingers (38,40,42,43) include at least one primary member (38) located directly adjacent the structural member (22), at least a secondary member (40) spaced from said primary member (38) and at least a third member (42) spaced from said secondary member (40) such that said fingers deflect in series in response to a force acting on said body (30). A trim component as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said body (30) includes a pair of edges (34) and a substantially planar expanse (36) extending between said pair of edges, said pair of edges (34) extending substantially perpendicular to said planar expanse (36) and toward the structural member of the vehicle. A trim component as claimed in claim 4, wherein said series of fingers (38,40,42,43) extend perpendicular to said pair of edges (34) and substantially parallel to said planar expanse (36). A trim component as claimed in claim 4, wherein said series of fingers (38,40,42,43) extend perpendicular to said planar expanse (36) and substantially parallel to said pair of edges (34). A trim component as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said ribs (32) are formed of flexible plastic. A trim component as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said body (30) is a one-piece, plastic injection moulded part including a plurality of energy absorbing ribs (32) moulded integrally therewith.

Inventors: LINN RANDY CRAIG, PATEL RASIK, LINN, RANDY CRAIG, PATEL, RASIK
Applicants: FORD FRANCE, FORD MOTOR CO, FORD WERKE AG, FORD FRANCE S.A., FORD MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED, FORD-WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B60R21
IPC codes: B62D25, B60R21, B60R22, B60R13