Abstract:
The present invention provides for a support structure and support structure attachment within a vehicle adjacent a vehicle seat. The support structure including a bolster having an external surface wherein the bolster has a cavity recessed behind the external surface wherein the cavity originates and opens to the external surface, an airbag mounted within the cavity, and an elongated bracket mounted to the bolster operable to secure the bolster and airbag assembly to the vehicle. The elongated bracket of the bolster attaches to a child restraint system existing within the vehicle while simultaneously securing the airbag within the cavity of the bolster. A trim piece having a weakened seam covers the cavity and the external surface of the bolster thereby covering the airbag.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a support structure within an automotive vehicle. More particularly, this invention relates to vehicle structure and cushioning including the incorporation of an airbag. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Rear side bolsters are well known in the art to cushion a passenger within a rear vehicle seat and to add structure to a rear vehicle seat. Previously known side bolsters are elongated and generally hollow structures having multiple points of attachment to a vehicle. Previously known side bolsters attach to the vehicle body or the vehicle wheel well. Previously known side bolsters are covered with a foam, or other trim material, in addition to a fabric or leather material. Furthermore, vehicle airbags and restraint systems are becoming commonplace provided in an automotive vehicle. Consumer demand and safety regulations require certain numbers of airbags and airbag placement within an automotive vehicle. However, limited room for airbag storage is provided within current automotive vehicle structures. Accordingly, it is highly desirable to provide storage space and packaging space within an automotive vehicle in an area close to a passenger to meet the increased consumer demand for increased safety features. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention provides for a support structure and support structure attachment within a vehicle adjacent a vehicle seat. The support structure including a bolster having an external surface wherein the bolster has a cavity recessed behind the external surface wherein the cavity originates and opens to the external surface, an airbag mounted within the cavity, and an elongated bracket mounted to the bolster operable to secure the bolster and airbag assembly to the vehicle. The bolster and external surface of the bolster are made of a rigid material. In the present embodiment, the elongated bracket of the bolster attaches to a child restraint system existing within the vehicle while simultaneously securing the airbag within the cavity of the bolster. In an alternative embodiment, an attachment member of the bolster attached directly to the vehicle body or wheel well. A trim piece, such as foam and/or fabric, covers the cavity and the external surface of the bolster thereby covering the airbag. The trim piece further includes a weakened portion or seam allowing the airbag to burst through the weakened portion of the trim piece. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the environment of the side bolster assembly; 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the side bolster assembly including the mounted airbag; 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view as shown by the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1  of the bolster assembly; 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the bolster assembly attached to the child restraint system; 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the bolster having an air intake; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is a perspective frontal view of an alternative embodiment of the bolster having an air intake. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0010]    The present invention provides for a support structure and support structure attachment within a vehicle having the support structure mounted adjacent a vehicle seat. In the present embodiment, the support structure having a bolster attaches to a child restraint system. More particularly, the airbag disposed within the side bolster attaches to a bracket wherein the bracket attaches to the child restraint system. 
         [0011]    The present invention provides for a vehicle  10  having a side bolster  50  disposed therein. The vehicle  10  includes a plurality of seats  20  having headrests  22 . The vehicle  10  includes an external surface  14 , a rear  12 , and a wheel well  16 . The side bolster  50  disposed within the vehicle  10  includes a first end  52  and a second end  54 . In the present embodiment, the first end  52  is the lower end and the second end  54  is the upper end. 
         [0012]    The side bolster  50  is essentially an elongated structure having the first end  52  and the second end  54 . The bolster  50  is mounted adjacent a vehicle seat  20 . The bolster  50  includes a center body portion  56  including an external surface  58 . The external surface  58  is contoured. In an alternative embodiment, the external surface is generally planar with some stylized contouring. The external surface  58  further includes a cavity  72  recessed behind the external surface  58 . 
         [0013]    The cavity  72  originates from the external surface  58  and is accessible from the external surface  58 . The cavity  72  further includes an airbag mounted therein. The airbag  70  mounted within the cavity  72  includes an airbag storage compartment  74 . The external surface  58  further includes a second cavity  73  disposed near the second end  54  of the bolster  50 . 
         [0014]    A layer of foam or other padding material  80  is provided disposed over the external surface  58  of the bolster  50 . Furthermore, a layer of fabric or leather  82  is disposed over the foam  80  over the external surface  58 . The foam  80  and fabric  82  further include a weakened portion or seam  84 . The weakened seam  84  includes an indentation  86  allowing the airbag  70  within the airbag cavity  74  of the airbag storage  68  to rapidly expand and break the weakened seam  84  thereby directing the airbag into the vehicle passenger compartment of the vehicle  10 . Alternatively, the weakened portion or seam  84  is loose stitching or glue operable to easily break when subjected to the high forces created by the airbag  70 . 
         [0015]    In the present embodiment, the fabric  82  extending over the foam  80  extending over the external surface  58  wraps around the bolster  50  to connect to a plurality of brackets  94   a,    94   b.  The brackets  94   a,    94   b  each include an aperture  96   a,    96   b.  The apertures  96   a,    96   b  are elongated to accommodate the fabric  82 . Alternatively, the fabric  82  extending over the bolster  50  attaches to attachment point  92  disposed on an elongated bracket  90 . 
         [0016]    The airbag  70  is mounted within the cavity  72  of the bolster  50 . The airbag  70  attaches to the bolster  50  by means of the bracket  90 . The bracket  90  is an elongated bracket extending behind the airbag  70 . The bracket  90  includes an overhang portion  91  to further secure the bracket  90  to the bolster  50  thereby securing the airbag  70  tightly to the bolster  50 . The bracket  90  is elongated and mounted to the bolster  50  covering the fill length of the airbag  70 . The bracket  90  attaching the airbag  70  to the bolster  50  further attaches to the vehicle to secure the airbag  70 . 
         [0017]    In the present embodiment, the bracket  90  attaching the airbag  70  to the vehicle  10  attaches to child restraint system  124 . The child restraint system  124  includes a first bracket  120   a  and a second bracket  120   b  disposed on either side of the vehicle  10 . The bracket  90  includes a lower member  110  having a lower portion  114 . The lower member  110  of the bracket  90  includes an aperture or connection means  112  allowing the bracket  90  to securely attach to the child restraint system  124 . Since the child restraint system  124  is required by various safety standards to meet various safety requirements, the child restraint system  124  is fully capable and strong enough to hold and contain the deployment of the airbag  70  when mounted to the bolster  50 . Furthermore, attachment of the bolster  50  to the child restraint system  124  prevents wobbling of the bolster  50 . 
         [0018]    Alternatively, the bolster  50  includes an attachment means and bracket  106  disposed at the first end  52  of the bolster  50 . The bracket  106  includes a lower portion  110  having an attachment means  102 . The attachment means  102  and lower member  100  connect to a portion of the vehicle body, such as the wheel well. The attachment of the lower member  100  of the bracket  106  of the bolster  50  facilitates attachment of the bolster  50  to securely mount the bolster  50  adjacent a vehicle seat  20 , or other vehicle  10  structure. 
         [0019]    An attachment bracket  130  is provided towards the second end  54  of the bolster  50  to facilitate attachment of the bolster  50  to the vehicle. The attachment bracket  130  includes a hook  132  to connect the bolster  50  in the attachment bracket  130  to the vehicle. Furthermore, attachment means or seatbelt facilitator  140  is disposed at the upper end or second end  54  of the bolster  50 . The attachment means  140  is used to direct a seatbelt used by a vehicle passenger. Alternatively, the attachment means  140  further secures the fabric  82  over the external surface  58 . 
         [0020]    In an alternative embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a bolster assembly  200  is provided including an air intake  202  connected to a duct  204 . The intake  202  is positioned on the bolster  206 . The intake  202  is mounted on a first surface  208  of the bolster  206 . The bolster  206 , including the first surface  208 , is generally rounded including a plurality of contours to compliment the styling of the interior of the vehicle. 
         [0021]    Arrows  350  illustrate the flow of air from the inside of the vehicle cabin to a hybrid engine  330 . Air from the cabin is pulled through the intake  202  and through the duct  204 . Air then passes through the connector  332  and cools the hybrid engine  330 . The duct  204  further includes an attachment means  328  to attach the duct  204  to the vehicle for securing purposes. The duct  204  includes a first open end  324  having a curved intake  326 . The first open end  324  of the duct  204  connect to the intake  202  as shown by arrows  320 . 
         [0022]    The bolster  206  includes an attachment means and bracket  306  disposed at the first end  252  of the bolster  206 . The bracket  306  includes a lower portion  304  having an attachment means  302 . The attachment means  302  connect to a portion of the vehicle body, such as the wheel well. The attachment of the lower member  304  of the bracket  306  of the bolster  206  facilitates attachment of the bolster  206  to securely mount the bolster  206  adjacent a vehicle seat. 
         [0023]    In this alternative embodiment, a fabric  282  extending over a foam extending over the first surface  208  wraps around the bolster  206  to connect to a plurality of brackets  294   a,    294   b.  The brackets  294   a,    294   b  each include an aperture  296   a,    296   b.  The apertures  296   a,    296   b  are elongated to accommodate the fabric  282 . Alternatively, the fabric  282  extending over the bolster  206  attaches to attachment point  292  disposed on an elongated bracket  290 . 
         [0024]    The bracket  290  is an elongated bracket extending behind the airbag  270 . The bracket  290  is elongated and mounted to the bolster  206  covering the full length of the airbag  270 . The bracket  290  attaching the airbag  270  to the bolster  206  further attaches to the vehicle to secure the airbag  270 . 
         [0025]    In this alternative embodiment, the bracket  206  attaching the airbag  270  to the vehicle attaches to a child restraint system  224 . An attachment bracket  230  is provided towards the second end  254  of the bolster  206  to facilitate attachment of the bolster  206  to the vehicle. The attachment bracket  230  includes a hook  232  to connect the bolster  206  in the attachment bracket  230  to the vehicle. Furthermore, attachment means or seatbelt facilitator  240  is disposed at the upper end or second end  254  of the bolster  206 . The attachment means  240  is used to direct a seatbelt used by a vehicle passenger. Alternatively, the attachment means  240  further secures the fabric  282  over the external surface  208 . 
         [0026]    The invention is not restricted to the illustrative examples and embodiments described above. The embodiments are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Methods, apparatus, compositions, and the like described herein are exemplary and not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.