Abstract:
A deformable vehicle door pull cup is provided which is both sufficiently strong for use during closing of the door and which also deforms during a side impact collision. A deformable vehicle door pull cup includes a weakening groove and dimple system in preferred embodiments. Dimples are placed within grooves to enhance crack propagation in a side impact collision.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/765,940, filed Feb. 7, 2006, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to a door trim assembly for an automotive vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a pull cup including one or more weakening grooves with dimples for promoting deformation of the pull cup to absorb energy of a side impact.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Vehicle doors are frequently provided with an armrest having a pull cup for use in closing the door. Such a pull cup has a recess for permitting the fingers to grasp the pull cup while pulling the vehicle door shut. In order to perform this function, the pull cup must be sufficiently strong to withstand the forces produced by resistance of the mechanism holding the door open when being pulled during door closing. However, while the pull cup must be strong enough to withstand repetitive use over a number of years, it is disadvantageous to have a pull cup which is so rigid that it becomes dangerous to a vehicle occupant during a side impact collision. Thus, there is a continuing need for a deformable vehicle door pull cup which is both sufficiently strong for use during closing of the door and which also deforms during a side impact collision.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     An impact absorbing pull cup is provided according to an embodiment of the present invention for use in conjunction with an automotive vehicle door. An inventive pull cup includes a wall defining a bottom wall and a side wall. In particular embodiments, the side wall extends generally transversely from the bottom wall at a junction formed by an intersection of the bottom wall and the side wall. In addition, the bottom wall and the side wall together define an internal cavity into which a user can insert a part of the hand in order to aid in closing the automotive vehicle door. The bottom wall and the side wall each have an exterior surface in which a plurality of grooves is formed. Each groove of the plurality of grooves has a groove depth extending a distance from the exterior surface of the side wall or the bottom wall to a groove base. The exterior surface of the side wall and/or bottom wall also includes a plurality of dimples formed in the plurality of grooves. Each of the plurality of dimples has a dimple depth which extends from the groove base to a dimple base.  
         [0005]     A door trim panel assembly for an automotive vehicle is provided which includes an impact absorbing pull cup according to an embodiment of the present invention. Also included is a support wall for supporting an armrest and an armrest having an armrest wall. The armrest wall and the support wall together define an interior space for receiving an impact absorbing pull cup according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is a drawing illustrating an interior side of a vehicle door including a deformable door pull cup;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a drawing illustrating a top view of an embodiment of a deformable door pull cup according to the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a drawing illustrating a bottom view of an embodiment of a deformable door pull cup having a groove and dimple system for a deformable pull cup according to the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a groove and dimple system in a wall of a deformable door pull cup;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4A  is a further enlarged view of a groove and dimple system in a wall of a deformable door pull cup, and;  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a graph showing crack propagation properties in relation to an applied force in a deformable pull cup having a groove and dimple weakening system according to the present invention in contrast to a pull cup structure having grooves only. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     An automotive door including a door trim panel assembly is generally indicated at  100  in  FIG. 1 . The door trim panel assembly includes an armrest  102  and a pull cup  104 . Described in further detail below, the pull cup  104  includes a weakening groove and dimple structure to facilitate deformation in a side impact collision.  
         [0013]     A pull cup is provided according to an embodiment of the present invention which has a wall and a coupling structure. The wall is characterized by a wall thickness and defines a bottom wall as well as a side wall. In a preferred embodiment, the side wall extends generally transversely from the bottom wall such that a junction is formed by an intersection of the bottom wall and the side wall.  
         [0014]     The bottom wall and the side wall together define an internal cavity which has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The exterior surface of the internal cavity includes a plurality of weakening grooves and dimples formed in the exterior surface. Each groove of the plurality of grooves has a groove depth extending a distance from the exterior surface of the internal cavity to a groove base. Each dimple of the plurality of dimples has a dimple depth extending from the groove base to a dimple base.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  shows a top perspective view of an embodiment of an impact absorbing pull cup  200  having a wall defining a bottom wall  210  and a side wall  220 . The bottom wall  210  and the side wall  220  define an internal cavity  225  for placement of a portion of an individual&#39;s hand while closing a vehicle door. The wall defining the internal cavity  225  has an exterior surface and an interior surface. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the exterior surface of the side wall is shown at  230 .  
         [0016]     One or more coupling structures are included in an impact absorbing pull cup according to certain embodiments of the present invention for coupling the pull cup to one or more components of a vehicle door such as an armrest and/or a support wall. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a flange  250  is optionally included as a coupling structure for coupling interaction with a component of a vehicle door. Further shown in  FIG. 2  are coupling structures in the form of bolt openings defined through bolt mounting flanges  260 .  
         [0017]     One or more weakening grooves are included in the exterior surface of the side wall and/or bottom wall of an inventive impact absorbing pull cup. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , grooves  280  are formed in the exterior surface of the side wall in this embodiment.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom view of the impact absorbing pull cup of  FIG. 2 . In this view, a junction  270  between the exterior surface of the side wall  230  and the exterior surface of the bottom wall  240  is illustrated. Further, a junction  275  between the exterior surface of the side wall  230  and the flange  250  is shown.  
         [0019]     A plurality of grooves  280  is present in the exterior surface of the side and bottom walls. Further, a plurality of dimples  290  is positioned in the grooves  280 . In the specific embodiment shown, the dimples  290  are positioned in the grooves at the junction  270  of the exterior surface of the side wall  230  and the exterior surface of the bottom wall  240 , as well as at the junction  275  of the exterior surface of the side wall  230  and the flange  250 .  
         [0020]     Also depicted in  FIG. 3  is a plurality of coupling structures in the form of bolt openings defined through bolt mounting flanges  260 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a region of a groove and dimple system in a wall of a deformable door pull cup as indicated in  FIG. 3 . The exterior surface of side wall  230  and the exterior surface of bottom wall  240  are illustrated, along with grooves  280  and dimples  290 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 4A  is a further enlarged view of a groove and dimple system in a wall of a deformable door pull cup. In this view, a groove  280  is shown having a groove depth  281 . A dimple  290  is also illustrated having a dimple depth  291 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a graph showing an example of crack propagation properties in relation to an applied force in a deformable pull cup having a groove and dimple weakening system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The graph illustrates improved crack propagation in a deformable pull cup having a groove and dimple weakening system in contrast to a pull cup structure having grooves only. In particular,  FIG. 5  shows that the amount of force to achieve crack propagation is reduced by using a dimple and groove weakening system according to the present invention.  
         [0024]     In one embodiment of an inventive pull cup, at least some of the plurality of grooves extend generally transversely from the junction formed by the intersection of the bottom wall and the side wall. For example,  FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment in which at least some grooves  280  extend generally transversely from the junction  270  formed by the intersection of the bottom wall and the side wall. In certain preferred embodiments, at least some grooves  280  extend generally transversely from the junction  270  to the junction  275  at the intersection of the exterior surface of the side wall  230  and the flange  250 . Optionally, at least some grooves  280  extend generally transversely from the junction  270  to the junction  275  at the intersection of the exterior surface of the side wall  230  and the flange  250 , and further extend generally transversely from the junction  275  across at least a portion of the exterior surface of the flange  250 .  
         [0025]     In a further option, particular embodiments of an inventive pull cup include a groove in the exterior surface of the wall formed at the junction  270 , wherein the groove generally follows the perimeter of the bottom wall  240 . Similarly, an optional groove is formed at the junction  275 , wherein the groove generally follows the junction  275 .  
         [0026]     In another embodiment, one or more grooves is formed in the exterior surface of the bottom wall. As illustrated in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , one or more grooves  280  may be disposed in the exterior surface of the bottom wall  240  to further enhance weakening of the pull cup.  
         [0027]     The groove depth is generally in the range of about 25-75 percent, inclusive, of the wall thickness. In further embodiments, the groove depth is in the range of about 45-55 percent, inclusive, of the wall thickness.  
         [0028]     Dimples are disposed within grooves to further enhance advantageous crack propagation in a side impact collision. Dimples are generally located in locations such as corners from which crack propagation should occur. In particular embodiments, dimples are disposed within a groove at, or in proximity to, a junction of two or more walls. In further particular embodiments, dimples are disposed within a groove at, or in proximity to, a junction of a wall and a flange.  
         [0029]     The dimple depth is in the range of about 10-35 percent, inclusive, of the wall thickness. In further embodiments, the dimple depth is in the range of about 15-25 percent, inclusive, of the wall thickness. In general, dimples have a diameter in the range of about 0.5-5 millimeters. In further preferred embodiments, dimples have a diameter in the range of about 1-3 millimeters. Further preferred is a dimple diameter of about 1.5-2 millimeters.  
         [0030]     In a particular embodiment, a groove has a depth of approximately 50 percent of the wall thickness and has a width of approximately 2.5 millimeters, while a dimple has a depth of approximately 25 percent of the wall thickness such that groove and dimple depth together is approximately 75 percent of the wall thickness.  
         [0031]     In one embodiment, an inventive pull cup is formed as a single molded piece. In further embodiments, components of the pull cup may be assembled to form the pull cup. A pull cup may be made from any of various materials, illustratively including a plastic such as a thermoset and/or thermoplastic polymer.  
         [0032]     A door trim panel assembly for an automotive vehicle is provided according to the present invention which includes a support wall, an armrest supported by the support wall, and an impact absorbing pull cup. The armrest has an armrest wall such that the armrest wall and the support wall together define an interior space for receiving the impact absorbing pull cup.  
         [0033]     Embodiments of inventive compositions and methods are illustrated in examples herein. These examples are provided for illustrative purposes and are not considered limitations on the scope of inventive compositions and methods.  
         [0034]     The devices described herein are presently representative of preferred embodiments, exemplary, and not intended as limitations on the scope of any embodiment of an inventive pull cup. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art. Such changes and other uses can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.