GB2338457A - Energy absorbing trim component - Google Patents

Energy absorbing trim component Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2338457A
GB2338457A GB9812827A GB9812827A GB2338457A GB 2338457 A GB2338457 A GB 2338457A GB 9812827 A GB9812827 A GB 9812827A GB 9812827 A GB9812827 A GB 9812827A GB 2338457 A GB2338457 A GB 2338457A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
shell
component
trim component
trim
fins
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9812827A
Other versions
GB9812827D0 (en
Inventor
Michael Thomas Monaghan
Richard Hahnekamp
Wolfgang Walter
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Magna Eybl GmbH
MG Rover Group Ltd
Original Assignee
Magna Eybl GmbH
MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Magna Eybl GmbH, MG Rover Group Ltd filed Critical Magna Eybl GmbH
Priority to GB9812827A priority Critical patent/GB2338457A/en
Publication of GB9812827D0 publication Critical patent/GB9812827D0/en
Publication of GB2338457A publication Critical patent/GB2338457A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/04—Padded linings for the vehicle interior ; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R13/00—Elements for body-finishing, identifying, or decorating; Arrangements or adaptations for advertising purposes
    • B60R13/02—Internal Trim mouldings ; Internal Ledges; Wall liners for passenger compartments; Roof liners
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R13/00—Elements for body-finishing, identifying, or decorating; Arrangements or adaptations for advertising purposes
    • B60R13/02—Internal Trim mouldings ; Internal Ledges; Wall liners for passenger compartments; Roof liners
    • B60R13/0237—Side or rear panels
    • B60R13/025—Pillars; Roof rails
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R13/00—Elements for body-finishing, identifying, or decorating; Arrangements or adaptations for advertising purposes
    • B60R13/06—Sealing strips
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R13/00—Elements for body-finishing, identifying, or decorating; Arrangements or adaptations for advertising purposes
    • B60R13/02—Internal Trim mouldings ; Internal Ledges; Wall liners for passenger compartments; Roof liners
    • B60R2013/0287—Internal Trim mouldings ; Internal Ledges; Wall liners for passenger compartments; Roof liners integrating other functions or accessories
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/04—Padded linings for the vehicle interior ; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings
    • B60R2021/0414—Padded linings for the vehicle interior ; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings using energy absorbing ribs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/04—Padded linings for the vehicle interior ; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings
    • B60R2021/0435—Padded linings for the vehicle interior ; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings associated with the side or roof pillars

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Vehicle Interior And Exterior Ornaments, Soundproofing, And Insulation (AREA)

Abstract

A trim component 11 for a motor vehicle includes a shell 13 and a plurality of integral fins 21 on the inner side 18 thereof, each fin having a root 23 and a flexible distal end (24 fig 3). The ribs may be arranged in a parallel array, each rib normal to two portions of the shell, the portions extending in different planes. A further layer 31 of material may be arranged on the outer surface of the shell to hide any sink marks from the ribs. Alternatively the component may be hidden behind other trim components. The trim component may be used to cover a vehicle door pillar (15 fig 3), the distal ends of the rib bearing against the pillar and distorting out of the plane of the rib when subjected to an external load.

Description

2338457 A Trim Component
Field
This invention relates to trim components and in particular to energy absorbing trim components of the type used in 5 vehicles, in particular but not exclusively, motor cars.
Background of Invention
Trim components are used on motor vehicles, especially on the interior parts thereof to provide an aestheically pleasing appearance, and to hide load bearing structures such as the door posts, or the mechanical parts located in hollow structures such as the doors.
Trim components as well as being aesthetically pleasing are also used for absorbing energy in the event of a collision.
Typically the component comprises a decorative skin or body having an energy absorber which is arranged inside the component and is located between the component skin and the structural part on which the trim component is mounted.
The energy absorbing material may be a semi-rigid foam, or may be a structural component which is designed to collapse under impact.
One known structural component is shown in DE-A-1950 5935 in which the energy absorbing structural component is a separate latticework which is formed as a independent component and is then fastened to the inside of the trim component body. The energy absorbing structure comprises 2 ribs or f ins that are supported so as to distort in the plane of the rib under an impact load.
An alternative energy absorbing structure component may be formed integrally with the trim component body as is shown in EP-A-0736 422. This document discloses a plurality of energy absorbing ribs that are formed at spaced locations on the body. The ribs are sub-divided into fingers which act as resilient cantilevers in the plane of the rib.
Object of the Invention The present invention provides a trim component with an improved energy absorbing structure.
Statement of Invention
According to the present Invention there is provided a trim component for a vehicle comprising a trim component body for mounting to a vehicle structural member, the body having a shell with a plurality of spaced fins formed integrally with the shell and disposed on the inner side thereof in use to bear against the structural member, each fin being connected to the shell through a root portion with a wedge shaped continuous blade portion extending away from the shell and having a flexible angular distal end portion which can distort out of the plane of the blade.
3 The fins may be arranged in a series with the blade portions being substantially parallel.
The trim component is a plastics moulding that is moulded as a single unitary component from a suitable plastic material e.g. polypropylene, ABS (acrylonitrilebutadienestryrene), high density polyethylene. The trim component is of particular use where it may be hidden or covered in a further layer of decorative material which can hide any sink marks in the outer surface of the shell that might be due to the presence of the fins.
Also according to the invention there is further provided a method of protecting a vehicle driver or passenger from impacting against a vehicle structural member, wherein the member is covered by a unitary trim component having a body for mounting to said member, the body having a shell with a plurality of spaced fins formed integrally with the shell and disposed on the inner side thereof in use to bear against the structural member, each fin being connected to the shell through a root portion with a wedge shaped continuous blade portion extending away from the shell and having a flexible angular distal end portion which can distort out of the plane of the blade when subject to a load which is transmitted to said member through a respective fin.
The invention is particularly useful when mounted on a 4 vehicle door post, that is the conventionally labelled A,B,C, or D posts, so as to protect a driver's or passenger's head from injury due to collision with a post. However trim components according to the present invention may be usefully used on planes and ships to cover structural components with the object of preventing injuries due to impact.
Description of Drawings
The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a view of a trim component from the rear, Fig. 2 is plan view of the component in Fig.1, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the trim component of Fig.1 in situ on the A post of a vehicle taken on the line III-III of Fig. 2.
Detailed Description
With reference to Figs. 1-3 of the drawings, there is shown a one-piece moulded plastics trim component 11 having a body 12 comprising a curved shell 13 having an exposed outer surface 14 which in use faces the interior of the motor vehicle.
The present trim component is, by way of example only, a component for covering the internal surface of an A-post 15 of a motor car (see Fig.2). The shell 13 extends from the windscreen 16 to the sealing strip 17 on the door post 15.
The shell 13 has on its rear surface 18 and moulded integrally therewith clips 19 for mounting thetrim component to the post 15, and an energy absorbing structure in the form of a plurality of fins 21. The fins 21 are each in the form of a thin flexible blade portion 22 which is connected to the shell 13 through a root portion 23 and has a free distal end portion 24. In the present example the trim component comprises two planar portions interconnected by an an arcuate portion and each fin 21 interconnects the two planar portions and is substantially normal to the two planar portions. The distal end portion 24 is supported by the continuous blade portion 22 such that it is cantilevered from the shell 13 between the two sides 25, 26 of the blade 22. This provides an angled end portion 24 that is flexible and resilient and that can distort under an impact load by both collapsing and by twisting to either side of the blade portion 22.
The fins 21 are arranged in a linear array with all the bade portions 22 being subtantially parallel to each other. The fins 21 are spaced apart from each other by regular distances, between 1-1.5 inches, except where interrupted by the location of the mounting clips 19 As can be seen in Figs. 1 and 3 the series of blades is 6 arranged down one side of the the trim component, that is the side adjacent the passenger or driver when in use.
As shown in Fig. 3 the shell 13 may be covered in a further decorative layer 31 e.g. leather cloth, which in use hides any sink marks on exterior surface 14 in the shell 13, that may be due to the fins on the rear side thereof.
In an alternative embodiment, the trim component 12 may be 10 hidden behind another component such as the head lining.
The trim component 11 is mounted to a vehicle structural member 15, with the spaced fins 21 formed integrally with the shell being disposed on the inner surface 18 to bear against the structural member 15. Each fin 21 can distort or twist out of the plane of the blade when pressed against the structural member 15 by an impact load. This helps absorb energy when the vehicle is in collision and the shell 13 is subject to sudden impact loads.
7

Claims (8)

Claims
1. A trim component for a vehicle comprising a trim component body for mounting to a vehicle structural member, the body having a shell with a plurality of spaced fins formed integrally with the shell and disposed on the inner side thereof in use to bear against the structural member, each fin being connected to the shell through a root portion with a wedge shaped continuous blade portion extending away from the shell and having a flexible angular distal end portion which can distort out of the plane of the blade.
2. A trim component as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the fins are arranged in a single linear series with the blades being substantially parallel.
3. A trim component as claimed in Claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the shell comprises at least two portions extending in different planes and has fins which are arranged to extend between the two portions substantially normal to both portions.
4. A trim component as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, and including a further layer of material arranged externally of the shell.
5. An energy absorbing trim component for covering a door post of a motor car and which is a component as claimed in 1 8 any one of claims 1 to 4.
6. A method of protecting a vehicle driver or passenger from impacting against a vehicle structural member, wherein the member is covered by a unitary trim component having a body for mounting to said member, the body having a shell with a plurality of spaced fins formed integrally with the shell and disposed on the inner side thereof in use to bear against the structural member, each fin being connected to the shell through a root portion with a wedge shaped continuous blade portion extending away from the shell and having a flexible angular distal end portion which can distort out of the plane of the blade when subject to a load which is transmitted to said member through a respective fin.
7. A method as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the outer surface of the shell is covered in a decorative layer of trim fabric to hide any tell tale marks relating to the fins and which are observable in the external surface of the shell.
8. A method as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the component is hidden behind other trim components so that any tell tale marks relating to the fins and which are observable in the external surface of the shell, are hidden by said other component.
GB9812827A 1998-06-16 1998-06-16 Energy absorbing trim component Withdrawn GB2338457A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9812827A GB2338457A (en) 1998-06-16 1998-06-16 Energy absorbing trim component

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9812827A GB2338457A (en) 1998-06-16 1998-06-16 Energy absorbing trim component

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9812827D0 GB9812827D0 (en) 1998-08-12
GB2338457A true GB2338457A (en) 1999-12-22

Family

ID=10833749

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9812827A Withdrawn GB2338457A (en) 1998-06-16 1998-06-16 Energy absorbing trim component

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2338457A (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1600338A1 (en) * 2004-05-28 2005-11-30 Dr.Ing.h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft Vehicle with deformable energy absorbing member
GB2542495B (en) * 2015-08-20 2019-06-12 Toyoda Gosei Kk Opening trim weather strip

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5709407A (en) * 1995-10-13 1998-01-20 Chrysler Corporation Energy absorbing vehicle trim molding

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5709407A (en) * 1995-10-13 1998-01-20 Chrysler Corporation Energy absorbing vehicle trim molding

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1600338A1 (en) * 2004-05-28 2005-11-30 Dr.Ing.h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft Vehicle with deformable energy absorbing member
US7229124B2 (en) 2004-05-28 2007-06-12 Dr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft Motor vehicle having an energy-absorbing deformation element
GB2542495B (en) * 2015-08-20 2019-06-12 Toyoda Gosei Kk Opening trim weather strip

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9812827D0 (en) 1998-08-12

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)