Side Airbag Curtain Directional Deployment Bracket

• US 20080197610A1
• Filed: 02/16/2007
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Downey, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,677,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0206 Arrangements of fasteners and clips specially adapted for attaching inner vehicle liners or mouldings devices for fastening or securing F16B
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/025 Pillars; Roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars

Abstract

An inflatable passenger protection system for a vehicle having a structural front pillar frame member to be covered by a separate interior trim component, and a side curtain airbag to be positioned in a stowed condition between the front pillar frame member and the interior trim component the interior trim component having at least a portion movable between a covered position enclosing the side curtain airbag in the stowed condition and an opened position in response to inflation of the side curtain airbag to the deployed condition, includes an extruded support bracket extending between the front pillar frame member and the interior trim component. The bracket has a primary attachment point and a secondary attachment point for supporting the interior trim component.

Claims

1. An apparatus for an inflatable passenger protection system of a vehicle, the vehicle having a front pillar frame member to be covered by an interior trim component, and a side curtain airbag to be positioned in a stowed condition between the front pillar frame member and the interior trim component, the interior trim component having at least a portion movable between a covered position enclosing the side curtain airbag in the stowed condition and an opened position in response to inflation of the side curtain airbag to the deployed condition, the apparatus comprising:

an extruded support bracket positionable to be extending between a front pillar frame member and an interior trim component, the bracket having a primary attachment point and a secondary attachment point for supporting the interior trim component.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

the bracket connectible to the front pillar frame member; and

a attachment device connecting the bracket to the front pillar frame member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the primary attachment point further comprises:

a primary attachment member and complementary retention chamber combination formed in the bracket and the interior trim component to connect the trim component to the bracket, the retention chamber being sufficiently large to allow installing movement of the interior trim component between an insertion position to an installed position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the primary attachment member and complementary retention combination further comprises:

the trim component having a generally L-shaped attachment hook extending outwardly from a backside of the trim component to be received within a complementary generally L-shaped chamber formed in the bracket.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the generally L-shaped chamber includes a lip adjacent an outer peripheral edge of the chamber allowing installing movement of the trim component through a predetermined angular arc between the insertion position and the installed position.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the secondary attachment point further comprises:

a secondary attachment member and complementary notch combination formed on the bracket and the interior trim component to connect the trim component to the bracket.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the secondary attachment member is defined as a projection that engages the complementary notch which is partially defined by a lip extending outwardly from a backside of the trim component.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising:

a hinge portion formed in a backside of the trim component adjacent the attachment lip defining a pivot for the portion of the trim component allowing movement between the closed position and the opened position.

9. In an inflatable passenger protection system for a vehicle having a structural front pillar frame member to be covered by a separate interior trim component, and a side curtain airbag to be positioned in a stowed condition between the front pillar frame member and the interior trim component, the interior trim component having at least a portion movable between a covered position enclosing the side curtain airbag in the stowed condition and an opened position in response to inflation of the side curtain airbag to the deployed condition, the improvement comprising:

an extruded support bracket extending between the front pillar frame member and the interior trim component, the bracket having a primary attachment point and a secondary attachment point for supporting the interior trim component.

10. The improvement of claim 9 further comprising:

the bracket connectible to the front pillar frame member; and

a attachment device attaching the bracket to the front pillar frame member.

11. The improvement of claim 9, wherein the primary attachment point further comprises:

a primary attachment member and complementary retention chamber combination formed in the bracket and the interior trim component to connect the trim component to the bracket, the retention chamber being sufficiently large to allow installing movement of the interior trim component between an insertion position to an installed position.

12. The improvement of claim 11, wherein the primary attachment member and complementary retention chamber combination further comprises:

the trim component having a generally L-shaped attachment hook extending outwardly from a backside of the trim component to be received within a complementary generally L-shaped chamber formed in the bracket.

13. The improvement of claim 12, wherein the generally L-shaped chamber includes a lip adjacent an outer peripheral edge of the chamber allowing installing movement of the trim component through a predetermined angular arc between the insertion position and the installed position.

14. The improvement of claim 9, wherein the secondary attachment point further comprises:

a secondary attachment member and complementary notch combination formed on the bracket and the interior trim component to connect the trim component to the bracket.

15. The improvement of claim 14, wherein the secondary attachment member is defined as a projection that engages the complementary notch which is partially defined by a lip extending outwardly from a backside of the trim component.

16. The improvement of claim 15 further comprising:

a hinge portion formed in a backside of the trim component adjacent the lip of the trim component defining a pivot for the at least one portion of the trim component for movement between the closed position and the opened position.

17. An inflatable passenger protection system comprising:

an airbag to be stored in a folded state along a pillar portion of a vehicle body and a roof side rail, the airbag designed to be inflated into the shape of a curtain in a lateral region of a passenger compartment by being supplied with gas from an inflator;

an energy-absorbing support bracket member located extending in a longitudinal direction of the pillar portion and extending between the pillar portion and an interior trim component for covering the pillar portion in such a manner as to define a hollow passage where the airbag is stored in a folded state between the pillar portion and the interior trim component, wherein the pillar portion is an A-pillar or a C-pillar;

a guide surface for guiding the airbag during deployment of the airbag being formed on one lateral surface of the energy-absorbing support bracket member, wherein the portion of the airbag stored in a folded state in the pillar portion is disposed substantially parallel to the guide surface; and

an interior trim component supported from the energy-absorbing support bracket member and having at least a portion moveable between a closed position covering the folded airbag and an opened position in response to forces applied to a backside surface of the interior trim component during inflation of the airbag to a deployed condition.

20. The inflatable passenger protection system of claim 19, wherein the portion of the airbag stowed in the pillar portion is disposed in such a direction as to correspond with the guide surface.

21. The inflatable passenger protection system of claim 19, wherein the portion of the airbag stored in a folded state in the pillar portion is disposed apart from the guide surface.

22. The inflatable passenger protection system of claim 19, wherein the portion of the airbag stored in a folded state in the pillar portion is disposed in contact with the guide surface.

23. The inflatable passenger protection system of claim 19, wherein the guide surface is inclined with respect to a body-side mounting surface of the energy-absorbing support bracket member.

24. The inflatable passenger protection system of claim 19, wherein the energy-absorbing support bracket member is a hollow member made from an extrudable metal or a hollow member made from extrudable plastic.