Rear Pillar to Center Pillar Trim Joint Connection for Rear Seat Passenger Airbag Side Curtain Deployment

• US 20080238049A1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Putcha, Udayakrishna
• Granted Patent: US 7,766,370 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0225 self supporting head liners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/025 Pillars; Roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0275 comprising removable or hinged parts for accessing storage compartments B60R7/04; for airbag deployment B60R21/215
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0281 made of a plurality of visible parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0293 Connection or positioning of adjacent panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/215 characterised by the covers for the inflatable member B60R21/2176 takes precedence

Abstract

An interior trim structure covers a stowed side curtain airbag and allows deployment of the side curtain airbag through an interface joint to a position along a sidewall of a passenger compartment adjacent a rear seat location of a two-door coupe style vehicle. A center pillar trim piece and a rear pillar trim piece can be assembled to one another with at least one projection releasably interlocking with a corresponding aperture formed along adjacent edges of the trim pieces. Each projection is located in a complementary position with respect to a corresponding aperture formed along the adjacent edge to temporarily secure an interface joint defined between first and second edges when in an abutting relationship with respect to one another in a closed position. The interface joint defines an openable passage along the first and second abutting edges allowing deployment of a side curtain airbag through the interface joint.

Claims

1. An interior trim structure for covering a stowed side curtain airbag while allowing deployment of the side curtain airbag along a side wail of a passenger compartment of a vehicle comprising:

a first trim piece having at least one aperture along a first edge; and

a second trim piece having at least one low-retention force projection receivable within the aperture formed in the first trim piece, the projection formed along a second edge and located in complementary position with respect to the aperture of the first edge to temporarily secure an interface joint defined between the first and second edges along the first and second trim pieces with respect to one another when in a closed position and to define an openable passage along the interface joint between the first and second edges allowing deployment of a side curtain airbag.

2. The interior trim structure of claim 1, wherein the at least one aperture in the first trim piece further comprises:

a first group of apertures for locating and guiding movement of the first and second trim pieces with respect to one another, and a second group of apertures for releasably locking the first and second trim pieces in the closed position with respect to one another.

3. The interior trim structure of claim 1, wherein the at least one projection in the second trim piece further comprises:

a first group of projections for locating and guiding movement of the first and second trim pieces with respect to one another, and a second group of projections for releasably locking the first and second trim pieces in the closed position with respect to one another.

4. The interior trim structure of claim 1, wherein the at least one aperture and at least one projection further comprises:

a first group of apertures and corresponding projections for locating and guiding movement of the first, and second trim pieces with respect to one another; and

a second group of apertures and corresponding projections for releasably locking the first and second trim pieces in the closed position with respect to one another

5. The interior trim structure of claim 1, wherein the projection further comprises:

an elongate, generally L-shaped, member having a locking tab located on a distal end for releasable engagement with a shoulder defining a portion of the corresponding aperture.

6. The interior trim structure of claim 1, wherein the projection further comprises:

an elongate member having a periphery slidingly engagable with a guiding surface associated with the corresponding aperture for locating the trim pieces with respect to one another.

7. The interior trim structure of claim 1, wherein the projection and corresponding aperture provide a desired fit and finish tolerance of the interface joint between the first and second edges when in a closed position.

8. In an interior trim structure for deployment of a side curtain airbag along a side wall of a passenger compartment adjacent a rear seat location of a vehicle, the improvement comprising:

a group of low-retention force projections and complementary interlocking apertures formed along abutting first and second edges of a rear pillar trim piece and a center pillar trim piece to temporarily secure an interface joint defined between the abutting first and second edges along the trim pieces with respect to one another when in a closed position and to define an openable passage through the interface joint between the first and second edges allowing deployment of a side curtain airbag.

9. The improvement of claim 8 further comprising:

at least one locator guide projection and complementary receiving aperture formed along the abutting first and second edges of the trim pieces to align the interface joint defined between the first and second edges along the trim pieces with respect to one another in the closed position and to guide opening movement of the interface joint during deployment of a side curtain airbag.

10. The improvement of claim 8 further comprising:

a group of locator guide projections and complementary receiving apertures formed along the abutting first and second edges of the trim pieces to align the interface joint defined between the first and second edges along the trim pieces with respect to one another in the closed position and to guide opening movement of the interface joint during deployment of a side curtain airbag.

11. The improvement of claim 8, wherein the projection further comprises:

an elongate, generally L-shaped, member having a locking tab located on a distal end for releasable engagement with a shoulder defining a portion of the corresponding aperture.

12. The improvement of claim 8, wherein the projection further comprises:

an elongate member having a periphery slidingly engagable with a guiding surface associated with the corresponding aperture for locating the trim pieces with respect to one another.

13. The improvement of claim 8, wherein the projection and corresponding aperture provide a desired fit and finish tolerance of the interface joint when in a closed position.

14. An interior trim structure for covering a stowed side curtain airbag and for allowing deployment of the side curtain airbag through the interior trim structure to a position along a side wall of a passenger compartment adjacent a rear seat location of a two door coupe style vehicle comprising:

a center pillar trim piece;

a rear pillar trim piece to be assembled to the center pillar trim piece; and

at least one projection receivable within and releasably interlocking with a corresponding aperture formed in one of the trim pieces, the projection formed along a second edge of another of the trim pieces, each projection located in a complementary position with respect to the corresponding aperture formed along the first edge to temporarily secure an interface joint defined between the first and second edges when in an abutting relationship with respect to one another in a closed position and to define an openable passage along the interface joint between the first and second edges allowing deployment of a side curtain airbag through the interface joint.

15. The interior trim structure of claim 14 further comprising:

the center pillar trim piece being a high pressure injection molded lower garnish assembly; and

the rear pillar trim piece being a low pressure injection molded, fabric covered upper finisher assembly.

16. An interior trim structure for covering a stowed side curtain airbag while allowing deployment of the side curtain airbag along a side wall of a passenger compartment of a vehicle comprising:

a first trim piece having a first edge, a second trim piece having a second edge, an interface joint defined between the first and second edges along the first and second trim panels, the interface joint being selectively openable upon deployment of a side curtain airbag.

17. The interior trim structure of claim 16, wherein the side curtain airbag is positioned in a stowed condition proximate to the interface joint.

18. The interior trim structure of claim 17, wherein the side curtain airbag is positioned in a stowed condition between the uppermost of the first and second trim panels and an interior surface of a body of the vehicle.

19. The interior trim structure of claim 17, wherein the side curtain airbag is positioned in a stowed condition between the second trim panel and an interior surface of a body of the vehicle.

20. The interior trim structure of claim 16, wherein the first trim piece is formed by high pressure injection molding, and the second trim piece is formed by low pressure injection molding.

21. The interior trim structure of claim 20, wherein the first trim piece is a lower garnish assembly, and the second trim piece is an upper finisher assembly

22. The interior trim structure of claim 16, further comprising:

at least one aperture along the first edge and at least at least one low-retention force projection receivable within the aperture formed in the first trim piece, the projection formed along a second edge and located in complementary position with respect to the aperture of the first edge to temporarily secure the interface joint when in a closed position and to define an openable passage along the interface joint between the first and second edges allowing deployment of a side curtain airbag.

23. The interior trim structure of claim 22, wherein the at least one aperture in the first trim piece further comprises:

a first group of apertures for locating and guiding movement of the first and second trim pieces with respect to one another, and a second group of apertures for releasably locking the first and second trim pieces in the closed position with respect to one another.

24. The interior trim structure of claim 22, wherein the at least one projection in the second trim piece further comprises:

a first group of projections for locating and guiding movement of the first and second trim pieces with respect to one another, and a second group of projections for releasably locking the first and second trim pieces in the closed position with respect to one another.

25. The interior trim structure of claim 22, wherein the at least one aperture and at least one projection further comprises:

a first group of apertures and corresponding projections for locating and guiding movement of the first, and second trim pieces with respect to one another; and

a second group of apertures and corresponding projections for releasably locking the first and second trim pieces in the closed position with respect to one another.

26. The interior trim structure of claim 22, wherein the projection further comprises:

an elongate, generally L-shaped, member having a locking tab located on a distal end for releasable engagement with a shoulder defining a portion of the corresponding aperture.

27. The interior trim structure of claim 22, wherein the projection further comprises:

an elongate member having a periphery slidingly engageable with a guiding surface associated with the corresponding aperture for locating the trim pieces with respect to one another.

28. The interior trim structure of claim 22, wherein the projection and corresponding aperture provide a desired fit and finish tolerance of the interface joint between the first and second edges when in a closed position.