Structure for attaching interior trim panel around automotive front pillar

• US 7,621,556 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2006
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Itakura, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Freedman; Laura
• Application Number:
  US11/558,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20070108742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 296/1.08, 296/39.1, 296/193.06
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars

Abstract

In a structure for attaching an interior trim panel around an automotive front pillar, in which an airbag (6) is stored in a space in the range from the inside of a front pillar trim (2) to the inside of a roof lining (3), an engagement projection (92) projecting in almost the same direction as the deployment direction of the airbag is provided at intervals in the range from a flange (11) of a door opening (7) to the inside of a vehicle compartment in a portion which is adjacent to a joint portion (L1) of the front pillar trim and the roof lining and extends along the door opening of a vehicle body panel (10) located on the inside of the front pillar trim, and on the other hand, an engagement portion (24) projecting in the substantially opposite direction to the deployment direction of the airbag is provided on the back surface of an end edge portion on the door opening side of the front pillar trim (2), whereby the engagement portion (24) is engaged to the engagement projection (92).

Claims

1. A structure for attaching an interior trim panel around an automotive front pillar, comprising:

a front pillar trim covering a vehicle compartment side of a front pillar, wherein the front pillar trim is provided with a rib on a back surface thereof;

a roof lining being adjacent to the front pillar trim and covering a vehicle compartment side of a roof side; and

an airbag stored in a space extending from an inside of the front pillar trim to an inside of the roof lining, wherein

an engagement projection is provided on a vehicle body panel being located inside of the front pillar trim adjacent to the roof lining, the engagement projection being projected in a direction of the airbag deploying and located with a space from a flange of a door opening towards inside of the vehicle compartment, and an engagement portion is projected on a back surface of the front pillar trim in a direction against to said airbag deploying, so as to be engaged to said engagement projection;

the rib extends in a direction substantially traversing the front pillar trim adjacent to the door opening, and the rib is provided with the engagement portion; and

the rib is provided with a projected edge located on the vehicle compartment side of the engagement portion projected toward the airbag nearer than the engagement portion, wherein the projected edge is configured to first receive the airbag deploying.

2. The structure for attaching an interior trim panel around an automotive front pillar according to claim 1, wherein a trim holder is attached on the vehicle body panel, and the engagement projection is provided on the trim holder.

3. The structure for attaching an interior trim panel around an automotive front pillar according to claim 2, wherein the trim holder is made of a resin.

4. The structure for attaching an interior trim panel around an automotive front pillar according to claim 2, wherein the trim holder is provided with a fixed portion lapping on the flange of the door opening of the vehicle body panel so as to be held by an opening trim together with the flange.

5. The structure for attaching an interior trim panel around an automotive front pillar according to claim 2, wherein the trim holder is provided with a support portion projecting and being in contact with a back surface of the roof lining so that an end portion of the roof lining is held between the support portion and a trim sealing lip of an opening trim.

6. The structure for attaching an interior trim panel around an automotive front pillar according to claim 1, wherein the engagement projection has a claw-shaped cross section that is open toward the outside of the vehicle compartment and is configured to engage with a tip of the engagement portion.