Front pillar trim panel with tether

• US 7,793,972 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2007
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Downey, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Freedman; Laura
• Application Number:
  US11/685,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20080224453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.3, 280/730.2, 280/732, 280/743.2, 280/743.1, 296/193.06, 296/39.1, 296/1.08
• US Class Current: 280/728.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/216 comprising tether means for limitation of cover motion during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration

Abstract

A vehicular interior trim piece with a tether for use with a side curtain airbag. The tether is attached to an integral first panel portion and a second panel portion which rotates about a hinge out of the path of the airbag. The tether prevents complete detachment of the second panel from the first panel.

Claims

1. A trim panel selectively attached to vehicular structure for use in a passenger compartment for covering an expandable air bag, the trim panel comprising:

a first portion and a second portion integrally formed as a unitary panel each portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surfaces of the first and second portions defining a concave recess adapted to receive at least a portion of the expandable airbag, the first and the second portions adapted to radially extend around at least partially surrounding the expandable airbag, the first portion and the unitary second portion defining a frangible portion positioned between the first and the second portions along a first edge of the second portion leaving a freestanding second edge of the second portion opposite the frangible portion not directly in contact with the first portion;

at least one tether having a surface area, the tether connected to the first portion and the second portion adjacent the second portion first edge, wherein substantially all of the tether surface area facing the first and the second portions is in contact with the respective first and second portions, the tether operable to prevent detachment of the second portion from the first portion into the passenger compartment on expansion of the airbag.

2. The trim panel of claim 1 wherein the unitary panel further comprises the tether integrally formed therewith.

3. The trim panel of claim 2 wherein the frangible portion includes an elongate notch defined by the inner surfaces of the unitary panel first and the second portions.

4. The trim panel of claim 3 wherein the tether spans across at least a part of the notch.

5. The trim panel of claim 3 wherein the notch forms a hinge in the unitary panel for pivotal rotation of the second portion with respect to the first portion away from the airbag providing a passageway for expansion of the airbag.

6. The trim panel of claim 2 wherein the tether comprises a sheet of fabric material.

7. The trim panel of claim 2 wherein the integrally formed tether is positioned in substantial contact with the inner surfaces of the first and the second portions.

8. The trim panel of claim 1 wherein the frangible portion includes an elongate notch defined by the inner surfaces of the unitary panel first and second portions.

9. The trim panel of claim 8 wherein the tether is selectively attached to the inner surfaces of the first portion and the second portion spanning across at least a part of the elongate notch.

10. The trim panel of claim 8 wherein the notch forms a hinge in the unitary panel for pivotal rotation of the second portion with respect to the first portion away from the airbag providing a passageway for expansion of the airbag.

11. The trim panel of claim 1 wherein the trim panel is a trim panel covering vehicular A-pillar structure positioned between a windshield and a side door window.

12. The trim panel of claim 1 wherein the at least one tether comprises a plurality of tethers.

13. The trim panel of claim 1 wherein the tether is positioned in substantial contact with the inner surfaces of the first and the second portions.

14. The trim panel of claim 1 further comprising a trim panel width defined by the first portion, the frangible portion and the second portion, wherein the tether spanning less than the full width of the trim panel.

15. A trim panel for selected attachment to a vehicle body pillar structure for use in a passenger compartment for covering an expandable airbag, the trim panel comprising:

a first portion and a second portion integrally formed as a unitary panel each portion having an outer surface and an inner surface, the unitary first portion and the second portion defining a frangible portion positioned between the first and the second portions along a first edge of the second portion leaving a freestanding second portion second edge opposite the frangible portion not directly in contact with the first portion prior to expansion of the airbag, the frangible portion serving as a hinge whereby the freestanding second portion second edge is permitted to pivotally rotate about the hinge away from the airbag on expansion of the airbag, and

at least one tether selectively positioned on the inner surface of the first and the second portions adjacent to the vehicle body pillar structure, the at least one tether is selectively attached to the inner surface of the first portion and the inner surface of the second portion adjacent the first edge of the second portion spanning at least a part of the frangible portion to prevent detachment of the second portion from the first portion into the passenger compartment on expansion of the airbag.

16. The trim panel of claim 15 wherein the tether comprises a woven material having a selected surface area.

17. The trim panel of claim 15 wherein the frangible portion, the tether and the second portion first edge lie substantially in a first plane, the free standing second portion second edge is positioned in a second plane angularly offset from the first plane prior to expansion of the airbag, wherein at least a portion of the first portion and the second portion at least partially radially surround the expandable airbag.

18. The trim panel of claim 15 further comprising a trim panel width defined by the first portion, the frangible portion and the second portion, wherein the tether spanning less than the full width of the trim panel.

19. A trim panel selectively attached to vehicular structure for use in a passenger compartment for covering an expandable air bag, the trim panel comprising:

a first portion and a second portion integrally formed as a unitary panel each portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, the first portion and the unitary second portion defining a frangible portion positioned between the first and the second portions;

at least one tether integrally formed with the unitary panel, the tether is connected to the first portion and at least a part of the second portion and is positioned within the unitary panel to substantially avoid contact with both the outer surfaces and the inner surfaces to prevent detachment of the second portion from the first portion into the passenger compartment on expansion of the airbag.

20. The trim panel of claim 19 wherein the tether is a woven material having a selected surface area.

21. A trim panel selectively attached to vehicular structure for use in a passenger compartment for covering an expandable air bag, the trim panel comprising:

a first portion and a second portion integrally formed as a unitary panel each portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, the first portion and the unitary second portion defining a frangible portion positioned between the first and the second portions along a first edge of the second portion leaving a freestanding second edge of the second portion opposite the frangible portion not directly in contact with the first portion; and

at least one tether connected to the first portion and at least a part of the second portion adjacent the second portion first edge to prevent detachment of the second portion from the first portion into the passenger compartment on expansion of the airbag, wherein the trim panel is a trim panel covering vehicular A-pillar structure positioned between a windshield and a side door window.

22. The trim panel of claim 21 where the first portion includes a flange angularly positioned from a plane of the trim panel having the frangible portion, the flange having an attachment point for securing the trim panel directly to the A-pillar structure.