Deployable instrument panel trim

• US 9,205,795 B1
• Filed: 12/16/2014
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Cheng, James Chih, Weerappuli, Parakrama V., Faruque, Mohammed Omar, El-Jawahri, Raed Essa
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M
• Application Number:
  US14/571,671
• Time in Patent Office: 357 Days
• Field of Search: 280/732, 280/749
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0009 Oblique collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/08 automatically movable from an inoperative to an operative position, e.g. in a collision electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/16 Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags protective garments with automatically inflatable shock-absorbing means A41D13/018; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards

Abstract

A passenger protection device includes a panel trim that is fittable to a vehicle instrument panel and a flexible sheet attached to each of at least a portion of the panel trim and at least a portion of an edge of the instrument panel.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a panel trim that is fittable to a vehicle instrument panel and that includes a first arm spaced opposite from a second arm, and a connecting arm connecting the first and second arms; and

a flexible sheet attached to each of at least a portion of the panel trim and at least a portion of an edge of the instrument panel.

2. The passenger protection device of claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet extends tautly between the panel trim and the edge in a deployed state.

3. The passenger protection device of claim 1, further comprising a second flexible sheet, wherein the flexible sheet extends between the first arm and a first portion of the edge and the second flexible sheet extends between the second arm and a second portion of the edge.

4. The passenger protection device of claim 3, further comprising a second connecting arm that is spaced opposite from the connecting arm and that connects the first and second arms.

5. The passenger protection device of claim 1, wherein the edge includes a cavity and the flexible sheet is stored within the cavity.

6. The passenger protection device of claim 1, further comprising:

a pivot pin;

a lever arm attached to the panel trim;

a shaft connected to the pivot pin;

a pretensioner; and

a cable connecting the lever arm and the pretensioner.

7. The passenger protection device of claim 6, wherein the pretensioner includes a piston arranged to move to retract the cable and an ignitable charge arranged to move the piston when an impact is detected.

8. The passenger protection device of claim 6, wherein the pretensioner is an electric motor.

9. The passenger protection device of claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet in a deployed state extends above a top of the instrument panel.

10. An passenger protection system, comprising:

a vehicle central console;

a panel trim extending along the central console and configured to deploy during an impact;

a flexible sheet connecting the panel trim and the central console;

a lever arm attached to the panel trim positioned within the central console;

a pivot pin, the lever arm positioned on the pivot pin and configured to rotate around the pivot pin;

a shaft connected to the pivot pin;

a pretensioner; and

a cable connecting the lever arm and the pretensioner.

11. The oblique passenger protection system of claim 10, wherein the flexible sheet extends tautly between the panel trim and the central console in a deployed state.

12. The oblique passenger protection system of claim 10, wherein an airbag contacts the flexible sheet form an impact surface.

13. The oblique passenger protection system of claim 10, wherein the flexible sheet extends above a seatback in a deployed state.

14. The oblique passenger protection system of claim 10, wherein the panel trim has a first arm, a second arm spaced opposite from the first arm, and a connecting arm connecting the first and second arms.

15. The oblique passenger protection system of claim 14, further comprising a second flexible sheet, wherein the flexible sheet connects the first arm and the central console and the second flexible sheet connects the second arm and the central console.

16. The oblique passenger protection system of claim 15, further comprising a second connecting arm connecting the first and second arms spaced opposite from the connecting arm.

17. The oblique passenger protection system of claim 15, further comprising an airbag and a second airbag, wherein the airbag contacts the flexible sheet to form an impact surface and the second airbag contacts the second flexible sheet to form a second impact surface.

18. The oblique passenger protection system of claim 10, wherein the pretensioner includes a piston arranged to move to retract the cable and an ignitable charge arranged to move the piston when an impact is detected.

19. The oblique passenger protection system of claim 10, wherein the pretensioner is an electric motor.