B-pillar trim strap for structural rigidity during CSA deployment

• US 9,586,554 B1
• Filed: 06/28/2016
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Baer, Mike A., Gillay, Dan F., Moore, Jaime N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M
• Application Number:
  US15/195,791
• Time in Patent Office: 252 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/025 Pillars; Roof rails
• 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

Side pillar assemblies may include trim straps for structural rigidity during deployment of side airbag apparatuses. During deployment, the airbag can deploy from behind the roof head lining, above one or more pillar garnishes of the side pillar assembly and into the occupant compartment. A rib along the back surface of the pillar garnish may be placed in tension during a deployment event and inhibit fragmentation of the pillar garnish and limit movement of the pillar garnish into the occupant compartment. The rib may include one or more strap portions that may be placed in compression in the event of an impact on the interior facing portions of the pillar garnish. The strap portions may buckle under the compression force and provide a level of cushioning or energy dissipation due to the impact.

Claims

1. A vehicle pillar garnish comprising:

a first surface facing a vehicle interior;

a second surface opposite the first surface;

a top edge;

a pair of side edges extending up to the top edge;

at least one corner portion proximate the juncture of the top edge and at least one of the side edges; and

a rib extending outwardly from the second surface, the rib extending along the second surface at least partially between the side edges, the rib including at least one strap portion,

wherein the rib is placed in tension and resists deformation of the at least one corner portion toward the vehicle interior when an inflation force is applied to the second surface adjacent the top edge and the rib is placed in compression and the at least one strap portion buckles when an impact force is applied to the first surface.

2. The pillar garnish of claim 1, wherein the rib includes at least one void and the at least one strap portion is defined by the at least one void.

3. The pillar garnish of claim 2, wherein the at least one void is at least two voids and the at least one strap portion is at least two strap portions.

4. The pillar garnish of claim 3, wherein the rib has an outer edge spaced apart from the second surface, a first one of the voids is between the second surface and the outer edge such that a first one of the strap portions is disposed away from the second surface with the void therebetween, a second one of the voids is along the outer edge, and a second one of the strap portions is disposed inward of the outer edge adjacent the second void.

5. The pillar garnish of claim 2, wherein the at least one void in the rib is between the second surface and an outer edge of the rib and the at least one strap portion is disposed away from the second surface with the void therebetween.

6. The pillar garnish of claim 2, wherein the rib has an outer edge spaced apart from the second surface, the at least one void in the rib is along the outer edge, and the at least one strap portion is disposed inward of the outer edge adjacent the at least one void.

7. The pillar garnish of claim 2, wherein the rib has an outer edge spaced apart from the second surface, the at least one void is at least two voids, a first one of the voids is between the second surface and the outer edge such that the at least one strap portion is disposed away from the second surface with the first void therebetween, a second one of the voids is along the outer edge, and the at least one strap portion is disposed inward of the outer edge adjacent the second void.

8. The pillar garnish of claim 2, wherein the at least one void and the at least one strap portion are disposed between a fastening feature and an engaging feature that engages with an airbag jump bracket.

9. The pillar garnish of claim 2, wherein the at least one void and the at least one strap portion are disposed between legs of an engaging feature that engages with an airbag jump bracket.

10. The pillar garnish of claim 1, wherein the rib has a first width, the at least one strap portion has a second width, and the second width is less than the first width.

11. The pillar garnish of claim 1, wherein the rib has a first thickness, the at least one strap portion has a second thickness, and the second thickness is different than the first thickness.

12. A vehicle pillar garnish comprising:

a first surface facing a vehicle interior;

a second surface opposite the first surface;

a top edge;

a pair of side edges extending up to the top edge;

at least one corner portion proximate the juncture of the top edge and at least one of the side edges; and

a rib extending outwardly from the second surface, the rib extending along the second surface at least partially between the side edges, the rib including at least one void that defines at least one strap portion, the rib has a first width, and the at least one strap portion has a second width less than the first width,

wherein the rib is placed in tension and resists deformation of the at least one corner portion toward the vehicle interior when an inflation force is applied to the second surface adjacent the top edge and the rib is placed in compression and the at least one strap portion buckles when an impact force is applied to the first surface.

13. The pillar garnish of claim 12, wherein the rib has an outer edge spaced apart from the second surface, the at least one void in the rib is between the second surface and the outer edge such that the at least one strap portion is disposed away from the second surface with the void therebetween.

14. The pillar garnish of claim 12, wherein the rib has an outer edge spaced apart from the second surface, the at least one void in the rib is along the outer edge, and the at least one strap portion is disposed inward of the outer edge adjacent the at least one void.

15. The pillar garnish of claim 12, wherein the rib has an outer edge spaced apart from the second surface, the at least one void is at least two voids, the at least one strap portion is at least two strap portions, a first one of the voids is between the second surface and the outer edge such that a first one of the strap portions is disposed away from the second surface with the first void therebetween, a second one of the voids is along the outer edge, and a second one of the strap portions is disposed inward of the outer edge adjacent the second void.

16. The pillar garnish of claim 12, wherein the rib has an outer edge spaced apart from the second surface, the at least one void is at least two voids, a first one of the voids is between the second surface and the outer edge such that the at least one strap portion is disposed away from the second surface with the first void therebetween, a second one of the voids is along the outer edge, and the at least one strap portion is disposed inward of the outer edge adjacent the second void.

17. A vehicle assembly comprising:

an airbag apparatus including an inflatable airbag body, the airbag body being deployable adjacent a pillar of the vehicle;

a pillar garnish operatively coupled to the vehicle pillar, the pillar garnish including;

a first surface facing a vehicle interior;

a second surface facing the vehicle pillar;

a top edge;

a pair of side edges extending up to the top edge;

at least one corner portion proximate the juncture of the top edge and at least one of the side edges; and

a rib extending outwardly from the second surface, the rib extending along the second surface at least partially between the side edges, the rib including at least one strap portion,

wherein the rib is placed in tension and resists deformation of the at least one corner portion toward the vehicle interior when an inflation force is applied to the second surface adjacent the top edge by deployment of the airbag body, and the rib is placed in compression and the at least one strap portion buckles when an impact force is applied to the first surface.

18. The vehicle assembly of claim 17, wherein the rib includes at least one void that defines the at least one strap portion, the rib has a first width, and the at least one strap portion has a second width less than the first width.

19. The vehicle assembly of claim 18, wherein the rib has an outer edge spaced apart from the second surface, the at least one void in the rib is between the second surface and the outer edge such that the at least one strap portion is disposed away from the second surface with the void therebetween.

20. The vehicle assembly of claim 18, wherein the rib has an outer edge spaced apart from the second surface, the at least one void in the rib is along the outer edge, and the at least one strap portion is disposed inward of the outer edge adjacent the at least one void.