Pillar garnish

• US 9,663,056 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2014
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Asano, Mitsuaki, Sakurai, Hideyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Drew J
• Application Number:
  US14/901,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20160368447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0206 Arrangements of fasteners and clips specially adapted for attaching inner vehicle liners or mouldings devices for fastening or securing F16B
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/025 Pillars; Roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21537 characterised by hinges
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

An extension portion is formed at a vehicle front side end portion of a garnish main body. The extension portion bends back to the side thereof at which an storage space is formed, and projects toward a clip seat that is formed at the back side of the garnish main body. The extension portion is connected to a pillar inner panel and the clip seat by a clip. During expansion of a curtain airbag, the front pillar garnish turns about an integral hinge and the storage space opens up.

Claims

1. A pillar garnish comprising:

a pillar garnish main body that forms, between the pillar garnish main body and a body panel, a storage space configured to store a curtain airbag in a folded state;

an extension portion that is bent back and extends toward the storage space from a first end portion of the pillar garnish main body that is at an opposite side of the pillar garnish main body from a second end portion of the pillar garnish main body that is at a curtain airbag expansion side of the pillar garnish main body;

an integral hinge formed at a back side of the first end portion of the pillar garnish main body, the garnish main body turning about the integral hinge in a case that the curtain airbag expands;

a fastening portion integrally formed with the extension portion, the fastening portion fastening the extension portion to the body panel;

an attachment portion that is provided at a back side of the pillar garnish main body; and

an engaging portion integrally formed with the extension portion, the engaging portion engaging the attachment portion and attaching the attachment portion to the body panel, the engaging portion disengaging the attachment portion in the case that the curtain airbag expands.

2. The pillar garnish according to claim 1, wherein the extension portion is fixed together with the attachment portion to the body panel by the fastening portion, in a state in which the extension portion is nipped between the attachment portion and the body panel.

3. The pillar garnish according to claim 1, wherein an equipment retention portion, for equipment that is disposed in the storage space, is formed at the attachment portion.

4. The pillar garnish according to claim 1, further comprising:

a retention portion that is formed at a location that corresponds with the second end portion of the pillar garnish main body; and

a shock-absorbing portion that projects from the extension portion toward a side thereof at which the retention portion is disposed, a distal end portion of the shock-absorbing portion being retained at the retention portion.