Grab handle bracket

• US 9,840,221 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2016
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: England, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Condra, Darlene P
• Application Number:
  US15/145,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20160332593A1
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/023 movable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/026 characterised by the fixing means B60N3/023 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/04 Door pillars ; windshield pillars

Abstract

An A-pillar grab handle attachment bracket configured to connect a grab handle to an A-pillar structure of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The bracket comprises a first flange, a second flange, and a body portion connecting the first and second flanges. The first flange is configured to couple to the grab handle and the second flange is configured to couple to the A-pillar structure of the motor vehicle. The first and second flanges are spaced apart and the body portion extends between the first and second flanges and at least partially defines a channel configured to receive an inflatable portion of a side air curtain bag of the motor vehicle, such that the inflatable portion of the airbag deploys through an open side of the channel between the first and second flanges.

Claims

1. An A-pillar grab handle attachment bracket comprising:

a first flange, a second flange, and a body portion connecting the first and second flanges, the first flange adapted to couple to a grab handle and the second flange adapted to couple to an A-pillar structure of a motor vehicle;

wherein the first and second flanges are spaced apart, and the body portion extends between the first and second flanges and comprises a corrugation having walls that at least partially define a substantially arcuate and concave U-shaped channel adapted to receive an inflatable portion of a side air curtain bag of the motor vehicle, such that the inflatable portion of the side air curtain bag deploys through an open side of the substantially U-shaped channel between the first and second flanges, and wherein one of the first or second flanges form a side wall of the channel.

2. The attachment bracket according to claim 1, wherein the bracket comprises one or more stiffening features and the body portion corrugation comprises one of said stiffening features.

3. The attachment bracket according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the first and second flanges comprises one or more stiffening features.

4. The attachment bracket according to claim 3, wherein one of the stiffening features is disposed on the second flange and comprises a corrugation that is aligned with the body portion corrugation.

5. The attachment bracket according to claim 4, wherein one of the body portion corrugations or the second flange corrugation comprise a ridge and a trough that extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the substantially arcuate and concave U-shaped channel.

6. The attachment bracket according to claim 2, wherein the stiffening features increase a second moment of area of the bracket to resist deflection of the first flange relative to the second flange.

7. An attachment bracket comprising a first flange coupled to a handle, a second flange spaced apart from the first flange and coupled to an A-pillar structure, and a body portion connecting the first and second flanges and extending there between and comprising a corrugation having walls that at least partially define a substantially arcuate and concave U-shaped channel receiving an inflatable portion of an airbag, wherein the inflatable portion of the airbag deploys through an open side of the substantially arcuate and concave U-shaped channel between the first and second flanges.

8. The attachment bracket according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the first and second flanges at least partially define a side wall of the substantially arcuate and concave U-shaped channel.

9. The attachment bracket according claim 7, wherein the attachment bracket is formed from a material with a greater stiffness than a material of a layer of the A-pillar structure to which the bracket is coupled.

10. The attachment bracket according to claim 7, wherein the second flange comprises three or more apertures, and wherein the second flange is coupled to the A-pillar structure by fasteners passing through the apertures and the body portion comprises an opening for accessing one of the apertures.

11. An A-pillar assembly comprising a grab handle, an A-pillar structure, a bracket, and a side air curtain bag of the motor vehicle, the bracket further comprising a first flange coupled to the grab handle, a second flange coupled to the A-pillar structure, and a body portion connecting the first and second flanges, wherein the first and second flanges are spaced apart, and the body portion extends between the first and second flanges and comprises a corrugation having walls that at least partially define a substantially arcuate and concave U-shaped channel configured to receive the airbag, such that the inflatable portion of the airbag deploys through an open side of the substantially arcuate and concave U-shaped channel between the first and second flanges.

12. The A-pillar assembly according to claim 11, wherein the assembly further comprises an A-pillar reinforcement member coupled to the A-pillar structure, wherein the A-pillar reinforcement member is configured to resist deflections of the A-pillar structure due to loads applied to the grab handle.

13. The A-pillar assembly according to claim 12, wherein the A-pillar reinforcement member comprises one or more tabs and the A-pillar reinforcement member is coupled to the A-pillar structure at the tabs.

14. The A-pillar assembly according to claim 13, wherein the tabs are received in recesses of the A-pillar structure.

15. The A-pillar assembly according to claim 12, wherein the bracket is coupled to the A-pillar structure by one or more fasteners and the fasteners pass through apertures formed in the A-pillar reinforcement member.

16. The A-pillar assembly according to claim 12, wherein the A-pillar reinforcement member is formed from a material with a greater stiffness than the material of a layer of the A-pillar structure to which the reinforcement member is coupled.

17. The A-pillar assembly according to claim 12, wherein the A-pillar reinforcement member is adapted to transfer load from the bracket into the A-pillar structure.

18. The A-pillar assembly according to claim 12, wherein the A-pillar reinforcement member is provided on the opposite side of the A-pillar structure to the bracket.