Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-17
2001-03-13
Dickson, Paul N. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S805000, C188S377000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199907
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to motor vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for absorbing impact energy during an impact collision of a motor vehicle.
2. Discussion
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS 201) requirements scheduled for gradual introduction beginning with the 1999 model year specify maximum HIC (head injury criteria) for various points in the upper portions in the vehicle interior. In testing, the head of an anthropomorphic test device (ATD or test dummy) is impacted with the vehicle interior at a predetermined speed at each of the designated points. The HIC from the impact is derived with data obtained from a tri-axial accelerometer located on the ATD head.
Various arrangements have been proposed for absorbing energy at different impact points above the belt line. For example, commonly assigned U.S. Ser. No. 08/963,750, filed Nov. 4, 1997, discloses an apparatus for attaching a seat belt to a B-pillar which is capable of absorbing energy in the event the vehicle is involved in a side impact collision. The apparatus includes an anchorage assembly attached to a mounting plate. A D-ring is attached to the anchorage assembly and is operative for receiving a shoulder belt portion of the seat belt webbing. The anchorage assembly is preferably attached to the mounting plate at attachment points which are spaced apart on the mounting plate and are adapted to displace in an outboard direction when the anchorage assembly is subjected to a predetermined compression load. U.S. Ser. No. 08/963,750 is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
It is also known to absorb impact energy within a vehicle occupant compartment through the addition of foam, such as polystyrene or the like. One such example is shown in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,407, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. While often desirable for certain applications, foam energy absorbers are associated with disadvantages. For example, foam energy absorbers are relatively thick and necessarily intrude into the vehicle interior.
Thus, it is desirable to provide an improved apparatus for absorbing impact energy at interior points within a motor vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for absorbing energy in the event a vehicle occupant encounters the B-pillar or other structural component during a vehicle collision.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a reinforced B-pillar assembly adapted to absorb energy in the event a vehicle occupant encounters the assembly during a collision.
In one form, the present invention provides a pillar assembly for a motor vehicle. The pillar assembly includes a frame portion and an interior trim panel attached to the frame portion. The pillar assembly further includes an energy absorbing member attached to one of the frame portion and the interior trim panel. The energy absorbing member is interdisposed between the frame portion and the interior trim panel. The energy absorbing member is inelastically deformable and has an open side and a closed side. The open side is oriented to face the other of the frame portion and the interior trim panel.
In another preferred form, the present invention provides a method of absorbing energy during a side impact collision of a motor vehicle having a pillar assembly with a frame portion and an interior trim panel attached thereto. The method includes the general step of providing an energy absorbing member having an open side and a closed side. The method additionally includes the general step of attaching the closed side of the energy absorbing member to one of the frame portion and the interior trim panel so as to orient the open side toward the other of the frame portion and the interior trim panel. The method further comprises the general step of inelastically deforming the energy absorbing member.
Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from a reading of the subsequent description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Co-pending U.S. Serial No. 08/963,750, filed Nov. 4, 1997, entitled “Energy Absorbing B-Pillar Seatbelt Mounting Arrangement”.
Mugford Donald A.
O'Brien Richard A.
Uduma Kalu
Chrysler Corporation
Dickson Paul N.
MacLean Kenneth H.
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