Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-20
2001-12-11
Mai, Lanna (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S730100, C280S751000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328333
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to inflatable restraints and, more specifically, to a pillar trim for an inflatable restraint system in a motor vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
A particular type of inflatable restraint for an occupant in a motor vehicle is commonly referred to as an air bag. The air bag is stored in the motor vehicle in an uninflated condition. When the motor vehicle experiences a collision-indicating condition of at least a predetermined threshold level, gas is directed to flow into the air bag from a gas producing source. The gas inflates the air bag to an extended condition in which the air bag extends into the occupant compartment of the motor vehicle. When the air bag is inflated into the occupant compartment, it restrains movement of the occupant to help protect the occupant from forcefully striking parts of the motor vehicle as a result of the collision.
The air bag is typically mounted in the vehicle as a part of an air bag module. In addition to the air bag, the air bag module includes an inflator and a reaction canister. The inflator is source of gas for inflating the air bag. The reaction canister contains the air bag and the inflator, and has a deployment opening through which the air bag emerges from the reaction canister when it is being inflated.
Typically, a deployment door extends over the deployment opening in the reaction canister to conceal the air bag and the other parts of the air bag module from the occupant compartment. The deployment door may be a part of a panel such as an instrument panel of the motor vehicle.
When the inflator is actuated, the reaction canister directs the gas to flow from the inflator into the air bag. As the gas enters the air bag, it moves the air bag outward from the reaction canister through the deployment opening and forcefully against the deployment door. A closure portion of the deployment door is ruptured by the force of the fluid pressure in the air bag. As the air bag continues to move outward against the deployment door, it forcefully deflects a hinge portion of the deployment door so as to move the deployment door pivotally away from the deployment opening. The deployment door is thus opened and moved pivotally out of the path of the air bag as the air bag is inflated outward from the reaction canister through the deployment opening and into the occupant compartment.
It is known to provide a pillar trim inside the occupant compartment for a pillar on a vehicle body of the motor vehicle. Examples of such pillar trims are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,580,116 and 5,641,195 to Patel et al. In these patents, the pillar trim includes a body fixedly mounted to a pillar having a plurality of energy absorbing ribs spaced relative to one another along the body and disposed adjacent to the pillar when the pillar trim is mounted thereto. These ribs are relatively stiff and do not allow an air bag to deploy through the pillar trim.
Therefore, there is a need in the art to deploy an air bag from a pillar and roof inside the occupant compartment of the motor vehicle. Also, there is a need in the art to provide a pillar trim that has packaging space for the air bag and air bag deployment without detaching from vehicle structure of the motor vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is a pillar trim for an inflatable restraint mounted to a pillar of a motor vehicle. The pillar trim includes a body fixedly mounted to the pillar and a plurality of energy absorbing ribs spaced relative to one another along the body and disposed adjacent to the pillar when the pillar trim is mounted thereto. The energy absorbing ribs are spaced from the pillar to form a packaging space for the inflatable restraint to be stowed therein. The pillar trim also includes a notch extending through the energy absorbing ribs and into the body to deflect and bend to form a desired exit opening in the body when the inflatable restraint is inflated to allow the inflatable restraint to deploy therethrough.
One feature of the present invention is that a pillar trim is provided for an inflatable restraint system in a motor vehicle. Another feature of the present invention is that the pillar trim covers an inflatable restraint or air bag packaged on the A-pillar and the roof surface and reduces deployment time of the inflatable restraint. Yet another feature of the present invention is that the pillar trim provides a path for easier deployment of a side impact or rollover inflatable restraint when the inflatable restraint is packaged behind the pillar trim. Still another feature of the present invention is that the pillar trim provides a cost effective pillar trim design that can be made with existing tooling without degrading packaging and head impact performance. A further feature of the present invention is that the pillar trim assists in deploying a curtain type inflatable restraint packaged behind the pillar trim while meeting head impact requirements without reducing deployment time and, after deployment of the inflatable restraint, stays on the pillar without fragmenting the pillar trim. Yet a further feature of the present invention is that the pillar trim provides packaging space and inflatable restraint deployment capability from the pillar and roof to provide a cushion for the occupant in case of a side impact or rollover condition.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood after reading the subsequent description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5238263 (1993-08-01), Sinnhuber
patent: 5273309 (1993-12-01), Lau et al.
patent: 5382051 (1995-01-01), Glance
patent: 5560672 (1996-10-01), Lim et al.
patent: 5580116 (1996-12-01), Patel et al.
patent: 5641195 (1997-06-01), Patel et al.
patent: 5709407 (1998-01-01), Stephens et al.
patent: 5720510 (1998-02-01), Daniel et al.
patent: 6142506 (2000-11-01), Patel et al.
patent: 0 841 221 A1 (1998-05-01), None
patent: 0 872 390 A1 (1998-10-01), None
patent: 3-276844 (1991-12-01), None
patent: 10-138861 (1998-05-01), None
patent: 11-301368 (1999-11-01), None
Patel Rasik N.
Ursaki Glen Paul
Buchanan Christopher
Ford Global Technologies Inc.
Kelley David B.
Mai Lanna
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