# US 2013/0154243 A1 · Side paneling system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0154243 A1 - Document ID: US20130154243A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/712,469 - Filed: 2012-12-12 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Carsten GLASER; Thorsten BEST - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130154243A1 ## CPC - B60R 21/216: comprising tether means for limitation of cover motion during deployment - B60R 13/0206: {Arrangements of fasteners and clips specially adapted for attaching inner vehicle liners or mouldings (devices for fastening or securing F16B)} - B62D 65/02: Joining sub-units or components to, or positioning sub-units or components with respect to, body shell or other sub-units or components - B60R 21/213: in vehicle roof frames or pillars - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A side paneling system for a pillar of a motor vehicle is provided. The system includes a side paneling part for covering the pillar and an airbag arranged between the side paneling part and the pillar, at least one connecting element for releasably connecting the side paneling part to the pillar so that with an airbag (10) activating itself the side paneling part can move away from the pillar with the airbag, a catch band that is indirectly or directly connected to the side paneling part, so that the side paneling part is indirectly or directly fastened to the pillar with the catch band even with an activated airbag and the released connecting element. The side paneling part is in two parts with a first part and a second part, so that only the second part can move away from the pillar with the airbag. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A side paneling system for a pillar of a motor vehicle, comprising: a side paneling part that covers the pillar; an airbag arranged between the side paneling part and the pillar; at least one connecting element that releasably connects the side paneling part to the pillar, so that upon an activation of the airbag the side paneling part with the airbag moves away from the pillar; and a catch band coupled to the side paneling part, so that the side paneling part even with the airbag activated and the released connecting element is coupled to the pillar with the catch band, wherein the side paneling part is in two parts with a first part and a second part, so that only the second part with the airbag moves away from the pillar. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The side paneling system according to claim 1, wherein the first part of the side paneling part after activation of the airbag is connected to the pillar by means of the connecting element and the connection with the connecting element at the second part of the side paneling part is released after the activation of the airbag. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The side paneling system according to claim 1, wherein the first part is a lower part and the second part is an upper part. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The side paneling system according to claim 2, wherein the second part is indirectly or directly connected to the first part of the side paneling part by means of a releasable panel connecting element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The side paneling system according to claim 4, wherein the releasable panel connecting element is a clip or engagement element, so that the releasable panel connecting element is releasable by means of the airbag. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The side paneling system according to claim 5, wherein on the second part exclusively at least one releasable connecting element is formed and on the first part at least one releasable connecting element or at least one non-releasable connecting element is formed and the at least one non-releasable connecting element cannot be released by the airbag. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The side paneling system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one non-releasable connecting element is selected from the group comprising a screw and a riveting element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The side paneling system according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the first part and the second part of the side paneling part on the inside further comprises a holding frame as constituent part of the at least one of the first part and second part. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The side paneling system according to claim 8, wherein the catch band is tightly connected on a first end to the second part or to a connecting element formed on the second part. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The side paneling system according to claim 9, wherein on the first part of the side paneling part a ramp for guiding the movement direction of the airbag during activation is formed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The side paneling system according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the first part and the second part is at least partially composed of plastic. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The side paneling system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the the at least one connecting element and the panel connecting element is at least partially composed of plastic. ### Claim 13 A method for producing a motor vehicle, comprising: making available a side paneling system, the side paneling system including a side paneling part that covers the pillar and an airbag arranged between the side paneling part and the pillar, at least one connecting element that releasably connects the side paneling part to the pillar, so that upon an activation of the airbag the side paneling part with the airbag moves away from the pillar, and a catch band coupled to the side paneling part, so that the side paneling part even with the airbag activated and the released connecting element is coupled to the pillar with the catch band; and fastening the side paneling system to a vehicle structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the side paneling part includes a first part and a second part, and the first part and second part of the side paneling part prior to the fastening of the side paneling system to the vehicle structure are already interconnected with a panel connecting element so that the first part and second part of the side paneling part already connected with the panel connecting element are connected to the vehicle structure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the first part is coupled to the vehicle structure with at least one connecting element and the second part is coupled to the vehicle structure with at least one connecting element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the vehicle structure is an A or C-pillar. ### Claim 17 A motor vehicle, comprising: a vehicle structure having at least one pillar; at least one side paneling system coupled to the at least one pillar, the side paneling system including a side paneling part that covers the pillar and an airbag arranged between the side paneling part and the pillar, at least one connecting element that releasably connects the side paneling part to the pillar, so that upon an activation of the airbag the side paneling part with the airbag moves away from the pillar, and a catch band coupled to the side paneling part, so that the side paneling part even with the airbag activated and the released connecting element is coupled to the pillar with the catch band, wherein the side paneling part is in two parts with a first part and a second part, so that only the second part with the airbag moves away from the pillar. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The motor vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the at least one pillar is an A or C-pillar and the pillar further comprises a body in the region of the pillar, and the airbag is a head airbag and between the second part of the side paneling part and the pillar the airbag is arranged, and between the first part of the side paneling part and the pillar, no airbag is arranged. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The motor vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the catch band with a second end is coupled to the at least one pillar, and the second part is coupled exclusively with the at least one releasable connecting element to the at least one pillar and the first part is coupled to the vehicle structure with the at least one releasable connecting element or non-releasable connecting element. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The motor vehicle according to claim 19, wherein after the activation of the airbag the second part is coupled to the at least one pillar only with the catch band.