Pillar trim component
AssigneeNissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
InventorDaniel G. Lizak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pillar trim component is provided that has a pillar trim member with at least one surface and an attachment member projecting from the surface of the pillar trim member. The pillar trim component includes an attachment member adapted to connect to a portion of the vehicle. The pillar trim component further has a region defined by at least a portion of the surface of the pillar trim member and at least a portion of a surface of the attachment member. A raised portion is positioned in the region that extends between the portion of the surface of the pillar trim member and the portion of the surface of the attachment member. The raised portion is adapted to facilitate a deployment of a tether of an airbag.
Claims21
A pillar trim component comprising:
- a pillar trim member having a wall portion defining a central surface and at least one side wall surface;
- an attachment member projecting from the central surface of the pillar trim member, wherein the attachment member is adapted to connect to a portion of a vehicle;
- a region including at least a portion of the central surface of the pillar trim member and at least a portion of a surface of the attachment member;
- and
- a raised portion positioned in the region that extends between the side wall surface of the pillar trim member and the attachment member;
- wherein the raised portion is adapted to facilitate a deployment of a tether of an airbag
- wherein the raised portion further comprises:
- a first portion extending substantially perpendicular to a direction of protrusion of the attachment member, wherein the first portion is positioned on a side of the attachment member proximate the side wall surface;
- and
- a second portion substantially following a shape of the side wall surface;
- wherein the first portion is adjacent to the attachment member and is adapted to support the tether of an airbag when the airbag is in an non-deployed state;
- wherein the second portion is adjacent to the side wall surface and has a shape adapted to facilitate a deployment of the tether of the airbag when the airbag is deployed.
A pillar trim component for a vehicle, comprising:
- a pillar trim member having a central base portion with a first interior facing surface and a side wall portion with a second interior facing surface, the side wall portion extending from the central base portion and defining a distal edge of the pillar trim member, wherein the first and the second interior facing surfaces are arranged in a non-coplanar configuration;
- an attachment member extending from the first interior facing surface and adapted to selectively connect the pillar trim member to a portion of a vehicle;
- and
- a ramp portion having a first end connected to the attachment member, a second end connected to the second interior facing surface near the distal edge, and a central portion interconnecting the first and second ends and spaced apart from the first and second interior facing surfaces to define an aperture therebetween, at least a portion of the ramp portion configured and arranged to guide a tether operatively connected to an airbag past the distal edge of the pillar trim member during deployment of the airbag.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.