U.S. patent application number 14/686048 was filed with the patent office on 2016-10-20 for active glove box door with ventilated reaction plate.
The applicant listed for this patent is FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC. Invention is credited to PETER J. BEJIN, KAITLIN M. CISCHKE, TYLER COHOON, RAFFI B. MANOUKIAN, NICHOLAS A. MAZZOCCHI, STACEY H. RAINES.
Application Number | 20160304048 14/686048 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56995098 |
Filed Date | 2016-10-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160304048 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
RAINES; STACEY H. ; et
al. |
October 20, 2016 |
ACTIVE GLOVE BOX DOOR WITH VENTILATED REACTION PLATE
Abstract
An active glove box door includes a bladder member joined along
an outer perimeter with a front wall by a hot weld seam to form an
inflatable bladder. The bladder member includes a circumferential
pleat for unfolding in response to an inflation gas during a crash
event. A door inner liner is joined to a central region of the
bladder member and forms a generally continuous plate behind the
bladder member. The door inner liner interfaces with the instrument
panel to provide a reaction surface for expansion of the bladder.
The pleat has a peak disposed proximate to the door inner liner,
wherein the peak includes a vent opening that delineates a
collision region on the door inner liner. The door inner liner
includes a plurality of perforations in the collision region
permitting flow of inflation gas from the vent opening through the
door inner liner.
Inventors: |
RAINES; STACEY H.;
(YPSILANTI, MI) ; COHOON; TYLER; (DETROIT, MI)
; BEJIN; PETER J.; (NORTHVILLE, MI) ; CISCHKE;
KAITLIN M.; (BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI) ; MAZZOCCHI;
NICHOLAS A.; (ANN ARBOR, MI) ; MANOUKIAN; RAFFI
B.; (NORTHVILLE, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC |
DEARBORN |
MI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56995098 |
Appl. No.: |
14/686048 |
Filed: |
April 14, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 2021/0053 20130101;
B60R 2021/21537 20130101; B60R 21/045 20130101; B60R 2021/21506
20130101; B60R 2021/0051 20130101; B60R 21/239 20130101; B60R
2021/0407 20130101; B60R 21/215 20130101; B60R 2021/21543
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60R 21/239 20060101
B60R021/239; B60R 21/215 20060101 B60R021/215 |
Claims
1. An active glove box door for mounting in an opening of an
instrument panel in an automotive vehicle, comprising: a
plastic-molded front wall for deploying outward from the opening; a
plastic-molded bladder member joined along an outer perimeter with
the front wall by a hot weld seam to form an inflatable bladder,
wherein the bladder member includes at least one substantially
circumferential pleat adjacent the weld seam for unfolding in
response to an inflation gas injected into the inflatable bladder
during a crash event; and a door inner liner joined to a central
region of the bladder member and forming a generally continuous
plate behind the bladder member, the door inner liner interfacing
with the instrument panel to provide a reaction surface for
expansion of the bladder member; wherein the pleat has a peak
disposed proximate to the door inner liner, wherein the peak
includes a vent opening that delineates a gas collision region on
the door inner liner, wherein proximity of the collision region
partially obstructs the vent opening, and wherein the door inner
liner includes a plurality of perforations in the collision region
permitting flow of inflation gas from the vent opening through the
door inner liner.
2. The active glove box door of claim 1 wherein the pleat has a
plurality of vent opening in the peak delineating a plurality of
collision regions, and wherein each collision region includes a
respective plurality of perforations.
3. The active glove box door of claim 1 wherein the perforations
are arranged in a grille pattern.
4. The active glove box door of claim 1 wherein the perforations
are arranged in a logo pattern.
5. The active glove box door of claim 1 wherein the door inner
liner is comprised of molded plastic, and wherein the door inner
liner is hot welded to the bladder member.
6. The active glove box door of claim 1 wherein the perforations
are closed by a respective plug that is ejected by the inflation
gas.
7. The active glove box door of claim 1 wherein the perforations
are defined by respective tear seams that tear open in response to
the inflation gas.
8. An active glove box door comprising: an inflatable bladder
including an expanding front wall and a bladder wall with a pleat
having a vent; and an inner liner forming a generally continuous
plate behind the bladder wall to provide a reaction surface for
expansion of the bladder; wherein the inner liner includes
perforations in a gas collision region delineated by the vent to
permit flow of inflation gas exiting the vent through the inner
liner.
9. An active glove box door for mounting in an opening of an
instrument panel in an automotive vehicle, comprising: a
plastic-molded front wall for deploying outward from the opening; a
plastic-molded bladder member joined along an outer perimeter with
the front wall by a hot weld seam to form an inflatable bladder,
wherein the bladder member includes at least one substantially
circumferential pleat adjacent the weld seam for unfolding in
response to an inflation gas injected into the inflatable bladder
during a crash event; and a door inner liner joined to a central
region of the bladder member and forming a generally continuous
plate behind the bladder member, the door inner liner interfacing
with the instrument panel to provide a reaction surface for
expansion of the bladder member; wherein the pleat has a peak
disposed proximate to the door inner liner, wherein the peak
includes a vent opening that delineates a collision region on the
door inner liner, and wherein the door inner liner includes a
pressure relief feature in the collision region that opens in
response to the inflation gas to permit flow of inflation gas from
the vent opening through the door inner liner.
10. The active glove box door of claim 9 wherein the pressure
relief feature is comprised of an aperture and a removable
plug.
11. The active glove box door of claim 9 wherein the pressure
relief feature is comprised of a tear seam defining a tab and a
living hinge.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
[0002] Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates in general to active bolsters
for occupant crash protection in automotive vehicles, and, more
specifically, to an active bolster with an inflatable bladder
formed by plastic wall panels that are hot welded to form a
hermetic seal wherein one wall is vented for a controlled release
of inflation gas.
[0004] An active bolster is a vehicle occupant protection device
with a gas-inflatable bladder to absorb impacts and reduce trauma
to occupants during a crash. As opposed to deployable air bag
cushions made of various fabrics that emerge from behind various
openings upon inflation, active bolsters use the interior trim
surface (e.g., instrument panel dashboard, glove box, passenger
door, or seat back) itself to expand at the beginning of a crash
event for absorbing the impact and dissipating energy through the
action of an inflation gas. U.S. Pat. No. 8,205,909, issued Jun.
26, 2012, incorporated herein by reference, discloses an active
knee bolster integrated into a glove box door that is light weight
and visually attractive. U.S. Pat. No. 8,474,868, issued Jul. 2,
2013, also incorporated herein by reference, discloses a typical
structure wherein an active bolster includes a front wall or trim
panel that faces a vehicle occupant and is attached to a back wall
or bladder member along a sealed periphery. One or both of the
walls is deformable in order to provide an expandable, inflatable
bladder. For example, the bladder member may have a pleated (i.e.,
accordion-like) region that straightens out during inflation.
[0005] The front and back walls of a typical bladder for an active
bolster are comprised of molded thermoplastics such as
polyethylene, polyolefin, or PVC. They are typically injection
molded but can also be blow molded. When formed separately, the
front and back walls must be hermetically joined around their
periphery in order to form the inflatable bladder. The joint must
be strong to resist separation that could result from high
inflation pressures during inflation and that result when a
passenger impacts the bolster. The peripheral seal is formed by hot
welding, for example.
[0006] It is known that in order to optimize the dissipation of
energy when an occupant contacts an air bag or an active bolster,
inflation gas should be vented to allow a controlled collapse of
the airbag that safely decelerates the impacting occupant. U.S.
Pat. No. 8,720,943, issued May 13, 2014, which is incorporated
herein by reference, discloses an active vent structure for
providing a variable vent flow rate.
[0007] Various types of structures and locations on a pleated
bladder member have been disclosed for venting inflation gas during
inflation and during loading by an impacting passenger. Venting
locations have been disclosed on the central, flat areas of the
bladder wall, in the pleated baffle region of the bladder wall, and
in welding towers that attach the bladder wall to a reaction
surface, for example. It has been suggested that vents can be
placed 1) in close proximity to local regions where the stresses of
inflation forces may create a highest probability of weld failure,
or 2) with a spatial distribution that adjusts the restraint forces
provided at different regions of the bolster. Since it is desirable
to locate the vent(s) close to the hot weld seam, the outermost
pleat is often selected for the vent locations. With injection
molding of the bladder member, the window openings for vents on the
outermost pleat have been located at the top (i.e., peak) of the
pleat since that facilitates the injection molding process and
simplifies the molding tools.
[0008] Due to space considerations in a typical automotive
passenger compartment, it is advantageous for the uninflated
bolster assembly to be relatively thin. In order to fit an active
bolster into the available depth of a glove box door, for example,
requires that the pleated baffle of the bladder wall will be
disposed very closely to an inner door liner acting as a reaction
plate to support bladder expansion. Therefore, the vent opening in
the peak of a pleat is close to the door liner, which delineates a
collision region where inflation gas exiting the vent opening
impinges of the door liner. Due to the partial obstruction of gas
flow, the vent opening has not provided the intended pressure
relief or the desired decrease in weld stress during the initial
stages of inflation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In one aspect of the invention, an active glove box door is
provided for mounting in an opening of an instrument panel in an
automotive vehicle. A plastic-molded front wall deploys outward
from the opening. A plastic-molded bladder member is joined along
an outer perimeter with the front wall by a hot weld seam to form
an inflatable bladder. The bladder member includes at least one
substantially circumferential pleat adjacent the weld seam for
unfolding in response to an inflation gas injected into the
inflatable bladder during a crash event. A door inner liner is
joined to a central region of the bladder member. The door liner
forms a generally continuous plate behind the bladder member. The
door inner liner interfaces with the instrument panel to provide a
reaction surface for expansion of the bladder member. The pleat has
a peak disposed proximate to the door inner liner, wherein the peak
includes a vent opening that delineates a collision region on the
door inner liner. The door inner liner includes a plurality of
perforations in the collision region permitting flow of inflation
gas from the vent opening through the door inner liner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is an outward-looking, exploded perspective view of
an active knee bolster glove box door system of a type to which the
present invention can be applied.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a partial inflatable
bladder assembly of an active bolster.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a side cross section showing a prior art active
bolster assembly.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of an active glove box
assembly with an edge partially broken away.
[0014] FIG. 5 is an enlargement of a portion of FIG. 4 including a
vent opening.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a cross section showing an interface of a prior
art vent opening with a reaction surface.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a cross section showing a modified reaction plate
of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a plan view of the inner side of a door inner
liner according to one embodiment.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a plan view of the outer side of a door inner
liner according to an embodiment with perforations in a grille
pattern.
[0019] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the outer side of a door inner
liner according to an embodiment with perforations in a logo
pattern.
[0020] FIG. 11 is a plan view of the outer side of a door inner
liner according to an embodiment with a pop-out plug.
[0021] FIG. 12 is a cross section through the pop-out plug along
line 12-12 of FIG. 11.
[0022] FIG. 13 is a plan view of the outer side of a door inner
liner according to an embodiment with a tear seam defining a vent
door.
[0023] FIG. 14 is a cross section through the tear seam forming a
vent door along line 14-14 of FIG. 13.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 1, a prior art active knee bolster
system 10 has a base panel component 11 which forms the foundation
for the bolster. Base 11 may be either attached to the vehicle by
hinging from a storage cavity or glove box 12 as shown in FIG. 1,
or mounted to another structure such as an instrument panel support
located below a steering column, for example. Such locations are
accessible to the knees of an individual passenger riding in a
corresponding seating position within a vehicle.
[0025] In this arrangement, base 11 is a door inner wall or liner
that acts as a reaction plate for supporting an inflatable bladder
formed by a back (bladder) wall 13 and a front (trim) wall 14 that
are joined around their periphery 15. Walls 13 and 14 are
preferably comprised of molded plastics (such as thermoplastic
polyolefin (TPO)) and are joined by plastic hot welding, such as
hot plate or vibration welding, to form a peripheral seal around a
central region 17 for forming an inflatable bladder. An inflation
gas source 16 is electronically controlled for activating during a
crash to release gas to inflate the bolster. Front wall 14 may
comprise the Class A interior trim surface such as the outside of
the glove box door, or an additional skin or cover (not shown) can
be applied to its outer surface.
[0026] FIG. 2 is a rear view of an inflatable bladder assembly 20
for an active bolster. A plastic-molded front wall or trim panel 21
overlies a plastic-molded, expandable back wall or bladder member
22. Wall 21 and bladder member 22 are joined around a closed
perimeter region by hot welding a flange 23 to an inside surface of
trim wall 21 in order to form an inflatable bladder having an open
central volume between wall 21 and bladder member 22 to receive an
inflation gas from an inflator 24 mounted in a recess 25 of bladder
member 22 during a crash event. Bladder member 22 includes a
plurality of pleats, such as 26 and 27, to accommodate the
expansion of bladder member 22 during inflation. Pleat 27 is an
outermost pleat which is adjacent to welding flange 23. A plurality
of attachment towers (i.e., bosses) 28 project from a central
region of bladder member 22 disposed within baffle pleats 26 and
27. Towers 28 are used to mount bladder member 22 to a reaction
plate (not shown) such as an inner door liner for an active glove
box door bolster. A pair of vent holes 30 and 31 penetrate through
bladder member 22 at a peak of outermost pleat 27.
[0027] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of bladder 20 as assembled onto
a reaction plate or wall 34. Attachment tower 28 may be hot welded
to reaction wall 34, for example. Baffle pleat 27 is penetrated by
a window opening 33 to provide a vent. During deployment as a
result of an inflation gas being supplied into a bladder cavity 36,
front trim wall 21 deploys in a deployment direction 35 toward a
passenger in the passenger compartment of a vehicle.
[0028] FIG. 4 shows an active glove box assembly 45 including a
door inner liner or plate 46 providing a reaction surface for an
inflatable bolster and which supports a storage bin 47 and a latch
48. A front trim wall 50 is attached to a bladder member 51 along a
welding flange 52. An outermost pleat 53 is disposed adjacent to
flange 52. A central region (not shown) of bladder member 51 is
attached to door inner liner/reaction plate 46. Inner door liner 46
is formed as a generally continuous plate behind bladder member 51
and is configured to interface with the instrument panel and/or a
fixture or frame (not shown) surrounding an opening for active
glove box door assembly 45.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 5, outermost pleat 53 includes a peak 54
that closely approaches inner door liner 46. Within peak 54, pleat
53 includes a vent opening 55. Prior to unfolding of pleat 53
during initial stages of inflation, the inflation gas exiting vent
opening 55 is restricted by inner door liner 46 in a collision
region 56. This is shown in greater detail in FIG. 6, wherein a
flow path 57 for inflation gas being exhausted through vent opening
55 is partially obstructed by the close proximity of reaction wall
46. Collision region 56 is delineated by the location of vent
opening 55, i.e., by the projection of opening 55 onto inner door
liner 46 in the direction of gas flow path 57. Consequently,
excessive inflation gas pressure can build up along the weld seam
that joins flange 52 to trim wall 50 because of the reduction in
the effective flow rate through vent opening 55. Increasing the
size of vent opening 55 to raise the initial flow rate and to
reduce the initial stress from pressure buildup may be undesirable
because it would result in too high of a flow rate after pleat 53
begins to unfold and reaction wall 46 ceases to provide an
obstruction.
[0030] FIG. 7 shows a cross-section of a first embodiment of the
invention wherein an active glove box door assembly 60 has a front
trim panel 61, a bladder member 62, and an door inner
liner/reaction plate 63. Each component is preferably comprised of
an injection molded plastic part. Bladder member 62 has a peak 64
of an outermost pleat where a vent opening 65 is formed proximate
to a collision region 66 on door inner liner 63. The plurality of
perforations 67 in collision region 66 permit flow of an inflation
gas from vent opening 65 through door inner liner 63. By
ventilating door inner liner 63, the obstruction to inflation gases
exiting vent 65 is reduced. Since the area within the pleat is
maintained at a lower pressure, less stress is created at the hot
weld joining bladder member 62 with trim panel 61. By restricting
perforations 67 to locations only within collision region 66, door
inner liner 63 can still provide a sealed, continuous surface for
the majority of door inner liner 63 (which is very desirable for
both aesthetic and functional reasons for the inner wall of a
glovebox door).
[0031] FIG. 8 is an interior view of door inner liner 63, wherein a
plurality of strengthening ribs 68 crisscross over much of the
interior side of liner 63 for added strength and rigidity.
Perforations 67 may be formed within collision region 66 in a
pattern that avoids ribs 68. Alternatively, ribs 68 can be
discontinued within collision region 66, or perforations 67 can
alternatively penetrate the ribs.
[0032] FIG. 9 shows an outside surface of a door inner liner 70
showing a plurality of perforations 71 disposed in respective
collision regions for each of a plurality of vent openings in the
bladder member (not shown). Perforations 71 may be arranged in a
grille pattern with the hole diameters and spacings selected to
provide a flow cross-section that is sufficient to vent inflation
gas as needed. The grille pattern may have a plurality of offset
rows such as often used for a cover of a loudspeaker.
[0033] FIG. 10 shows door inner liner 70 with a plurality of
perforations 72 formed in a collision region and arranged according
to a logo pattern. As used herein, logo pattern means any stylized
arrangement depicting a desired graphic, textual element, or
pictorial element.
[0034] In addition to a fixed structure as shown, dynamic elements
such as a tethered plug or a pressure-responsive region that tears
open or pops open to allow a gas flow without creating significant
back pressure. As shown in FIG. 11, for example, door inner liner
70 may be provided with an aperture 76 for receiving a plug 77 that
is aligned with the vent opening in the bladder member. Plug 77 may
be similar to a "delete cover" often used for molded plastic trim
surfaces in vehicles when particular optional equipment is not
installed but a common trim panel is being used. Plug 77 is
configured so that the retention forces holding plug 77 within
aperture 76 are much less than the force it receives from inflation
gas during deployment of the active bolster.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 12, plug 77 has a main body 80 supporting
legs or clips 81 and 82 interfacing with an interior side of wall
75 and a lip or projection 83 interfacing with the exterior side of
wall 75. Legs 81 and 82 are bendable in response to pressure
applied to body 80 by the inflation gas, thereby releasing plug 77
from aperture 76. A tether 84 may be attached to plug 77 and wall
75, if desired, for retaining plug 77 after being ejected from
aperture 76. Alternatively, since the active glove box door is
closed during deployment, a tether may be unnecessary since plug 77
would be ejected in a car forward direction within the closed glove
box.
[0036] FIG. 13 shows an alternative embodiment wherein wall 75 is
provided with a tab 86 defined by a tear seam 85. Tab 86 includes a
hinge extension 87 to create a living hinge so that upon inflation,
wall 75 tears along tear seam 85 to open a vent hole coinciding
with the vent opening in the bladder wall. Tab 86 pivots outward
and is retained by hinge 87. As shown in FIG. 14, tear seam 85 is
created by a score line that extends a majority of the way through
the thickness of wall 75. The thickness of uncut material is
controlled so that tearing occurs at a sufficiently low pressure.
Scoring for tear seam 85 may be obtained using laser cutting or by
cutting with a knife as known in the art.
* * * * *