Trim Assembly

Abstract

A trim assembly for deploying an airbag element, a vehicle including such a trim assembly and a method for manufacturing such a trim assembly. The trim unit includes a vehicle body portion, a trim unit and at least one fixing element. The fixing element is configured to attach the trim unit to the vehicle body portion. The airbag element is arranged between the trim unit and the vehicle body portion. The trim unit is configured to cover at least partially the airbag element. The trim unit is pivotable about the fixing element such that the trim unit is tilted away from the vehicle body portion during a deployment of the airbag element.

Claims

1. A trim assembly for deploying an airbag element, the trim assembly comprising: a vehicle body portion, a trim unit, and at least one fixing element, wherein the fixing element is configured to attach the trim unit to the vehicle body portion, wherein the airbag element is arranged between the trim unit and the vehicle body portion, wherein the trim unit is configured to cover at least partially the airbag element, and wherein the trim unit is pivotable about the fixing element such that the trim unit is tilted away from the vehicle body portion during a deployment of the airbag element.

2. The trim assembly according to claim 1, wherein the trim unit comprises at least one guiding portion, the guiding portion being formed as a through-hole and configured to receive the fixing element.

3. The trim assembly according to claim 2, wherein the guiding portion comprises a protrusion formed at least partially at an inner surface of the through-hole, the protrusion being configured to hold the fixing element in place.

4. The trim assembly according to claim 3, wherein the fixing element comprises a head portion, a shoulder portion and a threaded portion, the shoulder portion connecting the head portion and the threaded portion, the shoulder portion having a bigger diameter than the threaded portion, only the threaded portion being screwed in the vehicle body portion through the trim unit.

5. The trim assembly according to claim 4, wherein the head portion has a bigger diameter than the shoulder portion, the head portion being held by the protrusion of the guiding portion.

6. The trim assembly according to claim 4, wherein the shoulder portion defines a distance between the vehicle body portion and the protrusion of the guiding portion.

7. The trim assembly according to claim 4, wherein the trim unit is pivotable around the shoulder portion of the fixing element.

8. The trim assembly according to claim 2, wherein the guiding portion is arranged on an opposite side relative to a deployment direction of the airbag element.

9. The trim assembly according to claim 1, wherein the trim unit comprises at least one clamping element.

10. The trim assembly according to claim 1, wherein the trim unit is an A-pillar, B-pillar, C-pillar and/or D-pillar and the airbag element comprises an inflatable curtain.

11. The trim assembly according to claim 1, wherein a pivoting angle of the trim unit is adaptable to a shape of the vehicle body portion.

12. A vehicle comprising the trim assembly according to claim 1.

13. A method for manufacturing a trim assembly, the method comprising the steps of: attaching a trim unit to a vehicle body portion, arranging an airbag element between the trim unit and the vehicle body portion, and covering the airbag element at least partially by the trim unit, so that during a deployment of the airbag element, the trim unit is pivotable about a fixing element such that the trim unit is tilted away from the vehicle body portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure will be described in the following with reference to the following drawings.

[0034] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B show schematically and exemplarily a conventional trim assembly.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows schematically and exemplarily an embodiment of a trim assembly according to the present disclosure.

[0036] FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B show schematically and exemplarily an embodiment of a trim assembly according to the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0037] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B show a conventional trim assembly 50, which may be arranged in a vehicle. FIG. 1A shows the trim assembly 50 in an initial mounting position. The trim assembly 50 includes a trim unit 51 attached to a vehicle body portion (not shown) by means of a fixing element 52 such as a screw. The trim unit 51 includes a through-hole 54 to receive the screw 52. Generally, a shaft 56 of the screw 52 is completely inserted into the vehicle body portion to mount the trim unit 51 to the vehicle body portion, whereas the head 57 of the screw 52 is arranged directly at a bottom of the through-hole 54. An airbag element 53 is arranged between the vehicle body portion and the trim unit 51.

[0038] FIG. 1B shows the trim assembly 50 in case of a deployment of the airbag element 53 caused, for example, by a vehicle collision. To allow the airbag element 53 to inflate, the trim unit 51 is opened such that a gap between the vehicle body portion and the trim unit 51 may be provided. In the conventional trim assembly 50, however, the trim unit 51 is fixedly held by the screw head 57. Hence, only a covering portion 58 of the trim unit 51 surrounding the airbag element 53 may be pressed outwardly in an opposite direction relative to the vehicle body portion to provide the gap. This would cause cracks 55 or fragments of weak areas of the trim unit 51. The cracks or fragments occur even more severely in a very cold condition at several minus degrees.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a trim assembly 1 for deploying an airbag element 40 according to the present disclosure. The trim assembly 1 may be arranged in a vehicle and the trim unit 10 may be an A-, B-, C- and/or D-pillar. The airbag element 40 may be an inflatable curtain.

[0040] The trim assembly 1 includes a vehicle body portion 20, a trim unit 10 and at least one fixing element 30. The fixing element 30 (see also FIGS. 3A and 3B) may be a shoulder screw including a threaded portion 31, a shoulder portion 32 and a head portion 33, wherein the shoulder portion 32 connects the threaded portion 31 and the head portion 33. The fixing element 30 is configured to attach the trim unit 10 to the vehicle body portion 20. The airbag element 40 is arranged between the trim unit 10 and the vehicle body portion 20. The trim unit 10 includes a covering portion 15 formed as a recess or groove extending along a longitudinal direction of the trim unit 10 to cover at least partially, preferably completely the airbag element 40.

[0041] The trim unit 10 further includes at least one guiding portion 11 formed as a through-hole to receive the fixing element 30 for connecting the trim unit 10 and the vehicle body portion 20. However, the trim unit 10 may also include a plurality of the guiding portions 11 along the longitudinal direction of the trim unit 10 such that a plurality of the fixing elements 30 may attach the trim unit 10 to the vehicle body portion 20. The guiding portion 11 is arranged on an opposite side relative to a deployment direction of the airbag element 40 to avoid interfering an inflation of the airbag element 40 as shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B. The trim unit 10 may further include at least one clamping element (not shown) to support the attachment of the trim unit 10 to the vehicle body portion 20.

[0042] FIG. 3A shows the trim assembly 1 in an initial mounting state. The guiding portion 11 includes a protrusion 12 formed at least partially at an inner surface of the through-hole 11. In other words, the protrusion 12 may at least partially extend in circumferential direction of the inner surface of the through-hole 11. The protrusion 12 is configured to support the head portion 33 of the shoulder screw 30, such that the shoulder screw 30 may be held inside the guiding portion 11 in place.

[0043] The head portion 33 of the shoulder screw 30 may include a flange 34, which has a bigger diameter than the shoulder portion 32, and/or an outer diameter of the head portion 33 may be bigger than that of the shoulder portion 32. Further, the diameter of the shoulder portion 32 is bigger than a diameter of the threaded portion 31 such that only the threaded portion 31 is screwed in the vehicle body portion 20 through the guiding portion 11 of the trim unit 10. Accordingly, the shoulder portion 32 defines a distance between the vehicle body portion 20 and the protrusion 12 of the guiding portion 11.

[0044] If the airbag element 40 is deployed as shown in FIG. 3B, the trim unit 10 pivots around the shoulder portion 32 of the shoulder screw 30. Accordingly, the trim unit 10 can be tilted away from the vehicle body portion 20 to provide a gap between the vehicle body portion 20 and the trim unit 10. The movement of the trim unit 10 may be limited by a bottom surface 13 of the guiding portion 11 at the head portion 33 of the fixing element 30. In other words, the bottom surface 13 of the guiding portion 11 is held by the head portion 33 such that the trim unit 10 does not fall off. A pivoting angle of the trim unit 10 may be adjusted to a shape of the vehicle body portion 20. As a result, the trim assembly 1 may provide a secure and safe deployment of the airbag element 40 without any damages such as cracks or fragments of the trim unit 10.

[0045] It has to be noted that embodiments of the disclosure are described with reference to different subject matters. In particular, some embodiments are described with reference to method type claims whereas other embodiments are described with reference to the device type claims. However, a person skilled in the art will gather from the above and the following description that, unless otherwise notified, in addition to any combination of features belonging to one type of subject matter also any combination between features relating to different subject matters is considered to be disclosed with this application. However, all features can be combined providing synergetic effects that are more than the simple summation of the features.

[0046] While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. The disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing a claimed disclosure, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the dependent claims.

[0047] In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfil the functions of several items re-cited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are re-cited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.