PROTECTIVE GUARD FOR RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE

Abstract

A guard for a restraints control module includes a corrugated base and right and left corrugated sidewalls. The sidewalls extend above the base and are spaced from a restraints control module secured to the base. The sidewalls diverge from each other in a vertical direction above the base and include alternating furrows and ridges that form the corrugations. The furrows and ridges are connected by rib walls that strengthen the guard against lateral collision forces. A method is disclosed for protecting a restraints control module in a side impact collision. According to the method, in a side impact collision, an object driven into the guard bends the sidewall towards the restraints control module to absorb the impact force applied by the object.

Claims

1. A guard comprising: a corrugated base; right and left corrugated walls extending above the base and having a lower end continuous and integral with right and left edges of the base, wherein the right and left corrugated walls are spaced from a restraints control module attached to the base; and a gusset formed where the lower end of the right and left corrugated walls are joined to the right and left edges of the base.

2. The guard for a restraints control module of claim 1 wherein the right and left corrugated walls diverge from each other in a vertical direction.

3. The guard for a restraints control module of claim 1 wherein the right and left corrugated walls have a lower end that is continuous and integral with right and left edges of the base.

4. The guard for a restraints control module of claim 1 wherein the right and left corrugated walls have a plurality of furrows and ridges.

5. The guard for a restraints control module of claim 1 wherein the right and left corrugated walls are boron steel.

6-10. (canceled)

11. A method of protecting a restraints control module for a vehicle in a side impact collision, the method comprising: attaching a guard to a floor of the vehicle, wherein the guard includes a base and right and left sidewalls that extend above the base, the right and left sidewalls including a plurality of furrows and ridges extending in a cross-vehicle direction, wherein the ridges and furrows include a ridge portion on the base that contacts the restraints control module and a furrow portion on the base that contacts the floor of the vehicle, and rib walls extending between the ridge portions and the furrow portions; and attaching the restraints control module to the base of the guard between the right and left sidewalls, wherein in the side impact collision an object driven into one of the right and left sidewalls bends the one sidewall toward the restraints control module to absorb an impact force applied by the object.

12. (canceled)

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the rib walls on the sidewalls extend laterally, and wherein the impact force applied to the right and left sidewalls deforms the rib walls in a lateral direction.

14. A method of protecting a restraints control module for a vehicle in a side impact collision, the method comprising: attaching a guard to a floor of the vehicle, wherein the guard includes a base and right and left sidewalls that extend above the base, the right and left sidewalls including a plurality of furrows and ridges extending in a cross-vehicle direction, wherein the right and left sidewalls each have an upper edge and a lower end; and attaching the restraints control module to the base of the guard between the right and left sidewalls, wherein in the side impact collision an object driven into one of the right and left sidewalls bends the one sidewall toward the restraints control module to absorb an impact force applied by the object wherein the upper edge is spaced from the restraints control module to a greater extent than the lower edge of the sidewalls is spaced from the restraints control module, wherein the impact force applied to the sidewalls moves the upper edge toward the restraints control module and bends the sidewalls where the sidewalls extend from the base.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the impact force applied by the object is initially absorbed by the sidewalls and transferred through the sidewalls to the base before the sidewalls are driven into contact with the restraints control module.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of a 75° Oblique Left Side Test showing a vehicle being driven on a movable cart into a 10 inch pole.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of the front seat tracks and a restraints control module attached to the floor of a passenger compartment between the two front seats of a vehicle.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a prior art restraints control module and bracket.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of a guard for a restraints control module made according to one aspect of this disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a left/rear perspective view of the guard and restraints control module of FIG. 4.

[0019] FIG. 6 is a left/front perspective view of the guard and restraints control module of FIG. 4.

[0020] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the guard of FIG. 4.

[0021] FIG. 8 is a chart of the lateral contact force applied to a restraints control module in a 75° Oblique Left Side Test side impact collision over time.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The illustrated embodiments are disclosed with reference to the drawings. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are intended to be merely examples that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. The specific structural and functional details disclosed are not to be interpreted as limiting, but as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to practice the disclosed concepts.

[0023] FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings are addressed above in the Background section of this application.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 4-7, a guard 22 for a restraints control module (RCM) 24 is illustrated. The guard 22 is secured to the floor 26 of a vehicle 10.

[0025] The guard 22 includes a base 28 that is secured to the floor 26. A right sidewall 30 and left sidewall 32 extend upwardly from the base 28. The right and left sidewalls 30, 32 diverge as they extend to a greater extent in the vertical direction “V” away from the base 28. The base 28 includes a right edge 36 connected to the right sidewall 30 and a left edge 38 connected to the left sidewall 32. A lower end 40 of the right and left sidewalls 30, 32 is integrally and continuously formed in one piece from the base 28. An upper edge 42 of the right and left sidewalls 30, 32 form a distal end of the right and left sidewalls 30, 32. The upper edges 42 are spaced apart to a greater extent than the lower edge 40 thereby providing sidewalls 30, 32 that diverge from the right and left edges 36, 38 of the base 28.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 5-7, the right and left sidewalls 30, 32 are corrugated sidewalls. The left and right sidewalls 30, 32 include furrows 44 and ridges 46 in an alternating arrangement. A rib wall 48 extends between the furrows 44 and ridges 46. The rib wall 48 extends substantially in a lateral direction indicated by the letter “L” in the figures. The rib wall 48 strengthens the sidewalls 30, 32 against lateral impacts. When the sidewalls are contacted by an object in a lateral direction, the rib wall 48 is oriented to resist deformation of the sidewalls 30, 32 toward the RCM 24.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 4, one or more gussets 50 may be provided at the junction of the lower ends 40 of the sidewalls 30, 32 with the right edge 36 and left edge 38 of the base 28. The gusset 50 may be included to increase the bending resistance of the right and left sidewalls 30, 32.

[0028] An object 52 is shown moving in the lateral “L” direction, or cross-vehicle direction, towards the left sidewall 32. Driving the object 52 into the left sidewall 32 causes the left sidewall 32 to bend at the lower edge 40 with the upper edge 42 moving towards the restraints control module 24. As the sidewall 32 is bent inwardly, the furrows 44, ridges 46 and rib wall 48 are deformed laterally.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 8, a chart of the lateral contact force applied to the RCM 24 is provided. The lateral contact force is measured in Kilonewtons (KN). In the base design represented by FIG. 3, the lateral contact force begins rapidly increasing at 60 msec until reaching approximately 2.5 KN. With the design of FIGS. 4-7 in 1.3 mm boron steel, the lateral contact force indicates that no significant force is applied to the RCM 24 within the time period of 100 msec.

[0030] The embodiments described above are specific examples that do not describe all possible forms of the disclosure. The features of the illustrated embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the disclosed concepts. The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation. The scope of the following claims is broader than the specifically disclosed embodiments and also includes modifications of the illustrated embodiments.