GB2392650A - Door Structure of a motor vehicle - Google Patents
Door Structure of a motor vehicle Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2392650A GB2392650A GB0220484A GB0220484A GB2392650A GB 2392650 A GB2392650 A GB 2392650A GB 0220484 A GB0220484 A GB 0220484A GB 0220484 A GB0220484 A GB 0220484A GB 2392650 A GB2392650 A GB 2392650A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- panel
- motor vehicle
- force transfer
- occupant
- transfer member
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
- B60R21/04—Padded linings for the vehicle interior ; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings
- B60R21/0428—Padded linings for the vehicle interior ; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings associated with the side doors or panels, e.g. displaced towards the occupants in case of a side collision
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Vehicle Interior And Exterior Ornaments, Soundproofing, And Insulation (AREA)
Abstract
A motor vehicle side door (10) comprises an outer panel (11), an inner panel (12), a substantially rigid trim panel (13) mounted to the inner panel and at least one force transfer member (14, 15) aligned with the pelvic region of an occupant; wherein the trim panel includes at least one knock-out panel (16) arranged to be pushed out, in case of a side impact, by the force transfer member which acts against the occupant to move them away from the side door. The inner panel preferably includes an aperture (12a) through which a part of the force transfer member extends. The force transfer member may consist of an outer force transfer member (14) and an inner force transfer member (15). The force transfer members are preferably made of an energy absorbing material such as foam. The knock-out portion may be formed by a plurality of apertures or a groove integrally moulded in the trim panel and arranged to yield at a predictable force.
Description
( - 1 A motor vehicle This invention relates to motor vehicles and in
particular to a motor vehicle having improved side impact properties.
It is known to provide a motor vehicle with a number of side opening doors each of which includes some form of reinforcement often referred to as a side impact beam to 5 protect the occupants of the motor vehicle in the event of a side impact collision.
It has further been proposed to mitigate the possibility of injury to vehicle occupants by adding padding to the interior surface of the door or by including an impact absorbing structure within the door. These proposals are limited in that it is difficult to add sufficient padding to the interior surface of the door without greatly diminishing the interior space of 10 the motor vehicle and the introduction of an energy absorbing structure having sufficient
resistance to impact while retaining energy absorbing properties often results in a considerable increase in the weight of the door.
It is an object of this invention to provide a motor vehicle with improved side impact properties. 15 According to the invention there is provided motor vehicle having a body structure defining a passenger compartment, a side door moveably connected to part of the body structure of the motor vehicle to permit ingress to and egress from the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and a seat mounted within the passenger compartment in close proximity to the side door, the side door comprising an outer panel, an inner panel 20 connected to the outer panel, a trim panel made from a substantially rigid material mounted on the inner panel and at least one force transfer member having an outer end adjacent to the outer panel and an inner end positioned near to the trim panel, the or each force transfer member being aligned with a pelvic region of an occupant sat upon the seat and being arranged to be displaced towards the occupant when the outer panel is deformed
due to an impact upon the side door wherein the trim panel includes at least one knock-out panel therein in the region of the pelvic region of the occupant arranged to be pushed out upon the imposition of a load from the force transfer member so as to allow the force transfer member to act against the pelvic region of the occupant and move the occupant 5 away from the side door.
The inner door panel may have an aperture therein through which a part of the force transfer member extends for cooperation with the trim panel.
Preferably, upon displacement of the or each force transfer member, the inner end of the force transfer member may push the knock-out panel against the pelvic region of the 10 occupant to move the occupant away from the side door..
The force transfer member may comprise of an outer member having an outer end and an inner end and an inner member having an outer end and an inner end and the outer end of the outer member is positioned adjacent to the outer door panel and the inner end of the inner member is positioned near to the trim panel.
15 The inner member may extend through the aperture in the inner door panel.
There may be a gap between the inner end of the outer member and the outer end of the inner member to allow for the passage of a moveable window.
The outer member may be fastened to the outer door panel for movement therewith.
The or each force transfer member may be an energy absorbing member, in which 20 case, each energy absorbing member may be made from a foam material.
Preferably, the or each knock out panel may be formed by a structurally weakened portion of the trim panel arranged to predictably yield upon the imposition of a load from the
( - 3 force transfer member so as to allow the force transfer member to act against the pelvic region of the occupant and move the occupant away from the side door.
The weakened portion may be arranged to yield when a force of a predetermined magnitude is applied thereto from the force transfer member.
5 The weakened portion may be formed by a plurality of closely spaced apertures formed in the trim panel in a pre-determined pattern which may define the outer circumference of a knock-out panel in the trim panel. Advantageously, the trim panel may be made by moulding and the apertures may be moulded as an integral part of the trim panel. 10 Alternatively, the weakened portion may be formed by a groove formed in a face of the trim panel which may define the outer circumference of a knock out panel in the trim panel.
Advantageously, the trim panel may be made by moulding and the groove may be moulded as an integral part of the trim panel.
The motor vehicle may have two or more side doors each of which comprises an outer 15 panel, an inner panel connected to the outer panel, a substantially rigid trim panel mounted on the inner panel and at least one energy absorbing member having an outer end adjacent to the outer panel and an inner end adjacent to the trim panel, the or each energy absorbing member being aligned with a pelvic region of an occupant sat upon an adjacent seat and being arranged to be displaced towards the occupant when the outer panel is 20 deformed due to an impact upon the respective side door wherein the trim panel includes at least one knockout panel therein in the region of the pelvic region of the occupant arranged to be pushed out upon the imposition of a load from the force transfer member so as to allow the force transfer member to act against the pelvic region of the occupant and move the occupant away from the side door.
-4 The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing of which: Fig.1 is a cut-away view of part of a motor vehicle according to the invention in a normal use configuration; 5 Fig.2 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 1 but showing a side impact upon the motor vehicle; Fig.3 is an enlarged cross-section in the region 'A' on Fig.1 of part of a trim panel according to the invention showing a first method of forming a weakened portion; Fig. 4 is a cross- section through part of a trim panel of a side door according to the 10 invention showing a second method of forming a weakened portion; and Fig.5 is a view in the direction of arrow 'R' on Fig.4.
With reference to Fig.1 there is shown part of a motor vehicle that has a body structure including a floor 7 defining a passenger compartment. A side door 10 is moveably connected to part of the body structure of the motor vehicle to permit ingress to 15 and egress from the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and a seat 6 is mounted to the floor 7 within the passenger compartment in close proximity to the side door 10.
The side door 10 comprises of an outer panel 1 1, an inner panel 12 connected to the outer panel to define a door cavity and a substantially rigid trim panel 13 mounted on the inner panel 12.
20 A force transfer member 14, 15 having an outer end adjacent to the outer panel 11 and an inner end positioned near to the trim panel 15 is mounted within the door cavity of the side door 10.
- 5 The force transfer member 14, 15 is aligned with a pelvic region of an occupant 5 sat upon the seat 6 and is arranged, as is described in greater detail hereinafter, to be displaced towards the occupant 5 when the outer panel 11 is deformed due to an impact upon the side door 6. The term aligned as meant herein means that the force transfer 5 member is positioned such that it is able to transfer force from the outer panel to the pelvic region of the occupant.
The inner door panel 12 has an aperture 1 2A therein through which a part of the force transfer member 14, 15 extends for cooperation with the trim panel 13.
The force transfer member comprises of two separate components, an outer member 10 14 having an outer end and an inner end and an inner member 15 having an outer end and an inner end. The inner member 15 is positioned so as to extend through the aperture 12A in the inner door panel 12 such that the inner end of the inner member 15 is positioned near to the trim panel 15. The outer end of the outer member 14 is positioned adjacent to the outer door panel 14 and, as shown the outer member 14 is fastened directly to the 15 outer door panel 11 for movement therewith. However, it will be appreciated that the outer member could be supported in some other way so that there is a small gap between the outer end of the outer member 14 and the outer panel 11.
By using two separate components to form the force transfer member it is possible to leave a gap between the inner end of the outer member 14 and the outer end of the inner 20 member 15 to allow for the passage of a moveable window 8. The moveable window 8 is conventional in construction and, as is well known in the art, is moveable between raised and lowered positions by a window regulator (not shown). The provision of the gap is also advantageous in that it allows the operation of the force transfer member to be adjusted to suit the particular arrangement or spacing between the side door 10 and seat 6.
- 6 The inner and the outer members 14, 15 of the force transfer member are energy absorbing members and are made from a foam material.
However it will be appreciated that the inner and outer members could be made from any other suitable material and need not necessarily be made from a foam material.
5 With particular reference to Fig.3 the trim panel 13 is made from a plastic material and is covered on its inner face by a layer of foam 17 and trim material 18 such as leather or fabric. The trim panel 13 has an outer face 20 which faces into the door cavity and has a continuous groove 19 formed therein. The trim panel 13 is made by a moulding process and the groove 19 is moulded as an integral part of the trim panel 13. However, it will be 10 appreciated that the trim panel could be made from alternative suitable materials and that the groove could be formed in some other manner such as machining, cutting or pressing.
The groove 19 defines a weakened portion in the form of a knock-out panel 16 and is shaped so as to define the outer circumference of the knock-out panel 16. The knock-out panel 16 is positioned in the trim panel 13 so as to lie between the inner end of the inner 15 force transfer member 15 and the pelvic region of the occupant 5.
Operation of the improved occupant protection arrangement can be best understood with reference to Fig.2.
In the event of a side impact indicated by the arrow 'F' in the region of the outer member 14, the outer panel 11 is deformed inwardly causing the outer member 14 to move 20 towards the inner member 15. Due to the presence of the gap between the inner end of the outer member 14 and the outer end of the inner member 15 the inner member 15 will not immediately move inwardly towards the trim panel 13. If the severity of the impact is below a certain level the deformation of the outer panel 11 will not be sufficient to cause the outer member 14 to contact the inner member 15 or, if contact is made, the inner member
will not be displaced a sufficient distance to contact the trim panel 13. However beyond this level of impact the inner member 15 will contact the outer face 20 of the trim panel 13.
If the magnitude of the transmitted force is greater than a predetermined level then the weakened portion will yield in a predictable manner allowing the knock-out panel 16 to be 5 pushed out from the trim panel 13. Provided the inner force transfer member 15 continues to move towards the occupant 5 then the inner end of the inner force transfer member 15 will push the knock-out panel 16 against the pelvic region of the occupant 5 causing the occupant to be moved away from the side door 10 into a safer position as indicated by the arrow X on Fig.2.
10 The movement of the occupant in this manner has two primary advantageous effects.
Firstly, it is common for the side door to be fitted with a door beam to reduce intrusion and it is likely that in a severe collision this will be deformed towards the occupant. Therefore by moving the occupant away from the side door the likelihood of contact between the door beam and the occupant will be reduced. Secondly, because in the event of a side impact 15 the occupant is moved in the same direction as the door beam or any other component of the side door the relative velocity between the occupant and the door beam or other component will be reduced and so the injury caused by such a contact will be reduced.
With particular reference to figs. 4 and 5 there is shown an alternative method for forming a weakened portion.
20 As before the trim panel 113 is made from a plastic material and is covered on its inner face by a layer of foam 117 and a trim material 118 such as leather or fabric. The trim panel 113 has an outer face 120 which in use would be arranged to face into the door cavity and has a plurality of closely spaced apertures 119 formed therein in a pre determined pattern. The trim panel 113 is made by a moulding process and the apertures 25 119 are moulded as an integral part of the trim panel 113. However, it will be appreciated
( - 8- that the an alternative material could be used for the trim panel and that the apertures could be formed in some other manner.
The pre-determined pattern of apertures 119 defines a weakened portion in the trim panel 113 in the form of a knock-out panel 116. The predetermined pattern of the 5 apertures 119 is such that the apertures 119 define the outer circumference of the knock out panel 116.
As before the knock-out panel 116 would be positioned in the trim panel 113 so as to lie between the inner end of the inner force transfer member 115 and the pelvic region of the occupant 5 when the trim panel 113 is fitted to a side door.
10 Operation of the force transfer member and its movement of the occupant is identical to that previously described.
Although the invention has been described with respect to a single side door it will be appreciated that the motor vehicle may have two or more side doors each of which could include a force transfer member and a knock out panel in a trim member of the side door to 15 allow the force transfer member to act against the occupant in the event of a side impact to move the occupant away from the respective side door.
It will also be appreciated that there may be more than one knock-out panels in the trim panel all of which are pushed out in the event of a side impact.
Furthermore although the invention has been described with respect to an 20 embodiment in which the knock-out panel is formed as part of the trim panel it will be appreciated that the knock-out panel could be a separate component fitted and held in an aperture in the trim panel. The knock-out panel could be retained in position by frangible fixings that are broken when a force greater than a pre-determined magnitude is applied to the knock out panel.
( It will be appreciated that the various alternative embodiments or modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
Claims (19)
1. A motor vehicle having a body structure defining a passenger compartment, a side door moveably connected to part of the body structure of the motor vehicle to permit ingress to and egress from the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and a seat mounted within the passenger compartment in close proximity to the side door, the side door comprising an outer panel, an inner panel connected to the outer panel, a trim panel made from a substantially rigid material mounted on the inner panel and at least one force transfer member having an outer end adjacent to the outer panel and an inner end positioned near to the trim panel, the or each force transfer member being aligned with a pelvic region of an occupant sat upon the seat and being arranged to be displaced towards the occupant when the outer panel is deformed due to an impact upon the side door wherein the trim panel includes at least one knock-out panel therein in the region of the pelvic region of the occupant arranged to be pushed out upon the imposition of a load from the force transfer member so as to allow the force transfer member to act against the pelvic region of the occupant and move the occupant away from the side door.
2. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 in which the inner door panel has an aperture therein through which a part of the force transfer member extends for cooperation with the trim panel.
3. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or in claim 2 in which, upon displacement of the or each force transfer member, the inner end of the force transfer member pushes the knock-out panel against the pelvic region of the occupant to move the occupant away from the side door.
4. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the force transfer member comprises of an outer member having an outer end and an inner end and an inner member having an outer end and an inner end and the outer end of the outer member
is positioned adjacent to the outer door panel and the inner end of the inner member is positioned near to the trim panel.
5. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 4 when dependent upon claim 2 or upon claim 3 in which the inner member extends through the aperture in the inner door panel.
6. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 4 or in claim 5 when dependent upon claim 4 in which there is a gap between the inner end of the outer member and the outer end of the inner member to allow for the passage of a moveable window.
7. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6 in which the outer member is fastened to the outer door panel for movement therewith.
8. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 in which the or each force transfer member is an energy absorbing member.
9. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 8 in which each energy absorbing member is made from a foam material.
10. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 in which the or each knock out panel is formed by a structurally weakened portion of the trim panel arranged to predictably yield upon the imposition of a load from the force transfer member so as to allow the force transfer member to act against the pelvic region of the occupant and move the occupant away from the side door.
11. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of claim 10 in which the weakened portion is arranged to yield when a force of a predetermined magnitude is applied thereto from the force transfer member.
-
1 2 12. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 10 or in claim 1 1 in which the weakened portion is formed by a plurality of closely spaced apertures formed in the trim panel in a pre-
determined pattern.
13. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 12 in which the trim panel is made by moulding and the apertures are moulded as an integral part of the trim panel.
14. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 12 or in claim 13 in which the pre-determined pattern defines the outer circumference of the knock-out panel in the trim panel.
15. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 10 or in claim 11 in which the weakened portion is formed by a groove formed in a face of the trim panel.
16. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 15 in which the trim panel is made by moulding and the groove is moulded as an integral part of the trim panel.
17. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 15 or in claim 16 in which the groove defines the outer circumference of the knock-out panel in the trim panel.
18. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 17 in which the motor vehicle has two or more side doors each of which comprises an outer panel, an inner panel connected to the outer panel, a substantially rigid trim panel mounted on the inner panel and at least one energy absorbing member having an outer end adjacent to the outer panel and an inner end adjacent to the trim panel, the or each energy absorbing member being aligned with a pelvic region of an occupant sat upon an adjacent seat and being arranged to be displaced towards the occupant when the outer panel is deformed due to an impact upon the respective side door wherein the trim panel includes at least one knock-out panel therein in the region of the pelvic region of the occupant arranged to be pushed out upon the imposition of a load from the force transfer member so as
- 13 to allow the force transfer member to act against the pelvic region of the occupant and move the occupant away from the side door.
19. A motor vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0220484A GB2392650A (en) | 2002-09-04 | 2002-09-04 | Door Structure of a motor vehicle |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0220484A GB2392650A (en) | 2002-09-04 | 2002-09-04 | Door Structure of a motor vehicle |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0220484D0 GB0220484D0 (en) | 2002-10-09 |
| GB2392650A true GB2392650A (en) | 2004-03-10 |
Family
ID=9943438
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0220484A Withdrawn GB2392650A (en) | 2002-09-04 | 2002-09-04 | Door Structure of a motor vehicle |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2392650A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2014016843A1 (en) * | 2012-07-23 | 2014-01-30 | Faurecia Interior Systems India Pvt. Ltd. | Shock absorber member for vehicle, vehicle door panel assembly including shock absorber member and vehicle including door panel assembly |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5395135A (en) * | 1992-11-02 | 1995-03-07 | Ford Motor Company | Energy absorbing vehicle door and side panels |
| US5482344A (en) * | 1994-12-23 | 1996-01-09 | Ford Motor Company | Deployable vehicle door trim panel |
| US5749600A (en) * | 1994-08-31 | 1998-05-12 | Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha | Door trim energy absorbing structure |
| US5865496A (en) * | 1992-11-09 | 1999-02-02 | Mazda Motor Corporation | Door structure of motor vehicle |
| US6364398B1 (en) * | 1999-06-10 | 2002-04-02 | Hyundai Motor Company | Door structure of vehicle |
-
2002
- 2002-09-04 GB GB0220484A patent/GB2392650A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5395135A (en) * | 1992-11-02 | 1995-03-07 | Ford Motor Company | Energy absorbing vehicle door and side panels |
| US5865496A (en) * | 1992-11-09 | 1999-02-02 | Mazda Motor Corporation | Door structure of motor vehicle |
| US5749600A (en) * | 1994-08-31 | 1998-05-12 | Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha | Door trim energy absorbing structure |
| US5482344A (en) * | 1994-12-23 | 1996-01-09 | Ford Motor Company | Deployable vehicle door trim panel |
| US6364398B1 (en) * | 1999-06-10 | 2002-04-02 | Hyundai Motor Company | Door structure of vehicle |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2014016843A1 (en) * | 2012-07-23 | 2014-01-30 | Faurecia Interior Systems India Pvt. Ltd. | Shock absorber member for vehicle, vehicle door panel assembly including shock absorber member and vehicle including door panel assembly |
| RU2587747C1 (en) * | 2012-07-23 | 2016-06-20 | Форесиа Интериор Системз Индия Пвт.Лтд. | Damping element for vehicle door panel assembly with said damper and vehicle with said door panel assembly |
| US9517742B2 (en) | 2012-07-23 | 2016-12-13 | Faurecia Interior Systems India Pvt. Ltd. | Shock absorber member for vehicle, vehicle door panel assembly including shock absorber member and vehicle including door panel assembly |
| CN104619533B (en) * | 2012-07-23 | 2017-08-01 | 佛吉亚内饰系统印度私营责任有限公司 | Automobile absorber component, the automobile door plate component comprising the shock absorber hardware and includes the automobile of the automobile door plate component |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB0220484D0 (en) | 2002-10-09 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| COOA | Change in applicant's name or ownership of the application |
Owner name: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC Free format text: FORMER APPLICANT(S): FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. |
|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |