WO2009029478A1

WO2009029478A1 - Trim clip for trim for curtain side air bags

Info

Publication number: WO2009029478A1
Application number: PCT/US2008/073833
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michiyo Kudo
Original assignee: Newfrey Llc
Priority date: 2007-08-24
Filing date: 2008-08-21
Publication date: 2009-03-05
Also published as: JP2009051272A

Abstract

In a trim clip (15), a trim securing part (17) and a body securing part (18) are connected by a tether (23) of a certain length, the tether (23), when the trim clip is in the as-delivered product condition, with the trim securing part (17) and body securing part (18) not directly connected, extends from one side of the trim securing part (17) to one side of the body securing part in opposition to that one side of the trim securing part, but, when the trim securing part (17) and the body securing part (18) are directly connected, the tether (23) folds at an intermediate place (35) in the tether (23), and is accommodated in a space (37) between the trim securing part and the body securing part.

Description

TRIM CLIP FOR TRIM FOR CURTAIN SIDE AIR BAGS

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Application No. 2007-217873, filed August 24, 2007. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field

The present invention relates to a trim clip for holding trim such as trim used for curtain side air bags. Background Technology

A trim clip for holding trim for covering and housing a curtain side air bag is described in TOKKAI [Unexamined Patent Application Publication] No. 2006-118679 (Patent Literature 1 ). Curtain side air bags deploy very rapidly to protect the heads of vehicle occupants in the event of a collision or rollover (overturn). A curtain side air bag, normally, is housed and held by trim such as a cover or the like. Trim must not fly out at an occupant when the curtain side air bag deploys rapidly. For that reason, the trim is connected to a body panel with the use of a trim clip having a strap-shaped tether of a certain length.

A conventional trim clip 1 is diagrammed in Figs. 1 and 2. The trim clip 1 is formed as an integrally molded plastic product, having a trim securing part 2 and a body securing part 3 connected by a strap-shaped tether 5 of a certain length. The trim securing part 2 has a trim support piece 6 at the top thereof and is attached to a trim support frame. The body securing part 3 has a leg 7 which is inserted into and attached in an attachment hole in a body panel. The length 9 of the tether 5 is made a certain length so that, when the curtain side air bag deploys, the trim, supported by the trim securing part 2 separated from the body securing part 3, will move greatly so as not to interfere with the deployment of the curtain side air bag, but that length is selected so as to limit the distance the trim moves from the body securing part 3 so that that trim does not make contact with the head or other body part of an occupant. The trim clip 1 diagrammed in Fig. 1 is in the as-manufactured condition. In the as-delivered product condition, as diagrammed in Fig. 2, a connecting part 10 of the trim securing part 2 is connected to a connecting part 11 of the body securing part 3, in a condition wherein the trim securing part 2 and body securing part 3 are directly connected. In this as- delivered product condition, the trim clip 1 is connected to the inside of the trim. Next, the trim to which the trim clip 1 is attached is itself attached to a body panel by inserting the leg 7 of the body securing part 3, together with the trim, into an attachment hole in the body panel of the vehicle.

Patent Literature 1 : TOKKAI No. 2006-118679 (Gazette)

Patent Literature 2: JIKKAI [Unexamined Util. Mod. Application Publication]

No. H7-020402/1995 (Gazette) Patent Literature 3: TOKKAI No. 2001-277985 (Gazette) Disclosure of the Invention

With the trim clip 1 , in the as-delivered product condition as diagrammed in Fig. 2, the tether 5 protrudes to one side of the trim securing part 2 and body securing part 3, at a protrusion length 13 that is approximately half the overall length 9 thereof, whereupon the overall lateral length 13A of the product becomes long. In the operation of attaching the trim clip 1 in the as-delivered product condition, to the inside of the trim, the attachment operation is not easy, with the space inside the trim being narrow and the degree of freedom low. Because, as diagrammed in Fig. 2, the protrusion length 13 of the tether 5 is long, being up to half the overall length 9 of the tether 5, the degree of freedom is even more limited at the position where the trim clip 1 is attached in the narrow space inside the trim. Furthermore, because of the unbalance, with the protrusion being on only one side of the trim securing part 2 and body securing part 3, the degree of freedom at the attachment becomes even lower.

Patent Literature 2 does not describe a trim clip 1 , but discloses a pantograph- shaped spacer clip. In that spacer clip, because the pantograph-shaped portion is made to protrude to both sides of a base by the clip being pushed in, balance is achieved. If the tether 5 of the trim clip 1 diagrammed in Figs. 1 and 2 is formed so as to protrude to both sides, in a pantograph shape as in Patent Literature 2, in the as- delivered product condition, a balanced condition will result, but the protruding length of the tether will become double that of the trim clip 1 diagrammed in Fig. 2, so that the overall length thereof becomes long, whereupon there would be a danger of the operation of attaching the trim clip 1 to the trim becoming even more onerous. In the trim clip diagrammed in Figs. 26 to 31 in Patent Literature 3, an extension restricting member corresponding to a tether is formed so as to protrude on both sides of a trim securing part and a body securing part. In the as-delivered product condition, a balanced condition is achieved, but the tether protrusion length becomes doubled and the overall size becomes large, whereupon there is a danger of the operation of attaching the trim clip to the trim becoming even more onerous.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a trim clip wherewith the attachment operation is easy, even in the narrow space inside the trim.

In order to attain that object, based on the present invention, a trim clip is provided that is a trim clip for holding trim such as trim used for curtain side air bags, having a trim securing part and a body securing part connected by a strap-shaped tether of a certain length, the trim securing part being directly connected to the body securing part in the as-manufactured product condition prior to use, the distance of movement of which trim securing part when the trim securing part separates away from the body securing part is limited by the tether, wherein the tether is formed in a shape such that when the trim clip is in a condition wherein the trim securing part and body securing part are not directly connected, the tether extends from one side of the trim securing part to one side of the body securing part that is in opposition to that one side of the trim securing part and is connected thereto, and when the trim clip is in the as- delivered product condition with the trim securing part and body securing part directly connected, the tether is folded at an intermediate place thereof and is accommodated in a space between the trim securing part and the body securing part. Based on the trim clip described above, in the as-delivered product condition, when the trim securing part and body securing part are directly connected, the tether is accommodated in a space between the trim securing part and body securing part and hardly protrudes at all from the two sides of the trim securing part and body securing part, wherefore the trim clip is kept small and can be attached in an easy operation even in the narrow space inside the trim.

In the trim clip described above, the length of the tether is selected so that the trim supported by the trim securing part that has separated from the body securing part will move greatly so as not to interfere with the deployment of the curtain side air bag, but also so that the distance that trim moves from the body securing part is limited so that the trim will not make contact with the head or other part of the body of a vehicle occupant.

In the trim clip described above, moreover, locking pawls are provided in the trim securing part and body securing part for directly connecting the two together, such that, when the two locking pawls are connected, the space for accommodating the folded tether is formed between the trim securing part and the body securing part. The tether is formed in a pair so as to connect the two sides of the trim securing part and the two sides of the body securing part that are in opposition to the two sides of that trim securing part, and the two tethers are provided at positions that are shifted along the two sides of the trim securing part and the two sides of the body securing part so that, when the two tethers are folded, they do not interfere with each other. Furthermore, the tether has an intermediate part thereof bent in a < shape or C shape, and that intermediate part becomes the point of bending when the tether is folded. The intermediate part of the tether is formed so as to bend so as to be oriented toward the opposite sides from the connecting sides of the trim securing part and the body securing part. Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a conventional trim clip as manufactured.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the conventional trim clip in the as-delivered product condition.

Fig. 3 is a plan of a trim clip relating to an embodiment of the present invention, as manufactured.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the trim clip diagrammed in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a left side elevation of the trim clip diagrammed in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a trim clip relating to an embodiment of the present invention, in the as-delivered product condition.

Fig. 7 is a section at the A-A line of the trim clip diagrammed in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a diagram of how the trim clip diagrammed in Fig. 7 is used to attach trim to a body panel.

Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments of the Present Invention A trim clip 15 relating to one embodiment of the present invention is now described with reference to Figs. 3 to 8. In Figs. 3 to 5, the trim clip 15 is diagrammed in the as-manufactured condition, before being put in the as-delivered product condition. In Figs. 6 and 7, the trim clip 15 in the as-delivered product condition, with a trim securing part 17 and body securing part 18 directly connected together, is diagrammed. In Fig. 8, trim 19 for a curtain side air bag or the like, for example, is diagrammed in the condition wherein it is attached to a body panel 22 by the trim clip 15. In Figs. 3 to 5, the trim clip 15 is an integrally molded plastic product wherein the trim securing part 17 and body securing part 18 are connected by tethers 23 of a certain length. The trim securing part 17 has a trim support piece 25 at the top thereof, and is attached to (a) support frame(s) 26 on the inside of the trim 19 diagrammed in Fig. 8. The body securing part 18 has a leg 27 which is inserted into and attached in an attachment hole in the body panel 22 in Fig. 8.

The trim support piece 25 of the trim securing part 17, in the example diagrammed, accepts a pair of support frames 26 of the trim 19 and is formed in a dual latching channel shape. The trim support piece 25 may be of any shape or configuration so long as it can be attached to the trim 19. The leg 27 of the body securing part 18 has a pair of elastic latching pawls 29, which work together with a flange 30 formed at the top of the leg 27 to secure the body securing part 18 to the body panel 22. Any other shape or configuration is permissible, so long as the body securing part 18 is secured to the body panel 22.

For the trim securing part 17 and the body securing part 18, connection means are provided for directly connecting the two together. The connection means for the trim securing part 17 are a pair of first locking pawls 31 that extend downward from the two side surfaces of the trim securing part 17. The connection means for the body securing part 18 are a pair of second locking pawls 33, erected so as to be oriented toward positions corresponding to the pair of first locking pawls 31 and formed so as to engage the first locking pawls 31. The connections between these second locking pawls 33 and first locking pawls 31 are released when the curtain side air bag deploys, whereupon the trim securing part 17 will, together with the trim 19, separate from the body securing part 18 within the range of the length of the tethers 23. Between the lower surface of the trim securing part 17 and the upper surface of the body securing part 18 connected by the first locking pawls 31 and second locking pawls 33, as will be described below, a space is formed in which the tethers 23 are to be folded and accommodated. The lengths of the second locking pawls 33 and first locking pawls 31 in the height dimension are determined so that said space will be formed.

The tether 23 is formed as a pair of tethers, as diagrammed in Fig. 4. Each tether 23 has a length 34 that is the same as the length 9 of the tether diagrammed in Fig. 1. The tethers 23 are formed in narrow flat strap shapes that are flexible and tough, the length 34 whereof is predetermined. The length 34 is selected so as to be substantially the same length as the length 9 of the tether 5 in the conventional trim clip 1 diagrammed in Fig. 1. More specifically, a length is selected wherewith when the curtain side air bag deploys, the trim 19, supported by the trim securing part 17 separated from the body securing part 18, will move greatly so as not to interfere with the deployment of the curtain side air bag, but also so as to limit the distance the trim 19 moves from the body securing part 18 so that that trim does not make contact with the head or other body part of an occupant. If the tether 23 is formed as a pair, as diagrammed, moreover, the strength thereof will be enhanced, and balance will be achieved, wherefore that is preferable. However, it may also be a single tether which connects the sides of the trim securing part 17 and body securing part 18 so long as sufficient strength can be maintained therein.

The tethers 23, as diagrammed in Fig. 4, are formed as narrow, flexible, tough straps that are bent at intermediate places 35 thereof in a < shape or C shape. The intermediate places 35 function as bending points for the tethers 23. When the first locking pawls 31 and second locking pawls 33 are latched and the trim securing part 17 is directly connected to the body securing part 18, the tethers 23 are folded in two about the intermediate places 35. The direction of that folding [in each] is determined to be from one side of the body securing part 18 and trim securing part 17 that are connected to the tether 23, in a direction that protrudes on the other side that is not connected. As a consequence, as diagrammed, at the positions of the intermediate places 35, [each of] the tethers 23 is bent in a < shape or C shape, from one side of the body securing part 18 and trim securing part 17 where the tethers 23 are connected, toward the other side, whereupon, when the trim securing part 17 is brought closer so as to directly connect to the body securing part 18, the intermediate places 35 are folded in two while moving to the other side(s). As diagrammed in Fig. 4, moreover, when the tether 23 is provided as a pair of tethers, then, as diagrammed in Fig. 5, the two tethers 23 will be formed such that their positions are shifted along the parallel sides so that they will not interfere with each other when folded. When only one tether 23 is provided, the width of that tether 23 can be formed to the combined width of the two tethers diagrammed in Fig. 5.

As described above, the trim clip 15, , is attached to the trim in the as-delivered product condition diagrammed in Figs. 6 and 7, with the trim securing part 17 and body securing part 18 connected by the first locking pawls 31 and second locking pawls 33. In the as-delivered product condition, the space 37, wherein the two folded tethers 23 are accommodated, is formed between the lower surface side of the trim securing part 17 and the upper surface side of the body securing part 18, by the latching of the first locking pawls 31 and the second locking pawls 33. As diagrammed in Figs. 6 and 7, the pair of tethers 23, folded in two, is accommodated nicely in the space 37 formed between the lower side surface of the trim securing part 17 and the upper side surface of the body securing part 18. As a consequence, the tethers 23 do not protrude greatly to one side, as in the conventional trim clip 1 diagrammed in Fig. 2. Thus, in the as- delivered product condition, with the trim securing part 17 and body securing part 18 connected, the tethers 23 will hardly protrude at all from the two sides of the trim securing part 17 and body securing part 18. Moreover, even if the tethers 23 should protrude, the length of that protrusion will be very small. In other words, unlike the conventional trim clip 1 diagrammed in Figs. 1 and 2, the trim clip 15, even in the narrow space inside the trim 19, can be easily positioned and attached inside the trim 19. The trim 19 to which the trim clip 15 is attached is then carried to the location of the body panel 22, and when the leg 27 of the body securing part 18 is inserted into the attachment hole of the body panel 22, the trim 19 is attached to the body panel 22. Fig. 8 diagrams how the trim clip 15 is used to attach the trim 19 to the body panel 22. In the trim clip 15, the trim securing part 17 is connected to the body securing part 18, the support frames 26 of the trim 19 are connected to the trim support piece 25 the trim securing part 17, the leg 27 of the body securing part 18 is inserted into the attachment hole of the body panel 22 and the body securing part 18 is connected to the body panel 22 by the elastic latching pawls 29 and flange 30. Although not diagrammed in the drawings, the folded curtain side air bag is accommodated between the inner side of the trim 19 and the body panel 22. The curtain side air bag deploys very rapidly in the event of a vehicle collision or the like so as to protect the head of an occupant. By that deployment, the force of the trim 19 separating from the body panel 22 will act so that the trim securing part 17, together with the trim 19, will separate from the body securing part 18 (with the latching between the first locking pawls 31 and second locking pawls 33 being forcibly released), and the trim 19 supported by the trim securing part 17 separated from the body securing part 18 will move greatly so as not to interfere with the deployment of the curtain side air bag. The movement of that trim 19 will be limited by the certain length of the tethers 23, preventing that trim 19 from coming into contact with the head or other body part of an occupant.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A trim clip for holding trim such as trim used for curtain side air bags, having a trim securing part and a body securing part connected by a strap-shaped tether of a certain length, the trim securing part being directly connected to the body securing part in the as-delivered product condition prior to use, the distance of movement of which trim securing part when the trim securing part separates away from the body securing part is limited by the tether, wherein: said tether is formed in a strap-shape such that, when the trim clip is in a condition wherein the trim securing part and body securing part are not directly connected, said tether extends from one side of said trim securing part to one side of said body securing part that is in opposition to that one side of the trim securing part, and is connected thereto, and, when the trim clip is in said as-delivered product condition with the trim securing part and body securing part directly connected, the tether is folded at an intermediate place therein and is accommodated in a space between said trim securing part and said body securing part.

2. The trim clip according to claim 1 , wherein the length of said tether is selected so that trim supported by the trim securing part separated from the body securing part moves greatly so as not to interfere with the deployment of the curtain side air bag, but also so that the distance of movement of that trim from the body securing part is limited in order that the trim does not make contact with the head or other body part of an occupant.

3. The trim clip according to claim 2, wherein locking pawls are provided in the trim securing part and body securing part for directly connecting the two together, and, when the two locking pawls are connected, the space for accommodating said folded tether is formed between said trim securing part and said body securing part.

4. The trim clip according to claim 3, wherein said tether is formed in a pair so as to connect the two sides of said trim securing part and the two sides of said body securing part that are in opposition to the two sides of that trim securing part, and the two tethers are provided at positions that are shifted along the two sides of said trim securing part and the two sides of said body securing part so that, when the two tethers are folded, they do not interfere with each other.

5. The trim clip according to claim 4, wherein said tether has an intermediate part thereof bent in a < shape or C shape, and that intermediate part becomes the point of bending when the tether is folded.

6. The trim clip according to claim 5, wherein the intermediate part of said tether is formed so as to bend in order to be oriented toward the opposite sides from the connecting sides of said trim securing part and said body securing part.

7. A trim clip comprising; a trim securing portion including a first locking pawl; a body securing portion including a second locking pawl configured to engage the first locking pawl to attach the trim securing portion to the body securing portion in an assembled position; and at least one tether connecting the trim securing portion and the body securing portion; wherein, when the second locking pawl is engaged with the first locking pawl, a space is formed between the trim securing portion and the body securing portion and the tether is disposed in the space.

8. The trim clip according to claim 7, wherein the at least one tether comprises a first tether including a first end attached to the trim securing portion and a second end attached to the body securing portion and the first tether further includes a bending portion at which the tether bends disposed between the first and second ends.

9. The trim clip according to claim 8, wherein the at least one tether further comprises a second tether.

10. The trim clip according to claim 9, wherein the first end is attached to a first side of the trim securing portion and the bending portion is directed towards a second side of the trim securing portion, opposite the first side of the trim securing portion.

11. The trim clip according to claim 10, wherein the trim securing portion further comprises a trim support configured to receive a trim part.

12. The trim clip according to claim 11 , wherein the body securing portion further includes a leg configured to engage a body panel.

13. The trim clip according to claim 12, wherein the leg comprises a latching pawl and a flange.

14. The trim clip according to claim 7, wherein the at least one locking pawl comprises two tethers; wherein a first tether is attached to a first side of the trim securing portion and a second tether is attached to a second side of the trim securing portion; wherein the first tether includes a first bending portion directed towards the second side of the trim securing portion and the second tether includes a second bending portion directed towards the first side of the trim securing portion.

15. The trim clip according to claim 14, wherein the first and second tethers are offset from one another.

16. A trim clip assembly comprising: a body panel; a trim part; and a trim clip; wherein the trim clip comprises: a trim securing portion including a first locking pawl and a trim securing part; a body securing portion including a second locking pawl configured to engage the first locking pawl to attach the trim securing portion to the body securing portion in an assembled position, the body securing portion further including a leg; and at least one tether connecting the trim securing portion and the body securing portion; wherein, when the second locking pawl is engaged with the first locking pawl, a space is formed between the trim securing portion and the body securing portion and the tether is disposed in the space; wherein the trim securing part secures the trim part; and wherein the leg of the body securing portion is engaged with the body panel.

17. The trim clip according to claim 16, wherein the leg comprises a latching pawl and a flange.