DE-102025146578-A1 - VEHICLE INTERIOR TRIM PANEL ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A vehicle consists of a body shell and a body panel supported by the body shell. An airbag is located between the body shell and the vehicle body shell. The body panel has a back side facing the vehicle body shell. The body panel has a base section and a distal section. The body panel has a weakened area between the base section and the distal section on the back side. An elastomeric element is connected to the back side at the base section and the distal section. The elastomeric element extends across the weakened area from the base section to the distal section.

Inventors

• Lemuel Enrique Herrera Covarrubias
• Josue David Mayren Hernandez
• Karina Isela Bravo Zarate
• Pablo Isaac Villalva Sanchez

Assignees

• FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20251111

Priority Date

20241113

Claims (15)

1. Vehicle, comprising: a vehicle body; a panel supported by the vehicle body; an airbag between the panel and the vehicle body; the panel comprising a back side facing the vehicle body; the panel comprising a base section and a distal section; the panel comprising a weakened area between the base section and the distal section on the back side; and an elastomeric element connected to the back side at the base section and the distal section, the elastomeric element extending over the weakened area from the base section to the distal section.
2. Vehicle after Claim 1 , wherein the airbag borders the elastomeric element at the distal section.
3. Vehicle after Claim 1 , wherein the base section, the distal section and the weakened area are one piece.
4. Vehicle after Claim 1 , wherein the cladding panel includes a front opposite the rear, the front of which includes a Class-A surface.
5. Vehicle after Claim 4 , with the Class A surface extending along the base and distal sections.
6. vehicle after one of the Claims 1 - 5 , where the weakened area is a depression between the back of the basal section and the distal section.
7. Vehicle after Claim 6 , where the depression is elongated along a straight line.
8. vehicle after one of the Claims 1 - 5 , whereby the weakened area extends from the base section to the distal section.
9. vehicle after one of the Claims 1 - 5 , wherein the weakened area is designed to allow the distal section to bend relative to the base section under the force of the airbag as it inflates from an uninflated position to an inflated position.
10. Vehicle after Claim 9 , wherein the distal end is positioned so that it is struck by the airbag when the airbag inflates from the uninflated position to the inflated position.
11. A vehicle interior trim panel assembly comprising: a trim panel including a base section and a distal section; the trim panel including a back side designed to bond with a vehicle body; wherein the trim panel including a front side opposite the back side, the front side including a Class-A surface extending along the base section and the distal section; wherein the trim panel including a weakened area between the base section and the distal section on the back side, the weakened area being designed to allow the distal section to expand under the force of an airbag deploying from a non-convertible vehicle body. inflates from a blown position into an inflated position, bends relative to the base section; and an elastomeric element connected to the rear at the base section and the distal section, the elastomeric element extending over the weakened area from the base section to the distal section.
12. Vehicle after Claim 11 , wherein the base section, the distal section and the weakened area are one piece.
13. vehicle after one of the Claims 11 - 12 , where the weakened area is a depression between the back of the basal section and the distal section.
14. Vehicle after Claim 13 , where the depression is elongated along a straight line.
15. Vehicle after Claim 13 , whereby the weakened area extends from the base section to the distal section.

Description

AREA OF TECHNOLOGY This disclosure concerns an airbag assembly in vehicles, GENERAL STATE OF THE ART Vehicles are equipped with airbag assemblies that include an airbag and a gas generator. In the event of a vehicle impact, the gas generator is activated and provides the airbag with inflation fluid. This pressurizes the airbag to control the occupant's kinematics during the impact. The airbag assemblies can be located in various positions within the vehicle's occupant compartment. Vehicles may include dashboard-mounted airbags, side curtain airbags mounted on roof rails, seat-mounted airbags, and so on. SUMMARY According to the present invention, a vehicle is provided comprising: a vehicle body; a panel supported by the vehicle body; an airbag between the panel and the vehicle body; wherein the panel includes a rear side facing the vehicle body; wherein the panel includes a base section and a distal section; wherein the panel includes a weakened area between the base section and the distal section on the rear side; and an elastomeric element connected to the rear side at the base section and the distal section, the elastomeric element extending over the weakened area from the base section to the distal section. According to one embodiment, the airbag rests against the elastomeric element at its distal section. According to one embodiment, the base section, the distal section and the weakened area are formed in one piece. According to one embodiment, the cladding panel includes a front side opposite the back side, the front side including a Class-A surface. According to one embodiment, the Class-A surface extends along the base section and the distal section. According to one embodiment, the weakened area is a depression between the back side, between the base section and the distal section. According to one embodiment, the depression is elongated along a straight line. According to one embodiment, the weakened area extends from the base section to the distal section. According to one embodiment, the weakened area is designed to allow the distal section to bend relative to the base section due to the force of the airbag as it inflates from an uninflated position to an inflated position. According to one embodiment, the distal end is positioned so that it is struck by the airbag when the airbag inflates from the uninflated position to the inflated position. According to one embodiment, the elastomer element is bonded to the back of the cladding panel. According to one embodiment, the cladding panel is made of plastic. According to the present invention, a vehicle interior trim panel assembly is provided, comprising: a trim panel comprising a base section and a distal section; wherein the trim panel includes a rear side designed to connect to a vehicle body; wherein the trim panel includes a front side opposite the rear side, the front side comprising a Class-A surface extending along the base section and the distal section; wherein the trim panel includes a weakened area between the base section and the distal section on the rear side, the weakened area being designed to allow the distal section to flex relative to the base section under the force of an airbag inflating from a deflated to an inflated position; and an elastomeric element connected to the rear side at the base section and the distal section, the elastomeric element extending over the weakened area from the base section to the distal section. According to one embodiment, the base section, the distal section and the weakened area are formed in one piece. According to one embodiment, the weakened area is a depression between the back side, between the base section and the distal section. According to one embodiment, the depression is elongated along a straight line. According to one embodiment, the weakened area extends from the base section to the distal section. According to one embodiment, the elastomer element is bonded to the back of the cladding panel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 1 is a side view of a vehicle passenger compartment with an airbag in a deflated position behind a trim panel assembly.2 is the side view off 1 with the airbag in an inflated position.3 This is a perspective view of the trim panel assembly and an airbag, viewed from the rear of a trim panel of the trim panel assembly.4 This is a perspective view of the cladding panel assembly.5 This is an exploded view of the cladding panel assembly.6 This is another example of the cladding panel assembly.7 is a cross-section along line 7 from 6 . DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the figures, in which the same reference numerals denote the same parts in the multiple views, a vehicle 10 comprises a vehicle body 12 and a fairing panel 14, which is supported by the vehicle body 12. An airbag 16 is located between the fairing panel 14 and the vehicle body 12. The fairing panel 14 includes a rear surface 18 facing the vehicle body 12. The fairing panel 14 includes a base section 2