Description:FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
39 OF 1970
&
THE PATENT RULES 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(SEE SECTIONS 10 & RULE 13)
1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION

“AN A-PILLAR TRIM OF A VEHICLE”
2. APPLICANTS (S)
NAME NATIONALITY ADDRESS

MARUTI SUZUKI INDIA LIMITED

Indian
1, Nelson Mandela Road, Vasant Kunj,
New Delhi – 110070, India
3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

AN A-PILLAR TRIM OF A VEHICLE
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to an A-pillar trim of a vehicle, where structure of the A-pillar trim helps in management of a roof side air bag tether. In particular, the present disclosure relates to the A-pillar trim structure of the vehicle, where inner surface of the A-pillar trim is structurally designed to prevent breakage of the A-pillar trim during deployment of an airbag.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Incorporation of airbags has become a legal requirement for use in automotive industries and has been credited with preventing numerous deaths and injuries during crash events. Nowadays, vehicles also comprise of side airbags that can be deployed for protection of occupants in the vehicle from impacts in lateral direction, or against the side of the vehicle. These side airbags are concealed from the occupant by means of inner trim. Also, the trims must be persistent enough to endure the explosive forces of air bag devices without being dislocated from the vehicular structure, as trims experience substantial number of forces while airbag deployment.
[0003] An A-pillar trim of the vehicle is one such component that is required to be critically designed for accommodation of a roof side airbag, owing to its limited space availability due to proximity of driver and front passenger. In an existing arrangement, the air bag tether is being guided by guiding ribs present in the front pillar trim. These ribs are usually connected to a doghouse present in a trim and are incapable to guide ejection of the air bag tether throughout the lateral surface of the front pillar trim. Therefore, such arrangement may lead to breakage of the A-pillar trim thereby leading to exposure of an occupant to sharp edges upon deployment of the airbag. Consequently, the occupant may get injured and safety parameters may be compromised.
[0004] Towards this direction, it is imperative to restructure and develop the A-pillar trim structure such that the structure is able to facilitate efficient guidance of the air bag tether without compromising on safety parameters of the occupant.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed herein below.
[0006] It is an object of the present subject matter to overcome the aforementioned and other drawbacks existing in the prior art systems and methods.
[0007] It is a significant object of the present disclosure to develop an A-pillar trim that is able to guide ejection of an air bag tether during airbag deployment.
[0008] It is an object of the present disclosure to develop the A-pillar trim that is capable of preventing breakage of the A-pillar trim during deployment of the airbag.
[0009] It is another object of the present disclosure to develop the A-pillar trim that is having an enhanced mechanical strength to withstand load during crash events.
[0010] It is another object of the present disclosure to develop the A-pillar trim that is rigid and robust.
[0011] These and other objects and advantages of the present subject matter, will be apparent to a person skilled in the art after consideration of the following detailed description, taken into consideration with accompanied drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present subject matter are illustrated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to an A-pillar trim of a vehicle capable of guiding ejection of an air bag tether. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0013] According to an embodiment of the present subject matter, there is provided an A-pillar trim in a vehicle that comprises of a plurality of doghouse structures positioned on a base of an inner surface of the A-pillar trim, each of the plurality of doghouse structures defines a supporting portion that extends up to a lateral surface of the A-pillar trim.
[0014] In an aspect, the inner surface of the A-pillar trim further comprises of a plurality of inclined ribs extending from a lateral edge of the supporting portion and merges with surface of the supporting portion in between the doghouse structure and the lateral edge.
[0015] In an aspect, there is further provided a plurality of guiding ribs positioned in between the two consecutive doghouse structures from the plurality of doghouse structures, the plurality of guiding ribs is extending from the lateral edge of the lateral surface of the A-pillar trim in horizontal direction.
[0016] In an aspect, height of the plurality of inclined ribs and the plurality of guiding ribs is extending above a parting line covering the edge of the lateral surface of the A-pillar trim to prevent interaction of the air bag tether with the parting line during deployment of an airbag.
[0017] In an aspect, each of the plurality of guiding ribs defines an edge end which is attached with the lateral edge of the lateral surface of the A-pillar trim and a restraining end, each of the plurality of guiding ribs defines an inclined profile that starts from the edge end and ends in between the restraining end and the edge end.
[0018] In an aspect, each of the plurality of guiding ribs defines a flat resting surface in between the restraining end and the inclined profile.
[0019] In an aspect, the restraining end of each of the plurality of guiding ribs is defined as projected end.
[0020] In an aspect, the supporting portion of each of the plurality of doghouse structures maintain a level difference with a fastener receiving surface of the doghouse structures.
[0021] In an aspect, each of the plurality of guiding ribs are connected to each other.
[0022] To further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit the scope of the present subject matter.
[0023] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING(S)
[0024] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is given with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods or structure in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which
[0025] Figure 1 depicts a perspective view of an inner surface of an A-pillar trim of a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0026] Figure 2 depicts detailed view of a plurality of ribs in the A-pillar trim in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0027] Figure 3 (a)-(b) depicts sectional view of joinery of the ribs with an edge of a lateral surface of the A-pillar trim in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0028] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] A few aspects of the present disclosure are explained in detail below with reference to the various figures. Example implementations are described to illustrate the disclosed subject matter, not to limit its scope, which is defined by the claims. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a number of equivalent variations of the various features provided in the description that follows.
Non limiting Definitions
[0030] In the disclosure hereinafter, one or more terms are used to describe various aspects of the present disclosure. For a better understanding of the present disclosure, a few definitions are provided herein for better understating of the present disclosure.
[0031] “A-pillar” of a vehicle refers to a first roof pillar in both the sides of the vehicle along frontal direction and it is positioned next to a windshield holding roof of the vehicle. The purpose of the “A-pillar” is to withstand load during crash and provide safety to the passengers.
[0032] “A-pillar trim” of a vehicle refers to a component covering the A-pillar of the vehicle. It is usually made up of plastic.
[0033] “Doghouse” of a vehicle is an engineering feature used in plastic trim design. Dog houses are used as supporting feature and are configured for clips, snaps, locators, etc. for mounting on panel or other plastic structures.
Overview
[0034] While the embodiments of the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof have been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure.
[0035] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof used in the disclosure, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a device, system, assembly that comprises a list of components does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such system, or assembly, or device. In other words, one or more elements in a system or device proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or device.
[0036] The present disclosure depicts a structure of an A-pillar trim (100), where the trim is able to guide ejection of an airbag tether during deployment of an airbag in a vehicle. The structure of the A-pillar trim (100) also facilitates the air bag tether to remain placed at desired position and also prevents sagging of the air bag tether. The structural features of the A-pillar trim (100) are illustrated in subsequent sections.

[0037] Figure 1 depicts a perspective view of an inner surface of the A-pillar trim (100) of a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0038] In an aspect, the inner surface of the A-pillar trim (100) comprises of a base (100-B) and a lateral surface (100-L). There is provided a plurality of doghouse structures (104) positioned on the base (100-B) of the inner surface of the A-pillar trim (100).
[0039] In an aspect, each of the plurality of doghouse structures (104) defines a flat supporting portion (100-S), where the supporting portion (100-S) extends towards the lateral surface (100-L) of the A-pillar trim (100).
[0040] In an aspect, the inner surface of the A-pillar trim (100) comprises of two types of ribs to guide ejection of the air bag tether (404), as shown in Figure 3 (b), upon deployment of the airbag. These are viz., a plurality of inclined ribs (106) and a plurality of guiding ribs (108), respectively.
[0041] In an aspect, the plurality of inclined ribs (106) is extending from a lateral edge (100-E) of the supporting portion (100-S) and merges with surface of the supporting portion (100-S) positioned in between the doghouse structure (104) and the lateral edge (100-E) of the supporting portion (100-S). The plurality of inclined ribs (106) is configured to guide ejection of the air bag tether (404) during deployment of the airbag.
[0042] In an aspect, the plurality of guiding ribs (108) is positioned in between the consecutive doghouse structures from the plurality of doghouse structures (104). Herein, the plurality of guiding ribs (108) is extending from the lateral edge (100-E) of the lateral surface (100-L) of the A-pillar trim (100) in horizontal direction.
[0043] In an aspect, the plurality of guiding ribs (108) is configured to restrict motion of the air bag tether (404) in reverse direction during deployment of the airbag such that the air bag tether (404) can only be guided in one direction.
[0044] Figure 2 depicts detailed view of the plurality of guiding ribs (108) in the A-pillar trim (100) in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, each of the plurality of guiding ribs (108) defines a restraining end (202) and an edge end (206), respectively.
[0045] In an aspect, the edge end (206) of each of the plurality of guiding ribs (108) is attached with the lateral edge (100-E) of the lateral surface (100-L) of the A-pillar trim (100). The plurality of guiding ribs (108) maintains a partially inclined profile between the edge end (206) and the restraining end (202), where the inclined profile originates from the edge end (206). The inclined profile thereafter converges to form a flat profile before terminating into the restraining end (202).
[0046] In an aspect, the restraining end (202) of each of the plurality of guiding ribs (108) is defined as a projected end in transverse direction. This is required in order to retain the longitudinally placed air bag tether in its original position. The projected end of the restraining end (202) of each of the plurality of guiding ribs (108) provides support to the air bag tether and prevents pinching of the airbag tether (404) between mounting structure and a front inner panel of the vehicle.
[0047] In an aspect, additionally, it may be noticed that each of the plurality of guiding ribs (108) defines a flat resting surface (208) between the partially formed inclined profile and the restraining end (202). The flat resting surface (208) is aligned in longitudinal direction along direction of the air bag tether (404) and allows the air bag tether (404) to rest on top of the flat resting surface (208), thus preventing sagging of the air bag tether (404).
[0048] In an aspect, the supporting portion (100-S) of each of the plurality of doghouse structures (104) maintains a level difference (204) with a fastener receiving surface of the plurality of doghouse structures (104). This also allows the plurality of inclined ribs (106) to retain the air bag tether (404) in its original position thereby preventing sagging of the air bag tether (404).
[0049] In an aspect, further it may also be observed from Figure 2 that each of the plurality of guiding ribs (108) are connected to each other, particularly from bottom. This not only strengthens the plurality of guiding ribs (108), but also enhances overall strength of the A-pillar trim (100).
[0050] Figure 3 (a)-(b) depicts sectional view of joinery of the plurality of guiding ribs (108) with an edge of a lateral surface of the A-pillar trim (100) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0051] Referring to Figure 3 (a) and (b), it may be noted that height of the plurality of inclined ribs (106) and the plurality of guiding ribs (108) are extending above a parting line (402) covering the lateral edge (100-E) of the lateral surface (100-L) of the A-pillar trim (100).
[0052] Referring to Figure 3 (b), it may be observed that height of the plurality of inclined ribs (106) and the plurality of guiding ribs (108) are extending above the parting line (402), say by ‘l’. This provides an automatic guidance to the airbag tether (404) beyond the parting line (402) by the distance ‘l’ and prevents interaction of the air bag tether (404) with the parting line (402) during deployment of the airbag. As a result, the occupant is prevented from getting exposed to a sharp edge of the A-pillar trim (100) due to breakage of the A-pillar trim as the air bag tether (404) is not ejected beyond the parting line (402).
[0053] In another embodiment, the inner surface of the A-pillar trim (100) may comprise of atleast two doghouse structures of the plurality of doghouse structures (104). Each of the plurality of inclined ribs (106) are supported by each of the atleast two doghouse structures. The plurality of guiding ribs (108) may be positioned adjacent to the plurality of inclined ribs (106) in continuation, to provide guidance to the air bag tether (404) in longitudinal direction.
[0054] Technical Advantages

[0055] All in all, the invention described in the present disclosure is having the following advantages:

[0056] i) Guides ejection of the air bag tether (404) in forward longitudinal direction
ii) Prevents sagging of the air bag tether (404)
iii) Provides enhanced strength to the A-pillar trim (100)
iv) Rigid and robust
v) Ability to withstand load

Equivalents
[0057] It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate the principles of the present subject matter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present subject matter. It should also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that by devising various systems that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the present subject matter and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present subject matter, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the above-mentioned description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.
[0058] Although embodiments for the present subject matter have been described in language specific to package features, it is to be understood that the present subject matter is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as embodiments for the present subject matter. Numerous modifications and adaptations of the system/device of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and thus it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations which fall within the scope of the present subject matter.
[0059] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
[0060] It will be further appreciated that functions or structures of a plurality of components or steps may be combined into a single component or step, or the functions or structures of one-step or component may be split among plural steps or components. The present invention contemplates all these combinations. Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various structures depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the invention, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. In addition, while a feature of the present invention may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance with the present invention. The present invention also encompasses intermediate and end products resulting from the practice of the methods herein. The use of “comprising” or “including” also contemplates embodiments that “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the recited feature.

, Claims:We Claim:
1. An A-pillar trim (100) of a vehicle (100) comprising:
- a plurality of doghouse structures (104) positioned on a base (100-B) of an inner surface of the A-pillar trim (100), each of the plurality of doghouse structures (104) defines a supporting portion (100-S) that extend up to a lateral surface (100-L) of the A-pillar trim (100);
- a plurality of inclined ribs (106) extending from a lateral edge (100-E) of the supporting portion (100-S) and merges with surface of the supporting portion (100-S) in between the doghouse structure (104) and the lateral edge (100-E); and
- a plurality of guiding ribs (108) positioned in between the two consecutive doghouse structures from the plurality of doghouse structures (104), the plurality of guiding ribs (108) is extending from the lateral edge (100-E) of the lateral surface (100-L) of the A-pillar trim (100) in horizontal direction,
- and wherein height of the plurality of inclined ribs (106) and the plurality of guiding ribs (108) is extending above a parting line (402) covering the edge of the lateral surface (100-L) of the A-pillar trim (100) to prevent interaction of the air bag tether (404) with the parting line (402) during deployment of an airbag.

2. The A-pillar trim (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of guiding ribs (108) defines an edge end (206) which is attached with the lateral edge (100-E) of the lateral surface (100-L) of the A-pillar trim (100) and a restraining end (202), each of the plurality of guiding ribs (108) defines an inclined profile that starts from the edge end (206) and ends in between the restraining end (202) and the edge end (206).

3. The A-pillar trim (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of guiding ribs (108) defines a flat resting surface (208) in between the restraining end (202) and the inclined profile (206).

4. The A-pillar trim (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the restraining end (202) of each of the plurality of guiding ribs (108) is defined as projected end.

5. The A-pillar trim (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting portion (100-S) of each of the plurality of doghouse structures (104) maintains a level difference (204) with a fastener receiving surface of the doghouse structures (104).

6. The A-pillar trim (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of guiding ribs (108) are connected (210) to each other.

Dated this 29th day of May, 2023

AMIT JAIN
PATENT AGENT
IN/PA – 2189
OF L. S. DAVAR & CO.,
APPLICANT’S AGENT