[0001] The present disclosure, in general, relates to a doghouse formed in the trim parts of a vehicle. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a collapsible doghouse for absorbing impact energy during crash or head impact.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Quick and secure assembly is very important to automotive assembly plants since manual labour is expensive and repair is even more expensive. Every additional loose fastener and/or screw adds considerably to manual labour and assembly time. It is therefore desirable to provide a secure attachment structure that quickly and securely attaches, but also that is cost-effective, mechanically simple, and very reliable, yet that does permit later repair without the need for additional fasteners or parts.
[0003] Generally, doghouse is used to hold a clip for mounting a plastic trim to sheet metal in a vehicle. The doghouse is made of plastic, or integrally formed with the plastic trim. However, the existing/conventional doghouse does not have the structural configuration to collapse during crash or head impact and does not absorb impact energy. As a result, during crash or head impact, trim parts or instrument panel (I/P) child parts are fractured which results in occupant’s injury. Currently, additional sheet metal, composite materials, or other materials are assembled between plastic trim and vehicle body for impact energy absorbing purpose.
[0004] However, the aforementioned materials utilized for absorption of the impact energy may increase the manufacturing cost as well as weight of the vehicle.
[0005] A conventional doghouse 100 is shown in the FIG. 1. The conventional doghouse 100 includes side walls 102, wherein the design of side walls 102 is vertically disposed. Since the conventional doghouse does not collapse during crash or head impact, trim parts or I/P child parts are fractured which results in occupant’s injury. Therefore, separate foam pads or energy absorbing material are used which increases weight and manufacturing cost of a vehicle. For example, EPP (Expanded Polypropylene) pads, sheet metal plates, foam pads, etc. are used for the purpose of absorbing impact energy during the event of crash or head impact. In the event of crash or head impact, said conventional doghouse 100 may sometimes transfer the impact energy from vehicle body to the plastic parts, say, trim, which damages the internal structural part or create part fracture in the internal structure of the vehicle.
[0006] Therefore, there is a requirement of modification in the design of the doghouse in such a way that the doghouse can absorb the impact energy during the event of crash or head impact.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0007] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed herein below.
[0008] It is a general or primary object of the present disclosure to provide a collapsible doghouse that facilitates easy absorption of impact energy in crash or head impact.
[0009] It is another object of the present disclosure to configure the doghouse in such a manner that an upper portion of side walls of the dog house is inclined inwards as compared to a lower portion of the side walls of the doghouse.
[0010] It is yet another object of the present disclosure to provide the doghouse with multiple horizontal crumple zones formed on side walls of the doghouse to allow the doghouse collapse or deform inwards in phased manner at crumple zones to absorb the impact energy.
[0011] It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide a cost-effective and efficient solution for energy absorption during crash and head impact without using additional energy absorption structures.
[0012] These and other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred form of the present disclosure is illustrated.
SUMMARY
[0013] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a collapsible doghouse that facilitates absorbing impact energy during crash and head impact. 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.
[0014] In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a collapsible doghouse. The doghouse includes a top surface and side walls. The sidewalls are connected to the top surface and having an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion is inclined more inward than the lower portion towards the top surface. Further, the side walls are formed with multiple horizontal crumple zones.
[0015] In an aspect, the horizontal crumple zones are formed along an inner surface of the side walls.
[0016] In another aspect, the horizontal crumple zones are formed along an outer surface of the side walls.
[0017] In an aspect, the doghouse deforms inwards in phased manner at the horizontal crumple zones to absorb the impact energy during an impact or crash.
[0018] In an aspect, the top surface of the dog house is formed with a cut portion to accommodate a clip on the doghouse.
[0019] The collapsible doghouse proposed herein can be manufactured without incurring additional cost to vehicle while reducing injury to the occupant. The proposed doghouse can be used for multiple purpose. The proposed doghouse is simple to manufacture and is light weight and cost effective as well.
[0020] To further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made regarding the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit the scope of the present subject matter.
[0021] 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 like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional doghouse;
[0024] FIG. 2A illustrates a perspective view of a collapsible doghouse used on vehicle trim parts, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0025] FIG. 2B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the collapsible doghouse shown in FIG. 2A, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0026] FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate different collapsing stages of the collapsible doghouse, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0027] FIG. 4A illustrates a perspective view of the collapsible doghouse with a cut portion on its top surface to accommodate a clip on the collapsible doghouse, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0028] FIG. 4B illustrates a perspective view of the collapsible doghouse with the clip mounted on the cut portion of the collapsible doghouse, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0029] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for 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
[0030] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to con all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0031] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0032] Since the conventional doghouse does not collapse during crash or head impact, the impact energy is transferred to the plastic parts. As a result, the plastic parts are fractured which results in occupant’s injury.
[0033] To overcome the issues related to the existing doghouse structure, the present disclosure herein provides a collapsible doghouse that absorbs impact energy during crash or head impact and also facilitates mounting of clip.
[0034] FIG. 2A shows a collapsible doghouse 200 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The doghouse 200 is formed of a top surface 202, and sidewalls 204 connected to the top surface 202. The sidewalls 204 are inclined towards the top surface of the doghouse 200, thereby the width and the breadth of the doghouse 200 gradually decreases from the bottom to the top end.
[0035] Further, the side walls 204 are having an upper portion 204-U and a lower portion 204-L. In an aspect of the present disclosure, the upper portion 204-U is inclined more inward than the lower portion 204-L towards the top surface 202.
[0036] Yet further, as shown in FIG. 2B illustrating a cross-section through a reference line A-A shown in FIG. 2A, the inner surface 204-I of the side walls 204 is formed with multiple horizontal crumple zones 206. In another aspect, the horizontal crumple zones 206 are formed along the outer surface 204-O of the side walls 204. In an embodiment, the horizontal crumple zones 206 are formed in U-shape or V-shape design.
[0037] The inclined side walls 204 with multiple horizontal crumple zones 206 allow multi-stage deformation of the doghouse 200 during the crash or head impact. The different stages of collapse of the doghouse 200 are shown through FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C. For instance, in FIG. 3A, during crash or head impact, the top surface 202 of the doghouse 200 starts breaking in a first stage 302. In FIG. 3B, the side walls 204 partially break in a second stage 304. In FIG. 3C, the doghouse 200 completely breaks in a last/third stage 306. In the third stage 306, the doghouse 200 deforms completely at all the crumble zones 206 and absorbs the impact energy, and prevents the part fracture of the trim. Although only three collapsing stages are shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, those skilled in the art can appreciate that the number of collapsing stages is mere exemplary and depends on the level of impact or height of the doghouse.
[0038] The multistage collapsible feature of the doghouse 200 helps the doghouse 200 to break itself or collapse to absorb the impact energy, during crash or head impact and to prevent the part fracture of the trim parts in the vehicle.
[0039] FIG. 4A illustrates the doghouse 200 with a cut potion 402 at the top surface 202, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The cut portion 402 is formed at a middle region of the top surface 202 of the doghouse 202 to accommodate a clip 404 on the doghouse for mounting trim part on the sheet metal part of the vehicle. The clip 404 fixed on the cut portion 402 formed at the top surface 202 of the doghouse 200 is illustrated in the FIG. 4B.
[0040] The present disclosure meets the mounting requirement as well as overcomes the energy absorption requirement. Further, the present disclosure describes the collapsible doghouse structure to absorb impact energy in vehicle. The doghouse is provided with a cut portion at top surface to accommodate clip for mounting. The collapsible doghouse can be manufactured without incurring additional cost to vehicle which reducing injury to the occupant. Further, the additional advantages of the present disclosure are listed herein below.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0041] There is a plurality of features which are listed as technical advantages below:
[0042] The present disclosure provides a collapsible doghouse that facilitates clip mounting requirement and energy absorption requirement in a vehicle.
[0043] The present disclosure provides a collapsible doghouse, thus no additional part/pads are required for absorbing impact energy and is also easily integrated with trim parts.
[0044] The present disclosure provides a collapsible doghouse which is simple in design, light weight, and very cost effective.
[0045] The proposed doghouse can be used for multiple purpose, i.e., the doghouse may be used as energy absorber and also for clip mounting.
[0046] The proposed collapsible doghouse comprises multiple crumble zones and side walls wherein the upper portion of doghouse is inclined more inward than the lower portion, so that the doghouse deforms inwardly in multiple stages. These features help the doghouse to absorb the impact energy during crash or head impact and thus prevents the trim part fracture of vehicle. As a result, occupant injury is reduced.
[0047] 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 arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter. 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 following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.

Claims:1. A collapsible doghouse (200), comprising:
a top surface (202);
side walls (204) connected to the top surface (202) and having an upper portion (204-U) and a lower portion (204-L), said upper portion (204-U) being inclined more inwards than the lower portion (204-U) towards the top surface (202); and
multiple horizontal crumple zones (206) formed on the side walls (204).
2. The collapsible doghouse (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the collapsible doghouse (200) deforms inwards in phased manner at the horizontal crumple zones (206) to absorb impact energy during crash or head impact.
3. The collapsible doghouse (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top surface (202) is formed with a cut portion (402) to accommodate a clip (404) on the doghouse (200).
4. The collapsible doghouse (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the horizontal crumple zones (206) are formed in U-shape or V-shape design.
5. The collapsible doghouse (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the horizontal crumple zones (206) are formed along an inner surface (204-I) of the side walls (204).
6. The collapsible doghouse (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the horizontal crumple zones (206) are formed along an outer surface (204-O) of the side walls (204).