TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure, in general, relates to a cover structure for covering an inner portion of a B-pillar in a vehicle. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a reinforcement plate structure to prevent tearing of a cover structure or a trim (hereinafter referred as a cover structure), due to side impact during a vehicle collision.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention.
[0003] Safety of occupants in a vehicle is always a priority in the automobile sector. Constantly, there is a high demand for a comprehensive vehicular in-built safety system. It therefore becomes necessary to build structural components of vehicles which are inclusive of inbuilt safety mechanisms.
[0004] Side crash is one of the accidents which has become increasingly relevant in the accident statistics in the past few decades. From the occupant's protection point of view, this kind of accident or side crash is mainly characterized by small amount of occupant cushioning, which manifests itself through the existence of occupant contact with hard vehicle parts and direct force transmission to delicate body regions of the occupant, for example, the rib case. Due to this, reduction of side impact upon a collision poses difficult engineering challenges for which innovative solutions are required in order to achieve the same level of protection which is available in cases of frontal crash.
[0005] A potential danger still exists that the occupant may hit a side wall of the cabin of the vehicle when the occupant is subjected to such force as being directed toward the side wall of the cabin. Therefore, it becomes highly important to prevent injury to the occupant while hitting the side portion of the cabin especially at a part where the side wall has high strength and rigidity and probability of an injury is high. A prominent example of such a high strength and

rigidity part in the side wall of the cabin is a centre pillar or a B-pillar, which may be referred to as a centre pillar or a B-pillar (hereinafter referred as a B-pillar).
[0006] In a vehicle's side body, an A-pillar, a B-pillar, and a C-pillar are formed. In the lower part of the B-pillar, a seat belt retractor for retracting a seat belt is incorporated. The seat belt retractor is mounted in an opening formed in an inner panel of the B-pillar and is arranged with a predefined gap from an outer panel of the B-pillar so that the seat belt retractor can be prevented from getting dislocated during the side collision of the vehicle.
[0007] However, in case the impact of the side collision is beyond a specified limit, the outer panel may hit the seat belt retractor and push the seat belt retractor against a B-pillar cover structure. This, in turn, results in tearing of the B-pillar cover structure. The tearing of the B-pillar cover structure creates sharp edges towards a passenger cabin of the vehicle. Such sharp edges of the torn B-pillar cover structure may result in injury to passengers travelling in the vehicle affected by the side collision.
[0008] Along with inclusion of safety features, it is important to note that additional factors play a prominent role in a vehicle design, such as cost effectiveness, and requirement of less manufacturing time.
[0009] Hence, there is a need in the state of the art to provide a reinforcement structure which may prevent the tearing or even damage of the B-pillar cover structure in case of side collision of the vehicle.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0010] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed hereinbelow.
[0011] It is a general object of the present disclosure to ensure the safety of the occupants of a vehicle in case of any form of accident or a collision in form of a side crash or a side collision.

[0012] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide for a cover structure of a B-pillar which is cost effective, easy to manufacture, and requires less manufacturing time.
[0013] It is another object of the present disclosure to prevent the wear and tear of the cover structure of the B-pillar of the vehicle upon a side collision or side impact.
[0014] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention 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 invention is illustrated.
SUMMARY
[0015] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a cover structure for covering an inner portion of a B-pillar in a vehicle. The cover structure is provided to prevent an injury to an occupant in case of side crash of a vehicle or a side impact force from the sides of a vehicle upon an accident. 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.
[0016] In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a cover structure for covering an inner portion of a B-pillar in a vehicle. The cover structure comprises a longitudinal portion defining an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion, wherein the upper edge portion is coupled with roof of the vehicle along the B-pillar and lower edge portion is coupled with side sill of the vehicle along the B-pillar. The cover structure further comprises a reinforcement plate hinged at the lower edge portion of the longitudinal portion such that upon folding towards inner surface of the cover structure, the reinforcement plate overlaps with a portion of the cover structure faced by a seat belt retractor disposed on the B-pillar.

[0017] In an aspect, a plurality of vertical bosses extending away from the inner surface of the cover structure is provided to mount the reinforcement plate, wherein the reinforcement plate defines a plurality of holes corresponding to the plurality of vertical bosses.
[0018] In an aspect, a plurality of ribs extending away from an inner surface of the reinforcement plate is provided such that the plurality of ribs is sandwiched in between the inner surface of the cover structure and the reinforcement plate after assembly.
[0019] In an aspect, a groove is defined in between two consecutive ribs of the plurality of ribs in the reinforcement plate.
[0020] In an aspect, the cover structure is composed of plastic based material.
[0021] In an aspect, the cover structure is moulded by injection moulding.
[0022] In an aspect, the reinforcement plate is hinged to the longitudinal portion by means of a living hinge.
[0023] In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a reinforcement plate for a cover structure of a B-pillar to absorb side impact energy. The reinforcement plate comprising a first surface and a second surface; and a plurality of ribs disposed on the first surface. Further, a groove is directed inwards on the first surface in between two consecutive ribs from the plurality of ribs for absorbing impact energy.
[0024] In an aspect, the reinforcement plate is mounted on inner surface of the cover structure facing a seat belt retractor, wherein the first surface (i.e., inner surface) faces the inner surface of the cover structure and the second surface (i.e., outer surface) faces the seat belt retractor.
[0025] In an aspect, the reinforcement plate comprises provisions for mounting on the inner surface of the cover structure.
[0026] In an aspect, the plurality of ribs is in shape of vertical strip.
[0027] In an aspect, the plurality of ribs is in shape of sinuous shape.

[0028] In an aspect, the plurality of ribs is in shape of zig-zag shape.
[0029] In an aspect, ratio of width (D) of the reinforcement plate in between the first surface and the second surface to width (d) of the reinforcement plate in between trough of the grooves and the second surface is 3:2.
[0030] 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.
[0031] It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.
[0032] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of 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 and/or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0034] FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of an instance of wear and tear in a cover structure of B-pillar of a vehicle when a seat-belt retractor hits the cover structure as a result of a side crash or a side collision, in accordance with existing state of the art.

[0035] FIG. 2a illustrates a front view of an unassembled cover structure with a reinforcement plate as seen from outer side of vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0036] FIG. 2b illustrates a front view of an assembled cover structure with a reinforcement plate as seen from outer side of vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0037] FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a cross section A-A of the assembled reinforcement plate with the cover structure of Fig. 2b and a seat belt retractor, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0038] FIG. 4a illustrates the reinforcement plate having a plurality of ribs in shape of vertical strip, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0039] FIG. 4b illustrates the reinforcement plate having a plurality of ribs in shape of zig-zag shape, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0040] FIG. 4c illustrates the reinforcement plate having a plurality of ribs in shape of sinuous shape, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0041] FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of an instance of tearing of a reinforcement plate upon a side crash or a side collision, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0042] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives

falling within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0043] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0044] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms "a"," "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes" and/or "including," when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
[0045] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0046] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0047] FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a side body structure 100 of the vehicle at B-pillar area. The present figure illustrates tearing of a cover structure 101 or a trim (hereinafter referred as cover structure 101), which is a known cover structure or structural plate in a vehicle and covers a B-pillar of a vehicle. As shown in FIG.l, after assembly of structural components in a vehicle, the cover structure 101 is disposed near a retractor 102 of a seat belt of vehicle in a parallel orientation to cover inner panel of the B-pillar of the vehicle. In case of a side crash or side collision, the cover structure 101 undergoes tearing at a location 104 where a head 103 or bolt head of the retractor 102 interacts with the cover structure 101 due to transfer of impact force from outside of cabin towards the cover structure 101 and thus resulting into wear and tear of the cover structure 101 leading to creation of sharp edges that may result in injury to an occupant of the vehicle.
[0048] Embodiments explained herein pertain to a cover structure for covering an inner portion of a B-Pillar in a vehicle so as to absorb impact energy in a situation of a side crash or side collision. The present subject matter is directed towards reducing injury caused to the occupant in case of a side crash or side collision or any other form of accident leading to an impact on the sides of a vehicle. The embodiments have been illustrated in FIG. 2 to FIG.5.
[0049] FIG. 2a illustrates a front view of a cover structure 200 covering a B-pillar of a vehicle as seen from outer side of the vehicle. Disclosed herein is a cover structure 200 for covering an inner panel of the B-pillar of a vehicle which is a structural plate of a vehicle body. The cover structure 200 comprises a longitudinal portion 202 defining an upper edge portion 203 and a lower edge portion 204, where the upper edge portion 203 is coupled with roof (not shown in Fig. 2a) of the vehicle along the B-pillar and lower edge portion 204 is coupled with side sill (not shown in Fig. 2a) of the vehicle along the B-pillar.
[0050] Further referring to FIG. 2a and 2b, a characterizing feature of the present embodiment is that a reinforcement plate 205 is hinged at the lower edge portion 204 of the longitudinal portion 202 in such a manner that upon folding

towards an inner surface 201 of the cover structure 200, the reinforcement plate 205 overlaps with a portion 206 faced by a seat belt retractor (not shown in present drawing) being disposed in the B-pillar of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 2a, a plurality of vertical bosses 207 extending away or directed away from the inner surface 201 of the cover structure 200 is provided to mount the reinforcement plate 205 on the cover structure 200 by means of a plurality of holes 209 and the plurality of vertical bosses 207. The reinforcement plate 205 defines the plurality of holes 209 corresponding to the plurality of vertical bosses 207.
[0051] Further, the reinforcement plate 205 comprises an arrangement of a plurality of ribs 211 extending away from an inner surface 210 of the reinforcement plate 205 such that the plurality of ribs 211 is sandwiched in between the inner surface 201 of the cover structure 200 and the reinforcement plate 205 upon mounting the reinforcement plate 205 on the cover structure 200. The plurality of ribs 211 absorbs the impact energy in a situation of a side crash or a side collision. Upon mounting the reinforcement plate 205 on the cover structure 200 of the B-pillar, the plurality of ribs 211 is interposed in between the inner surface 201 of the cover structure 200 and the B-pillar.
[0052] The reinforcement plate 205 is disposed on the cover structure 200 as shown in FIG. 2b such that the reinforcement plate 205 overlaps the portion 206 faced by a seat belt retractor of the vehicle as illustrated in FIG. 3. Also, the reinforcement plate 205 is hinged to the longitudinal portion 202 of the cover structure 200 by means of a living hinge 208 as shown in FIG. 2a and 2b. In an embodiment, the reinforcement plate 205 can be formed separately and fixed to the cover structure 200.
[0053] FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged top view of the reinforcement plate 205 describing further the structure of the reinforcement plate 205 where the plurality of ribs 211 formed on a first surface 301, 210 which is an inner surface and second surface 302 which is an outer surface faces the inner panel of the B-pillar upon assembly or mounting on the cover structure 200. Further, a groove 303 is

defined in between two consecutive ribs 211 in the plurality of ribs 211. The groove 303 comprises of a trough 304 portion such that the trough 304 is disposed between the first surface 301 and the second surface 302. In an exemplary embodiment, the cover structure 200 is composed of plastic based material and moulded by means of injection moulding.
[0054] The reinforcement plate 205 has the plurality of ribs 211 and grooves 303 defined in between two consecutive ribs 211 creating an alternate pattern of rigid and weak zones. During a side crash, when the seat belt retractor 103 hits the reinforcement plate 205, an impact force is applied on the reinforcement plate 205 and as a result the reinforcement plate 205 gets deformed at weak zones (as shown in FIG. 5) and absorbs the impact energy. As a result, tearing of cover structure 200 is prevented and no injury to occupant occurs.
[0055] Provision of the plurality of ribs 211 along with grooves 303 on the first surface 301 of the reinforcement plate 205 formed integrally with the cover structure 200 makes it advantageous as it reduces the number of components leading to less cost of production, lesser manufacturing time, and lower weight of the overall structure.
[0056] FIGS. 4a to 4c illustrate an inner surface 301 (same as 210 of FIG. 2a)
of the reinforcement plate 205 having a ribbed structure in form of different shapes in accordance with the present embodiment of the present disclosure. According to an embodiment, the reinforcement plate 205 is mounted on the inner surface 201 of the cover structure 200 such that the reinforcement plate 205 faces a seat belt retractor, where the first surface 301, 210 of the reinforcement plate 205 faces the inner surface 201 of the cover structure 200 and the second surface 302 faces the seat belt retractor 102 of a vehicle. The reinforcement plate 205 comprises provisions 209 for mounting on the inner surface 201 of the cover structure 200 by a plurality of bosses 207 located on the inner surface 201 of the cover structure 200.
[0057] In an embodiment as illustrated in FIG.4a, the plurality of ribs 211 is in shape of vertical strip.

[0058] In an embodiment as illustrated in FIG.4b, the plurality of ribs 211 is in shape of zig-zag shape.
[0059] In an embodiment as illustrated in FIG.4c, the plurality of ribs 211 is in shape of sinuous shape.
[0060] In an embodiment, the plurality of ribs 211 can be continuous ribs or dis-continuous ribs of any shape which may be known to a person skilled in the art.
[0061] In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, a ratio of width (D) of the reinforcement plate 205 measured in between the first surface 301, 210 and the second surface 302 to width (d) of the reinforcement plate 200 measured in between the trough 304 of the groove 303 and the second surface 302 is 3:2.
[0062] As illustrated in FIG. 5 by way of an example, when an impact force is applied on the cover structure 200 covering the B-pillar of a vehicle in such a way that the impact force emanates from the B-pillar and is further directed towards the cover structure 200, which is in proximity of an occupant of a vehicle then in such a situation the reinforcement plate 205 absorbs the impact force being transferred from the B-pillar to the cover structure 200. Also, while the plurality of ribs 211 undergo deformation, the reinforcement plate 205 breaks at weak zone 501 formed by grooves 303, where the cylinder head 103 of the retractor 102 interacts with the second surface 302 of the reinforcement plate 205. In circumstances of a side crash, the cover structure 200 of a B-pillar remains intact as the impact energy is absorbed by the reinforcement plate 205 thus preventing the tearing of the cover structure 200 of the B-pillar ensuring the safety of an occupant of a vehicle.
[0063] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill

in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.
Equivalents:
[0064] A description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the invention. When a single device or article is described herein, it will be apparent that more than one device/article (whether or not they cooperate) may be used in place of a single device/article. Similarly, where more than one device or article is described herein (whether or not they cooperate), it will be apparent that a single device/article may be used in place of the more than one device or article or a different number of devices/articles may be used instead of the shown number of devices or programs. The functionality and/or the features of a device may be alternatively embodied by one or more other devices which are not explicitly described as having such functionality/features. Thus, other embodiments of the invention need not include the device/article itself.
[0065] Finally, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by any claims that issue on an application based here on. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present invention are intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

We Claim

1.A cover structure (200) for covering an inner panel of a B-Pillar in a
vehicle, the cover structure (200) comprising:
a longitudinal portion (202) defining an upper edge portion (203) and a lower edge portion (204), where the upper edge portion (203) is coupled with roof of the vehicle along the B-pillar and lower edge portion (204) is coupled with side sill of the vehicle along the B-pillar;
characterized in that
a reinforcement plate (205) hinged at the lower edge portion (204) of the longitudinal portion (202) such that upon folding towards inner surface (201) of the cover structure (200), the reinforcement plate (205) overlaps with a portion (206) of the cover structure (200) faced by a seat belt retractor (103) disposed in the B-pillar.
2. The cover structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of vertical bosses (207) extending away from the inner surface (201) of the cover structure (200) is provided to mount the reinforcement plate (205), wherein the reinforcement plate (205) defines a plurality of holes (209) corresponding to the plurality of vertical bosses (207).
3. The cover structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of ribs (211) extending away from inner surface (201) of the reinforcement plate (205) such that the plurality of ribs (211) is sandwiched in between the inner surface (201) of the cover structure (200) and the reinforcement plate (205).
4. The cover structure (200) as claimed in claim 3, wherein a groove (303) is defined in between two consecutive ribs (211) in the plurality of ribs (211).
5. The cover structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcement plate (205) is hinged to the longitudinal portion (202) by means of a living hinge (208).
6. A reinforcement plate (205) for cover structure of B-pillar to absorb side impact energy, the reinforcement plate (205) comprising:
a first surface (301);

a second surface (302); and
a plurality of ribs (211) disposed on the first surface (301) and a groove (303) directed inwards on the first surface (301) is provided in between two consecutive ribs (211) from the plurality of ribs (211) for absorbing impact energy.
7. The reinforcement plate (205) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the
reinforcement plate (205) is mounted on inner surface (201) of the cover structure
(200) facing a seat belt retractor (103), wherein the first surface (301) faces the
inner surface (201) of the cover structure (200) and the second surface (302) faces
the seat belt retractor (103).
8. The reinforcement plate (205) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the
reinforcement plate (205) comprises provisions for mounting on the inner surface
(201) of the cover structure (200).
9. The reinforcement plate (205) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plurality of ribs (211) is in shape of at least one of a vertical strip, sinuous shape, and zig¬zag shape.
10. The reinforcement plate (205) as claimed in claim 6, wherein ratio of width (D) of the reinforcement plate (205) in between the first surface (301) and the second surface (302) to width (d) of the reinforcement plate (205) in between trough (304) of the grooves (303) and the second surface (302) is 3:2.