TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure, in general, relates to a doghouse formed in trim parts of a vehicle. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a doghouse for absorbing impact energy during crash or head impact.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Generally, a 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 a crash or head impact and does not absorb impact energy. As a result, during crash or head impact, trim parts or instrument panel (l/P) child parts are fractured which come in contact with vehicle occupant and result 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 purposes.
[0003] However, the aforementioned materials utilized for the absorption of the impact energy may increase the manufacturing cost as well as the weight of the vehicle.
[0004] A conventional doghouse 100 is shown in 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 a crash or head impact, trim parts or l/P child parts are fractured which come in contact with vehicle occupant and result in occupant's injury. Therefore, separate foam pads or energy absorbing material are used which increases the weight and manufacturing cost of a vehicle. For example, EPP (Expanded Polypropylene) pads, sheet metal plates, foam pads, etc. are used to absorb impact energy during the event of a crash or head impact. In the event of a crash or head impact, said conventional doghouse 100

transfers the impact energy from the vehicle body to the plastic parts, say, trim, which damages the internal structural part or create a part fracture in the internal structure of the vehicle which eventually injures the vehicle occupant.
[0005] 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 and also prevents the fracture of trim during the event of a crash or head impact.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0006] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed hereinbelow.
[0007] It is a general or primary object of the present disclosure to provide a doghouse that facilitates easy absorption of impact energy in a crash or head impact.
[0008] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a doghouse that prevents the fracture of the trim during the event of a crash or head impact.
[0009] It is another object of the present disclosure to configure the doghouse in such a manner that a top surface of the doghouse breaks during the event of a crash or head impact and is guided towards the intended portion of trim by the guiding portion provided on inner sidewalls of the doghouse.
[0010] It is yet another object of the present disclosure to provide the doghouse in which the broken top surface of the doghouse rests on the trim and increases the thickness of the intended portion of the trim and prevents fracture of the trim in that region.

[0011] It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide a cost-effective and efficient solution for energy absorption during the 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 doghouse that absorbs impact energy and prevents the fracture of trim during the 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 provides a doghouse for a trim of a vehicle, comprising a top surface having a central region formed with multiple ribs and a peripheral region formed with multiple grooves.
[0015] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides the doghouse in which the multiple ribs formed at the central region of the top surface provide strength to the doghouse during an impact.
[0016] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides the doghouse in which the multiple grooves formed on the peripheral region of the top surface make the peripheral region weak for allowing the breakage of the top surface at the peripheral region during an impact.
[0017] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides the doghouse having side walls secured along corresponding edges of the top surface. In an aspect, the present disclosure provides the doghouse in which the inner side

of the side walls is formed with a guiding face for guiding the broken top surface towards an intended portion of the trim during an impact.
[0018] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides the doghouse in which the broken top surface of the doghouse rests on the trim and increases the thickness of the intended portion of the trim.
[0019] Moreover, the doghouse proposed herein can be manufactured without incurring additional cost to a vehicle while reducing injury to the occupant. The proposed doghouse can be used for multiple purposes. The proposed doghouse is simple to manufacture and is lightweight 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 doghouse formed on vehicle trim parts from the top, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0025] FIG. 2B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the doghouse shown in FIG. 2A from the front, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0026] FIG. 3 illustrate the breaking of the top surface of the doghouse during the event of a crash or head impact, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0027] 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
[0028] 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.
[0029] 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.

[0030] Since the conventional doghouse does not collapse during a crash or head impact, the impact energy is transferred to the plastic trim. As a result, the plastic trims are fractured which results in the occupant's injury.
[0031] To overcome the issues related to the existing doghouse structure, the present disclosure herein provides a doghouse that absorbs impact energy during a crash or head impact and also can be used to facilitate mounting of the clip. It also prevents the fracture of trim during the event of a crash or head impact.
[0032] FIG. 2A illustrates a perspective view of the doghouse 200 from the top in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The doghouse 200 comprises a top surface 202 having a central region 202c provided with multiple ribs 204 and a peripheral region 202p provided with multiple grooves 206. Besides, the doghouse 200 is also provided with the side walls 208 in which the top end of the side walls 208 are attached with the corresponding three sides of the top surface 202 of the doghouse 200 in an inclined manner. The inner side of the side walls 208 of the doghouse 200 is provided with the guiding face 210 as shown in the fig. 2B. The multiple ribs 204 that are provided at the central region 202c of the top surface 202 provide strength to the doghouse 200. However, the multiple grooves 206 provided on the peripheral region 202p of the top surface 202 make the peripheral region 202p weak. As a result, during an impact, the top surface 202 of the doghouse 200 breaks at the peripheral region 202p and absorbs the impact energy. The enlarged view of groove 206 is also shown in the fig. 2A. In another embodiment, the top surface 202 of the doghouse 200 can be modified so as to hold the clip for fastening with the vehicle body without deviating from the subject matter of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 2B illustrates a perspective view of the doghouse 200 from the front that clearly shows the structure of the guiding face 210 provided on the inner side of the side walls 208 that are used for guiding the top surface 202

towards an intended portion of the trim after the top surface 202 of the doghouse 200 breaks during an impact. This broken top surface 202 of the doghouse 200 rests on the trim and increases the thickness of the intended portion of the trim and prevents fracture of the trim in the particular region.
[0034] FIG. 3 illustrates breaking of the doghouse during the event of a crash or head impact. During the crash or head impact, the top surface 202 of the doghouse 200 breaks at the grooves 206 provided on the peripheral region 202p and absorbs impact energy. Then the broken top surface 202 is guided towards the intended portion of the trim by the guiding face 210 provided on inner sidewalls 208 of the doghouse 200. The broken top surface 202 having thickness t rests on the trim and increases the thickness T of the intended portion of trim by T+t denoted as T1 and thus provides more resistance to the impact. As a result, the fracture of the trim in that region is avoided thus preventing occupant's injury.
[0035] The reason behind the breaking of the top surface 202 of the doghouse 200 from the periphery of the top surface 202 is that the peripheral region 202p of the top surface 202 is provided with grooves 206 that make the top surface 202 weak at that area and the central region 202c of the top surface 202 is provided with a plurality of ribs 204 that make it strong. Hence, the top surface 202 of the doghouse 200 is broken from the peripheral region 202p and not from the central region 202c.
[0036] The present disclosure meets the mounting requirement as well as overcomes the energy absorption requirement. Further, the present disclosure describes the doghouse structure to absorb impact energy in the vehicle. The top surface of the doghouse disclosed in the present disclosure can be modified to accommodate the clip for mounting. The doghouse proposed in the present disclosure is manufactured without incurring additional cost to the vehicle while reducing injury to the occupant. Further, the additional advantages of the present disclosure are listed hereinbelow.

TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0037] There is a plurality of features which are listed as technical advantages below:
[0038] The present disclosure provides a doghouse that facilitates energy absorption requirement in a vehicle.
[0039] The present disclosure provides a breakable doghouse, thus no additional part/pads are required for absorbing impact energy and are also easily integrated with trim parts.
[0040] The present disclosure provides a doghouse that is simple in design, lightweight, and highly cost-effective.
[0041] The present disclosure provides a doghouse that does not increase the overall weight of the vehicle.
[0042] The proposed doghouse can be used for multiple purposes, i.e., the doghouse may be used as an energy absorber and also for clip mounting.
[0043] The proposed doghouse provides flexibility in changing the top surface thickness that helps in improving strength.
[0044] These features help the doghouse to absorb the impact energy during a crash or head impact and also prevents fracture of the trim part of the vehicle. As a result, occupant injury is eliminated.
[0045] 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.

[0046] 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.

We claim:
1. A doghouse (200) for a trim of a vehicle, comprising:
a top surface (202) having:
a central region (202c) formed with multiple ribs (204); and
a peripheral region (202p) formed with multiple grooves (206).
2. The doghouse (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the multiple ribs (204) formed at the central region (202c) of the top surface (202) provide strength to the doghouse (200).
3. The doghouse (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the multiple grooves (206) formed on the peripheral region (202p) of the top surface (202) make the peripheral region (202p) weak.
4. The doghouse (200) as claimed in claim 1, comprises side walls (208) secured along corresponding edges of the top surface (202).
5. The doghouse (200) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the inner side of the side walls (208) is formed with a guiding face (210) for guiding the top surface (202) towards an intended portion of the trim after the top surface (202) breaks during an impact.
6. The doghouse (200) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the broken top surface (202) of the doghouse (200) rests on the trim and increases thickness of the intended portion of the trim.