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

A PASSENGER AIRBAG MOUNTING ASSEMBLY OF A VEHICLE FOR ABSORPTION OF IMPACT ENERGY
2. APPLICANTS (S)
NAME NATIONALITY ADDRESS

MARUTI SUZUKI INDIA LIMITED

Indian
Maruti Suzuki India Limited
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.

A PASSENGER AIRBAG MOUNTING ASSEMBLY OF A VEHICLE FOR ABSORPTION OF IMPACT ENERGY

TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a passenger airbag mounting assembly of a vehicle for absorption of impact energy thereby facilitating minimum injury during head impact. In particular, the present disclosure relates to structure of an instrument panel and a passenger air bag cover present in a dashboard area of the vehicle, where the structure has been developed in order to achieve ‘G’-value within a permissible limit.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Typically, owing to an increase in number of vehicles on roads, safety has become a foremost concern and therefore, automobile manufacturers are procuring first-hand safety features in the vehicle that can protect an occupant of the vehicle from fatal damages.
[0003] Automobile manufacturers have come up with a feature of airbag in every passenger car in a first place, in order to protect the occupant from fatal damages during an accident. A passenger airbag (PAB) is housed inside a passenger airbag cover mounted in an instrument panel of the vehicle and pops up as a defensive cushion between the passenger and the instrument panel during frontal impact faced by the vehicle.
[0004] Figure 1 (a)-(b) illustrates an existing arrangement of the instrument panel (114) and the passenger air bag cover (116). Herein, as can be observed, the instrument panel (114) is configured to receive a housing of passenger air bag (PAB) (118) along with the passenger airbag cover (116). The passenger air bag housing (118), on the other hand, is mounted to a steering support member (102) of a vehicle by means of “L”-shaped brackets (116-1, 116-2) positioned at lower left side and lower right side, respectively, of the passenger air bag cover (116).
[0005] However, the existing arrangement and the “L”-shaped brackets (116-1, 116-2) alone are not sufficient enough to withstand the shock and therefore are not capable of reduction of head impact during any frontal impact or frontal crash of the vehicle.
[0006] It is well known that the severity of head impact resulting due to front impact of the vehicle is measured by means of a 3-ms resultant deceleration criterion, also known as 3-ms G value. The existing arrangement is not capable of living up to maximum permissible limit of the 3-ms G value and thus may cause fatal damages to the passenger of the vehicle.
[0007] Towards this direction, the present disclosure intends to provide an alternative structure of the instrument panel (114) as well as the passenger air bag cover (116) such that the above challenges can be mitigated to a considerable extent.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed herein below.
[0009] It is an object of the present subject matter to overcome the aforementioned and other drawbacks existing in the prior art systems and methods.
[0010] It is a significant object of the present subject matter to develop a structure such that head impact of a passenger hitting on an instrument panel area housing a passenger airbag cover is minimum during frontal impact of a vehicle.
[0011] It is another significant object of the present subject matter to provide structure of passenger air bag cover such that the passenger air bag cover is able to undergo deformation and absorb impact energy during frontal impact of the vehicle.
[0012] It is another significant object of the present subject matter to provide structure of the instrument panel that can suitably allow mounting of the passenger air bag cover and undergo deformation.
[0013] It is another object of the present subject matter to provide structure of the instrument panel such that it is able to absorb maximum energy such that impact caused to the occupant is considerably less.
[0014] 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 taking into consideration with accompanied drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present subject matter are illustrated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to an instrument panel assembly structure of a vehicle for minimum 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.
[0016] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a passenger airbag mounting assembly to mount a passenger air bag on an instrument panel of a vehicle for absorbing impact energy during head impact.
[0017] In an aspect, the passenger airbag mounting assembly comprises a passenger airbag cover configured to mount on the instrument panel, the passenger airbag cover having rectangular cavity to receive a passenger air bag housing, the passenger air bag cover having flanges extended towards the instrument panel from the rectangular cavity to define an open box structure.
[0018] In an aspect, the open box structure has a top left edge and a top right edge with a “U”-shaped cutout profile to allow expansion of the passenger airbag cover in transverse direction (Y) during impact.
[0019] In an aspect, the instrument panel defined a rectangular cavity with a resting surface having mounting holes to receive assembly of the passenger airbag (PAB) assembled with the passenger airbag cover, the instrument panel has a plurality of angularly inclined cutouts at a first lateral side and a second lateral side, respectively around the mounting holes and at an upper left top corner and an upper right corner, to allow deformation and expansion of the instrument panel during impact to absorb impact energy; and the passenger air bag housing configured to mount with a steering support member by a lower left side mounting bracket and a lower right side mounting bracket.
[0020] In an aspect, in the passenger airbag mounting assembly, each of the lower left side mounting bracket and a lower right side mounting bracket comprises a straight portion mounted with the passenger air bag housing, a first portion extend angularly outward from lower end of the straight portion, a second portion extend angularly outward from the first portion and a mounting portion extend angularly outward from the second portion and configured to mount with the steering support member.
[0021] In an aspect, in the passenger airbag mounting assembly, combination of the straight portion, the first portion, and the second portion defines a channel shape.
[0022] In an aspect, in the passenger airbag mounting assembly, one side of each of the lower left side mounting bracket and a lower right side mounting bracket have a flange extending outwardly, the flange provides structural rigidity and additional energy absorption capability.
[0023] In an aspect, in the passenger airbag mounting assembly, both the lower left side mounting bracket and the lower right side mounting bracket comprises of bends present at each points of joinery formed by the straight portion and the first portion, the first portion and the second portion, and the second portion and the mounting portion, respectively.
[0024] In an aspect, in the passenger airbag mounting assembly, each bend formed at the lower left side mounting bracket and the lower right side mounting bracket, respectively, are provided with notches at the flange to facilitate bending of the lower left side mounting bracket and the lower right side mounting bracket during impact to absorb impact energy.
[0025] 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.
[0026] 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)
[0027] 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 described 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
[0028] Figure 1 (a)-(b) depicts an existing structural configuration of an instrument panel and a passenger air bag cover of a vehicle;
[0029] Figure 2 depicts complete assembly of the instrument panel with the passenger air bag cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0030] Figure 3 depicts perspective view of the passenger air bag cover of the vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0031] Figure 4 depicts structural configuration of an instrument panel in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0032] Figure 5 depicts bends and notches present in mounting brackets of the passenger air bag cover of the vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0033] Figure 6 illustrates angular slits across lateral ends of the instrument panel of the vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0034] 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
[0035] 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 cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0036] 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.
[0037] 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.
[0038] The present disclosure relates to a passenger airbag mounting assembly to mount a passenger airbag on an instrument panel of a vehicle in order to facilitate absorption of impact energy during head impact caused as a result of front impact by the vehicle. The structure is developed in manner to achieve a permissible 3-ms G value such that the injury caused to the passenger during head impact can be minimized. The structural attributes of the passenger airbag mounting assembly are discussed in the subsequent sections.
[0039] Figure 2 depicts a complete assembly of the instrument panel with the passenger airbag cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3 further describes a passenger airbag cover (200) in detail, where the passenger airbag cover (200) is configured to be mounted on an inner side of the instrument panel. It may be observed from Figure 3 that the passenger airbag cover (200) is having a rectangular cavity to receive a housing of passenger airbag (118) through snap locking arrangements.
[0040] In an aspect, the passenger air bag cover (200) is provided with flanges (212), where the flanges (212) are extended towards the instrument panel in order to define a rectangular open box like structure.
[0041] In an aspect, the open box structure is having a top left edge (202) and a top right edge (204), where the top left edge (202) and the top right edge (204), respectively, are provided with “U”-shaped profile. The “U”- shaped profiles of the top left edge (202) and the top right edge (204), respectively, allows expansion of the passenger airbag cover (200) in transverse direction during the impact.
[0042] In an aspect, it may be observed from Figure 3 that the passenger airbag cover (200) is mounted with the steering support member (102) through two mounting brackets located at lower left side and lower right side, respectively, of the air bag housing (118). These brackets, known as a lower left side mounting bracket (206) and a lower right side mounting bracket (208) are designed in a manner in order to absorb impact energy as caused during front impact of the vehicle.
[0043] In an aspect, each side of the lower left side mounting bracket (206) and the lower right side mounting bracket (208) comprises of a straight portion (206-1, 208-1), a first portion (206-2, 208-2), a second portion (206-3, 208-3) and a mounting portion (206-4, 208-4), respectively.
[0044] In an aspect, the straight portion (206-1, 208-1) is mounted with the passenger airbag housing (118) with the first portion (206-2, 208-2) extending angularly outward from lower end of the straight portion (206-1, 208-1). Further, there are provided the second portion (206-3, 208-3) extending angularly outward from the first portion (206-2, 208-2) and also the mounting portion (206-4, 208-4) extending angularly outward from the second portion (206-3, 206-4).
[0045] In an aspect, combination of the straight portion (206-1, 208-1), the first portion (206-2, 208-2), the second portion (206-3, 208-3), the mounting portion (206-4, 208-4) of the lower left side and the lower right side mounting brackets (206, 208) facilitates mounting of the air bag housing (117) to the steering support member (102) of the vehicle. The combination is defining a channel to allow deformation of the passenger air bag cover (200) and absorption of impact energy to the maximum possible extent.
[0046] In an aspect, one side of each of the lower left side mounting bracket (206) and the lower right side mounting bracket (208) is provided with a flange (214) extending in an outward direction. The flange (208) is designed in order to provide rigidity and also enhances energy absorption capability of the passenger airbag cover (200).
[0047] In an aspect, as also shown in Figure 5, both the lower left side mounting bracket (206) and the lower right side mounting bracket (208) comprises of bends present at each points of joinery formed by the straight portion (206-1, 208-1) and the first portion (206-2, 208-2), the first portion (206-2, 208-2) and the second portion (206-3, 208-3), and the second portion (206-3, 208-3) and the mounting portion (206-4, 208-4), respectively. Each bend of these bends formed at the lower left side mounting bracket (206) and the lower right side mounting bracket (208), respectively, are provided with notches (216-1, 216-2, 216-3) at the flange (214) to facilitate bending of the lower left side mounting bracket (206) and the lower right side mounting bracket (208) during impact to absorb impact energy. Thus the notches (216-1, 216-2, 216-3) tends to allow the passenger airbag cover (200) to absorb the energy and undergo deformation and as a result this can minimize head impact of the passenger.
[0048] Figure 4 depicts structural configuration of the instrument panel (300) in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As can be seen from the figure, the instrument panel (300) is defining a rectangular cavity at an inner end to receive the passenger air bag cover (200).
[0049] In an aspect, the passenger airbag cover (200) is received by the instrument panel (300) through mounting holes (306-1, 306-2) present at a first lateral side (300-1) and a second lateral side (300-2) of the instrument panel (300). The passenger airbag cover (200) and the instrument panel (300) are mounted by means of snap locking features with cavity being provided at the inner end of the instrument panel (300) and locks/studs/cantilever studs provided at periphery of the passenger airbag cover (200) for mounting the same with the instrument panel (300).
[0050] In an aspect, the instrument panel (300) also includes a plurality of angularly inclined cutouts (302-1, 302-2, ….., 302-n) (also shown in Figure 6), may also be referred to as angular slits, around the mounting holes (306-1, 306-2) at the first lateral side (300-1) and the second lateral side (300-2), respectively. The plurality of angularly inclined cutouts (302-1, 302-2, ….., 302-n) are also present at an upper left corner and an upper right corner, respectively, of the instrument panel (300).
[0051] In an aspect, the plurality of angularly inclined cutouts (302-1, 302-2, ….., 302-n) of the instrument panel (300) allows gradual deformation of the instrument panel (300) during impact to absorb impact energy.
[0052] In this manner, the present passenger airbag mounting assembly (100) helps in facilitating reduced head impact in case of any frontal impact or front collisions by the vehicle. In some points impact, the angularly inclined cutouts (302-1, 302-2, ….., 302-n) are sufficient enough to minimize head impact, while in other impact points combination of the lower left side mounting bracket (206) and the lower right side mounting bracket (208) serves the purpose. Therefore, overall head impact can be reduced by the entire passenger airbag assembly structure (100).
[0053] Technical Advantages
All in all, the invention described in the present disclosure is having the following advantages:
a) The present structure (100) reduces overall head impact
b) The present structure (100) facilitates absorption of impact energy caused as a result of frontal impact by the vehicle
c) The present structure (100) is rigid and robust in nature
d) The present structure (100) includes cutouts in order to allow an enhanced energy absorption capability
[0054] 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 following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.
[0055] 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.
[0056] 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.”
[0057] 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 of 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.

, C , Claims:We Claim:
1. A passenger airbag mounting assembly (100) to mount a passenger air bag on an instrument panel (300) of a vehicle for absorbing impact energy during head impact, the passenger airbag mounting assembly (100) comprising:
a passenger airbag cover (200) configured to mount on the instrument panel (300), the passenger airbag cover (200) having rectangular cavity to receive a passenger air bag housing (118), the passenger air bag cover (200) having flanges (212) extended towards the instrument panel (300) from the rectangular cavity to define an open box structure (214), the open box structure (214) has:
a top left edge (202) and a top right edge (204) with a “U”-shaped cutout profile to allow expansion of the passenger airbag cover (200) in transverse direction (Y) during impact;
the instrument panel (300) defined a rectangular cavity (304) with a resting surface having mounting holes (306-1, 306-2) to receive assembly of the passenger airbag housing (118) assembled with the passenger airbag cover (200), the instrument panel (300) has a plurality of angularly inclined cutouts (302-1, 302-2,…., 302-n) at a first lateral side (300-1) and a second lateral side (300-2), respectively around the mounting holes (306-1, 306-2) and at an upper left top corner and an upper right corner, to allow deformation and expansion of the instrument panel (300) during impact to absorb impact energy; and
the passenger air bag housing (118) configured to mount with a steering support member (102) by a lower left side mounting bracket (206) and a lower right side mounting bracket (208).

2. The passenger airbag mounting assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the lower left side mounting bracket (206) and the lower right side mounting bracket (208) comprises:
a straight portion (206-1, 208-1) mounted with the passenger air bag housing (118);
a first portion (206-2, 208-2) extend angularly outward from lower end of the straight portion (206-1, 208-1);
a second portion (206-3, 208-3) extend angularly outward from the first portion (206-2, 208-2); and
a mounting portion (206-4, 208-4) extend angularly outward from the second portion (206-3, 208-3) and configured to mount with the steering support member (102).

3. The passenger airbag mounting assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein combination of the straight portion (206-1, 208-1), the first portion (206-2, 208-2), and the second portion (206-3, 208-3) defines a channel shape.

4. The passenger airbag mounting assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein one side of each of the lower left side mounting bracket (206) and the lower right side mounting bracket (208) have a flange (214) extending outwardly, the flange provides structural rigidity and additional energy absorption capability.

5. The passenger airbag mounting assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein both the lower left side mounting bracket (206) and the lower right side mounting bracket (208) comprises of bends present at each points of joinery formed by the straight portion (206-1, 208-1) and the first portion (206-2, 208-2), the first portion (206-2, 208-2) and the second portion (206-3, 208-3), and the second portion (206-3, 208-3) and the mounting portion (206-4, 208-4), respectively.
6. The passenger airbag mounting assembly (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein each bend formed at the lower left side mounting bracket (206) and the lower right side mounting bracket (208), respectively, are provided with notches (216-1, 216-2, 216-3) to facilitate bending of the lower left side mounting bracket (206) and the lower right side mounting bracket (208) during impact to absorb impact energy.
Dated this 30th day of September, 2022

AMIT JAIN
PATENT AGENT
IN/PA - 2189