FORM 2
THE PATENT ACT 1970
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10 and rule 13)
1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION "Energy Absorbing Bracket for A vehicle"

2. APPLICANT
(a) NAME

: Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.

(b) NATIONALITY: Indian Company registered under the
provisions of the Companies Act, 1956

(c) ADDRESS

: R&D Centre, Auto Sector, 89, M.I.D.C, NASHIK - 422 007, Maharashtra State, India

3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION

PROVISIONAL
The following-specification describes the invention.

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



Title
Energy Absorbing Bracket for Vehicles
Technical Field
The invention is related to automotive vehicle body structure specifically an assembly for mounting a pillar trim over the pillar of automotive vehicle. More particularly it is related to a bracket which get secured on the A pillar inner body panel of the automotive vehicle and absorbs energy in case of occupant head impact.
Background and Prior Art
In modern automotive vehicle design, it has become necessary to provide body structures which can manage the absorption of energy in response to impact loads. It is a well established practice to mount pillar trim which extends up to the roof trim on the sides of the windshield. The pillar is generally known as 'A' pillar. Pillar trim makes the interior of the vehicle more aesthetically pleasing by masking the pillar from view. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a bracket interposed between the pillar and the trim. The Body pillar and trim is spaced to permit energy absorbing excursion of the trim towards the pillar by deforming the bracket put between them under the occupant impact against it.
In the art oflex tube, foam spacers, energy absorbing ribs, etc are well known to reduce head injury criteria (HIC). Oflex tube is a readily available product for use in between pillar and trim to absorb energy


during the head impact. But to accommodate it in existing vehicle, it needs space in between pillar trim and panel. This leads to change in design of the existing part.
U.S. Patent No. 5163730 discloses an energy absorbing moulding attachment bracket. An assembly for mounting a moulding to a vehicle body has a windshield supported by a pillar. The pillar has an outer pillar component and an inner pillar component with the components mounted together. A one piece energy absorbing bracket is interposed between the pillar and the moulding. The energy absorbing bracket has a base mounted to inner pillar component. A mounting portion of the bracket conforms to the shape of the moulding and carries a moulding. A support portion connects the mounting portion to the base and spaces the moulding from the pillar. A foot of the bracket engages the pillar to provide stability of the bracket relative to the pillar. A buckling portion connects the mounting portion to the foot and is adapted to undergo deformation when subject to a force of impact transmitted through the moulding. The components of the pillar each have a channel shape and open towards each other.
European Patent No. EP 1769979, Japanese patent application no. JP 2007098986 and U.S. patent application no. US 2007075531 describes interior parts for vehicles such as a front pillar garnish having a mounting bracket to which a mounting clip is connected so that the front pillar garnish is mounted to a front pillar. The mounting bracket is formed on the inner side of the garnish main body and has an inclined guiding portion in its accommodating space so that the flexible portion


of the mounting clip inserted into the accommodating space is bent inside the mounting bracket by the inclined guiding portion, and the second engaging portion at the distal end of the flexible portion is prevented from contacting the garnish main body by way of the opening of the mounting bracket, thus allowing the mounting clip not to be forcibly pressed against the garnish main body.
U.S. Patent No. 5544933 describes energy absorbing vehicle pillar structure. An improved structure is provided for supporting pillars of an automotive vehicle which provides energy absorption through provision of a pair of energy absorbing chambers defined by an interior trim pillar and interior and exterior panels forming the 'A' pillar of a vehicle, respectively. Energy absorbing media such as springs, elongated tubes and viscous fluids are taught for use as energy absorbers.
U.S. Patent No. 5641195 discloses trim component having energy absorbing feature. A trim component for mounting to a structural member of an automotive vehicle including a body fixedly mounted to a structural member, the body including a plurality of energy absorbing ribs spaced relative to one another along the body and disposed adjacent to the structural member when the trim component is mounted thereto. The energy absorbing ribs include a series of fingers extending from the body and spaced relative to one another. The fingers deflect upon contact with the structural member in response to a force acting on the body to absorb and dissipate the energy generated by the force.


Deficiencies of Prior Art
1. In most of the prior art patents the bracket requires more space between pillar trim and panel.
2. Requires adhesive tape to fix the bracket with the moulding.
3. Projectionary support is needed to separate moulding from the pillar.
4. Complex shape & manufacturing process.
5. Not a cost effective solution.
6. Less predictive behaviour under impact load.
Object of the Present Invention
1. To overcome the drawbacks in the prior art and to provide single piece energy absorbing bracket on Body panel in between trim and panel to absorb the impact load coming when occupant head hitting on trim.
2. To provide pillar structure which manage the absorption of energy in response to imposition of load.
3. To meet design objectives of the pillar without sacrificing the field of vision and interior space of the vehicle.
4. To effectively utilize the space between the pillar trim and panel to accommodate the energy absorbing bracket.
Advantages of the Present Invention
1. It is made from sheet metal and requires less space to accommodate.


2. Easy to manufacture and manufactured in one operation.
3. Reduces extra operations, material, components and time.
4. Does not require any adhesive material.
5. Easy to affix in body panel.
6. Cost effective
7. More effective and efficient in performance
8. Predictive behaviour under impact load
Summary of the invention
It has been recognised that the interior of the vehicle should be occupant friendly. Designs have incorporated padded and redesigned dashboards and collapsible steering wheels to make the interior of the vehicle occupant friendly in addition to airbags and seat belt system. It would be desirable to have a one piece bracket interposed between the pillar trim and panel in order to permit energy absorption and deformation of it against occupant contact there-against. The efficacy of this invention on energy absorbing bracket and its advantages over the prior art will become apparent to those skilled in the automotive body arts upon reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Description of figures:
For better understanding of the description of the present invention, drawings are enclosed wherein a practical embodiment of the energy absorbing bracket is shown.


Figure 1 shows the perspective view of the pillar A with energy
absorbing bracket fitted therein.
Figure 2 shows the perspective view of the energy absorbing bracket as
explained in this invention.
Figure 3 shows the cross sectional view of pillar A taken in direction of
B-B with energy absorbing bracket fitted therein.
Description of the Present Invention:
Referring to Fig. 1, pillar A (5) comprises of body panel (3), pillar trim (2) and energy absorbing bracket (1). The energy absorbing bracket (1) is interposed in between body panel (3) and pillar trim (2) by riveted joints or by spot welding on panel body (3). The main function of pillar trim (2) is to make the interior of the vehicle more aesthetically pleasing by masking the body panel (3) and energy absorbing bracket (1). Energy absorbing bracket (1) underlies the pillar trim (2) in the shape of pillar trim (2) as shown in Fig. 3. Also the energy absorbing bracket (1) absorbs the energy subjected by impact force by undergoing deformation. The energy absorbing bracket (1) has two relieve slots (4) as shown in Fig. 2. Relieve slots (4) helps in proper and durable fitting of pillar trim (2). This type of fitting of pillar trim (2) through the slots (4) does not require any type of adhesive for its fitting. Referring to Fig. 3 intruded portion (6) of pillar trim (2) passes through slot (4) of the bracket (1) for better fitting and touches the body panel (3). The energy absorbing bracket (1) as described herein is made from sheet metal of 0.8 mm thickness by stamping. The said bracket (1) can be made of elastic material or any other suitable material fulfilling the desired


strength and required deformation characteristics and accordingly having optimized thickness. Thus, it is a single piece unique bracket accommodated in a limited space and easy to fit in between pillar trim and body panel. The Energy Absorbing bracket (1) imposing the shape of 'W is fitted in between pillar trim (2) and body panel (3). When impact force is applied on the pillar trim (2), may be by colliding the occupant's head or by any other means, the said bracket (1) absorbs the energy of impact by deforming in U shape. Thus, the occupant is protected from being injured.
The present invention replaces the prior energy absorbing means in pillar A of a vehicle and meets its objectives. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangement of the components as mentioned in the above description or illustrated in the drawings. However, it is to be taken as the preferred example of the invention and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts considering the space constraint may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of below mentioned claims. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. For example, the thickness of the bracket can be varied to achieve the desired deformation characteristics and/or elastic bracket can be used instead of metal bracket. Also, the terminologies used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.


We claim
1. An energy absorbing bracket (1) for vehicles, consists of pillar A (5) comprises of body panel (3), pillar trim (2) and energy absorbing bracket (1); the energy absorbing bracket (1) is interposed in between body panel (3) and pillar trim (2) by riveted joints or by spot welding or by adhesive or by snap fit joints or by any other suitable means on panel body (3); energy absorbing bracket (1) underlies the pillar trim (2) in the shape of pillar trim (2) as shown in fig. 3; the energy absorbing bracket (1) has two relieve slots (4) as shown in fig. 2; relieve slots (4) helps in proper and durable fitting of pillar trim (2); referring to fig. 3, intruded portion (6) of pillar trim (2) passes through slot (4) of the bracket (1) for better fitting and touches the body panel (3); the energy absorbing bracket (1) imposing the shape of 'W is fitted in between pillar trim (2) and body panel (3).
2. An energy absorbing bracket (1) for vehicles as claimed in claim 1, comprising of;

(a) its cross section in the shape of W to accommodate in the limited space between pillar trim and body panel and has minimum two or more slots (4) for achieving the proper grip of pillar trim;
(b) made in single piece from sheet metal of 0.8 mm thickness and confirms the shape of the pillar trim.


3. An energy absorbing bracket (1) for vehicles, as claimed in 1, wherein it absorbs energy when subjected to impact load by deforming in any shape.
4. An energy absorbing bracket (1) for vehicles, as claimed in claim 1, wherein it can be made of elastic material or any other suitable material instead of sheet metal fulfilling the requirement of desired strength and deformation characteristics.
5. An energy absorbing bracket (1) for vehicles, substantially as herein above described in the specification with reference to the



Abstract
The present invention relates to an Energy Absorbing Bracket (1) for Vehicles, comprising of,
(a) Its cross section in the shape of W to accommodate in the limited space between pillar trim and body panel and has minimum two or more slots (4) for achieving the proper grip of pillar trim;
(b) Made in single piece from sheet metal of 0.8 mm thickness and confirms the shape of the pillar trim.
It would be desirable to have a one piece bracket interposed between the pillar trim and panel in order to permit energy absorption and deformation of it against occupant contact there-against.