Cushion pad for side door of vehicle
By designing the first beam, the second beam and the buffer pad with an inner and outer cavity array in the vehicle side door, the side load management problem during the vehicle loading event is solved, and higher structural stability and impact resistance are achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202411108684.7
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-08-23
- Filing Date
- 2024-08-13
- Publication Date
- 2025-02-25
AI Technical Summary
The prior art is difficult to effectively manage the load on the side of the vehicle during loading events, resulting in possible structural damage or instability.
A vehicle side door assembly is designed including a first beam, a second beam and a cushion that is attached between the two by a mechanical fastener and has an array of inner and outer pockets to distribute and manage loads.
Through the design of the buffer pad, the load on the side of the vehicle can be effectively distributed and managed, the structural stability and impact resistance of the side doors can be improved, and damage caused by excessive load can be avoided.
Smart Images
Figure CN119502651A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to managing loads during a vehicle loading event. Background Art
[0002] A vehicle may experience various loads. A side door of a vehicle may include various structures that help manage loads applied to the outside sides of the vehicle, etc. Summary of the invention
[0003] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle side door assembly that includes: a first beam; a second beam; and a cushion spanning from the first beam to the second beam.
[0004] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an assembly wherein the first beam is a vertical upper beam and the second beam is a vertical lower beam.
[0005] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an assembly in which the cushion is directly attached to both the first beam and the second beam.
[0006] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an assembly in which the cushion is attached to both the first beam and the second beam using a plurality of mechanical fasteners.
[0007] In some aspects, the technology described herein is directed to an assembly wherein the cushion includes at least one array of pockets.
[0008] In some aspects, the technology described herein is directed to an assembly wherein the cushion has a medial side with an array of medial recesses and a lateral side with an array of lateral recesses.
[0009] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an assembly wherein the inner pocket and the outer pocket have a rectangular profile.
[0010] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an assembly wherein the array of medial recesses is a first array of medial recesses located within a first cushion section, and the array of lateral recesses is a first array of lateral recesses located within the first cushion section, and the assembly further comprises: a second array of medial recesses located within a second cushion section and a second array of lateral recesses located within the second cushion section, the first cushion section being spaced a distance from the second cushion section.
[0011] In some aspects, the technology described herein is directed to an assembly further comprising: a connecting arm connecting the first cushion section to the second cushion section.
[0012] In some aspects, the technology described herein is directed to an assembly in which the cushion has an inboard side with a grid of inboard ribs and an outboard side with an array of outboard ribs.
[0013] In some aspects, the technology described herein is directed to an assembly further comprising: a side door inner panel and a side door outer panel, wherein the first beam, the second beam, and the cushion are disposed between the side door inner panel and the side door outer panel.
[0014] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an assembly wherein the first beam and the second beam are metal or metal alloys, wherein the cushion is a polymer-based material.
[0015] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an assembly wherein the cushion is nylon.
[0016] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an assembly wherein the first beam and the second beam are metal or metal alloys, wherein the cushion is a polymer-based material.
[0017] In some aspects, the technology described herein is directed to an assembly that also includes a snap-fit feature of the cushion configured to snap-fit the cushion to the first beam or the second beam.
[0018] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method of managing a load within a vehicle side door, comprising: receiving a load at a side door of the vehicle; and distributing at least a portion of the load via a cushion spanning between first and second beams of the side door.
[0019] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method wherein the cushion is polymer-based and the first beam and the second beam are metal or metal alloys.
[0020] In some aspects, the technology described herein is directed to a method wherein the cushioning pad includes an array of medial dimples on a medial side of the cushioning pad and an lateral array of dimples on a lateral side of the cushioning pad.
[0021] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method that also includes snap-fitting the cushion to at least one of the first beam or the second beam.
[0022] In some aspects, the technology described herein is directed to a method wherein the cushioning pad has a medial side of the mesh having medial ribs and a lateral side of the mesh having lateral ribs.
[0023] The embodiments, examples and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs, claims or the following description and drawings, including any of their various aspects or respective individual features, may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in conjunction with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] According to the detailed description, various features and advantages of the disclosed examples will become apparent to those skilled in the art. The drawings attached to the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:
[0025] Figure 1 A side view of selected portions of a side door assembly of a vehicle is shown.
[0026] Figure 2 Shown from Figure 1 A perspective view of an inboard side surface of a cushion of a side door assembly.
[0027] Figure 3 Shows Figure 2 A perspective view of the outside side of the cushioning pad.
[0028] Figure 4 Shows Figure 3 Close-up view of the area.
[0029] Figure 5 A bolster according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is shown for use in a side door assembly. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] The present disclosure details a bolster for use in a side door of a vehicle. The bolster may, among other things, help manage loads applied to the vehicle, particularly loads applied to the sides of the vehicle.
[0031] refer to Figure 1 The side door 10 includes an inner panel 12 and an outer panel 14. The inner side of the side door 10 is Figure 1 . The inner panel 12 and the outer panel 14 are joined. The side door 10 includes an interior region 16 between the inner panel 12 and the outer panel 14. Various components may be contained within the interior region 16, such as latches, window actuators, and the like.
[0032] In this example, the side door 10 includes a first beam 20 and a second beam 22 and a cushion 26. The first beam 20, the second beam 22, and the cushion 26 are retained within the interior region 16 of the side door 10 and are disposed between the inner panel 12 and the outer panel 14. The first beam 20 is a vertical upper beam. The second beam 22 is a vertical lower beam. For purposes of this disclosure, vertical is referenced to the ground in the general orientation of the side door 10 when installed in a vehicle.
[0033] In this example, the first beam 20 and the second beam 22 are reinforcement beams. The first beam 20 and the second beam 22 are metal or metal alloy materials. The first beam 20 and the second beam 22 can be considered as body-in-white (BIW) beams.
[0034] The first beam 20 and the second beam 22 may help strengthen the side door 10. The first beam 20 and the second beam 22 may help manage loads applied to the side door 10. In this example, a bolster 26 is incorporated into the side door 10 to help manage loads applied to the side door 10 and the vehicle to which the side door 10 is attached.
[0035] Reference now Figures 2 to 4 And continue to refer to Figure 1 , the cushion 26 spans between the first beam 20 and the second beam 22. The cushion 26 is directly attached to both the first beam 20 and the second beam 22. In this example, a plurality of mechanical fasteners 30 attach the cushion 26 to the first beam 20 and the second beam 22.
[0036] The cushion 26 incorporates a snap-fit feature 32 which, in this example, can snap-fit the cushion 26 to the first rail 20. The snap-fit of the snap-fit feature 32 to the first rail 20 can maintain the position of the cushion 26 when the mechanical fastener 30 is secured. Thus, the snap-fit feature 32 provides an assembly aid.
[0037] The cushion 26 may be a polymer-based resin component. In this particular example, the cushion 26 is nylon.
[0038] The cushioning pad 26 has a medial side 40 and an opposite lateral side 42. The medial side 40 has a grid 44 of medial ribs 46. The grid 44 of medial ribs 46 establishes an array of medial pockets 48 within the medial side 40 of the cushioning pad 26. The lateral side 42 of the cushioning pad 26 includes a grid 50 of lateral ribs 52. The grid 50 of lateral ribs 52 establishes an array of lateral pockets 54 within the cushioning pad 26.
[0039] In this example, the inner recess 48 and the outer recess 54 have a rectangular profile. In other examples, the inner recess 48 and the outer recess 54 can have other profiles, such as a hexagonal profile. In this example, the width of the inner recess 48 and the outer recess 54 is about 23 mm to 25 mm. The inner rib 46 and the outer rib 52 are about 3 mm thick.
[0040] The mesh 44 of the inner rib 46 and the mesh 50 of the outer rib 52 reinforce the area of the bolster 26 to facilitate the management of loads applied to the side door 10. The bolster 26 is reinforced without requiring a significant amount of additional material. When a load is applied to, for example, the outer panel 14, the side door 10 receives the load. At least a portion of the load is distributed through the bolster 26.
[0041] The example cushioning pad 26 includes a single array of medial dimples 48 and a single array of lateral dimples 54. Figure 5 A cushion 60 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first cushion section 62, a second cushion section 64, and a connecting arm 66 that joins the first cushion section 62 to the second cushion section 64. The cushion 60 is molded as a single piece that includes the first cushion section 62, the second cushion section 64, and the connecting arm 66. Like the cushion 26, the cushion 60 is configured to be attached to and span between a first door impact beam and a second door impact beam.
[0042] In the example cushion 60, the first cushion section 62 includes a first array of medial pockets 70A, and the second cushion section 64 includes a second array of medial pockets 70B. In addition, the first cushion section 62 includes a first array of lateral pockets 72A, and the second cushion section 64 includes a second array of lateral pockets 72B. The first cushion section 62 is spaced a distance from the second cushion section 64, and the first cushion section and the second cushion section are connected by a connecting arm 66. Thus, the cushion 60 includes a separate and distinct array of pockets on the medial side and a separate and distinct array of pockets on the lateral side.
[0043] Reference again Figures 1 to 4 And continue to refer to Figure 5 , the bolsters 26 and 60 may help absorb loads applied to the side door 10. Because the bolsters 26 and 60 utilize dimples and ribs, the structural integrity of the bolsters 26 and 60 may be maintained without the need for additional material.
[0044] The foregoing description is illustrative and non-restrictive in nature. Changes and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art, and the changes and modifications do not necessarily depart from the essence of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection granted to the present disclosure can only be determined by studying the attached claims.
Claims
1. A vehicle side door assembly, comprising: First beam; Second beam; and A cushion spans from the first beam to the second beam.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first beam is a vertical upper beam and the second beam is a vertical lower beam.
3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the cushion is directly attached to both the first beam and the second beam, and optionally wherein the cushion is attached to both the first beam and the second beam using a plurality of mechanical fasteners.
4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said cushion comprises at least one array of dimples.
5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the cushion has an inner side with an array of inner pockets and an outer side with an array of outer pockets, and optionally wherein the inner pockets and the outer pockets have a rectangular profile.
6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the array of medial pockets is a first array of medial pockets located within a first cushion section and the array of lateral pockets is a first array of lateral pockets located within the first cushion section, and the assembly further comprises: a second array of inner pockets within a second cushion section and a second array of outer pockets within the second cushion section, the first cushion section being spaced a distance from the second cushion section, and optionally the assembly further comprising: a connecting arm connecting the first cushion section to the second cushion section.
7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the cushion has an inboard side with a grid of inboard ribs and an outboard side with an array of outboard ribs.
8. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: A side door inner panel and a side door outer panel, wherein the first beam, the second beam and the cushion are disposed between the side door inner panel and the side door outer panel.
9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first beam and the second beam are metal or metal alloys, wherein the cushion is a polymer-based material, and optionally, wherein the cushion is nylon.
10. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: The cushion includes a snap-fit feature configured to snap-fit the cushion to the first beam or the second beam.
11. A method for managing a load within a vehicle side door, comprising: receiving the load at the side door of the vehicle; as well as At least a portion of the load is distributed by a cushion spanning between the first beam and the second beam of the side door.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the cushion is polymer based and the first beam and the second beam are metal or metal alloys.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the cushioning pad includes an array of medial recesses on a medial side of the cushioning pad and an lateral array of recesses on a lateral side of the cushioning pad.
14. The method of claim 11, further comprising: The bumper is snap-fitted to at least one of the first beam or the second beam.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the cushioning pad has a medial side of the grid having medial ribs and a lateral side of the grid having lateral ribs.