A-pillar trim panel, mounting method and vehicle

Abstract

The present application relates to an A-pillar trim panel, a mounting method and a vehicle. The A-pillar trim panel comprises: a trim panel main body, wherein a retaining structure configured to be retained at a lower edge of a ceiling is provided at an upper end of the trim panel main body, a supporting portion configured to be supported on the inner side of a side wall metal plate is provided at a lower end of the trim panel main body, and a side air curtain positioning buckle and a fixing buckle are sequentially provided between the upper end and the lower end of the trim panel main body. The present application can solve the problem of difficulty assembling the A-pillar trim panel during actual assembly, and can reduce the labor intensity of operators.

Description

A-pillar trim, installation method, and vehicle Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of automobile trim panels, and in particular to an A-pillar trim panel, an installation method and a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] The A-pillar guard is located at the front windshield of the car. It is mainly used to shield the car body sheet metal and interior decoration. It is an important part of the car's interior. The A-pillar guard of the car usually houses components such as the sunroof drain pipe, body wiring harness, and side air curtains. In particular, the instrument panel wiring harness and the body wiring harness are connected at this location. Due to the requirements for the layout, inspection, and maintenance of parts such as wiring harnesses and drain pipes, the A-pillar guard must be easy to install and disassemble. The side air curtain is an important part of the passive safety of the car body. When the vehicle is involved in a side collision, it needs to be opened in a timely and effective manner so that the air curtain can be deployed to protect the driver and passengers. At the same time, during the inflation and deployment process of the air curtain, the impact force on the A-pillar guard should not be too large, so as to avoid the A-pillar guard being subjected to too much impact force, causing damage, and fragments to fly, causing harm to the passengers.

[0003] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, existing A-pillar guards are typically designed and installed using a latch at the bottom that inserts diagonally into the dashboard and then rotates to fit onto the body sheet metal, as shown in the figure below. This installation method, due to the diagonal insertion into the dashboard, inevitably interferes with the instrument panel during assembly. Because the side curtain airbags inflate and deploy, the A-pillar guards must be impacted and opened to facilitate deployment. Therefore, side curtain airbag clips are installed on the A-pillar guards. These clips must not detach from the sheet metal during deployment to prevent the A-pillar guard from flying out and causing secondary injury to the driver and passengers. Therefore, they are designed for high strength and typically utilize a 7x14mm square hole to clip into the body sheet metal. Furthermore, to ensure the clearance between the A-pillar guard and the ceiling after installation, the side curtain airbag clips require high precision. These clips are typically located at the top of the A-pillar guard and feature a four-way stop, acting as the primary positioning clips for the A-pillar guards.

[0004] From a design and installation perspective, the main positioning clips of a part should be engaged first during the installation process to serve as a positioning guide, ensuring the installation and positioning of the part and ensuring that the clearance and surface difference between the part and surrounding parts are matched. However, in the existing A-pillar assembly method, the bottom pin is first inserted into the dashboard. The A-pillar is then rotated, and the clips of the A-pillar guard are sequentially engaged with the body sheet metal. The side airbag clips, which serve as the main positioning of the A-pillar guard, are finally engaged with the body sheet metal, completing the A-pillar assembly. When the A-pillar guard is initially inserted diagonally into the dashboard, the initial tilt angle is large to avoid interference between the A-pillar installation clips and the body sheet metal. During the data verification process, the interference with the dashboard often reaches 4-8mm. In actual assembly, the A-pillar guard is difficult to insert diagonally into place, making assembly difficult. Furthermore, with this assembly method, the main positioning side airbag clips at the top of the A-pillar are engaged with the body sheet metal last, often resulting in the clips being misplaced, pressing against the body sheet metal, and failing to engage. In this case, manual assembly is the only option, forcing the A-pillar guard downward, which deforms the instrument panel and A-pillar guard. This not only requires significant assembly force, increasing the burden on the operator, but also causes deformation of the instrument panel, leading to cosmetic defects. Furthermore, the A-pillar guard installation process is labor-intensive, making it difficult for the entire vehicle to meet the production cycle of a rolling assembly line.

[0005] Since this assembly method is inconsistent with the design and installation of parts, it will not only cause assembly difficulties, but also lead to a series of problems such as the occurrence of wrong holes for fasteners during the assembly process, excessive working hours, difficulty in meeting the production rhythm of the vehicle rolling assembly line, easy fatigue of operators during normal working hours, scratches on the dashboard and appearance defects.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] In response to the defects in the prior art, the purpose of the present invention is to provide an A-pillar trim panel, installation method and vehicle, which can solve the problem in the prior art that this assembly method is inconsistent with the design and installation of parts, which not only causes assembly difficulties, but also leads to the occurrence of wrong holes for snap fasteners, large clamping force, inconvenient operation and other problems affecting work efficiency during the assembly process.

[0008] In order to achieve the above purpose, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is:

[0009] On the one hand, the present invention provides an A-pillar trim panel, comprising: a trim panel body, the upper end of the trim panel body is provided with a clamping structure for clamping on the lower edge of the ceiling, the lower end of the trim panel body is provided with a supporting portion for supporting on the inner side of the side panel sheet metal, and the trim panel body is provided with side air curtain positioning buckles and fixing buckles in sequence from the upper end to the lower end.

[0010] In some optional solutions, the holding structure includes a holding flange arranged on one side of the decorative panel body, and a limiting member is provided on the side of the holding flange close to the decorative panel body.

[0011] In some optional schemes, the limiting member includes a plurality of limiting ribs that are spaced apart and connected to the gripping flange, and a clamping area for clamping the lower edge of the ceiling is formed between the limiting ribs and the decorative panel body.

[0012] In some optional solutions, a plurality of the limiting ribs are arranged evenly and in parallel with each other.

[0013] In some optional solutions, the limiting rib partially extends out of the trim panel body in the length direction of the trim panel body.

[0014] In some optional solutions, the side air curtain positioning buckle is located at 1 / 3 of the length of the trim panel body.

[0015] In some optional solutions, the support portion includes a plurality of support ribs arranged at intervals.

[0016] In some optional solutions, the supporting rib is an L-shaped plate, and the outer side of one side of the L-shaped plate is connected to the decorative panel body.

[0017] On the other hand, the present invention further provides a method for installing an A-pillar trim panel, which is used to install any of the above-mentioned A-pillar trim panels, comprising the following steps:

[0018] Before installing the instrument panel, the retaining structure at the upper end of the decorative panel body is clamped to the lower edge of the ceiling;

[0019] The decorative panel body is connected to the side panel sheet metal using the side air curtain positioning buckles and fixing buckles in sequence.

[0020] In yet another aspect, the present invention further provides a vehicle comprising the A-pillar trim panel described in any one of the above items.

[0021] Compared to the prior art, the present invention offers the following advantages: Before installing the instrument panel, the retaining structure at the upper end of the trim panel is secured to the lower edge of the ceiling. Once the retaining structure at the upper end of the A-pillar trim panel is aligned with the ceiling, the A-pillar is rotated, and the side airbag positioning clips first contact the side panel sheet metal, effectively providing positioning and guidance. As the A-pillar trim panel continues to rotate, the securing clips contact the side panel sheet metal and smoothly snap into place (at this point, the side airbag positioning clips have entered the sheet metal holes and positioned themselves, preventing misalignment of the securing clips). The A-pillar trim panel is assembled completely. During this assembly process, the A-pillar trim panel does not interfere with surrounding components. Furthermore, the side airbag positioning clips first engage the side panel sheet metal during installation, effectively providing positioning and guidance, preventing misalignment of the securing clips. A support portion provided at the lower end of the trim panel supports the side panel sheet metal to ensure a clear fit with the instrument panel. The entire A-pillar trim panel assembly process is convenient and time-efficient, effectively meeting the production cycle of rolling vehicle lines. At the same time, the unique clamping structure and support part of the A-pillar trim can ensure the structural matching between the A-pillar trim and the ceiling, as well as the A-pillar trim and the instrument panel, to ensure that the gap surface difference remains consistent with the design.

[0022] Since a holding structure is provided at the upper end of the trim panel body and is clamped to the lower edge of the ceiling, the gap surface difference between the trim panel body and the ceiling is ensured by the holding structure. Therefore, the side air curtain positioning buckle provided on the trim panel body can be moved toward the lower end of the trim panel body. When the side air curtain is ignited and the air curtain is inflated, the trim panel body, under the action of the air curtain expansion force, the holding structure provided at the upper end of the trim panel body will push the ceiling open, forming an air curtain deployment channel, facilitating the deployment of the air curtain, and the trim panel body will rotate with its lower end clamped between the side panel sheet metal and the instrument panel as the axis of rotation. Since the side air curtain positioning buckle moves away from the upper end of the trim panel body relative to the prior art, that is, the distance between the side air curtain positioning buckle and the upper end of the trim panel body becomes larger, the upper end of the trim panel body can be opened a larger distance, forming a larger air curtain deployment channel, so that the air curtain can be deployed better.

[0023] Since a holding structure is provided at the upper end of the trim panel body and is clamped to the lower edge of the ceiling with the holding structure, the side air curtain positioning buckle moves away from the upper end of the trim panel body, and the position of the fixed buckle also moves downward. Since the length of the trim panel body remains unchanged, one fixed buckle can be reduced and only one positioning buckle is used, which can also ensure the installation and fixation of the trim panel body.

[0024] A retaining structure at the top of the trim panel allows the side curtain airbag positioning clip to be moved downward, increasing the rotation angle of the A-pillar trim panel and opening it wider, facilitating the inflation and deployment of the side curtain airbag. This also reduces impact forces on the A-pillar trim panel, preventing damage and splashing. This also eliminates one retaining clip, reducing costs.

[0025] During the parts installation process, the installation positioning method is consistent with the design positioning method. The side airbag positioning buckles can effectively play a positioning and guiding role, eliminating the difficulty in assembly caused by the misaligned holes of the fixing buckles during the installation process. At the same time, the installation force requirements of the operators are low. During normal working hours, there will be no fatigue due to excessive working force, which ensures the production operation rhythm of the whole vehicle rolling production line while reducing the labor intensity of the operators. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.

[0027] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the rotation of the existing A-pillar trim after being pushed open by the air curtain;

[0028] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the existing A-pillar trim and the instrument panel;

[0029] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of an existing A-pillar trim panel;

[0030] FIG4 is a schematic structural diagram of an A-pillar trim panel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] FIG5 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the assembly of the A-pillar trim and the ceiling in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] FIG6 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the assembly of the A-pillar trim and the ceiling in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] FIG7 is a schematic top view of an A-pillar trim panel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of the working of the air curtain positioning buckle on the upper side of the A-pillar trim in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the A-pillar trim and the instrument panel in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] FIG10 is a partially enlarged schematic diagram of the A-pillar trim in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] In the figure: 1. Trim panel body; 11. Holding structure; 111. Holding flange; 112. Limiting rib; 12. Support part; 2. Ceiling; 3. Side air curtain positioning buckle; 4. Fixing buckle; 5. Instrument panel; 6. Side panel sheet metal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] To make the purpose, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application more clear, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0039] The embodiments of the present invention are further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0040] As shown in Figures 4 to 7, on the one hand, the present invention provides an A-pillar trim panel, including: a trim panel body 1, the upper end of the trim panel body 1 is provided with a holding structure 11 for clamping on the lower edge of the ceiling 2, the lower end of the trim panel body 1 is provided with a support portion 12 for supporting the inner side of the side panel sheet metal 6, and the trim panel body 1 is provided with side air curtain positioning buckles 3 and fixing buckles 4 in sequence from the upper end to the lower end.

[0041] In this embodiment, before installing the instrument panel 5, the retaining structure 11 at the upper end of the trim panel body 1 is secured to the lower edge of the ceiling 2. Once the retaining structure 11 at the upper end of the A-pillar trim panel is aligned with the ceiling 2, the A-pillar is rotated, and the side curtain airbag positioning clips 3 first contact the side panel sheet metal 6, effectively providing positioning and guidance. As the A-pillar trim panel continues to rotate, the securing clips 4 contact the side panel sheet metal 6 and smoothly snap into place (at this point, the side curtain airbag positioning clips 3 have entered the sheet metal holes and are positioned, preventing the securing clips 4 from misaligning). The A-pillar trim panel is assembled. During this assembly process, the A-pillar trim panel does not interfere with surrounding components. Furthermore, the side curtain airbag positioning clips 3 first enter the side panel sheet metal 6 during installation, effectively providing positioning and guidance, preventing misalignment of the securing clips 4. The support portion 12 provided at the lower end of the trim panel body 1 supports the side panel sheet metal 6 to ensure a clear fit with the instrument panel 5. The entire A-pillar trim assembly process is convenient and time-efficient, effectively meeting the production cycle of rolling vehicle lines. Furthermore, the A-pillar trim's unique retaining structure 11 and support portion 12 ensure structural alignment between the A-pillar trim and the roof 2, as well as between the A-pillar trim and the instrument panel 5, ensuring consistent clearance and flushness with the design.

[0042] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a retaining structure 11 is provided at the upper end of the trim panel body 1 and is secured to the lower edge of the ceiling 2. This retaining structure 11 ensures a clearance between the trim panel body 1 and the ceiling 2. Consequently, the side curtain airbag positioning buckle 3 provided on the trim panel body 1 can be moved toward the lower end of the trim panel body 1. The lower end of the trim panel body 1 is retained between the side panel 6 and the instrument panel 5. Consequently, when the curtain airbag is deployed, the retaining structure 11 provided on the upper end of the trim panel body 1, under the force of the curtain airbag's expansion, pushes the ceiling 2 open, creating a curtain airbag deployment path and facilitating deployment. Furthermore, the trim panel body 1 rotates with its lower end, which is secured between the side panel 6 and the instrument panel 5, as the axis of rotation. As the side curtain airbag positioning buckle 3 moves away from the upper end of the trim panel body 1, the gap between the side curtain airbag positioning buckle 3 and the upper end of the trim panel body 1 increases, allowing the upper end of the trim panel body 1 to open further, creating a larger curtain airbag deployment path and enabling better deployment. In addition, since a holding structure 11 is provided at the upper end of the trim panel main body 1 and the holding structure 11 is clamped on the lower edge of the ceiling 2, the side air curtain positioning buckle 3 moves away from the upper end of the trim panel main body 1, and the position of the fixed buckle 4 also moves downward. Since the length of the trim panel main body 1 remains unchanged, one fixed buckle 4 can be reduced, and only one fixed buckle 4 is used, which can also ensure the installation and fixation of the trim panel main body 1.

[0043] In this solution, a retaining structure 11 is provided at the upper end of the trim panel body 1, which allows the side curtain airbag positioning buckle 3 to be moved downward, increasing the rotation angle of the A-pillar trim panel and opening it wider, facilitating the inflation and deployment of the side curtain airbag. This also reduces the impact force on the A-pillar trim panel, preventing damage and splashing. This also eliminates one fixing buckle, reducing costs.

[0044] In addition, in this solution, the A-pillar trim is easy to install. During the installation process, the installation positioning method is consistent with the design positioning method. The side air curtain positioning buckle 3 can effectively play a positioning and guiding role, eliminating the difficult assembly phenomenon caused by the misaligned holes of the fixing buckle 4 during the installation process. At the same time, the installation force requirements of the operator are low, and during normal working hours, fatigue will not be caused by excessive working force, which ensures the production operation rhythm of the vehicle rolling production line while reducing the labor intensity of the operator.

[0045] As shown in Figure 8, in this embodiment, the side air curtain positioning buckle 3 can be clamped in the limiting hole of the side panel sheet metal 6, and the side air curtain positioning buckle 3 is provided with two limiting structures, wherein the first limiting structure is clamped in the limiting hole on the trim panel body 1, and can be opened when subjected to an impact force greater than a set value, that is, it passes through the limiting hole on the trim panel body 1, and the second limiting structure is connected to the first limiting structure through a connecting piece. After the first limiting structure passes through the limiting hole on the trim panel body 1, the connecting piece also passes through the limiting hole on the trim panel body 1, and the second limiting structure will be clamped in the limiting hole on the trim panel body, so that the trim panel body 1 can be opened to a certain angle while facilitating the deployment of the air curtain, and it will not be completely separated from the side panel sheet metal 6 and fly out to hurt people.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7 , in some optional embodiments, the holding structure 11 includes a holding flange 111 provided on one side of the trim body 1 , and a limiting member is provided on the side of the holding flange 111 close to the trim body 1 .

[0047] In this embodiment, a gripping flange 111 is provided on one side of the trim panel body 1 and is located at the upper end of the trim panel body 1, near the side panel sheet metal 6. The gripping flange 111 is connected to the trim panel body 1 at its lower end along its length. The other end extends a distance toward the side panel sheet metal 6 before extending toward the upper end of the trim panel body 1, forming a clamping space with the trim panel body 1 for clamping the ceiling 2. The clamping space formed by the trim panel body 1 and the gripping flange 111 matches the shape of the ceiling 2. In addition, if the clamping space formed between the decorative panel body 1 and the holding flange 111 is directly used to clamp the lower edge of the ceiling 2, it is difficult to clamp the lower edge of the ceiling 2 between the decorative panel body 1 and the holding flange 111 due to deformation or manufacturing deviation. Therefore, the distance between the decorative panel body 1 and the holding flange 111 is set to be greater than the thickness of the ceiling 2, and a limiter is set on the side of the holding flange 111 close to the decorative panel body 1, and the ceiling 2 is clamped between the decorative panel body 1 and the holding flange 111 by using the limiter. In this way, during assembly, there is no need to support the holding flange 111 on the ceiling 2. The limiting member only needs to support the ceiling 2 by the limiting member set on the holding flange 111 to achieve the limitation of the ceiling 2. This can not only limit the relative position between the decorative panel body 1 and the ceiling 2, but also make the decorative panel body 1 as close to the ceiling 2 as possible to ensure the gap surface difference between the decorative panel body 1 and the ceiling 2.

[0048] In addition, the lower edge of the ceiling 2 is bent and extended toward the side panel 6 so that when the clamping structure 11 at the upper end of the decorative panel body 1 is clamped on the lower edge of the ceiling 2, the gap surface difference between the decorative panel body 1 and the ceiling 2 is ensured.

[0049] In some optional embodiments, the limiting member includes a plurality of limiting ribs 112 that are spaced apart and connected to the gripping flange 111 , and a clamping area for clamping the lower edge of the ceiling 2 is formed between the limiting ribs 112 and the decorative panel body 1 .

[0050] In this embodiment, a plurality of spaced limiting ribs 112 are provided on the side of the holding flange 111 close to the decorative panel body 1, so that a clamping area for clamping the lower edge of the ceiling 2 is formed between the limiting ribs 112 and the decorative panel body 1. When the upper end of the decorative panel body 1 is clamped on the lower edge of the ceiling 2, the limiting ribs 112 and the decorative panel body 1 clamp the ceiling 2. Since there are gaps between the multiple limiting ribs 112, the shape of the ceiling 2 does not need to completely match the shape of the decorative panel body 1. When the shape of the ceiling 2 is not so matched with the shape of the decorative panel body 1, the ceiling 2 can be appropriately micro-deformed under the support of the multiple limiting ribs 112 to adapt to the shape of the decorative panel body 1.

[0051] In addition, the limiting rib 112 can also improve the strength of the gripping flange 111. When the A-pillar trim is impacted by the explosion of the side air curtain and the A-pillar trim rotates open, the limiting rib 112 and the gripping flange 111 work together to ensure that the roof 2 is pushed open, facilitating the deployment of the air curtain.

[0052] The limiting ribs 112 and the holding flanges 111 are integrally formed with the trim panel body 1 to ensure the strength of the limiting ribs 112 and the holding flanges 111, so that when the A-pillar trim panel is impacted by the explosion of the side air curtain, the limiting ribs 112 and the holding flanges 111 have sufficient strength to push open the roof 2.

[0053] In some optional embodiments, the plurality of limiting ribs 112 are evenly and parallelly spaced apart.

[0054] In this embodiment, multiple limiting ribs 112 are arranged in parallel and at equal intervals. When the shape of the ceiling 2 does not quite match that of the decorative panel body 1, the ceiling 2 can be more easily clamped between the decorative panel body 1 and the limiting ribs 112 without causing excessive and uneven deformation of the ceiling 2, thereby ensuring the matching clearance difference between the decorative panel body 1 and the ceiling 2. Alternatively, multiple limiting ribs 112 can be arranged perpendicularly and evenly along the outer contour of the grip flange 111 to achieve the same effect.

[0055] In some optional embodiments, the limiting rib 112 partially extends out of the trim panel body 1 in the length direction of the trim panel body 1 .

[0056] In this embodiment, the limiting ribs 112 partially extend from the trim body 1 in the longitudinal direction. That is, the height of the limiting ribs 112 is higher than the outer contour of the trim body 1. This ensures that the supporting distance between the limiting ribs 112 and the ceiling 2 is sufficient, preventing deformation of the ceiling and rib failure, which could result in a poor clearance and surface difference between the trim body 1 and the ceiling 2. Due to the presence of the retaining structure 11, when the A-pillar trim is impacted by the detonation of the side curtain airbag, as shown in Figures 6 and 8, the A-pillar trim rotates open, and the retaining structure 11 can more effectively and quickly push open the ceiling 2, creating space and further facilitating the timely inflation and deployment of the side curtain airbag.

[0057] In some optional embodiments, the side air curtain positioning buckle 3 is located at 1 / 3 of the length of the trim panel body 1 .

[0058] In this solution, a retaining structure 11 is provided at the upper end of the trim panel body 1, which allows the side curtain airbag positioning buckle 3 to be moved downward. That is, the side curtain airbag positioning buckle 3 is positioned at a position 1 / 3 of the length of the trim panel body 1. This increases the rotation angle of the A-pillar trim panel, creating a larger opening space, facilitating the inflation and deployment of the side curtain airbag. It also reduces the impact force on the A-pillar trim panel, preventing damage to the A-pillar trim panel and the generation of splashes. Furthermore, one fixing buckle is eliminated, reducing costs.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 , in some optional embodiments, the support portion 12 includes a plurality of support ribs arranged at intervals.

[0060] In this embodiment, a plurality of support ribs are provided on the trim body 1, and the support ribs are provided in the Y direction to support the side panel sheet metal 6. Thus, the Y-direction gap between the trim body 1 and the instrument panel 5 can be controlled. By adjusting the Y-direction height of the support ribs, the Y-direction gap between the trim body 1 and the instrument panel 5 can be improved and controlled in the actual stage.

[0061] In some optional embodiments, the supporting rib is an L-shaped plate, and the outer side of one side of the L-shaped plate is connected to the decorative panel body 1.

[0062] In this embodiment, the support portion 12 is an L-shaped plate and is integrally formed with the trim panel body 1. The outer side of one side of the L-shaped plate is connected to the trim panel body 1, and the height of this side is higher than the top surface of the dashboard 5 after the dashboard 5 is assembled. The end of the other side is supported on the side panel sheet metal 6, which can improve the strength of the entire structure and prevent the A-pillar trim panel from being broken by the impact of the side air curtain detonation when it is rotated open due to insufficient strength at the lower end of the A-pillar trim panel.

[0063] On the other hand, the present invention further provides a method for installing an A-pillar trim panel, which is used to install any of the above-mentioned A-pillar trim panels, comprising the following steps:

[0064] S1: Before installing the instrument panel 5 , the retaining structure 11 at the upper end of the decorative panel body 1 is clamped on the lower edge of the ceiling 2 .

[0065] S2: Use the side air curtain positioning buckle 3 and the fixing buckle 4 in sequence to connect the trim panel body 1 and the side panel sheet metal 6.

[0066] In yet another aspect, the present invention further provides a vehicle comprising any one of the above-mentioned A-pillar trim panels.

[0067] In summary, when using the A-pillar trim, before installing the instrument panel 5, the retaining structure 11 at the upper end of the trim body 1 is secured to the lower edge of the ceiling 2. Once the retaining structure 11 at the upper end of the A-pillar trim is aligned with the ceiling 2, the A-pillar is rotated, and the side air curtain positioning clips 3 first contact the side panel sheet metal 6, effectively providing positioning and guidance. As the A-pillar trim continues to rotate, the fixing clips 4 contact the side panel sheet metal 6 and smoothly snap into place (at this point, the side air curtain positioning clips 3 have entered the sheet metal holes and positioned themselves, preventing the fixing clips 4 from misaligning). The A-pillar trim is now assembled. During this assembly process, the A-pillar trim does not interfere with surrounding components. Furthermore, the side air curtain positioning clips 3 first enter the side panel sheet metal 6 during installation, effectively providing positioning and guidance, preventing misalignment of the fixing clips 4. The support portion 12 provided at the lower end of the trim body 1 supports the side panel sheet metal 6 to ensure a clearance between the trim body 1 and the instrument panel 5. The entire A-pillar trim assembly process is convenient and time-efficient, effectively meeting the production cycle of rolling vehicle lines. Furthermore, the A-pillar trim's unique retaining structure 11 and support portion 12 ensure that the A-pillar trim fits perfectly with the roof 2 and the instrument panel 5, ensuring that the gap and surface difference remain consistent with the design.

[0068] Because a retaining structure 11 is provided at the upper end of the trim panel body 1 and is secured to the lower edge of the ceiling 2, the retaining structure 11 ensures a clearance difference between the trim panel body 1 and the ceiling 2. Therefore, the side curtain airbag positioning buckle 3 provided on the trim panel body 1 can be moved toward the lower end of the trim panel body 1. The lower end of the trim panel body 1 is retained between the side panel 6 and the instrument panel 5. When the curtain airbag is deployed, the retaining structure 11 provided on the upper end of the trim panel body 1 pushes the ceiling 2 open under the force of the airbag's expansion, forming a passage for the airbag to deploy. The trim panel body 1 then rotates with its lower end, which is secured between the side panel 6 and the instrument panel 5, as an axis. As the side curtain airbag positioning buckle 3 moves away from the upper end of the trim panel body 1, the gap between the side curtain airbag positioning buckle 3 and the upper end of the trim panel body 1 increases, allowing the upper end of the trim panel body 1 to open further, creating a larger passage for the airbag to deploy more effectively.

[0069] Compared with the prior art that fixes the A-pillar trim with two fixing clips and one side air curtain positioning clip 3, the side air curtain positioning clip 3 needs to be set at the uppermost end of the trim body 1 to ensure the surface difference between the trim body 1 and the ceiling 2, but this will affect the rotation angle of the A-pillar trim and requires the use of two fixing clips. In this solution, a holding structure 11 is set at the upper end of the trim body 1, and the holding structure 11 is clamped on the lower edge of the ceiling 2. While ensuring the surface difference between the trim body 1 and the ceiling 2, the side air curtain positioning clip 3 can be moved away from the upper end of the trim body 1, and the position of the fixing clip 4 will also move downward. Since the length of the trim body 1 remains unchanged, one fixing clip 4 can be reduced. Only one fixing clip 4 is used, which can also ensure the installation and fixation of the trim body 1 and reduce costs. In addition, by setting a holding structure 11 at the upper end of the trim panel main body 1, the side air curtain positioning buckle 3 can be moved downward, thereby increasing the rotation angle of the A-pillar trim panel and opening a larger space, which is conducive to the inflation and deployment of the side air curtain. At the same time, it can reduce the impact force on the A-pillar trim panel, avoid damage to the A-pillar trim panel, and avoid splashing.

[0070] The A-pillar trim is easy to install. During the installation process, the installation positioning method is consistent with the design positioning method. The side airbag positioning buckle 3 can effectively play a positioning and guiding role, eliminating the difficulty in assembly caused by the misaligned holes of the fixing buckle 4 during the installation process. At the same time, the installation force requirements for the operator are low. During normal working hours, fatigue will not be caused by excessive working force, which ensures the production operation rhythm of the vehicle rolling production line while reducing the labor intensity of the operator.

[0071] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "upper" and "lower" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on this application. Unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or it can be internal communication between two elements. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0072] It should be noted that, in this application, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "include", "comprise" or any other variants thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device comprising a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device. In the absence of further restrictions, an element defined by the sentence "comprising a ..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article or device comprising the element.

[0073] The foregoing is merely a list of specific embodiments of the present application, intended to enable those skilled in the art to understand or implement the present application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present application. Therefore, the present application is not limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is intended to conform to the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novel features of the present application.

Claims

1. An A-pillar trim, characterized in that: include: A decorative panel body (1), wherein the upper end of the decorative panel body (1) is provided with a retaining structure (11) for being clamped to the lower edge of the ceiling (2), the lower end of the decorative panel body (1) is provided with a supporting portion (12) for being supported on the inner side of the side panel sheet (6), and the decorative panel body (1) is provided with side air curtain positioning buckles (3) and fixing buckles (4) in sequence from the upper end to the lower end.

2. The A-pillar trim according to claim 1, characterized in that: The clamping structure (11) comprises a holding flange (111) arranged on one side of the decorative plate body (1), and a limiting member is provided on the side of the holding flange (111) close to the decorative plate body (1).

3. The A-pillar trim according to claim 2, characterized in that: The limiting member comprises a plurality of limiting ribs (112) which are spaced apart and connected to the gripping flange (111); a clamping area for clamping the lower edge of the ceiling (2) is formed between the limiting ribs (112) and the decorative plate body (1).

4. The A-pillar trim according to claim 3, characterized in that: The plurality of limiting ribs (112) are evenly and parallelly arranged at intervals.

5. The A-pillar trim according to claim 3, characterized in that: The limiting rib (112) partially extends out of the decorative plate body (1) in the length direction of the decorative plate body (1).

6. The A-pillar trim according to claim 1, characterized in that: The side air curtain positioning buckle (3) is located at 1 / 3 of the length of the trim panel body (1).

7. The A-pillar trim according to claim 1, characterized in that: The support portion (12) comprises a plurality of support ribs arranged at intervals.

8. The A-pillar trim according to claim 1, characterized in that: The supporting rib is an L-shaped plate, and the outer side of one side of the L-shaped plate is connected to the decorative plate body (1).

9. A method for installing an A-pillar trim, characterized in that: The method for installing an A-pillar trim panel according to any one of claims 1 to 8 comprises the following steps: Before installing the instrument panel (5), the clamping structure (11) at the upper end of the decorative panel body (1) is clamped to the lower edge of the ceiling (2); The decorative panel body (1) is connected to the side panel sheet metal (6) by using the side air curtain positioning buckle (3) and the fixing buckle (4) in sequence.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that: It comprises an A-pillar trim as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8.

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