Supplemental load transfer trim system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10093158-B2
Application number	US-201615332405-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 24, 2016
Priority date	Oct 24, 2016
Publication date	Oct 9, 2018
Grant date	Oct 9, 2018

Abstract

A supplemental load transfer system for a vehicle includes a vehicle kick-up cross-member and a door trim panel configured to attach to a vehicle door member. The door trim panel includes a pusher disposed to transfer an impact load to the kick-up cross-member. The pusher may be configured as a matrix formed by a plurality of columns and substantially orthogonal connecting ribs to define a plurality of receivers. One or more of the receivers may be at least partially filled with a load-transferring substrate. The one or more receivers may be disposed at a bottom portion of the pusher. One or more columns of the plurality of columns may be oriented whereby an impact-receiving end and an impact-transmitting end of the pusher define different surface areas.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A supplemental load transfer system for a vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle kick-up cross-member; and
a door trim panel configured to attach to a vehicle door member and comprising a pusher disposed to transfer an impact load to the kick-up cross-member;
wherein the pusher is not directly connected to any structural element of the vehicle door member.

2. The supplemental load transfer system of claim 1 , wherein the pusher is configured as a matrix formed by a plurality of columns and substantially orthogonal connecting ribs to define a plurality of receivers;
further wherein at least a portion of the plurality of receivers is at least partially filled with a load-transferring substrate.

3. The supplemental load transfer system of claim 2 , wherein one or more receivers of the plurality of receivers disposed at a lower portion of the pusher are at least partially filled with the load-transferring substrate.

4. The supplemental load transfer system of claim 3 , wherein a first set of receivers disposed at the lower portion of the pusher is at least partially filled with a first load-transferring substrate and a second set of receivers disposed at the lower portion of the pusher is at least partially filled with a second load-transferring substrate;
further wherein the first load-transferring substrate confers a different load-transferring capacity from the second load-transferring substrate.

5. The supplemental load transfer system of claim 2 , wherein one or more columns of the plurality of columns are oriented whereby an impact-receiving end of the pusher defines a greater surface area than an impact-transmitting end of the pusher.

6. The supplemental load transfer system of claim 2 , wherein one or more columns of the plurality of columns are oriented whereby an impact-receiving end of the pusher defines a lesser surface area than an impact-transmitting end of the pusher.

7. A vehicle including the supplemental load transfer system of claim 1 .

8. A vehicle, comprising:
a frame including a kick-up cross-member; and
a door comprising an outer panel, an inner panel, and a door trim panel;
wherein the door trim panel comprises a pusher traversing the inner panel and disposed to transfer an impact load to the kick-up cross-member;
further wherein the pusher is not directly connected to the outer panel and the inner panel.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the pusher is configured as a matrix formed by a plurality of columns and substantially orthogonal connecting ribs to define a plurality of receivers;
further wherein at least a portion of the plurality of receivers is at least partially filled with a load-transferring substrate.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein one or more receivers of the plurality of receivers disposed at a lower portion of the pusher are at least partially filled with the load-transferring substrate.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein a first set of receivers disposed at the lower portion of the pusher is at least partially filled with a first load-transferring substrate and a second set of receivers disposed at the lower portion of the pusher is at least partially filled with a second load-transferring substrate;
further wherein the first load-transferring substrate confers a different load-transferring capacity from the second load-transferring substrate.

12. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein one or more columns of the plurality of columns are oriented whereby an impact-receiving end of the pusher defines a greater surface area than an impact-transmitting end of the pusher.

13. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein one or more columns of the plurality of columns are oriented whereby an impact-receiving end of the pusher defines a lesser surface area than an impact-transmitting end of the pusher.

14. A vehicle door member, comprising:
a frame;
an outer panel;
an inner panel; and
a door trim panel comprising a pusher traversing the inner panel and disposed to transfer an impact load to a kick-up cross-member of a vehicle with which the vehicle door member is attached;
wherein the pusher is not directly connected to the outer panel and the inner panel.

15. The vehicle door member of claim 14 , wherein the pusher is configured as a matrix formed by a plurality of columns and substantially orthogonal connecting ribs to define a plurality of receivers;
further wherein at least a portion of the plurality of receivers is at least partially filled with a load-transferring substrate.

16. The vehicle door member of claim 15 , wherein one or more receivers of the plurality of receivers disposed at a lower portion of the pusher are at least partially filled with the load-transferring substrate.

17. The vehicle door member of claim 16 , wherein a first set of receivers disposed at the lower portion of the pusher is at least partially filled with a first load-transferring substrate and a second set of receivers disposed at the lower portion of the pusher is at least partially filled with a second load-transferring substrate;
further wherein the first load-transferring substrate confers a different load-transferring capacity from the second load-transferring substrate.

18. The vehicle door member of claim 15 , wherein one or more columns of the plurality of columns are oriented whereby an impact-receiving end of the pusher defines a greater surface area than an impact-transmitting end of the pusher.

19. The vehicle door member of claim 15 , wherein one or more columns of the plurality of columns are oriented whereby an impact-receiving end of the pusher defines a lesser surface area than an impact-transmitting end of the pusher.

20. A vehicle including the vehicle door member of claim 14 .

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc
• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Patel Deepak
• Vemulapati Satyanarayana Raju
• Midoun Djamal Eddine
• Jenkins Keith William

Classifications

• B60J5/0451 Primary

  Block or short strip-type elements (beams B60J5/0443, position thereof B60J5/0423) · CPC title

• B62D25/2036

  the subunits being side panels, sills or pillars (B62D21/157 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60J5/0455

  integrated in door structure or other door elements, e.g. beam-like shapes stamped in inner door panel · CPC title

• B60J5/0456

  Behaviour during impact · CPC title

• B60R13/0243

  Doors · CPC title