Protective guard for restraints control module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9944243-B2
Application number	US-201615159276-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 19, 2016
Priority date	May 19, 2016
Publication date	Apr 17, 2018
Grant date	Apr 17, 2018

Abstract

A guard for a restraints control module includes a corrugated base and right and left corrugated sidewalls. The sidewalls extend above the base and are spaced from a restraints control module secured to the base. The sidewalls diverge from each other in a vertical direction above the base and include alternating furrows and ridges that form the corrugations. The furrows and ridges are connected by rib walls that strengthen the guard against lateral collision forces. A method is disclosed for protecting a restraints control module in a side impact collision. According to the method, in a side impact collision, an object driven into the guard bends the sidewall towards the restraints control module to absorb the impact force applied by the object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A guard comprising:
a corrugated base;
right and left corrugated walls extending above the base and having a lower end continuous and integral with right and left edges of the base, wherein the right and left corrugated walls are spaced from a restraints control module attached to the base; and
a gusset formed where the lower end of the right and left corrugated walls are joined to the right and left edges of the base.

2. The guard for a restraints control module of claim 1 wherein the right and left corrugated walls diverge from each other in a vertical direction.

3. The guard for a restraints control module of claim 1 wherein the right and left corrugated walls have a lower end that is continuous and integral with right and left edges of the base.

4. The guard for a restraints control module of claim 1 wherein the right and left corrugated walls have a plurality of furrows and ridges.

5. The guard for a restraints control module of claim 1 wherein the right and left corrugated walls are boron steel.

6. A method of protecting a restraints control module for a vehicle in a side impact collision, the method comprising:
attaching a guard to a floor of the vehicle, wherein the guard includes a base and right and left sidewalls that extend above the base, the right and left sidewalls including a plurality of furrows and ridges extending in a cross-vehicle direction, wherein the ridges and furrows include a ridge portion on the base that contacts the restraints control module and a furrow portion on the base that contacts the floor of the vehicle, and rib walls extending between the ridge portions and the furrow portions; and
attaching the restraints control module to the base of the guard between the right and left sidewalls, wherein in the side impact collision an object driven into one of the right and left sidewalls bends the one sidewall toward the restraints control module to absorb an impact force applied by the object.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the rib walls on the sidewalls extend laterally, and wherein the impact force applied to the right and left sidewalls deforms the rib walls in a lateral direction.

8. A method of protecting a restraints control module for a vehicle in a side impact collision, the method comprising:
attaching a guard to a floor of the vehicle, wherein the guard includes a base and right and left sidewalls that extend above the base, the right and left sidewalls including a plurality of furrows and ridges extending in a cross-vehicle direction, wherein the right and left sidewalls each have an upper edge and a lower end; and
attaching the restraints control module to the base of the guard between the right and left sidewalls, wherein in the side impact collision an object driven into one of the right and left sidewalls bends the one sidewall toward the restraints control module to absorb an impact force applied by the object wherein the upper edge is spaced from the restraints control module to a greater extent than the lower edge of the sidewalls is spaced from the restraints control module, wherein the impact force applied to the sidewalls moves the upper edge toward the restraints control module and bends the sidewalls where the sidewalls extend from the base.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the impact force applied by the object is initially absorbed by the sidewalls and transferred through the sidewalls to the base before the sidewalls are driven into contact with the restraints control module.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Nusier Saied
• Baccouche Mohamed Ridha
• Bauch David James
• Ghannam Mahmoud Yousef

Classifications

• B60R2021/01006

  Mounting of electrical components in vehicles · CPC title

• B60R2021/0006

  Lateral collision · CPC title

• B60R21/01 Primary

  Electrical circuits for triggering {passive} safety arrangements, {e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners,} in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents {(electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343)} · CPC title

• B60R16/0239 Primary

  Electronic boxes · CPC title

• H05K5/0073

  having specific features for mounting the housing on an external structure · CPC title