Side impact door trim buckle initiatory design in armrest and grab handle region

• Main Authors: HALL IAN BREWSTER, PINKERTON JOHN, BHATTI AMMAD
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 14.09.2010
• Subjects: PERFORMING OPERATIONS; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FORVEHICLES; SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILARDEVICES FOR VEHICLES

A side impact door trim buckle initiator design is provided in a vehicle armrest and grab handle region. The disclosed support structure design induces buckling in the door handle supports while continuing to provide acceptable durability and strength. Two modifications to the door armrest and grab handle structures are made. First, an angled section is added to the material flow strap of the armrest supporting structure to promote buckling. This approach overcomes the difficulty of known material flow straps which tend to be horizontal, thus introducing a strong compressive load path. By adding an angle to the flow straps the vertical motion is forced upon a lateral impact. Second, vertical components of the door handle support structure are removed while a buckle initiator in the door handle support is added.