STANDOFF BOSS TO CONTROL CRUSH

Abstract

An energy absorbing boss for a trim panel that is secured to a body panel on a vehicle includes a generally planar trim panel having an inner surface facing the body panel and an outer surface facing into the vehicle. An energy absorbing boss extends radially from an inner surface of the trim panel, and includes an upper end, a lower end attached to the trim panel, and a wall having a predetermined thickness extending therebetween the upper end and the lower end. A triangular support fin extends radially from a lower portion of the wall, such that a lowermost end of the support fin is attached to the trim panel. Energy from a load applied to the body panel is absorbed by the energy absorbing boss at a predetermined rate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an inner surface of a trim panel for a motor vehicle, according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of an energy absorbing boss for the trim panel of FIG. 1, according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the energy absorbing boss for the trim panel of FIG. 1, according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial side view of an interior compartment of a vehicle, prior to the application of an applied force, according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the interior compartment of the vehicle of FIG. 4 after the application of the applied force, according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating the dimensional relationships of the energy absorbing boss, according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating the energy absorbing characteristic of the energy absorbing boss, according to the present invention.

Claims

1. An energy absorbing boss for a trim panel that is secured to a body panel on a vehicle comprising: a generally planar trim panel having an inner surface facing the body panel and an outer surface facing into the vehicle;an energy absorbing boss extending radially from an inner surface of said trim panel, wherein said energy absorbing boss includes an upper end, a lower end attached to the trim panel, and a wall having a predetermined thickness extending therebetween said upper end and said lower end, and a triangular support fin extending radially from a lower portion of said wall, such that a lowermost end of said support fin is attached to said trim panel, so that energy from a load applied to the body panel is absorbed by said energy absorbing boss at a predetermined rate.

2. The energy absorbing boss as set forth in claim 1 wherein said wall is shaped as a half cylinder, and a channel extends longitudinally therethrough a central portion of said half cylinder.

3. The energy absorbing boss as set forth in claim 1 wherein the predetermined thickness of said wall is uniform throughout.

4. The energy absorbing boss as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support fin has a triangular shape, and the lowermost end of said support fin is attached to the inner surface of said trim panel.

5. The energy absorbing boss as set forth in claim 4 wherein said support fin has a right triangular shape.

6. The energy absorbing boss as set forth in claim 1 wherein an applied force to the body panel initiates an elastic deformation beginning with an upper end of the boss followed by plastic deformation of the boss.

7. An energy absorbing boss for a trim panel that is secured to a body panel on a vehicle comprising: a generally planar trim panel having an inner surface facing the body panel and an outer surface facing into the vehicle;an energy absorbing boss extending radially from an inner surface of said trim panel, wherein said energy absorbing boss includes an upper end, a lower end attached to the trim panel, and a wall having a predetermined thickness extending therebetween said upper end and said lower end, wherein said wall is shaped as a half cylinder, and a channel extends longitudinally therethrough a central portion of said half cylinder and a triangular support fin extending radially from a lower portion of said wall, such that a lowermost end of said support fin is attached to said trim panel, so that energy from a load applied to the body panel initiates an elastic deformation at a predetermined rate beginning with an upper end of the boss followed by plastic deformation at a predetermined rate of the boss.

8. The energy absorbing boss as set forth in claim 7 wherein the predetermined thickness of said wall is uniform throughout.

9. The energy absorbing boss as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support fin has a triangular shape, and the lowermost end of said support fin is attached to the inner surface of said trim panel.

10. The energy absorbing boss as set forth in claim 9 wherein said support fin has a right triangular shape.

11. An energy absorbing boss for a trim panel that is secured to a body panel on a vehicle comprising: a generally planar trim panel having an inner surface facing the body panel and an outer surface facing into the vehicle;an energy absorbing boss extending radially from an inner surface of said trim panel having an upper end and a lower end attached to the trim panel, a wall shaped as a half cylinder and having a predetermined thickness extends therebetween said upper end and said lower end, a channel extends longitudinally therethrough a central portion of said half cylinder, and a triangular support fin extends radially from a lower portion of said wall, wherein said support fin has a right triangular shape, and the lowermost end of said support fin is attached to the inner surface of said trim panel so that energy from a load applied to the body panel initiates elastic deformation at a predetermined rate beginning with an upper end of the boss followed by plastic deformation at a predetermined rate of the boss.

12. The energy absorbing boss as set forth in claim 7 wherein the predetermined thickness of said wall is uniform throughout.