Energy absorber for vehicle overhead system
View Patent ↗An energy absorber for an overhead system in a vehicle includes a molded member having one or more corrugated sections, the corrugated sections including a plurality of channels wherein the channels include a top wall and a pair of spaced apart horizontally extending side walls and a base portion extending between channels. The energy absorber may be tuned for a desired impact and be located between a vehicle roof and a headliner to provide occupant impact protection.
1. An energy absorber for an overhead system in a vehicle, the energy absorber comprising:
a molded member to engage to said overhead system, said molded member having a longitudinal axis, and including one or more corrugated sections, the corrugated sections including a plurality of channels having a height;
wherein the channels include a top wall and a pair of spaced apart horizontally extending side walls having a length, wherein said length extends in a plane that is not parallel with said longitudinal axis of said member;
wherein said length of said horizontally extending side walls is greater than said height;
wherein the member further including a base extending between said channel walls and at least one attachment section for engagement to said overhead system; and
wherein one or more of said side walls of at least one of the channels include one or more ribs.
2. The energy absorber of claim 1 , wherein the side walls of the plurality of channels extend generally parallel to one another.
3. The energy absorber of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the channels further include one or more end walls.
4. The energy absorber of claim 1 , wherein one or more of said side walls of at least one channel include one or more openings.
5. The energy absorber of claim 4 , wherein at least one of said side walls of at least one channel include at least two openings of different sizes.
6. The energy absorber of claim 1 , wherein one or more of said side walls of said plurality of channels each include one or more ribs.
7. The energy absorber of claim 1 , wherein said base further includes a flange section extending at an angle therefrom.
8. The energy absorber of claim 1 , wherein said base and at least one of said side walls of at least one channel have a different thickness from one another or vary in thickness therewithin.
9. The energy absorber of claim 1 , wherein said side walls of at least one channel extend generally horizontally, ±45° from said longitudinal axis.
10. The energy absorber of claim 1 , wherein said side walls of at least one channel form an angle with said base of 90-135° .
11. The energy absorber of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of channels vary in height.
12. The energy absorber of claim 1 , wherein said molded member is configured to be located at a front header area, a rear header area or a side rail area of said overhead system.
13. The energy absorber of claim 1 , wherein said overhead system includes a headliner having a back side and said at least one attachment section of said molded member is to adhesively attach said molded member to said back side.
14. The energy absorber of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of channels vary in width.
15. The energy absorber of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of channels have a spacing between said channels wherein said spacing varies in distance.
16. The energy absorber of claim 1 , wherein said top wall of at least one channel includes an engagement feature for a metal roof of the vehicle.
17. The energy absorber of claim 1 , wherein said member comprises injection molded thermoplastic.
18. The energy absorber of claim 1 , wherein said member comprises polypropylene.
19. The energy absorber of claim 1 , wherein said base and at least one of said side walls of at least one channel have a thickness in a range of 1.0 mm. to 3.0 mm.
20. The energy absorber of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of channels are separated by 10 mm to 100 mm.
21. An energy absorbing system for an overhead system in a vehicle, the system comprising:
a headliner having a back side;
one or more energy absorbers, said absorbers comprising a molded member having a longitudinal axis, and including one or more corrugated sections, the corrugated sections including a plurality of channels having a height;
wherein the channels include a top wall and a pair of spaced apart horizontally extending side walls having a length, wherein said length extends in a plane that is not parallel with said longitudinal axis of said member;
wherein said length of said horizontally extending side walls is greater than said height;
wherein the member further including a base extending between said channel walls and at least one attachment section for attaching said absorber to said headliner;
wherein said one or more energy absorbers are attached to said back side of said headliner; and
wherein one or more of said side walls include one or more ribs.
22. The energy absorbing system of claim 21 , wherein one or more of said side walls of at least one channel include one or more openings.
23. The energy absorbing system of claim 21 , wherein said member comprises injection molded thermoplastic.
24. The energy absorbing system of claim 21 , wherein said member comprises polypropylene.
25. The energy absorbing system of claim 21 wherein said base and at least one of said side walls of at least one channel have a thickness in a range of 1.0 mm. to 3.0 mm.
26. An energy absorber for an overhead system in a vehicle, the energy absorber comprising:
a molded member to engage to said overhead system, said molded member having a longitudinal axis, and including one or more corrugated sections, the corrugated sections including a plurality of channels having a height;
wherein the channels include a top wall and a pair of spaced apart horizontally extending side walls having a length, wherein said length extends in a plane that is not parallel with said longitudinal axis of said member;
wherein said length of said horizontally extending side walls is greater than said height;
wherein the member further including a base extending between said channel walls and at least one attachment section for engagement to said overhead system; and
wherein said base further includes a flange section extending at an angle therefrom.
27. The energy absorber of claim 26 , wherein the side walls of the plurality of channels extend generally parallel to one another.
28. The energy absorber of claim 26 , wherein at least one of the channels further include one or more end walls.
29. The energy absorber of claim 26 , wherein one or more of said side walls of at least one channel include one or more openings.
30. The energy absorber of claim 29 , wherein at least one of said side walls of at least one channel include at least two openings of different sizes.
31. The energy absorber of claim 26 , wherein one or more of said side walls of at least one channel include one or more ribs.
32. The energy absorber of claim 26 , wherein said plurality of channels vary in height.
33. The energy absorber of claim 26 , wherein said plurality of channels vary in width.
34. The energy absorber of claim 26 , wherein said plurality of channels have a spacing between said channels wherein said spacing varies in distance.
35. The energy absorber of claim 26 , wherein said plurality of channels are separated by 10 mm to 100 mm.
36. An energy absorber for an overhead system in a vehicle, the energy absorber comprising:
a molded member to engage to said overhead system, said molded member having a longitudinal axis, and including one or more corrugated sections, the corrugated sections including a plurality of channels having a height;
wherein the channels include a top wall and a pair of spaced apart horizontally extending side walls having a length, wherein said length extends in a plane that is not parallel with said longitudinal axis of said member;
wherein said length of said horizontally extending side walls is greater than said height;
wherein the member further including a base extending between said channel walls and at least one attachment section for engagement to said overhead system;
wherein at least one of the channels further include one or more end walls; and
wherein one or more of said side walls of at least one channel include one or more openings.
37. The energy absorber of claim 36 , wherein the side walls of the plurality of channels extend generally parallel to one another.
38. The energy absorber of claim 36 , wherein said plurality of channels each further include one or more end walls.
39. The energy absorber of claim 36 , wherein said base further includes a flange section extending at an angle therefrom.
40. The energy absorber of claim 36 , wherein at least one of said side walls of at least one channel include at least two openings of different sizes.
41. The energy absorber of claim 36 , wherein one or more of said side walls of at least one channel include one or more ribs.
42. The energy absorber of claim 36 , wherein said plurality of channels vary in height.
43. The energy absorber of claim 36 , wherein said plurality of channels vary in width.
44. The energy absorber of claim 36 , wherein said plurality of channels have a spacing between said channels wherein said spacing varies in distance.
45. The energy absorber of claim 36 , wherein said plurality of channels are separated by 10 mm to 100 mm.
46. The energy absorber of claim 36 , wherein the one or more openings are rectangular.
47. The energy absorber of claim 36 , wherein the one or more openings are circular.
48. The energy absorber of claim 36 , wherein the one or more openings are trapezoidal.
49. The energy absorber of claim 36 , wherein the one or more openings are elongated.
50. The energy absorber of claim 36 , wherein at least one of the channels further include one or more end walls; and
the one or more of said end walls-of at least one channel include one or more openings.