Hybrid bracket for a vehicle
A hybrid bracket for a vehicle is configured to facilitate attachment of various vehicle components to the body of a vehicle while simultaneously providing various other functionalities. The hybrid bracket can facilitate the attachment of a wire harness, an air curtain, a headliner, and various vehicle trim pieces to the body of the vehicle. The hybrid bracket can additionally be configured to function in an energy absorptive capacity in response to a force exerted against the hybrid bracket. To provide these various functionalities, the hybrid bracket can be substantially formed of a polymeric material that is coupled with a plurality of metallic inserts that are configured to facilitate the attachment of the air curtain to the hybrid bracket via an insert molding process.
1 . A hybrid bracket for a vehicle, comprising:
a front-pillar section configured to couple with a front-pillar of the vehicle; and
a middle-pillar section that extends from the front-pillar section and that is configured to couple with a middle-pillar of the vehicle, wherein the middle-pillar section has a substantially convex shape and forms an air curtain ramp configured to direct deployment of an air curtain coupled with the hybrid bracket, and wherein the middle-pillar section is configured to extend towards a center plane of the vehicle when the hybrid bracket is coupled to the vehicle, wherein the air curtain ramp is formed of a series of ribs interspaced by a plurality of slots.
2 . The hybrid bracket of claim 1 , wherein the air curtain ramp is configured to deform under an exerted force.
3 . The hybrid bracket of claim 1 , wherein the air curtain ramp is configured to align with the middle-pillar of the vehicle.
4 . The hybrid bracket of claim 1 , wherein the front-pillar section of the hybrid bracket forms:
a double attachment protrusion that extends towards the center plane of the vehicle when the hybrid bracket is coupled with the vehicle; and
a triple attachment protrusion that extends towards the center plane of the vehicle when the hybrid bracket is coupled with the vehicle.
5 . The hybrid bracket of claim 4 , wherein the double attachment protrusion comprises:
a fore section that extends towards the center plane of the vehicle for a first distance when the hybrid bracket is coupled with the vehicle; and
an aft section that extends towards the center plane of the vehicle for a second distance when the hybrid bracket is coupled with the vehicle, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.
6 . The hybrid bracket of claim 5 , wherein the aft section of the double attachment protrusion is configured to couple with a front-pillar trim piece.
7 . The hybrid bracket of claim 4 , wherein the triple attachment protrusion comprises:
a front section that extends towards the center plane of the vehicle for a third distance when the hybrid bracket is coupled with the vehicle;
a middle section that extends toward the center plane of the vehicle for a fourth distance when the hybrid bracket is coupled with the vehicle; and
a rear section that extends towards the center plane of the vehicle for a fifth distance when the hybrid bracket is coupled with the vehicle, wherein the fifth distance is greater than the fourth distance, and wherein the fourth distance is greater than the third distance.
8 . The hybrid bracket of claim 7 , wherein the rear section of the triple attachment protrusion is configured to couple with a headliner of the vehicle.
9 . The hybrid bracket of claim 4 , wherein the double attachment protrusion and the triple attachment protrusion are configured to at least partially support a wire harness of the vehicle.
10 . The hybrid bracket of claim 1 , wherein the hybrid bracket is formed substantially of a polymeric material.
11 . The hybrid bracket of claim 10 , wherein the hybrid bracket further comprises:
a plurality of inserts that are each formed substantially of metal, wherein the plurality of inserts facilitates attachment of the air curtain to the hybrid bracket.
12 . A hybrid bracket for a vehicle, comprising:
a front-pillar section configured to couple with a front-pillar of the vehicle;
a middle-pillar section that extends from the front-pillar section, wherein the middle-pillar section is configured to couple with a middle-pillar of the vehicle; and
a plurality of inserts that are each formed substantially of metal, wherein the plurality of inserts facilitate attachment of an air curtain to the hybrid bracket.
13 . The hybrid bracket of claim 12 , wherein the front-pillar section and the middle-pillar section are each formed substantially of a polymeric material.
14 . The hybrid bracket of claim 13 , wherein the hybrid bracket is formed via an insert molding process.
15 . The hybrid bracket of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of inserts comprises:
a first insert coupled with the front-pillar section;
a second insert coupled with the middle-pillar section; and
a third insert coupled with the middle-pillar section.
16 . The hybrid bracket of claim 15 , wherein the hybrid bracket further comprises:
a double attachment protrusion that extends from the front-pillar section towards a center plane of the vehicle when the hybrid bracket is coupled with the vehicle; and
a triple attachment protrusion that extends from the front-pillar section towards the center plane of the vehicle when the hybrid bracket is coupled with the vehicle; wherein the first insert is interposed between the double attachment protrusion and the triple attachment protrusion.
17 . The hybrid bracket for a vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the front-pillar section is further configured to couple with a headliner of the vehicle.
18 . The hybrid bracket for a vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the hybrid bracket is configured to couple to a wire harness of the vehicle.
19 . A vehicle, comprising:
a hybrid bracket coupled with the vehicle, wherein the hybrid bracket comprises:
a front-pillar section coupled with a front-pillar of the vehicle;
a middle-pillar section that extends from the front-pillar section and that is coupled with a middle-pillar of the vehicle, wherein the middle-pillar section has a substantially convex shape and forms an air curtain ramp configured to direct deployment of an air curtain coupled with the hybrid bracket, and wherein the middle-pillar section extends towards a center plane of the vehicle; and
a plurality of inserts that are each formed substantially of metal, wherein the air curtain is coupled to the plurality of inserts.
20 . The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of inserts comprises:
a first insert coupled with the front-pillar section;
a second insert coupled with the middle-pillar section; and
a third insert coupled with the middle-pillar section, wherein the air curtain ramp is interposed between the second insert and the third insert.