Modular headliner assembly with air curtains

• US 20020190506A1
• Filed: 06/10/2002
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Tiesler, John M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,733,034 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0206 Arrangements of fasteners and clips specially adapted for attaching inner vehicle liners or mouldings devices for fastening or securing F16B
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0225 self supporting head liners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0435 associated with the side or roof pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2615 for diverting the gas into a plurality of bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars

Abstract

A headliner and air bag assembly includes a headliner having a left and right side edges and a carrier assembly having left and right rails extending along the left and right side edges of the headliner, respectively. The carrier assembly also includes a cross-member connecting the left and right rails. The left and right rails support at least one air bag assembly, and the carrier assembly provides structural support for the headliner and for the air bag assembly to prevent bending of the headliner during installation.

Claims

1. A headliner and air bag assembly (10) comprising:

a headliner (12) having left and right side edges;

a carrier assembly (14) having left and right rails (16,18) extending along the left and right side edges of the headliner, respectively, and a cross-member (20) connecting the left and right rails (16, 18);

said left and right rails (16, 18) supporting left and right air bag assemblies respectively (28, 30), and said carrier assembly (14) being configured to provide structural support for the headliner and for said at least one air bag assembly (28, 30) to prevent bending of the headliner during installation; and

wherein an igniter assembly (22) is provided for inflating the left and right air curtains (28, 30) of said airbag assemblies;

characterized in that

said left and right air curtains (28, 30) are housed within said left and right rails (16, 18), respectively, said igniter assembly (22) being supported by the cross-member (20) and in that said carrier assembly is adhesively secured (38, 40) to the periphery (70) of the headliner (12) such that upon inflation of said left and right air curtains (28, 30) the adhesive attachment (40) along the left and right side edges of the headliner is torn to enable deployment of said air curtains (28, 30).

3. The headliner and air bag assembly (10) of claim 1, further comprising foam countermeasures (32, 34) supported by said left and right rails (16, 18).

4. The headliner and air bag assembly (10) of claim 3, further comprising a layer of SCRIM enclosing the air curtains (28, 30) and foam countermeasures (32, 34) within the left and right rails (16, 18).

5. The headliner and air bag assembly (10) of claim 1, further comprising a vehicle interior utility component securing the carrier assembly (14) to the headliner (12).

6. The headliner and air bag assembly (10) of claim 5, wherein said utility component comprises a caot hook assembly (42).

7. The headliner and air bag assembly (10) of claim 1, wherein said carrier assembly (14) includes at least one pump fastener (58) for selectively dispensing adhesive to secure the carrier assembly (14) to a vehicle roof (36).

8. The headliner and air bag assembly (10) of claim 7, wherein said carrier assembly (14) includes standoffs (61, 63) on opposing sides of the pump fastener (58) for transferring forces from the headliner (12) to the pump fastener (58).

2. The headliner and air bag assembly (10) of claim12, wherein said carrier assembly (14) comprises injection molded plastic.

9. A method of assembling a vehicle headliner and air bag assembly (10) comprising:

providing a plastic carrier assembly (14) including left and right rails (16, 18) and a cross-member (20);

positioning inflatable air curtains (28, 30) within the left and right rails (16, 18);

positioning an igniter assembly (22) in the cross-member (20) for inflating the air curtains (28, 30); and

attaching the carrier assembly (14) to a headliner (12) having left and right side edges such that the left and right rails (16, 18) extend along the left and right side edges, and the cross-member (20) connects the left and right rails (16, 18) to structurally support the weight of the headliner (12) and air bag assembly (28, 30) during installation, wherein said attaching step comprises adhesively attaching the carrier assembly (14) to the headliner (12) such that inflation of the air curtains (28, 30) will tear the adhesive attachment along the left and right side edges of the headliner (12) for deployment along side windows of a vehicle in which the assembly is installed.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising positioning foam countermeasures (32, 34) within the left and right rails (16, 18) prior to said attaching of the carrier assembly (14) to the headliner (12).

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said attaching step comprises attaching the cross-member (20) along a rear edge of the headliner (12).