Roof panel lining of a vehicle with preassembled head protection elements (head bags)

• US 20020190507A1
• Filed: 05/03/2002
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrialesud S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: Industrialesud S.p.A.
• Inventors: Biggio, Mario, Bessone, Giovanni, Sante, Giuseppe Di
• Granted Patent: US 6,761,374 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars

Abstract

A roof panel lining of a vehicle with preassembled head protection elements so-called “head-bag”, comprising a complex element (22) with a head bag unit (25) with a shaped support (26a, 26b) and arranged integrally in relation to a roof panel lining (11) by reciprocal constraining elements (28, 29; 27, 30), in which the complex element (22) is arranged in a recessed zone (17) of the roof panel lining (11), covered by one or more longitudinal side covering and closing elements (18), in turn fastened to a body (14) of the vehicle by a handle (38) and provided with a weakening notch (43) which, in the inflation phase, allows release of a bag of the “head bag” unit (25).

Claims

1. Roof panel lining of a vehicle with preassembled head protection elements, so-called “

head bag”

, characterized in that it comprises a complex element (22), with at least one “

head bag”

unit (25) in a shaped support (26a, 26b), and arranged integrally in a removable manner in relation to a roof panel lining (11) by reciprocal constraining elements (28, 29;

27, 30), said complex element (22) being arranged in a recessed zone (17) of the lining (11), covered by at least one longitudinal side covering and closing element (18), which is in turn fastened to a body (14) of said vehicle at least by a handle (38) and provided with a weakening notch (43) which, in the inflation phase, allows release of at least one bag of the “

head bag”

unit (25).

2. Roof panel lining as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said shaped support (26a, 26b) of said complex element (22) comprises a U-shaped portion, facing downward (26a) to house the “

head bag”

unit (25) and a series of portions facing upward (26b) for fastening to said body (14).

3. Roof panel lining as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said downward facing U-shaped portion (26a) has longitudinal elongated openings (27) suitable to receive fastening elements (28), after these have passed through openings (30) of downward facing plate extensions (21) of said lining (11).

4. Roof panel lining as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with plate extensions (26b) of said complex element (22), facing upward, and provided with holes (41) for fastening said handles (38).

5. Roof panel lining as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said complex element (22) comprises in a single piece both an explosive charge (23) connected (in 24) to a “

head bag”

unit (25) and a longitudinal side support (26a, 26b) for said “

head bag”

unit (25).

6. Roof panel lining as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a bottom end of said longitudinal side covering and closing element (18) is engaged internally, free to translate, at one end of a seal (16) of the side area of the vehicle and above the door.

7. Roof panel lining as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it is provided, for each side of the vehicle, with two longitudinal side covering and closing elements (18) and one vertical covering and closing element (19) of the post.