Overhead airbag deployment apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A headliner assembly operable with an airbag module attached to a roof of a vehicle, wherein the airbag module comprises a cushion configured to inflate to protect an occupant of the vehicle from impact, the headliner assembly comprising:
- a central console configured to be installed proximate a central, forward portion of the roof; and
a headliner configured to extend underneath the airbag module to conceal the airbag module from the occupant, the headliner having a lateral edge coupled to the central console;
wherein at least a portion of the lateral edge is removable from the central console to permit the headliner to open toward the vehicle occupant along the lateral edge to permit emergence of the cushion forward of the headliner.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An enhanced overhead airbag assembly is provided. The overhead airbag assembly has an airbag module designed to be attached to the roof of a vehicle, rearward of the header. The airbag module is concealed from vehicle occupants via a headliner assembly that includes a headliner, header trim, central console, and sun visors. The header trim covers at least a portion of the header and overlaps the forward edge of the headliner on the passenger'"'"'s side. The passenger'"'"'s side headliner is shaped to form a deployment door to permit emergence of the inflating airbag cushion. The headliner is tethered to the roof via a frangible fastener so that the headliner does not interfere with inflation or strike the occupant.
-
Citations
40 Claims
-
1. A headliner assembly operable with an airbag module attached to a roof of a vehicle, wherein the airbag module comprises a cushion configured to inflate to protect an occupant of the vehicle from impact, the headliner assembly comprising:
-
a central console configured to be installed proximate a central, forward portion of the roof; and
a headliner configured to extend underneath the airbag module to conceal the airbag module from the occupant, the headliner having a lateral edge coupled to the central console;
wherein at least a portion of the lateral edge is removable from the central console to permit the headliner to open toward the vehicle occupant along the lateral edge to permit emergence of the cushion forward of the headliner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An overhead airbag assembly configured to be installed proximate a roof of a vehicle, the roof having a header having a generally lateral orientation, the overhead airbag assembly comprising:
-
an airbag module attachable to the roof, rearward of the header, the airbag module having a cushion configured to inflate to protect an occupant of the vehicle from impact; and
a headliner having a forward edge configured to be coupled to the header such that the headliner extends underneath the airbag module to conceal the airbag module from the occupant;
wherein the headliner is configured to at least partially detach from the header to permit inflation of the cushion between the headliner and the header. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A headliner assembly operable with an airbag module attached to a roof of a vehicle, wherein the airbag module comprises a cushion configured to inflate to protect an occupant of the vehicle from impact, the headliner assembly comprising:
-
a headliner configured to extend underneath the airbag module to conceal the airbag module from the occupant; and
a tether attached to the headliner and configured to be attached to the roof;
wherein the tether has a length selected to permit sufficient motion of the headliner away from the roof to permit emergence of the cushion forward of the headliner and to limit motion of the headliner toward the occupant. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A frangible fastener configured to releasably attach a headliner to a roof of a vehicle such that the headliner is able to open to permit deployment of an airbag module, the airbag module comprising a cushion configured to inflate to protect an occupant of the vehicle from impact, the frangible fastener comprising:
-
a roof portion configured to engage the roof;
a headliner portion configured to engage the headliner; and
frangible portion between the roof portion and the headliner portion, wherein the frangible portion is configured to permit separation of the roof portion from the headliner portion in response to deployment of the airbag module. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
-
32. A method for installing a headliner assembly in a vehicle, the headliner assembly comprising a central console and a headliner, the vehicle comprising a roof having a header having a generally lateral orientation, the vehicle having an airbag module attached to the roof rearward of the header, the airbag module having a cushion configured to inflate to protect an occupant of the vehicle from impact, the method comprising:
-
disposing a lateral edge of the headliner proximate a central console;
attaching peripheral edges of the headliner to peripheral edges of the roof such that the headliner extends underneath the airbag module to conceal the airbag module from the occupant; and
attaching the central console to a central, forward portion of the roof;
wherein, upon attachment of the central console to the central, forward portion, the lateral edge is attached to the central console such that at least a portion of the lateral edge is removable from the central console to permit the headliner to open toward the vehicle occupant along the lateral edge to permit emergence of the cushion forward of the headliner. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
-
-
36. A method for deploying an overhead airbag in a vehicle comprising a roof having a header having a generally lateral orientation, an airbag module attached to the roof rearward of the header, and a headliner having a forward edge attached to the header such that the headliner extends underneath the airbag module to conceal the airbag module from an occupant of the vehicle, the method comprising:
-
commencing inflation of the cushion to exert pressure on the headliner;
detaching the forward edge from the header in response to the pressure; and
continuing inflation of the cushion to induce the cushion to extend between the headliner and the header to obtain a position forward of the occupant to protect the occupant from impact. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
-
Specification