HEADLINER ASSEMBLY HAVING A TETHER

• US 20070096440A1
• Filed: 10/28/2005
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Reynolds, Brian, Purvis, Glenn, Mola, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,571,927 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.3
• 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 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/215 characterised by the covers for the inflatable member B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/216 comprising tether means for limitation of cover motion during deployment

Abstract

A headliner assembly is provided for use with a vehicle having an inflatable air bag disposed proximate a roof of the vehicle. The headliner assembly includes a headliner configured to extend underneath the air bag and having a front portion and a rear portion. The headliner assembly further includes a tether for connecting the rear portion of the headliner to a rear portion of the vehicle. The tether is configured to cooperate with the headliner to control deployment of the air bag.

Claims

1. A headliner assembly for use with a vehicle having an inflatable air bag disposed proximate a roof of the vehicle, the headliner assembly comprising:

a headliner configured to extend underneath the air bag, the headliner having a front portion and a rear portion; and

a tether for connecting the rear portion of the headliner to a rear portion of the vehicle, the tether being configured to cooperate with the headliner to control deployment of the air bag.

2. The headliner assembly of claim 1 wherein, during deployment of the air bag, the tether is configured to cooperate with the headliner to define a hinge line on the headliner proximate a side edge of the headliner, such that the headliner is bendable along the hinge line.

3. The headliner assembly of claim 1 wherein the headliner has an attachment location disposed proximate a rear edge of the headliner, and the tether is configured to be attached to the attachment location.

4. The headliner assembly of claim 3 wherein the headliner includes a substrate and an attachment member supported by the substrate, the attachment member defining the attachment location.

5. The headliner assembly of claim 3 wherein the headliner includes a substrate and a grommet attached to the substrate, the grommet defining the attachment location.

6. The headliner assembly of claim 5 wherein the substrate is folded over proximate the attachment location, such that the grommet extends through two layers of the substrate.

7. The headliner assembly of claim 1 further comprising a tether bracket that is attachable to the vehicle and configured to receive the tether, wherein the tether bracket is further configured to deform upon deployment of the air bag to thereby absorb deployment energy.

8. The headliner assembly of claim 7 wherein the tether bracket includes an anti-rotation tab that is engageable with an aperture in the vehicle to inhibit rotation of the tether bracket with respect to the vehicle.

9. The headliner assembly of claim 7 wherein the tether bracket is configured to bend upon deployment of the air bag to thereby absorb deployment energy.

10. The headliner assembly of claim 7 wherein the tether bracket is configured to lengthen upon deployment of the air bag to thereby absorb deployment energy.

11. A headliner assembly for use with a vehicle having an inflatable air bag disposed proximate a roof of the vehicle, the headliner assembly comprising:

a headliner configured to extend underneath the air bag;

a tether bracket configured to be attached to the vehicle; and

a tether for connecting the headliner to the tether bracket, the tether being configured to control movement of the headliner during deployment of the air bag;

wherein the tether bracket is configured to deform without breaking during deployment of the air bag, to thereby absorb deployment energy.

12. The headliner assembly of claim 11 wherein the tether bracket includes an anti-rotation tab that is engageable with an aperture in the vehicle to inhibit rotation of the tether bracket with respect to the vehicle.

13. The headliner assembly of claim 11 wherein the tether bracket includes an attachment portion that is configured to be attached to the vehicle, and a leg portion extending from the attachment portion, and wherein the leg portion is configured to bend with respect to the attachment portion upon deployment of the air bag.

14. The headliner assembly of claim 13 wherein the leg portion is configured to bend through an angle of at least ten degrees upon deployment of the air bag.

15. The headliner assembly of claim 11 wherein the tether bracket is configured to lengthen upon deployment of the air bag to thereby absorb deployment energy.

16. The headliner assembly of claim 11 wherein, during deployment of the air bag, the tether is configured to cooperate with the headliner to define a hinge line on the headliner proximate a side edge of the headliner, such that the headliner is bendable along the hinge line.

17. The headliner assembly of claim 11 wherein the headliner has an attachment location disposed proximate a rear edge of the headliner, and the tether is configured to be attached to the attachment location.

18. The headliner assembly of claim 17 wherein the headliner includes a substrate and an attachment member supported by the substrate, the attachment member defining the attachment location.

19. The headliner assembly of claim 17 wherein the headliner includes a substrate and a grommet attached to the substrate, the grommet defining the attachment location.

20. The headliner assembly of claim 19 wherein the substrate is folded over proximate the attachment location, such that the grommet extends through two layers of the substrate.