Headliner System

• US 20070132212A1
• Filed: 11/14/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grupo Antolin-Irausa, S.A.
• Original Assignee: Magna Seating Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Davey, Geoffrey, Marceau, Normand, Withun, Matt, Kocher, Larry
• Granted Patent: US 7,914,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.300
• 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 21/214 in roof panels

Abstract

An interior trim assembly including vehicle roof structure that supports a headliner-mounted component and a headliner, a separating means proximate a mounting location perimeter of the headliner-mounted component for maintaining a mounting integrity of the headliner-mounted component upon deployment of an inflatable restraint.

Claims

1. A headliner system for restricting the force transferred to a component proximate to the headliner system when an airbag is deployed through at least a portion of the headliner system, said headliner system comprising:

a headliner defining at least a portion of an air bag deployment passage; and

means for separating the headliner from the component upon receiving the force, wherein the separating means is remote from said air bag deployment passage.

2. The headliner system according to claim 1, wherein the headliner includes an inboard surface defining a first layer, and an outboard surface defining a second layer adjacent to the first layer, and wherein the second layer defines a second layer thickness across the headliner, and further wherein the separating means is defined by a reduced second layer thickness that at least surrounds a portion of a component location area.

3. The headliner system according to claim 2, wherein the separating means is defined by a reduced second layer thickness across the entire component location area.

4. The headliner system according to claim 1, wherein the headliner includes a component location area, wherein the separating means is defined by a reduced thickness of one or more layers at least around at least a portion of a perimeter of said component location area.

5. The headliner system according to claim 4, wherein the separating means is defined by a reduced thickness of one or more layers across the entire component location area.

6. The headliner system according to claim 1, wherein the headliner includes a component location area, and wherein the headliner includes two layers surrounding the component location area, and further wherein the separating means is defined by reducing the number of layers across the component location area.

12. The headliner system according to claim 6, wherein the headliner includes a component location area, and wherein the headliner includes two layers surrounding the component location area, and further wherein the separating means is defined by reducing the number of layers across the component location area.

7. A headliner system for restricting energy transfer to a component arranged proximate to the headliner system when an airbag is deployed through at least a portion of the headliner system, said headliner system comprising:

a headliner defining at least a portion of an air bag deployment passage, wherein the headliner includes at least one detent area remote from said portion that defines said air bag deployment passage, wherein the detent area is adapted to at least partially surround a perimeter around the component.

8. The headliner system according to claim 7, wherein the headliner includes an inboard surface defining a first layer, and an outboard surface defining a second layer adjacent to the first layer, and wherein the second layer defines a second layer thickness, and further wherein the detent area is defined by a reduced second layer thickness that at least surrounds a portion of a component location area.

9. The headliner system according to claim 8, wherein the detent area is defined by a reduced second layer thickness across the entire component location area.

10. The headliner system according to claim 7, wherein the headliner includes a component location area, wherein the detent area is defined by a reduced thickness of one or more layers at least around at least a portion of a perimeter of said component location area.

11. The headliner system according to claim 10, wherein the detent area is defined by a reduced thickness of one or more layers across the entire component location area.

18. The interior trim assembly according to claim 10 further comprising an inflatable restraint located between the headliner and vehicle roof structure, wherein, upon deployment of the inflatable restraint, the headliner is adapted to frangibly-break proximate across at least a portion of the perimeter of the component location area due to the reduced thickness of the second layer.

13. An interior trim assembly, comprising:

a vehicle roof structure that supports a component;

a headliner having a potential thickness defined by

an inboard layer defining a first layer thickness, and

an outboard layer defining a second layer thickness;

a component location area having a perimeter, wherein the perimeter of the component location area is frangible due to a reduced thickness of the second layer at the perimeter.

14. The interior trim assembly according to claim 13, wherein the reduced thickness of the second layer at the perimeter is approximately equal to zero millimeters to reduce the potential headliner thickness proximate the component to be approximately equal to or less than the thickness of the first layer.

15. The interior trim assembly according to claim 13, wherein the component includes a perimeter, and wherein the perimeter of the component location area is proud of the perimeter of the component.

16. The interior trim assembly according to claim 13, wherein the component includes a perimeter, and wherein the perimeter of the component location area is bounded by the perimeter of the component.

17. The interior trim assembly according to claim 13, wherein the component is arranged adjacent the first layer facing a passenger compartment area, and wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of a coat hook, a grab handle, a dome light, and a storage component.