Roof-mounted air bag

• US 5,775,726 A
• Filed: 05/29/1996
• Issued: 07/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Morton International Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Osmond, Mark W., Timothy, Calvin M., Mitchell, Jonathan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US08/655,105
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/735, 280/756, 296/211, 296/214
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0212 Roof or head liners movable head-liners B60J7/0007
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0815 Acoustic or thermal insulation of passenger compartments wall or roof liners integrating the insulating function B60R13/02; insulating floor mats or carpets B60N3/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01006 Mounting of electrical components in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01306 monitoring vehicle inclination
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23192 Roof bags, i.e. protecting the occupant in a roll-over situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/214 in roof panels

Abstract

A passive vehicle occupant restraint system is provided for an automotive vehicle having a front seat including a seat back defining generally a front passenger area to one side thereof and a rear passenger area to the other side thereof, and a roof having an outer roof surface, a quantity of insulation material inside of the outer roof surface and a headliner beneath and overlying the insulation material. The restraint system includes a first inflatable cushion mounted between the insulation material and the headliner and overlying at least a portion of the front passenger area of the vehicle, and an inflator operatively connected with the inflatable cushion and responsive to a predetermined triggering signal for producing a quantity of inflating gas for inflating the cushion.

Claims

1. A passive vehicle occupant restraint system for an automotive vehicle having a front seat including a seat back defining generally a front passenger area to one side thereof and a rear passenger area to an opposite side thereof, an outer roof surface, a quantity of insulation material inside of said outer roof surface and a headliner covering said insulation material, said restraint system comprising:

a first inflatable cushion mounted between said quantity of insulation material and said headliner and overlying at least a portion of the front passenger area of said vehicle;

said inflatable cushion being inflatable to an increased thickness while still being retained between said quantitv of insulation material and said headliner in such a manner as to provide a cushion, when inflated, between a head of a passenger and the outer roof surface, and an inflator operatively connected with said inflatable cushion and responsive to a predetermined triggering signal for producing a quantity of gas for inflating said cushion.

2. The system of claim 1 and further including a second inflatable cushion mounted between said quantity of insulation material and said headliner and overlying at least a portion of said rear passenger area;

and wherein said inflator is further operatively coupled to said second inflatable cushion.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said inflator is mounted between said headliner and said outer roof surface and generally between said first and second inflatable cushions.

4. The system of claim 2 and further including a second inflator operatively coupled with both of said inflatable cushions, and responsive to said predetermined triggering signal for producing a quantity of inflating gas.

5. The system of claim 4 and further including means operatively linking said first and second inflators for simultaneous response to said predetermined triggering signal.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said second inflator is also mounted between said headliner and said outer roof surface and located generally between said first and second inflatable cushions in a side-by-side relation to said first inflator.

7. The system of claim 6 and further including roll-over sensor means operatively coupled to said first and second inflators and mounted to said vehicle in such a manner as to produce said predetermined triggering signal in response to a roll-over of said vehicle.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said vehicle has a plurality of roof posts supporting said roof and wherein said roll-over sensor means comprise a plurality of roll-over sensors operatively coupled with first said and second inflators and respectively mounted on ones of said roof posts.

9. The system of claim 1 and further including roll-over sensor means operatively coupled with said inflator and mounted to said vehicle for producing said predetermined triggering signal in response to a roll-over of said vehicle.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said vehicle has a plurality of roof posts supporting said roof and wherein said roll-over sensor means comprises a plurality of roll-over sensors, respectively mounted on ones of said roof posts.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said inflatable cushion is fabricated of a puncture-resistant material.

12. A passive vehicle occupant restraint system for an automotive vehicle having a front seat including a seat back defining generally a front passenger area to one side thereof and a rear passenger area to an opposite side thereof, an outer roof surface, and a quantity of insulation material inside of said outer roof surface, said restraint system comprising:

a headliner overlying said insulation material;

a first inflatable cushion mounted between said quantity of insulation material and said headliner and overlying at least a portion of the front passenger area of said vehicle;

said inflatable cushion being inflatable to an increased thickness while still being retained between said quantity of insulation material and said headliner in such a manner as to provide a cushion, when inflated, between a head of a passenger and the outer roof surface, and an inflator operatively connected with said inflatable cushion and responsive to a predetermined triggering signal for producing a quantity of gas for inflating said cushion.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said headliner is elastically expandable to accommodate inflation of said inflatable cushion.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein said headliner is mounted relative to said roof with sufficient slack to accommodate inflation of said inflatable cushion.

15. A passive vehicle occupant restraint system for an automotive vehicle having a front seat including a seat back defining generally a front passenger area to one side thereof and a rear passenger area to an opposite side thereof, an outer roof surface, a quantity of insulation material inside of said outer roof surface and a headliner covering said insulation material, said restraint system comprising:

a first inflatable cushion mounted between said quantity of insulation material and said headliner and overlying at least a portion of the front passenger area of said vehicle;

an inflator operatively connected with said inflatable cushion and responsive to a predetermined triggering signal for producing a quantity of inflating gas for inflating said cushion; and

roll-over sensor means operatively coupled with said inflator and mounted to said vehicle for producing said predetermined triggering signal in response to a roll-over of said vehicle, wherein said vehicle has a plurality of roof posts supporting said roof and wherein said roll-over sensor means comprises a plurality of roll-over sensors, respectively mounted on ones of said roof posts.