Vehicle headliner with inflatable side curtain
First Claim
1. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof and a side structure, said apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and having an inflated condition in which said protection device is inflated between the occupant and the vehicle side structure;
a fill member for directing inflation fluid into said protection device to inflate said protection device; and
means for mounting said protection device and said fill member to the vehicle, said means for mounting comprising a headliner assembly comprising a single piece of material, said single piece of material having a support portion for location adjacent to the vehicle side structure, said support portion defining a chamber for receiving said fill member and said protection device when said protection device is in the deflated condition, said single piece of material including a headliner portion for location adjacent to the vehicle roof, said headliner portion of said single piece of material for extending inside of and generally parallel to the vehicle roof between said support portion of said single piece of material and a centerline of the vehicle.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof (40) and a side structure (20) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) and a fill tube (120) for directing inflation fluid into the protection device. The protection device (12) has a deflated condition and an inflated condition in which it is inflated between the occupant and the vehicle side structure. The apparatus (10) also includes means for mounting the protection device (12) and the fill tube (120) to the vehicle. The mounting means comprises a headliner assembly (70) having a headliner portion (72) extending inside of and generally parallel to the vehicle roof (40). The headliner assembly (70) has a support portion (74) disposed adjacent to the vehicle side structure (20). The support portion (74) of the headliner assembly (70) defines a chamber (112) receiving the fill tube (120) and the protection device (12) when the protection device is in the deflated condition.
51 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof and a side structure, said apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and having an inflated condition in which said protection device is inflated between the occupant and the vehicle side structure; a fill member for directing inflation fluid into said protection device to inflate said protection device; and means for mounting said protection device and said fill member to the vehicle, said means for mounting comprising a headliner assembly comprising a single piece of material, said single piece of material having a support portion for location adjacent to the vehicle side structure, said support portion defining a chamber for receiving said fill member and said protection device when said protection device is in the deflated condition, said single piece of material including a headliner portion for location adjacent to the vehicle roof, said headliner portion of said single piece of material for extending inside of and generally parallel to the vehicle roof between said support portion of said single piece of material and a centerline of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a side structure including a bulb seal and a roof panel extending from the side structure to the vehicle centerline, said apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and having an inflated condition in which said protection device is inflated between the occupant and the vehicle side structure; a fill tube for directing inflation fluid into said protection device to inflate said protection device; a headliner assembly having a portion comprising a single piece of material, said single piece of material being extensible from said bulb seal to the vehicle centerline; and means for supporting said headliner assembly on the vehicle; said headliner assembly including a housing portion defining a chamber for receiving said fill tube and said protection device when said protection device is in the deflated condition; said single piece of material including a door which comprises a part of said portion, said door being movable relative to said housing portion from a closed condition closing said chamber to an open condition. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification