Vehicle inflatable side curtain assembly

• US 6,179,324 B1
• Filed: 01/11/1999
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: White, Michael J. Jr., Phillion, Robert I., Cherry, Rodger M.
• Primary Examiner(s): DePumpo, Daniel G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZEENDER, FLORIAN M
• Application Number:
  US09/228,313
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/728.1, 280/728.2, 280/730.1, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0212 Roof or head liners movable head-liners B60J7/0007
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0442 associated with the roof panel
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2176 the air bag components being completely enclosed in a soft or semi-rigid housing or cover

Abstract

A roof (40) and side structure (20) of a vehicle at least partially define a safety apparatus mounting chamber (70). The mounting chamber (70) has an opening (74) defined between an edge portion (68) of a vehicle headliner (58) and the vehicle side structure (20). An inflatable protection device (80) is inflatable between a vehicle occupant and the vehicle side structure (20). A cover (90) at least partially encloses the protection device (80) within the mounting chamber (70) when the protection device is in a deflated condition. The cover (90) has a trim portion (140) which extends from the mounting chamber (70) into the opening (74) and which has an outer surface (144) exposed to the vehicle occupant compartment (72). The trim portion (140) of the cover (90) has a closed condition in which a first edge portion (146) of the trim portion is in abutting engagement with the edge portion (68) of the headliner (58). A second edge portion (148) of the trim portion (140) is in abutting engagement with the side structure (20). The trim portion (140) of the cover (90) thereby closes the opening (74).

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof, a side structure, and a headliner extending adjacent the roof, the roof and side structure at least partially defining a safety apparatus mounting chamber in the vehicle, the side structure and headliner at least partially defining a vehicle occupant compartment, the mounting chamber having an opening defined between an edge portion of the headliner and the vehicle side structure, said safety 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; and

a cover at least partially enclosing said protection device within the mounting chamber when said protection device is in the deflated condition, said cover being separate from the headliner,

said cover having an arc-shaped base positioned in the mounting chamber and inner and outer legs that extend from opposite ends of said base in the mounting chamber, said outer leg being in abutting engagement with the vehicle side structure, said inner leg having a first portion extending from said base and a second portion hingedly connected to said first portion and pivotal relative to said first portion, said cover having a closed condition wherein said second portion is in abutting engagement with said inner leg portion to at least partially enclose said protection device in said cover when the protection device is in the deflated condition,

said cover having a trim portion extending from an outer surface of said second portion and pivotal with said second portion relative to said first portion, said trim portion having an inner edge portion that overlies a portion of the headliner in abutting engagement with the headliner and an outer edge portion in abutting engagement with the vehicle side structure, said trim portion closing the opening and having an outer surface exposed to the vehicle occupant compartment when said cover is in said closed condition.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said trim portion of said cover is movable from the closed condition to an open condition because of inflation of said protection device to enable movement of said protection device out of said chamber into the inflated condition between the occupant and the vehicle side structure.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cover has a predetermined weakened portion at which said cover is rupturable in response to inflation of said protection device to enable movement of said trim portion of said cover from the closed condition to the open condition.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cover has a mounting portion disposed in said chamber and a hinge portion interconnecting said mounting portion and said trim portion, said trim portion being pivotable about said hinge portion relative to said mounting portion between the closed condition and the open condition.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover is formed as one piece from a plastic material.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said trim portion of said cover is pivotable because of inflation of said protection device from the closed condition to an open condition to enable movement of said protection device out of said chamber into the inflated condition between the occupant and the vehicle side structure.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said opening extends between the safety apparatus mounting chamber and the vehicle occupant compartment, said trim portion of said cover extending across and closing said opening, said trim portion of said cover being movable away from said opening to enable inflation of said protection device out of said chamber into the vehicle occupant compartment.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover is disposed at least partially behind the vehicle headliner.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said trim portion of said cover extends over a B-pillar attachment fastener of the vehicle.

10. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a side structure and a headliner that help define a vehicle passenger compartment, said apparatus comprising:

a side curtain having a deflated condition and having an inflated condition in which said side curtain is inflated between the occupant and the vehicle side structure; and

a molded plastic cover enclosing said side curtain when said side curtain is in the deflated condition,

said cover having an arc-shaped base and inner and outer legs that extend from opposite ends of said base, said outer leg being connectable to the vehicle side structure, said inner leg having a first portion hingedly connected to said base and a second portion extending from said first portion and pivotal relative to said first portion, said cover having a closed condition wherein said second portion is in abutting engagement with said inner leg portion to enclose said side curtain in said cover when the protection device is in the deflated condition,

said cover having a trim portion extending from an outer surface of said second portion and pivotal with said second portion relative to said first portion, said trim portion having an inner edge portion for overlying a portion of the vehicle headliner in abutting engagement with the headliner and an outer edge portion for engaging the vehicle side structure, said trim portion having an outer surface for being exposed to the vehicle occupant compartment when said cover is in said closed condition.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said trim portion of said cover is movable because of inflation of said protection device from the closed condition to an open condition to enable movement of said protection device out of said chamber into the inflated condition to help protect an occupant of the vehicle.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said safety apparatus is mounted in a safety apparatus mounting chamber of the vehicle at least partially behind the headliner of the vehicle.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said cover is formed as one piece from a plastic material.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said trim portion of said cover is pivotable from the closed condition to an open condition because of inflation of said protection device to enable movement of said protection device out of said chamber into the inflated condition between the occupant and the vehicle side structure.

15. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof, a side structure, and a headliner extending adjacent the roof, the roof and side structure at least partially defining a safety apparatus mounting chamber in the vehicle, the side structure and headliner at least partially defining a vehicle occupant compartment, the mounting chamber having an opening defined between an edge portion of the headliner and the vehicle side structure, said safety 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; and

a cover at least partially enclosing said protection device within the mounting chamber when said protection device is in the deflated condition,

said cover having a trim portion which extends from the mounting chamber into the opening and which has an outer surface exposed to the vehicle occupant compartment,

said cover having a mounting portion disposed in said chamber and a hinge portion interconnecting said mounting portion and said trim portion, said trim portion being pivotable about said hinge portion relative to said mounting portion between a closed condition and an open condition,

said trim portion when in said closed condition having a first edge portion in abutting engagement with the edge portion of the headliner and a second edge portion in abutting engagement with the side structure so that said trim portion of said cover closes the opening, said trim portion of said cover being movable from the closed condition to an open condition because of inflation of said protection device to enable movement of said protection device out of said chamber into the inflated condition between the occupant and the vehicle side structure.