Roofliner for a motor vehicle

• US 6,227,561 B1
• Filed: 01/26/1999
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Jost, Stefan, Jorg, Reuter
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, J. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US09/237,766
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/728.1, 280/743.1, 296/214
• 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 13/0225 self supporting head liners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2617 Curtain bag nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2165 characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10

Abstract

The invention relates to a roofliner for a motor vehicle, having at least one airbag module arranged in the region of the vehicle roof. The airbag module has an airbag and a conduit for gas that are integrated into the roofliner, so that the airbag module and roofliner form a unit.

Claims

1. A roofliner for a motor vehicle comprising an airbag module arranged in the region of a vehicle roof, the airbag module comprising an airbag and a conduit for gas and being integrated into the roofliner such that the airbag module and roofliner form a unit, the side of the roofliner facing the vehicle interior comprising an exterior layer of a material selected from the group of flocked fabric, woven fabric and leather, adjoining the exterior layer on the side of the roofliner facing the vehicle roof are two juxtaposed foam layers and the airbag module is arranged between the two foam layers with one of the foam layers disposed between the airbag module and the exterior layer of the roofliner and the other foam layer disposed between the airbag module and a roof rail of the vehicle, the foam layer disposed between the airbag module and the exterior layer of the roofliner has a predetermined breaking point therein which extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is spaced apart from a door seal, the roofliner tears open along said predetermined breaking point when the airbag is inflated such that the airbag is deployed into the vehicle interior through the resulting opening in the roofliner.

2. The roofliner of claim 1 wherein the airbag and the conduit are arranged within an additional fabric enclosure.

3. The roofliner of claim 2, in which at least one tearing-open point or tearing-open seam is provided in the enclosure, the tearing-open point being aligned with the predetermined breaking point in the foam layer disposed between the airbag module and the exterior layer of the roofliner.

4. The roofliner of claim 3 wherein the airbag is fastened to the body of the vehicle by fastening elements for a handle.

5. The roofliner of claim 1 wherein the airbag is fastened to the body of the vehicle by fastening elements for a handle.

6. The roofliner of claim 1 wherein the conduit for gas is a flexible woven-fabric hose.

7. The roofliner of claim 1 wherein the airbag module is a side curtain airbag module.