Headliner based supplemental restraint assembly

• US 6,231,072 B1
• Filed: 10/15/1999
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pywell, James Frederick, Khoudari, Bassam Georges
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JASMIN, LYNDA C
• Application Number:
  US09/419,601
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/753, 296/214, 296/222
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0048 Head
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0253 mounted on roof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21512 the lid being displaced towards the occupant during deployment B60R2021/2161, B60R2021/21525 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23192 Roof bags, i.e. protecting the occupant in a roll-over situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/02 Occupant safety arrangements or fittings , e.g. crash pads seat belts with crash pads B60R22/14; removable children's seats having a front guard or barrier B60N2/2839
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

A supplemental restraint assembly includes an air bag disposed between a vehicle'"'"'s roof and the headliner adjacent the side of the vehicle. During deployment of the supplemental restraint assembly, the air bag inflates causing the headliner to extend downward towards an occupant'"'"'s head and upper torso. The headliner forms a reactionary surface between the occupant and the inflated air bag. An extendable frame assembly disposed between the roof and headliner is preferably employed to positively position the headliner reactionary surface during a side impact or rollover event. The frame assembly maintains the headliner in the extended position after the air bag deflates.

Claims

1. A supplemental restraint assembly for a vehicle, said vehicle including a roof, a roof rail disposed between and connecting a front and rear pillar together supporting said roof, and a headliner disposed between an interior of said vehicle and said roof, said supplemental restraint assembly comprising:

an inflatable air bag secured to said roof rail; and

an inflator in communication with said air bag, said inflator adapted to inflate said air bag;

wherein when said air bag inflates, said air bag causes at least a portion of said headliner to extend downward within said interior and spaced apart from said roof of said vehicle in a deployed position, said at least a portion of said headliner defining a reactionary surface covering a substantial exposed portion of said air bag to displace forced induced to said air bag from an impacting occupant and being disposed between said occupant and said air bag.

2. The supplemental restraint assembly according to claim 1, wherein said inflator is mounted to said roof rail.

3. The supplemental restraint assembly according to claim 1, wherein said headliner includes a longitudinally extending score line positioned substantially inward said vehicle between said roof rail and a midpoint of said roof such that when said air bag inflates, said air bag extends to at least adjacent said score line forcing said at least a portion of said headliner to pivot about said score line.

4. The supplemental restraint assembly according to claim 1, wherein said air bag includes a single inflatable air bag longitudinally extending from a backlite region located rearward of said rear pillar of said vehicle to a plenum region located forward said front pillar.

5. The supplemental restraint assembly according to claim 4, wherein said air bag includes an outer layer made of woven material and having an inner gas impervious bladder lining an internal surface of said outer layer.

6. The supplemental restraint assembly according to claim 5, wherein said outer layer is made of nylon.

7. The supplemental restraint assembly according to claim 6, wherein said bladder is made of urethane.

8. The supplemental restraint assembly according to claim 1, wherein said headliner includes an inner lining made of propylene Mylar.

9. The supplemental restraint assembly according to claim 1, wherein prior to when said air bag is inflated, said air bag is stored between said roof and said headliner and extends inward said vehicle in a direction traverse to a direction between said front and rear pillars substantially toward a midpoint of said roof.

10. The supplemental restraint assembly according to claim 1, wherein said reactionary surface of said headliner is disposed adjacent said head and torso of said occupant and said score line is positioned directly above said occupant.

11. A supplemental restraint assembly for a vehicle, said vehicle including a roof, a front and rear pillar supporting said roof, and a headliner disposed between an interior of said vehicle and said roof, said supplemental restraint assembly comprising:

an inflatable air bag disposed between said headliner and said roof of said vehicle; and

an inflator in communication with said air bag, said inflator adapted to inflate said air bag;

wherein when said air bag inflates, said air bag causes at least a portion of said headliner to extend downward within said interior and spaced apart from said roof of said vehicle in a deployed position to provide a reactionary surface disposed between an occupant of said vehicle and said air bag;

said assembly further comprising;

a frame assembly disposed between said roof and said headliner, said frame assembly extendable between a stored and extended position, wherein when said air bag inflates, said frame assembly extends to sad extended position to positively position said portion of said headliner in said deployed position and maintain said deployed position after deflation of said air bag.

12. The supplemental restraint assembly according to claim 11, wherein said frame assembly comprises:

at least one fixed frame member secured to said roof and transversely extending inward from a first end adjacent a side of said vehicle inward to a second end,

at least one lateral bar rotatably secured to said second end of said fixed frame member to engage with said headliner, and

at least one locking bar rotatably secured to an intermediate position of said fixed frame member and slidingly and rotatably secured to said at least one lateral bar;

wherein each of said at least one fixed frame member lateral bar and said locking bar are compactly arranged in parallel fashion when said frame assembly is in said stored position and when said frame assembly extends from said stored position to said extended position during inflation of said air bag said lateral bar rotates downward together with said headliner and said locking bar rotates downward about said intermediate position and slides into a locking position to form a fixed truss thereby maintaining said headliner in said deployed position.

13. A supplemental restraint assembly for a vehicle, said vehicle including a roof, a roof rail disposed between a front and rear pillar together supporting said roof, and a headliner being disposed between an interior of said vehicle and said roof and having a longitudinally extending score line located substantially inward said vehicle between a midpoint of said roof and said roof rail, said supplemental restraint assembly comprising:

a single inflatable air bag secured to said roof rail and disposed between said headliner and said roof of said vehicle; and

an inflator secured to said roof rail and in communication with said air bag, said inflator adapted to inflate said air bag during an impact event of said vehicle;

wherein when said air bag inflates during said impact event, said single inflatable air bag extends upward and inward said vehicle transverse to a direction between said front and rear pillars and disposed between said headliner and said roof and causes said headliner to bend about said score line and extend downward within said interior in a deployed position thereby establishing a reactionary surface disposed between an occupant of said vehicle and said air bag, said single inflatable air bag further extending forward said headliner and said front pillar substantially into a forward plenum region of said vehicle and rearward of said headliner and said rear pillar substantially into a backlite region of said vehicle.

14. The supplemental restraint assembly according to claim 13, wherein prior to when said single air bag is inflated, said single air bag is stored between said roof and said headliner and extends inward said vehicle in said transverse direction substantially toward a midpoint of said roof and above an occupant.

15. The supplemental restraint assembly according to claim 14, wherein said score line is positioned directly above said occupant.

16. The supplemental restrain system according to claim 13, wherein when said air bag is inflated said reactionary surface of said headliner covers a substantial exposed portion of said air bag to displace forced induced to said air bag from an impacting occupant.

17. A supplemental restraint assembly for a vehicle, said vehicle including a roof, a roof rail disposed between a front and rear pillar together supporting said roof, and a headliner having a longitudinally extending score line and being disposed between an interior of said vehicle and said roof, said supplemental restraint assembly comprising:

an inflatable air bag secured to said roof rail and disposed between said headliner and said roof of said vehicle; and

an inflator secured to said roof rail and in communication with said air bag, said inflator adapted to inflate said air bag during an impact event of said vehicle;

a frame assembly disposed between said headliner and said roof and being extendable between a stored position and an extended position, wherein when said air bag inflates, said frame assembly extends to said extended position to positively position said portion of said headliner in said deployed position and maintain said deployed position after deflation of said air bag, said frame assembly including a pair of spaced apart fixed frame members secured to said roof rail and said roof and transversely extending inward from said roof rail, a pair of lateral bars one each rotatably secured to an inward most end of each of said fixed frame members and a pair of locking bars one each rotatably secured to an intermediate position of each of said fixed frame members and slidingly and rotatably secured to a corresponding one of said lateral bars;

wherein each of said frame members, lateral bars, and said locking bars are compactly arranged in parallel fashion when said frame assembly is in said stored position and when said frame assembly extends from said stored position to said extended position during inflation of said air bag said lateral bars rotate downward together with said headliner and said locking bars rotate downward about said intermediate position and slide into a locking position to form a pair fixed trusses thereby maintaining said headliner in said deployed position, said air bag being longitudinally disposed between and longitudinally extending no further than said pair of fixed frame members.

18. A supplemental restraint assembly for use in a vehicle having a headliner located between a vehicle roof and a vehicle interior, said supplemental restraint assembly comprising:

an air bag positionable between said vehicle roof and said vehicle headliner;

an inflator in fluid communication with said air bag; and

a frame assembly positionable between said vehicle roof and said vehicle headliner adjacent said air bag, said frame assembly being extendable upon air bag deployment for positioning and holding said headliner in a downward position.