Extrusion for the siderail of a vehicle to provide head impact countermeasure and support for siderail components
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An impact countermeasure system for a vehicle having a roof with a perimeter and a headliner, the system comprising:
- at least one generally hollow, elongate element adapted to extend horizontally in the vehicle in the vicinity of the roof perimeter, the at least one element being made from a material and having a wall with a thickness selected to deform in the event of contact by a vehicle occupant'"'"'s head during an accident or impact, wherein the wall has a first surface adapted to face the vehicle occupant'"'"'s head and a second opposite surface facing a hollow interior of the element wherein a portion of the element is configured to assist in supporting the headliner; and
a vehicle accessory removably attached to the element, wherein the accessory is attached to the at least one element without a fastener.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An extrusion made from metal or plastic extends along the siderail of a vehicle and acts as a head impact countermeasure, and in the preferred embodiment as a platform for the attachment of any of a variety of siderail attachments, such as grab handles, coat hooks, visor tracks, etc. The components can be attached in a way which permits them to slide to the appropriate position and be locked into place. The hollow interior of the extrusion can be used to house additional safety components, such as a side air bag.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. An impact countermeasure system for a vehicle having a roof with a perimeter and a headliner, the system comprising:
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at least one generally hollow, elongate element adapted to extend horizontally in the vehicle in the vicinity of the roof perimeter, the at least one element being made from a material and having a wall with a thickness selected to deform in the event of contact by a vehicle occupant'"'"'s head during an accident or impact, wherein the wall has a first surface adapted to face the vehicle occupant'"'"'s head and a second opposite surface facing a hollow interior of the element wherein a portion of the element is configured to assist in supporting the headliner; and
a vehicle accessory removably attached to the element, wherein the accessory is attached to the at least one element without a fastener. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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11. An occupant protection system for a vehicle, the vehicle including siderails, a headliner and a vehicle roof, the protection system comprising:
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at least one head impact countermeasure extending along the siderails for a length sufficient to assist in protecting occupants seated on both sides of the vehicle and in at least two seat rows;
the at least one countermeasure being hollow and having an interior defined by a wall;
the volume of the interior and the thickness of the wall being selected to allow the at least one head impact countermeasure to deform when struck by the head of one of the occupants during an accident or impact, wherein a track for a movable sun visor is coupled to the at least one head impact countermeasure and wherein the wall at least partially forms the track. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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31. An impact countermeasure system for a vehicle having a support structure proximate an interior of the vehicle along a roof perimeter, the system comprising:
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an elongate element forming an element interior and configured to extend horizontally in the vehicle in a vicinity of the roof perimeter, wherein the element is made from a material and has a wall with a thickness selected such that the wall deforms in the event of contact by a vehicle occupant'"'"'s head during an accident or impact; and
a track coupled to the element, wherein the track is configured to support a vehicle accessory in one of a plurality of positions along the track, wherein the wall at least partially forms the element interior and wherein the wall at least partially forms the track. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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35. An impact countermeasure system for a vehicle having a vehicle interior and a support structure extending at least partially along a roof perimeter in the vehicle interior, the system comprising:
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an elongate element having a wall at least partially forming an element interior, wherein the element is configured to extend horizontally in the vehicle in a vicinity of the roof perimeter, wherein the wall is made from a material and has a wall thickness selected so as to deform in the event of contact by a vehicle occupant'"'"'s head during an accident or impact;
a vehicle accessory;
a first mechanism configured to attach the element to the support structure of the vehicle; and
a second mechanism attaching the accessory to the element and an air bag disposed within the element interior and sandwiched between the accessory and the support structure. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. An impact countermeasure system for a vehicle having a support structure proximate an interior of the vehicle along a roof perimeter, the system comprising:
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an elongate element forming an element interior and configured to extend horizontally in the vehicle in a vicinity of the roof perimeter, wherein the element is made from a material and has a wall with a thickness selected such that the wall deforms in the event of contact by a vehicle occupant'"'"'s head during an accident or impact; and
a track coupled to the element, wherein the track is configured to support a vehicle accessory in one of a plurality of positions along the track, wherein the wall forms the element interior and wherein the wall has a surface configured to be exposed to the interior of the vehicle.
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40. An occupant protection system for a vehicle, the vehicle including siderails, a headliner and a vehicle roof, the protection system comprising:
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at least one head impact countermeasure extending along the siderails for a length sufficient to assist in protecting occupants seated on both sides of the vehicle and in at least two seat rows;
the at least one countermeasure being hollow and having an interior defined by a wall;
the volume of the interior and the thickness of the wall being selected to allow the at least one head impact countermeasure to deform when struck by the head of one of the occupants during an accident or impact wherein a track for a movable sun visor is coupled to the at least one head impact countermeasure and wherein an air bag is located within the at least one head impact countermeasure.
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41. An impact countermeasure system for a vehicle having a roof with a perimeter and a headliner, the system comprising:
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at least one generally hollow, elongate element extending horizontally in a vehicle in the vicinity of the roof perimeter, the at least one element being made from a material and having a wall thickness selected to deform in the event of contact by a vehicle occupant'"'"'s head during an accident or impact, wherein a portion of the element is configured to assist in supporting the headliner; and
a vehicle accessory removably attached to the element;
an airbag located within the at least one element.
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42. An impact countermeasure system for a vehicle having a roof with a perimeter and a headliner, the system comprising:
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at least one generally hollow, elongate element extending horizontally in a vehicle in the vicinity of the roof perimeter, the at least one element being made from a material and having a wall thickness selected to deform in the event of contact by a vehicle occupant'"'"'s head during an accident or impact, wherein a portion of the element is configured to assist in supporting the headliner; and
a vehicle accessory removably attached to the element, wherein the at least one element has a surface exposed to an interior of the vehicle.
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43. An impact countermeasure system for a vehicle having a roof with a perimeter and a headliner, the system comprising:
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at least one generally hollow, elongate element extending horizontally in a vehicle in the vicinity of the roof perimeter, the at least one element being made from a material and having a wall thickness selected to deform in the event of contact by a vehicle occupant'"'"'s head during an accident or impact, wherein a portion of the element is configured to assist in supporting the headliner; and
a vehicle accessory removably attached to the element, wherein the at least one element includes an opening configured to receive an end portion of the headliner.
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44. An impact countermeasure system for a vehicle having a roof with a perimeter and a headliner, the system comprising:
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at least one generally hollow, elongate element extending horizontally in a vehicle in the vicinity of the roof perimeter, the at least one element being made from a material and having a wall thickness selected to deform in the event of contact by a vehicle occupant'"'"'s head during an accident or impact, wherein a portion of the element is configured to assist in supporting the headliner;
a vehicle accessory removably attached to the element; and
an air bag within the at least one element, wherein the at least one element has a surface exposed to a vehicle interior while the air bag is concealed from the vehicle interior.
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Specification