Modular headliner assembly with air curtains
First Claim
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1. A headliner and air bag assembly comprising:
- a headliner having left and right side edges and a periphery;
a carrier assembly having left and right rails extending along the left and right side edges of the headliner, respectively, and a cross-member connecting the left and right rails;
said left and right rails supporting left and right air curtains respectively, and said carrier assembly being configured to provide structural support for the headliner and for said air bag curtains to prevent bending of the headliner during installation; and
wherein an igniter assembly is provided for inflating the left and right air curtains of said airbag assemblies;
characterized in that said left and right air curtains are housed within said left and right rails, respectively, said igniter assembly being supported by the cross-member and in that said carrier assembly is adhesively secured to the periphery of the headliner such that upon inflation of said left and right air curtains the adhesive attachment along the left and right side edges of the headliner is torn to enable deployment of said left and right air curtains.
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Abstract
A headliner and air bag assembly includes a headliner having a left and right side edges and a carrier assembly having left and right rails extending along the left and right side edges of the headliner, respectively. The carrier assembly also includes a cross-member connecting the left and right rails. The left and right rails support at least one air bag assembly, and the carrier assembly provides structural support for the headliner and for the air bag assembly to prevent bending of the headliner during installation.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A headliner and air bag assembly comprising:
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a headliner having left and right side edges and a periphery;
a carrier assembly having left and right rails extending along the left and right side edges of the headliner, respectively, and a cross-member connecting the left and right rails;
said left and right rails supporting left and right air curtains respectively, and said carrier assembly being configured to provide structural support for the headliner and for said air bag curtains to prevent bending of the headliner during installation; and
wherein an igniter assembly is provided for inflating the left and right air curtains of said airbag assemblies;
characterized in thatsaid left and right air curtains are housed within said left and right rails, respectively, said igniter assembly being supported by the cross-member and in that said carrier assembly is adhesively secured to the periphery of the headliner such that upon inflation of said left and right air curtains the adhesive attachment along the left and right side edges of the headliner is torn to enable deployment of said left and right air curtains. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17)
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16. A method of assembling a vehicle headliner and air bag assembly comprising:
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providing a plastic carrier assembly including left and right rails and a cross-member;
positioning inflatable air curtains within the left and right rails;
positioning an igniter assembly in the cross-member for inflating the air curtains; and
attaching the carrier assembly to a headliner having left and right side edges such that the left and right rails extend along the left and right side edges, and the cross-member connects the left and right rails to structurally support the weight of the headliner and air bag assembly during installation, wherein said attaching step comprises adhesively attaching the carrier assembly to the headliner such that inflation of the air curtains will tear the adhesive attachment along the left and right side edges of the headliner for deployment along side windows of a vehicle in which the assembly is installed. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification