Vehicle roof liner for occupant protection

• US 6,824,164 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2002
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Pywell, James Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US10/041,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20030127842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/748, 280/749, 280/728.1, 280/753
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/08 automatically movable from an inoperative to an operative position, e.g. in a collision electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/195 with means to tension the belt in an emergency, e.g. means of the through-anchor or splitted reel typeelectrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01

Abstract

A roof liner assembly for cushioning vehicle occupants is disclosed. A folded fabric liner is anchored at one edge to the inside of the vehicle roof above the occupants'"'"' heads and stored above the passenger compartment head liner. Extendible means, such as a piston/cylinder, is stored in a body pillar and connected through a cable to the liner. The extendible means is activated to draw the stored liner over the head and shoulders of an occupant(s) in the event of a vehicle rollover or side impact collision.

Claims

1. An automotive vehicle body with occupant cushioning against side impacts and vehicle roll-over, said body comprising:

an occupant compartment having front, rear and side compartment portions with respect to the forward direction of motion of the vehicle, said compartment being covered by a body roof;

said roof having front, rear and side roof portions and a central fore-aft axis, said roof having an interior surface defining the top of said occupant compartment;

said roof being fixed on two front body pillars at the corners of said front and side roof portions, two rear body pillars at the corners of said rear and side roof portions and two side body pillars at said roof side portions;

at least one flexible sheet member having first and second opposing edges, said second edge having a greater length than said first edge, said sheet member being attached at said first edge to the interior surface of said roof, said sheet being folded between its first and second edges and extending from said attached first edge toward one side roof portion and the side compartment portion for storage against the interior surface of said roof, and

sheet pulling means attached to at least one body pillar on said side compartment portion and attached to respective front and rear ends of said second opposing edge of said sheet member for pulling and unfolding said sheet from a stored position against the interior surface of said roof and to draw said sheet in a direction toward said side compartment portion and downwardly within said occupant compartment to an occupant cushioning position wherein the sheet in an unfolded state cushions an occupant on said side of said occupant compartment from impact with said vehicle body, said means being activated for pulling said sheet upon a predetermined lateral acceleration of said vehicle body.

2. An automotive vehicle body as recited in claim 1 in which said sheet pulling means comprises:

a cylinder containing a piston rod, said cylinder having an open end,

said piston rod having a sheet pulling end extending through the open end of said cylinder, and said rod being movable in said cylinder from its stored position, prior to activation of said sheet pulling means, through the open end of said cylinder for pulling said sheet to its occupant cushioning position, said rod having at least one cable attached to its sheet pulling end, the other end of said cable being attached to said second edge of said sheet, and

means associated with said cylinder for moving said rod in a stroke through the open end of said cylinder to pull said sheet to its occupant cushioning position.

3. An automotive vehicle body as recited in claim 1 in which said occupant compartment comprises front and rear occupant seats on said side compartment portion in a fore-aft occupant location and a spacing, and

the length and a location of said second edge of said flexible sheet member permitting cushioning of both front and rear occupants in said fore-aft occupant location in the occupant cushioning position of said sheet.

4. An automotive vehicle body as recited in claim 2 in which said occupant compartment comprises front and rear occupant sears on said side compartment portion in a fore-aft occupant location and spacing, and

the length and a location of said second edge of said flexible sheet member permitting cushioning of both front and rear occupants in said fore-aft occupant location in the occupant cushioning position of said sheet.

5. An automotive vehicle body as recited in claim 1 in which said sheet pulling means is attached to the side body pillar on said side compartment portion.

6. An automotive vehicle body as recited in claim 2 in which said sheet pulling means is attached to the side body pillar on said side compartment portion.

7. An automotive vehicle body as recited in claim 3 in which said sheet pulling means is attached to the side body pillar on said side compartment portion.

8. An automotive vehicle body as recited in claim 1 in which said sheet puling means is attached to the rear body pillar on said side compartment portion.

9. An automotive vehicle body as recited in claim 2 in which said sheet pulling means is attached to the rear body pillar on said side compartment portion.

10. An automotive vehicle body as recited in claim 3 in which said sheet pulling means is attached to the rear body pillar on said side compartment portion.

11. An automotive vehicle body as recited in claim 1 in which said sheet pulling means are attached to both the front and rear body pillars on said side compartment portion.

12. An automotive vehicle body as recited in claim 2 in which said sheet pulling means are attached to both the front and rear body pillars on said side compartment portion.

13. An automotive vehicle body as recited in claim 3 in which said sheet pulling means are attached to both the front and rear body pillars on said side compartment portion.

14. An automotive vehicle body with occupant cushioning against side impacts and vehicle roll-over, said body comprising:

an occupant compartment having front, rear and side compartment portions with respect to the forward direction of motion of the vehicle, said compartment;

being covered by a body roof;

said roof having front, rear and side roof portions and a central fore-aft axis, said roof having an interior surface defining the top of said occupant compartment;

said roof being fixed on two front body pillars at the corners of said front and side roof portions, two rear body pillars at the corners of said rear and side roof portions and two side body pillars at said roof side portions;

at least one non-inflatable flexible sheet member having first and second opposing edges, said sheet member being attached at said first edge to the interior surface of said roof, said sheet being folded between its first and second edges and extending from said attached first edge toward one side roof portion and the side compartment portion for storage against the interior surface of said roof;

sheet pulling means attached to at least one body pillar on said side compartment portion for pulling and unfolding said sheet from a stored position against the interior surface of said roof and to draw said sheet in a direction toward said side compartment portion and downwardly within said occupant compartment to an occupant cushioning position wherein the flat sheet in unfolded state cushions an occupant on said side of said occupant compartment from impact with said vehicle body, said means being activated for pulling said sheet upon a predetermined lateral acceleration of said vehicle body in which said sheet pulling means comprises;

a cylinder containing a piston rod, said cylinder having an open end;

said piston rod having a sheet pulling end extending through the open end of said cylinder, and said rod being movable in said cylinder from its stored position, prior to activation of said sheet pulling means, through the open end of said cylinder for pulling said sheet to its occupant cushioning position, said rod having at least one cable attached to its sheet pulling end, the other end of said cable being attached to said second end of said sheet; and

means associated with said cylinder for moving said rod in a stroke through the open end of said cylinder to pull said sheet to its occupant cushioning position and in which said sheet pulling means is attached to the side body pillar on said side compartment portion and said sheet pulling means comprises two cables attached to said piston rod and with one cable attached to one end of said second sheet edge and the second cable attached to the other end of said second sheet edge.

15. An automotive vehicle body with occupant cushioning against side impacts and vehicle roll-over, said body comprising:

an occupant compartment having front, rear and side compartment portions with respect to the forward direction of motion of the vehicle, said compartment being covered by a body roof;

said roof having front, rear and side roof portions and a central fore-aft axis, said roof having an interior surface defining the top of said occupant compartment;

said roof being fixed on two front body pillars at the corners of said front and side roof portions, two rear body pillars at the corners of said rear and side roof portions and two side body pillars at said roof side portions;

at least one non-inflatable flexible sheet member having first and second opposing edges, said sheet member being attached at said first edge to the interior surface of said roof, said sheet being folded between its first and second edges and extending from said attached first edge toward one side roof portion and the side compartment portion for storage against the interior surface of said roof, and

sheet pulling means attached to at least one body pillar on said side compartment portion for pulling and unfolding said sheet from a stored position against the interior surface of said roof and to draw said sheet in a direction toward said side compartment portion and downwardly within said occupant compartment to an occupant cushioning position wherein the flat sheet in an unfolded state cushions an occupant on said side of said occupant compartment from impact with said vehicle body, said means being activated for pulling said sheet upon a predetermined lateral acceleration of said vehicle body, and in which said sheet pulling means comprises;

a cylinder containing a piston rod, said cylinder having an open end,

said piston rod having a sheet pulling end extending through the open end of said cylinder, and said rod being movable in said cylinder from its stored position, prior to activation of said sheet pulling means, through the open end of said cylinder for pulling said sheet to its occupant cushioning position, said rod having at least one cable attached to its sheet pulling end, the other end of said cable being attached to said second end of said sheet, and

means associated with said cylinder for moving said rod in a stroke through the open end of said cylinder to pull said sheet to its occupant cushioning position, and in which said occupant compartment comprises front and rear occupant seats on said side compartment portion in a fore-aft occupant location and spacing, and

a length and location of said second edge of said flexible sheet member permitting cushioning of both front and rear occupants in said fore-aft occupant location in the occupant cushioning position of said sheet, and in which said sheet pulling means is attached to the side body pillar on said side compartment portion and said sheet pulling means comprises two cables attached to said piston rod and with one cable attached to one end of said second sheet edge and the second cable attached to the other end of said second sheet edge.

16. An automotive vehicle body with occupant cushioning against side impacts and vehicle roll-over, said body comprising:

an occupant compartment having front, rear and side compartment portions with respect to the forward direction of motion of the vehicle, said compartment being covered by a body roof;

said roof having front, rear and side roof portions and a central fore-aft axis, said roof having an interior surface defining the top of said occupant compartment;

said roof being fixed on two front body pillars at the corners of said front and side roof portions, two rear body pillars at the corners of said rear and side roof portions and two side body pillars at said roof side portions;

at least one non-inflatable flexible sheet member having first and second opposing edges, said sheet member being attached at said first edge to the interior surface of said roof, said sheet being folded between its first and second edges and extending from said attached first edge toward one side roof portion and the side compartment portion for storage against the interior surface of said roof;

sheet pulling means attached to at least one body pillar on said side compartment portion for pulling and unfolding said sheet from a stored position against the interior surface of said roof and to draw said sheet in a direction toward said side compartment portion and downwardly within said occupant compartment to an occupant cushioning position wherein the flat sheet in an unfolded state cushions an occupant on said side of said occupant compartment from impact with said vehicle body, said means being activated for pulling said sheet upon a predetermined lateral acceleration of said vehicle body and in which said sheet pulling means comprises;

a cylinder containing a piston rod, said cylinder having an open end;

said piston rod having a sheet pulling end extending through the open end of said cylinder, and said rod being movable in said cylinder from its stored position, prior to activation of said sheet pulling means, through the open end of said cylinder for pulling said sheet to its occupant cushioning position, said rod having at least one cable attached to its sheet pulling end, the other end of said cable being attached to said second end of said sheet; and

means associated with said cylinder for moving said rod in a stroke through the open end of said cylinder to pull said sheet to its occupant cushioning position and in which said sheet pulling means is attached to the rear body pillar on said side compartment portion and said sheet pulling means comprises two cables attached to said piston rod and with one cable attached to one end of said second sheet edge and the second cable attached to the other end of said second sheet edge.

17. An automotive vehicle body with occupant cushioning against side impacts and vehicle roll-over, said body comprising:

an occupant compartment having front, rear and side compartment portions with respect to the forward direction of motion of the vehicle, said compartment being covered by a body roof;

said roof having front, rear and side roof portions and a central fore-aft axis, said roof having an interior surface defining the top of said occupant compartment;

said roof being fixed on two front body pillars at the corners of said front and side roof portions, two rear body pillars at the corners of said rear and side roof portions and two side body pillars at said roof side portions;

at least one non-inflatable flexible sheet member having first and second opposing edges edge, said sheet member being attached at said first edge to the interior surface of said roof, said sheet being folded between its first and second edges and extending from said attached first edge toward one side roof portion and the side compartment portion for storage against the interior surface of said roof, and

sheet pulling means attached to at least one body pillar on said side compartment portion for pulling and unfolding said sheet from a stored position against the interior surface of said roof and to draw said sheet in a direction toward said side compartment portion and downwardly within said occupant compartment to an occupant cushioning position wherein the flat sheet in an unfolded state cushions an occupant on said side of said occupant compartment from impact with said vehicle body, said means being activated for pulling said sheet upon a predetermined lateral acceleration of said vehicle body, and in which said sheet pulling means comprises;

a cylinder containing a piston rod, said cylinder having an open end,

said piston rod having a sheet pulling end extending through the open end of said cylinder, and said rod being movable in said cylinder from its stored position, prior to activation of said sheet pulling means, through the open end of said cylinder for pulling said sheet to its occupant cushioning position, said rod having at least one cable attached to its sheet pulling end, the other end of said cable being attached to said second end of said sheet, and

means associated with said cylinder for moving said rod in a stroke through the open end of said cylinder to pull said sheet to its occupant cushioning position, and in which said occupant compartment comprises front and rear occupant seats on said side compartment portion in a fore-aft occupant location and spacing, and

a length and location of said second edge of said flexible sheet member permitting cushioning of both front and rear occupants in said fore-aft occupant location in the occupant cushioning position of said sheet, and in which said sheet pulling means is attached to the rear body pillar on said side compartment portion and said sheet pulling means comprises two cables attached to said piston rod and with one cable attached to one end of said second sheer edge and the second cable attached to the other end of said second sheet edge.

18. An automotive vehicle body with occupant cushioning against side impacts and vehicle roll-over, said body comprising:

an occupant compartment having front, rear and side compartment portions with respect to the forward direction of motion of the vehicle, said compartment being covered by a body roof;

said roof having front, rear and side roof portions and a central fore-aft axis, said roof having an interior surface defining the top of said occupant compartment;

said roof being fixed on two front body pillars at the corners of said front and side roof portions, two rear body pillars at the corners of said rear and side roof portions and two side body pillars at said roof side portions;

at least one non-inflatable flexible sheet member having first and second opposing edges, said sheet member being attached at said first edge to the interior surface of said roof, said sheet being folded between its first and second edges and extending from said attached first edge toward one side roof portion and the side compartment portion for storage against the interior surface of said roof;

sheet pulling means attached to at least one body pillar on said side compartment portion for pulling and unfolding said sheet from a stored position against the interior surface of said roof and to draw said sheet in a direction toward said side compartment portion and downwardly within said occupant compartment to an occupant cushioning position wherein the flat sheet in an unfolded state cushions an occupant on said side of said occupant compartment from impact with said vehicle body, said means being activated for pulling said sheet upon a predetermined lateral acceleration of said vehicle body, and in which said sheet pulling means comprises;

a cylinder containing a piston rod, said cylinder having an open end;

said piston rod having a sheet pulling end extending through the open end of said cylinder, and said rod being movable in said cylinder from its stored position, prior to activation of said sheet pulling means, through the open end of said cylinder for pulling said sheet to its occupant cushioning position, said rod having at least one cable attached to its sheet pulling end, the other end of said cable being attached to said second end of said sheet; and

means associated with said cylinder for moving said rod in a stroke through the open end of said cylinder to pull said sheet to its occupant cushioning position and in which said sheet pulling means are attached to both the front and rear body pillars on said side compartment portion and each said sheet pulling means comprises one cable attached to each said piston rod and with one cable attached to one end of said second sheet edge and the second cable attached to the other end of said second sheet edge.

19. An automotive vehicle body with occupant cushioning against side impacts and vehicle roll-over, said body comprising:

an occupant compartment having front, rear and side compartment portions with respect to the forward direction of motion of the vehicle, said compartment being covered by a body roof;

said roof having front, rear and side roof portions and a central fore-aft axis, said roof having an interior surface defining the top of said occupant compartment;

said roof being fixed on two front body pillars at the corners of said front and side roof portions, two rear body pillars at the corners of said rear and side roof portions and two side body pillars at said roof side portions;

at least one non-inflatable flexible sheet member having first and second opposing edges, said sheet member being attached at said first edge to the interior surface of said roof, said sheet being folded between its first and second edges and extending from said attached first edge toward one side roof portion and the side compartment portion for storage against the interior surface of said roof, and

sheet pulling means attached to at least one body pillar on said side compartment portion for pulling and unfolding said sheet from a stored position against the interior surface of said roof and to draw said sheet in a direction toward said side compartment portion and downwardly within said occupant compartment to an occupant cushioning position wherein the flat sheet in an unfolded state cushions an occupant on said aide of said occupant compartment from impact with said vehicle body, said means being activated for pulling said sheet upon a predetermined lateral acceleration of said vehicle body, and in which said sheet pulling means comprises;

a cylinder containing a piston rod, said cylinder having an open end,

said piston rod having a sheet pulling end extending through the open end of said cylinder, and said rod being movable in said cylinder from its stored position, prior to activation of said sheet pulling means, through the open end of said cylinder for pulling said sheet to its occupant cushioning position, said rod having at least one cable attached to its sheet pulling end, the other end of said cable being attached to said second end of said sheet, and

means associated with said cylinder for moving said rod in a stroke through the open end of said cylinder to pull said sheet to its occupant cushioning position, and in which said occupant compartment comprises front and rear occupant seats on said side compartment portion in a fore-aft occupant location and spacing, and

a length and location of said second edge of said flexible sheet member permitting cushioning of both front and rear occupants in said fore-aft occupant location in the occupant cushioning position of said sheet, and in which said sheet pulling means are attached to both the front and rear body pillars on said side compartment portion and each said sheet pulling means comprises one cable attached to each said piston rod and with one cable attached to one end of said second sheet edge and the second cable attached to the other end of said second sheet edge.