Inflatable vehicle occupant protection device with grab handle

• US 7,017,942 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2002
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation), TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Hill, Bruce R., Wallner, John P., Sun, Xingyuan, Elqadah, Wael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US10/262,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20040061316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/729, 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 280/730.1, 280/749, 296/214
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/02 of hand grips or straps
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2617 Curtain bag nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2176 the air bag components being completely enclosed in a soft or semi-rigid housing or cover
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23184 Tubular air bags connected to the vehicle at their two extremities

Abstract

Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) that has a side structure (16) and a roof (18) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) is inflatable away from the vehicle roof (18) into a position between the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant. The apparatus (10) also includes a housing (26) for storing the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) in a stored position extending along the vehicle side structure (16) adjacent the vehicle roof (18). The housing (26) includes a portion that forms an interior trim piece (190) of the vehicle (12). The apparatus (10) also includes at least one grab handle (34) and at least one connector (200) that extends through the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14), the housing (26) and the grab handle. The connector (200) connects the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14), housing (26) and grab handle (34) to the vehicle (12).

Claims

1. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure, a roof, and a headliner covering the roof, said apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant;

a housing for storing said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device in a stored position along the vehicle side structure adjacent the vehicle roof, said housing including a portion that extends beyond the headliner and forms an interior trim piece of the vehicle;

at least one grab handle; and

at least one connector extending through said headliner, said housing, and said grab handle to connect said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said headliner, said housing, and said grab handle to the vehicle.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflation fluid source being connected to said housing.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said housing includes a portion that is in fluid communication with said inflation fluid source for delivering said inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said portion comprises a fill tube for delivering said inflation fluid to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said housing is constructed of a single piece of homogeneous material.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said material is plastic.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one connector connects said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said housing and said grab handle to the vehicle at a location on or near an A pillar of the vehicle.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing extends along the side structure of the vehicle between an A pillar and a C pillar of the vehicle.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is an inflatable curtain.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said inflatable curtain when inflated extends along the side structure of the vehicle between an A pillar and a C pillar of the vehicle.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said inflatable curtain, when inflated, overlies at least a portion of an A pillar, a B pillar and a C pillar of the vehicle.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said inflatable curtain includes a first portion positioned between the vehicle side structure and an occupant of the vehicle and overlying at least a portion of a B pillar of the vehicle when said inflatable curtain is inflated, and a second portion extending between said first portion and an A pillar of the vehicle.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said at least one grab handle is positioned adjacent said second portion of said inflatable curtain, said at least one connector extending through said second portion of said inflatable curtain, said housing and said grab handle to connect said second portion of said inflatable curtain, said housing and said grab handle to the vehicle side structure.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said connector connects said second portion of said inflatable curtain, said housing and said grab handle to the A pillar of the vehicle.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said first portion of said inflatable curtain is inflatable and said second portion of said inflatable curtain is non-inflatable.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, further comprising a sensor for sensing a vehicle condition for which deployment of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is desired, said sensor actuating said inflation fluid source to provide inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said inflation fluid source comprises an inflator that is actuatable to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said connector connects a non-inflatable front portion of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to the vehicle, said front portion having an upper edge extending along the A pillar and a lower edge that merges with a lower edge of the remainder of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

19. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, said apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable in a direction away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising an inflatable tubular structure that when inflated extends along the side structure of the vehicle between an A pillar and a C pillar of the vehicle;

a housing for storing said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device in a stored position extending along the vehicle side structure adjacent the vehicle roof, said housing including a portion that forms an interior trim piece of the vehicle;

at least one grab handle; and

at least one connector extending through said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said housing and said grab handle to connect said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said housing and said grab handle to the vehicle.

20. Apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said inflatable tubular structure, when inflated, overlies at least a portion of an A pillar, a B pillar and a C pillar of the vehicle.

21. Apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said housing extends along the side structure of the vehicle between the A pillar and the C pillar of the vehicle.

22. Apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said inflatable tubular structure has a first end connected to the vehicle side structure at a first location and an opposite second end connected to the vehicle side structure at a second location.

23. Apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein said at least one grab handle is positioned adjacent said first end of said inflatable tubular structure, said at least one connector extending through said first end of said inflatable tubular structure, said housing and said grab handle to connect said first end of said inflatable tubular structure, said housing and said grab handle to the vehicle side structure at said first location.

24. Apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein said first location is on an A pillar of the vehicle.

25. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure, a roof, and a headliner, said apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable away from the vehicle roof between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant;

a housing for storing said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device in a stored position;

at least one grab handle; and

at least one connector extending through said grab handle and said housing to connect said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said housing, and said grab handle to the vehicle, said housing being separate from the headliner and including a portion that forms an interior trim piece for covering a portion of the vehicle side structure not covered by the headliner, wherein said connector extends through a terminal edge portion of the headliner to connect the headliner to the vehicle.

26. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure, a roof, and a headliner, said apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable away from the vehicle roof between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant;

a housing for storing said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device in a stored position;

at least one grab handle; and

at least one connector extending through said grab handle and said housing to connect said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said housing, and said grab handle to the vehicle, said housing being separate from the headliner and including a portion that forms an interior trim piece for covering a portion of the vehicle side structure not covered by the headliner, said portion of said housing forming a trim piece covers a portion of the vehicle side structure extending from a terminal edge of the headliner to a side window seal of the vehicle wherein said grab handle covers the terminal edge of the headliner.

27. The apparatus defined in claim 26, wherein the portion of the vehicle side structure not covered by the headliner extends from a terminal edge of the headliner to a side window seal of the vehicle.

28. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure, a roof, and a headliner, said apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable away from the vehicle roof between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant;

a housing for storing said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device in a stored position;

at least one grab handle; and

at least one connector extending through said grab handle and said housing to connect said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said.housing, and said grab handle to the vehicle, said housing being separate from the headliner and including a portion that forms an interior trim piece for covering a portion of the vehicle side structure not covered by the headliner, wherein said connector clamps a terminal edge portion of the headliner between said grab handle and said housing.