Inflatable curtain assembly

• US 7,100,939 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2003
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive USLLC (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive USLLC (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Zofchak, Steve, Blake, Thomas E. III, Gordon, Gary G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FREEDMAN, LAURA
• Application Number:
  US10/606,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20040012173A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 296/214, 164/22, 164/25
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

An apparatus (10) includes a modular headliner assembly (220) for a vehicle (12) having a side structure (16) and a roof (18). The headliner assembly (220) includes a headliner (170), an inflatable curtain (14), a fill tube (22), and a support device (40) that clamps around the fill tube to connect the tube and the curtain to the support device. A grab handle (150) has a portion extendable through the headliner (170) and into the support device (40) to connect the grab handle and the support device to the headliner. The apparatus (10) also includes a first connector (122) for connecting the support device (40) to the vehicle (12) to initially connect the headliner assembly (220) to the vehicle. The apparatus (10) further includes a second connector (180) extendable through the support device (40) and the grab handle (150) to fixedly connect the headliner assembly (220) to the vehicle.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a modular headliner assembly for a vehicle having a side structure and a roof, said headliner assembly comprising;

a headliner;

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

a fill tube having a portion located in said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

a support device having a portion that clamps around a portion of said fill tube and connects said fill tube and said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to said support device; and

a grab handle having a portion that extends through said headliner and into said support device, said grab handle being releasably interconnected with said support device, said grab handle holding said headliner connected with said support device and said grab handle being releasable to enable removal of said headliner from said support device and said vehicle occupant restraint;

a first connector that connects said support device to the vehicle and initially connects said modular headliner assembly to the vehicle; and

a second connector that extends through said support device and said grab handle and fixedly connects said modular headliner assembly to the vehicle.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said first connector comprises a push-in connector and said second connector comprises a threaded fastener.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said push-in connector is formed together with said support device as a single piece of molded plastic.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and said fill tube, when connected to the vehicle, extend along an intersection of the side structure of the vehicle and the vehicle roof.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is an inflatable curtain having a stored position extending along the side structure adjacent a roof of the vehicle, said inflatable curtain being inflated away from the vehicle roof into said position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said inflation fluid source is in fluid communication with said fill tube, said inflation fluid source, when actuated, providing inflation fluid to said fill tube, said fill tube directing said inflation fluid into said inflatable curtain to inflate said inflatable curtain.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, 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.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, 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.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, further comprising a sensor for sensing a vehicle condition for which deployment of said inflatable curtain is desired, said sensor actuating said inflation fluid source to provide inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable curtain.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said inflation fluid source comprises an inflator that is actuatable to inflate said inflatable curtain.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said support device removably clamps to said portion of said fill tube.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said support device includes first and second clamp flanges, said first and second clamp flanges being spaced apart in an open position allowing removal of said support device from said portion of said fill tube, said first and second clamp flanges engaging each other in a closed position securing said support device to said portion of said fill tube.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second connectors are parallel to each other.

15. Apparatus comprising:

a modular headliner assembly for a vehicle having a side structure and a roof, said headliner assembly comprising;

a headliner;

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

a fill tube having a portion located in said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

a support device having a portion adapted to clamp around a portion of said fill tube to connect said fill tube and said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to said support device; and

a grab handle having a portion extendable through said headliner and into said support device, said grab handle being adapted to releasably interconnect with said support device to connect said grab handle and said support device to said headliner;

a first connector for connecting said support device to the vehicle to initially connect said modular headliner assembly to the vehicle;

a second connector extendable through said support device and said grab handle to fixedly connect said modular headliner assembly to the vehicle; and

wherein said portion of said grab handle comprises an anchor portion insertable into a fastener receiving portion of said support device, said anchor portion including at least one latch portion that engages said support device to connect said grab handle to said support device.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said latch portion of said anchor portion extends around a dentation extending from a surface of said fastener receiving portion, said latch portion including a surface that engages said dentation to connect said grab handle to said support device.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said grab handle has a first end and an opposite second end, an anchor portion extending from each of said first and second ends of said grab handle in a first direction, parallel to each other.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said anchor portion extending from said first end of said grab handle is insertable into a first support device and said anchor portion extending from said second end of said grab handle is insertable into a second support device.

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

a headliner;

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

a fill tube having a portion located in said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

a support device having a portion that clamps around a portion of said fill tube;

a grab handle having a portion that extends through said headliner and interconnects with said support device, said grab handle holding said headliner connected with said support device and said grab handle being releasable to enable removal of said headliner from said support device and said vehicle occupant restraint; and

a fastener that extends through said grab handle and said support device and connects said grab handle, said support device, said headliner, said fill tube, and said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to the vehicle.

20. A headliner assembly for a vehicle, said headliner assembly comprising:

a headliner;

an inflatable side curtain;

a fill tube for delivering inflation fluid to said side curtain;

a support device having a portion that clamps around a portion of said fill tube to connect said fill tube and said side curtain to said support device; and

a grab handle having a portion that extends through said headliner and into said support device, said grab handle being releasably interconnected with said support device, said grab handle holding said headliner connected with said support device and said grab handle being releasable to enable removal of said headliner from said support device and said vehicle occupant restraint;

a first connector that connects said support device to the vehicle and initially connects said support device, said grab handle, said headliner, said fill tube, and said side curtain to the vehicle; and

a second connector that extends through said support. device and said grab handle and fixedly connects said support device, said grab handle, said headliner, said fill tube and said side curtain to the vehicle.

21. Apparatus for a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

a headliner, an inflatable side curtain, and a grab handle assembled together as a module;

a push-in connector for initially connecting said module to the vehicle; and

a threaded connector that extends through said grab handle and fixedly connects said module to the vehicle, said threaded connector and said grab handle being removable such that said headliner releases from the vehicle, said push-in connector maintaining said side curtain connected to the vehicle.

22. Apparatus comprising:

a modular headliner assembly for a vehicle having a side structure and a roof, said headliner assembly comprising;

a headliner;

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

a fill tube having a portion located in said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

a support device having a portion adapted to clamp around a portion of said fill tube to connect said fill tube and said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to said support device; and

a grab handle having an anchor portion extendable through said headliner and into a fastener receiving portion of said support device, said anchor portion including at least one latch portion that engages said support device to releasably connect said grab handle and said support device to said headliner;

a first connector for connecting said support device to the vehicle to initially connect said modular headliner assembly to the vehicle; and

a second connector extendable through said support device and said grab handle to fixedly connect said modular headliner assembly to the vehicle.