Vehicle having a roof mounted inflatable cushion

• US 6,241,278 B1
• Filed: 05/04/2000
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jaguar Cars Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Grey, Jason John, Flavell, Trevor Anthony, Roote, Andrew, Kenyon, Rachel, Jones, Iain Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US09/564,614
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/730.1, 280/728.2, 280/728.1, 280/749, 296/210, 296/211, 296/214
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0435 associated with the side or roof pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2612 Gas guiding means, e.g. ducts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10

Abstract

A vehicle passenger safety restraint arrangement where an inflatable cushion mounted in a vehicle roof is operatively connected to an inflator which inflates the inflatable cushion in the event of an accident. The inflator is conveniently positioned in the roof space adjacent to the front reinforcement rail and can be attached to the rail by a deformable bracket so that the inflator may move relative to the bracket to soften the impact if a passenger collides with the inflator during an accident.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle comprising:

a passenger compartment with a roof having a front edge and a side edge;

a front reinforcement member within the roof and extending along the front edge to define an adjacent recess within the roof;

an inflatable cushion disposed along the side edge and being arranged to inflate downwards into the passenger compartment in the event of an accident; and

an inflator to inflate the inflatable cushion, the inflator positioned within the recess and secured to the front reinforcement member.

2. The motor vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the inflator is secured to the front reinforcement member by a deformable member.

3. The motor vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the deformable member is arranged such that a generally upward force applied to the inflator will cause the inflator to move relative to the front reinforcement member.

4. The motor vehicle according to claim 2 where the deformable member is a bracket formed from sheet metal secured at one point to the inflator and at another point to the front reinforcement member.

5. The motor vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the deformable member has a plurality of fold lines where stress will be concentrated in the event of an impact.

6. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the inflator has a long axis which is aligned substantially parallel to the front reinforcement member.

7. The motor vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the inflator is operatively connected to the inflatable cushion via a tube curving through approximately 90 degrees.

8. A motor vehicle comprising:

a passenger compartment with a roof having a front edge and a side edge;

a front reinforcement member within the roof and extending along the front edge to define an adjacent recess within the roof;

an inflatable cushion disposed along the side edge and being arranged to inflate downwards into the passenger compartment in the event of an accident;

an inflator to inflate the inflatable cushion, the inflator positioned adjacent to the front reinforcement member within the recess;

a bracket having a first end attached to the inflator and a second end attached to the front reinforcement member, the bracket deformable such that a generally upward force applied to the inflator will cause the inflator to move relative to the front reinforcement member.

9. The motor vehicle according to claim 8 where the bracket is formed from sheet metal.

10. The motor vehicle according to claim 8 wherein the bracket has a plurality of fold lines where stress will be concentrated in the event of an impact.

11. The motor vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the inflator has a long axis which is aligned substantially parallel to the front reinforcement member.

12. The motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the inflator is operatively connected to the inflatable cushion via a tube curving through approximately 90 degrees.