Vehicle headliner

• US 6,273,499 B1
• Filed: 03/21/2000
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sylea (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Sylea (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Guyon, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHENEVERT, PAUL A
• Application Number:
  US09/532,664
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 296/214, 439/34, 174/72.A
• US Class Current: 296/214
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0212 Roof or head liners movable head-liners B60J7/0007
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0215 Protecting, fastening and routing means therefor

Abstract

A textile material automotive vehicle headliner includes a number of electrical accessories such as overhead lights, loudspeakers and brake light repeaters. It is formed of a plurality of thicknesses between which are inserted a main ribbon conductor having a series of tracks and secondary conductors having tracks. Openings are formed in the thicknesses of material corresponding to the locations of the accessories. The ribbon conductors extend into the openings. The accessories are electrically connected to corresponding ribbon conductors and fixed into a corresponding opening. One of the accessories connects the main ribbon conductor to a power supply of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A textile material automotive vehicle headliner including a number of electrical accessories and formed of a plurality of thicknesses between which are inserted a main ribbon conductor having a series of tracks and secondary conductors having tracks, wherein openings are formed in said thicknesses corresponding to the location of said electrical accessories, said ribbon conductors extend into said openings, said electrical accessories are adapted to be electrically connected to corresponding ribbon conductors and to be fixed into a corresponding opening, and one of said electrical accessories includes means for connecting said main ribbon conductor to a power supply of said vehicle, said headliner including a support for said electrical accessories having a rim adapted to cooperate with the surface of said headliner adjacent said opening, a flexible printed circuit for powering said electrical accessories, a plate which has compartments to receive contacts of said electrical accessories and means for assembling said support to said plate with said surface adjacent said opening in said headliner clamped between said plate and said rim, said plate includes a hinged flap, means for locking said flap and an extension of said flexible printed circuit for powering said electrical accessories, said ribbon conductor can be clamped between said flap and a bearing surface and said extension includes power supply tracks intended to coincide with said tracks of said ribbon conductor.

2. The headliner claimed in claim 1 wherein said bearing surface includes a trough and said flap includes a corresponding protuberance.

3. A textile material automotive vehicle headliner including a number of electrical accessories and formed of a plurality of thicknesses between which are inserted a main ribbon conductor having a series of tracks and secondary conductors having tracks, wherein openings are formed in said thicknesses corresponding to the location of said accessories, said ribbon conductors extend into said openings, said accessories are adapted to be electrically connected to corresponding ribbon conductors and to be fixed into a corresponding opening, and one of said accessories includes means for connecting said main ribbon conductor to a power supply of a vehicle, and one of said electrical accessories includes a connector element, a complementary connector element is fixed to a roof of said vehicle and connected by conductors to an electrical power supply circuit of said vehicle and said elements include contacts adapted to be pressed together after insertion of said main ribbon conductor in order to supply power thereto.