Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-23
2001-07-10
Dickson, Paul N. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C296S214000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257616
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a headliner. More specifically, the present invention relates to an airbag carrier bracket for a headliner.
The development and improvement of side impact protection, including side curtain airbags, has been of continuing priority in the automotive industry. One method of providing side impact protection, is to deploy a side curtain airbag in a downward fashion from a vehicle roof along the vehicle side walls.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a preassembled, modular side curtain airbag assembly mounted to a vehicle headliner to simplify the installation of the side curtain airbag in a vehicle.
To achieve this object, the invention includes an airbag, airbag inflater, and airbag carrier bracket which is mounted to a panel of a headliner which generally covers the interior roof of a vehicle. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the airbag and airbag inflater are mounted to the airbag carrier bracket which is coupled to the panel of the headliner and the airbag. By integrating the side curtain airbag assembly with the headliner, the installation of the side curtain airbag assembly into a vehicle will be simplified. Presently, the installation of a side curtain airbag assembly includes the intermediate step of installing the side curtain airbag to the frame of a vehicle and then installing the headliner. A headliner that includes an integral side curtain airbag assembly will eliminate the intermediate step of mounting the side curtain airbag to the frame of the vehicle, leading to a more efficient assembly of the interior components of a vehicle.
A further advantage of the present invention is increased energy absorption in the headliner of the vehicle. A layer of foam may be placed in recesses or voids created by the corrugated shape of the airbag carrier bracket and underlying the headliner to create an energy absorption zone for an impact with the interior roof of the vehicle. The airbag assembly bracket may be configured to be generally rigid in normal operating conditions but still be capable of flexure to absorb energy during a collision.
The side curtain airbag assembly will deploy along either interior side of a vehicle, covering generally the side windows and the B, C, and/or D pillars upon triggering by a collision sensor.
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Cansfield Jonathan Peter
Collins Alan P.
Fitzpatrick Robert C.
Nowak Raymond J.
Dickson Paul N.
Foley & Lardner
Prince Technology Corporation
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