Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-26
2001-05-08
Swann, J. J. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S743100, C296S214000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227561
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a roofliner, also known as a headliner, for a motor vehicle having at least one airbag module arranged in the region of the vehicle roof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known, for example from DE 29 616 904 U1 to arrange airbag modules in the region of the roof of a motor vehicle. These airbag modules, referred to as side curtain airbag modules, are arranged in the region of the lateral roof rail in the interior of the motor vehicle. In the event of an accident, the airbag of such an airbag module is deployed, starting from the vehicle roof, to cover the side windows of the motor vehicle. As a result, the head of a vehicle occupant is effectively protected by the inflated airbag, in particular in the case of a side impact or rollover of the vehicle.
It is known, for example from EP 0 791511 A1, for airbag modules to be securely bolted to the vehicle roof, in particular to the lateral roof rail. Following installation of the airbag module into the vehicle, a roofliner that lines the entire roof area of the vehicle toward the interior is then fitted. This roofliner also covers the airbag module fastened to the roof rail. In addition, the roofliner has a predetermined breaking point in the region behind which the airbag module is arranged, with the result that the roofliner can tear open upon inflation of the airbag of the airbag module.
These known airbag modules and roofliners require a relatively large installation space, since sufficient space for the airbag module and its fastening elements must be provided between the roofliner and the vehicle roof. Furthermore, installation is very laborious, since the airbag module first has to be installed in the motor vehicle and only then can the roofliner be fitted, in a further operation. There is additionally the risk of the airbag module being damaged during the installation of the roofliner, whereby the functional reliability of the airbag module may be impaired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to provide an improved roofliner for a motor vehicle, having at least one airbag module arranged in the region of the vehicle roof, which can be produced at low cost and can be installed simply and quickly, without impairing the functional reliability of the airbag module.
The roofliner according to the invention makes it possible for the roofliner and an airbag module arranged in the region of the roof to be installed at the same time. It dispenses with additional fastening elements for the fastening of the airbag module, whereby both the costs of the individual parts and the installation effort or installation costs can be reduced. Furthermore, the reduced number of individual parts also reduces the overall weight of the roofliner and airbag module, which is desirable with regard to lowest possible vehicle weight. The airbag module is integrated into the roofliner before the installation of the roofliner into the vehicle, preferably during the manufacture of the roofliner. During installation into the motor vehicle, it is then only necessary that the roofliner be installed, whereby the airbag module which is integrated into the roofliner is installed at the same time. Consequently, no additional, complicated, installation step is required for the installation of the airbag module, whereby the installation costs can be reduced considerably.
This simplified installation additionally favors the use of robots, whereby installation can be further optimized. Furthermore, the reduced number of installation steps allows the number of possible sources of error to be reduced, allowing increased reliability of the function of the airbag module to be ensured. Dispensing with additional fastening elements for the airbag module allows the latter to be made smaller, i.e. saving more space. The roofliner can consequently be fitted closer to the vehicle roof, which leads to increased head clearance in the vehicle interior.
The roofliner preferably consists of a foamed or molded material, the airbag module being foamed or molded into the roofliner. This arrangement allows an extremely low-cost integration of the airbag module into the roofliner. The airbag module is placed into the corresponding mold before the molding or foaming of the roofliner and then integrated simultaneously into the latter during the forming of the roofliner. The molding, or foaming, in of the airbag module implies that it is arranged in a protected manner in the roofliner, whereby the risk of damage to the airbag module during installation of the roofliner into the motor vehicle is minimized.
The roofliner is preferably made up of at least two layers, the airbag module being arranged between the layers. This arrangement allows even better protection of the airbag module from damage, since it is completely surrounded by the layers of the roofliner. There can be formed a continuous surface, which is not visually impaired by the airbag module, facing the vehicle interior. At the same time, the airbag module is also protected on the roof side by a layer of the roofliner. The multi-layered composition of the roofliner additionally allows a visually appealing design of the roofliner with high strength at the same time. For example, the side of the roofliner facing the vehicle interior may be formed as a fabric layer, while other layers of the roofliner are formed, for example, by foamed or fiber-reinforced plastics, in order to give the roofliner the required strength.
In the region of the airbag module there is preferably provided at least one predetermined tear seam. Such a tear seam allows predictable and controlled tearing open of the roofliner when the airbag of the airbag module is deployed in the event of a crash. In this case, a gas generator is activated by a sensor to generate gas that is fed via a conduit to the airbag. In this way, the airbag is instantaneously inflated and presses on the roofliner, which then tears open along the tear seam.
The airbag and the conduit are also preferably arranged within an additional enclosure, in particular a fabric enclosure. This enclosure offers secure protection of the airbag module, i.e. the airbag and the conduit for gas, during installation or integration into the roofliner. For, instance, the entire airbag module may be arranged in the enclosure when it is supplied to a roofliner manufacturer, where it is then integrated into the roofliner. The airbag module is in this case protected by the additional enclosure, in particular during transportation. The additional enclosure is advantageous in particular during molding, or foaming in, since no additional measures have to be taken in order to shield the airbag and the conduit for gas from the material of the roofliner. The liquid material, adhesive or similar substances are prevented from coming into contact with the airbag or the conduit for gas, whereby the functional capability of the airbag module would be impaired.
At least one tearing-open point or tear seam is preferably provided in the enclosure. It is ensured by this design that the enclosure easily opens upon deployment or inflation of the airbag, in order to make it possible for the airbag to leave the enclosure. By specifically selected arrangement of this tearing-open point or tearing-open seam, the direction in which the airbag is deployed upon inflation can be controlled.
The airbag is advantageously fastened to the body of the vehicle by fastening elements and in particular by fastening elements for a handle. In this way, the airbag can be securely fastened to the body of the vehicle, in order to be securely held in the event of deployment or inflation. If this fastening is performed by the fastening elements for a handle commonly provided in a motor vehicle, additional fastening elements can be saved. The fastening bolts for a handle, usually located above the vehicle door, preferably extend through the roofliner and the airbag and engage in a part of the body of the vehicle. As a result, the handle, the roofliner and the airbag are simultane
Jorg Reuter
Jost Stefan
Breed Automotive Technology Inc.
Drayer Lonnie
Dunn David R.
Swann J. J.
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