Nissan North America, Inc.

Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.

James Zucal

Lauren Parkins

Jeremy Thurston

Thomas Yang

Ryan Rumberger

Roy Setsuda

Marty Petersen

An inflatable restraint assembly includes a vehicle pillar and a pillar trim component that is attached to the vehicle pillar, with the pillar trim component having an upper end. A curtain airbag module having an inflatable curtain portion is disposed in a stowed configuration prior to deployment and moves to a deployed configuration subsequent to deployment. A guide ramp is disposed between the inflatable curtain portion of the curtain airbag module and the upper end of the pillar trim component. A headliner having an outboard portion is sandwiched between the guide ramp and the upper end of the pillar trim component prior to deployment of the inflatable curtain portion of the curtain airbag module. The outboard portion of the headliner defines a reduced thickness section.

Inflatable restraint deployment ramp

A vehicle trim panel includes a main body and a temporary cover. The main body has a finished surface and an attachment surface with a peripheral edge that encircles the main body. The peripheral edge is defined between the finished surface and the attachment surface. The attachment surface includes a plurality of attachment projections that protrude from the attachment surface. The plurality of attachment projections are dimensioned and positioned to fixedly attach the main body to a vehicle body member. The attachment surface also includes a plurality of retention hooks protruding from the attachment surface. The temporary cover covers the finished surface and includes a plurality of holes fitted to corresponding ones of the plurality of retention hooks.

Vehicle trim panel

An inflatable restraint assembly includes a vehicle pillar and a pillar trim component that is attached to the vehicle pillar, the pillar trim component having an upper end. A curtain airbag module has an inflatable curtain portion that is disposed in a stowed configuration prior to deployment and moves to a deployed configuration subsequent to deployment. A guide ramp is disposed between the inflatable curtain portion of the curtain airbag module and the upper end of the pillar trim component. A headliner has an outboard portion that is sandwiched between the guide ramp and the upper end of the pillar trim component prior to deployment of the inflatable curtain portion of the curtain airbag module.

An inflatable restraint assembly includes a curtain airbag module and a ramp assembly. The curtain airbag module has an inflatable curtain portion that is disposed in a stowed configuration prior to deployment and moves to a deployed configuration subsequent to deployment. The ramp assembly is located adjacent to the inflatable curtain portion of the curtain airbag module. The ramp assembly has a pivoting portion that is moveable from a closed position to an open position in response to deployment of the inflatable curtain portion, at least one separable retainer member that retains the pivoting portion in the closed position prior to deployment of the inflatable curtain portion, and a biasing structure that biases the pivoting portion of the ramp assembly toward the open position. The pivoting portion is configured to guide the inflatable curtain portion of the curtain airbag module during deployment of the inflatable curtain portion.

A trim panel overlaying a pillar includes a first trim portion and a second trim portion separable from one another. A handle attaches to the pillar at first and second points by fasteners extending through the second trim portion, the first and second points being vertically spaced apart from one another. An airbag disposed between the trim panel and the pillar deploys such that the first trim portion completely separates from the pillar and the second trim portion along a predetermined separation line. The airbag extends along the pillar alongside at least one of the first and second points and alongside an area between the first point and the second point. The first trim portion and the handle are configured such that the first trim portion is restrained to a limited distance of movement away from the pillar by the handle in response to deployment of the airbag.

Trim panel breakaway feature

A vehicle body structure includes a pillar, a trim panel, a handle and an airbag. The trim panel is configured to overlay a portion of the pillar and conceal the airbag. The trim panel includes a first trim portion and a second trim portion that is separable from the first trim portion along a predetermined separation line. The handle is rigidly attached to the pillar by at least one fastener that extends through the second trim portion of the trim panel. The airbag is disposed between the trim panel and the pillar such that in response to deployment of the airbag at least a portion of the first trim portion separates from the second trim portion along the predetermined separation line.

A storage compartment for a vehicle includes a base configured to be attached to a passenger compartment side portion of a vehicle roof. The storage compartment additionally includes a portable member that has at least one pocket. The portable member is configured to be releasably engaged with the base.

Growing community of inventors

Novi, MI, United States of America

James Zucal