Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Robert I Phillion

John P Wallner

Michael J White, Jr

Rodger M Cherry

Daniel R Sutherland

Robert F McGee

Edward F Elmer

Bonnie L Maier

Michael Akins

A roof (,) and side structure (,) of a vehicle at least partially define a safety apparatus mounting chamber (,). The mounting chamber (,) has an opening (,) defined between an edge portion (,) of a vehicle headliner (,) and the vehicle side structure (,). An inflatable protection device (,) is inflatable between a vehicle occupant and the vehicle side structure (,). A cover (,) at least partially encloses the protection device (,) within the mounting chamber (,) when the protection device is in a deflated condition. The cover (,) has a trim portion (,) which extends from the mounting chamber (,) into the opening (,) and which has an outer surface (,) exposed to the vehicle occupant compartment (,). The trim portion (,) of the cover (,) has a closed condition in which a first edge portion (,) of the trim portion is in abutting engagement with the edge portion (,) of the headliner (,). A second edge portion (,) of the trim portion (,) is in abutting engagement with the side structure (,). The trim portion (,) of the cover (,) thereby closes the opening (,).

Vehicle inflatable side curtain assembly

An apparatus (10) includes a vehicle occupant protection curtain (12) which is movable from a retracted position to a deployed position extending across a vehicle window (15). The apparatus (10) further includes a track (44 or 48) and a runner (34). The runner (34) is connected to the curtain (12) to draw the curtain (12) from the retracted position to the deployed position upon movement of the runner (34) along the track (44 or 48) from a first position to a second position. The track (44 or 48) defines a plurality of intermediate positions to which the runner (34) is movable transversely of the track (44 or 48) in a direction toward the window (15). The track (44 or 48) blocks return movement of the runner (34) from each of the intermediate positions toward the initial position under the influence of tension imparted to the curtain (12) by a vehicle occupant moving against the curtain (12) in a direction outward of the window (15).

Vehicle occupant protection apparatus

An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof (40) and a side structure (20) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) and a fill tube (120) for directing inflation fluid into the protection device. The protection device (12) has a deflated condition and an inflated condition in which it is inflated between the occupant and the vehicle side structure. The apparatus (10) also includes means for mounting the protection device (12) and the fill tube (120) to the vehicle. The mounting means comprises a headliner assembly (70) having a headliner portion (72) extending inside of and generally parallel to the vehicle roof (40). The headliner assembly (70) has a support portion (74) disposed adjacent to the vehicle side structure (20). The support portion (74) of the headliner assembly (70) defines a chamber (112) receiving the fill tube (120) and the protection device (12) when the protection device is in the deflated condition.

Vehicle headliner with inflatable side curtain

An apparatus (10) includes a vehicle part (16) with a structural portion (44) and a trim portion (50) covering the structural portion (44). An air bag module (30) is located within a deployment opening (56) in the trim portion (50) of the vehicle part (16). A deployment structure (70) closes the deployment opening (56). The deployment structure (70) consists of a single, continuous body of molded plastic material, and includes a deployment door (78 or 80) partially bounded by a stress riser (82) in the plastic material. The module (30) is mounted on the structural portion (44) of the vehicle part (16). The deployment structure (70) is fully supported on the vehicle part (16) by the trim portion (50) separately from the module (30) and the structural portion (44).

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Ray Township, MI, United States of America

Robert I Phillion