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US6102435A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle headliner with inflatable side curtain
Assignee: ZF Passive Safety Systems US Inc
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Filing: 1998-07-21
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Granted: 2000-08-15
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Expires: 2018-07-21
Abstract
Abstract 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.
Inventors
- 👤 John P. Wallner
- 👤 Rodger M. Cherry
- 👤 Robert I. Phillion
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:10
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/213; B60R13/00; B60R13/02; B60R13/0212; B60R21/215; B60R21/2165
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof and a side structure, said apparatus comprising: an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and having an inflated condition in which said protection device is inflated between the occupant and the vehicle side structure; a fill member for directing inflation fluid into said protection device to inflate said protection device; and means for mounting said protection device and said fill member to the vehicle, said means for mounting comprising a headliner assembly comprising a single piece of material, said single piece of material having a support portion for location adjacent to the vehicle side structure, said support portion defining a chamber for receiving said fill member and said protection device when said protection device is in the deflated condition, said single piece of material including a headliner portion for location adjacent to the vehicle roof, said headliner portion of said single piece of material for extending inside of and generally parallel to the vehicle roof between said support portion of said single piece of material and a centerline of the vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof and a side structure, said apparatus comprising: an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and having an inflated condition in which said protection device is inflated between the occupant and the vehicle side structure; a fill member for directing inflation fluid into said protection device to inflate said protection device; and means for mounting said protection device and said fill member to the vehicle, said means for mounting comprising a headliner assembly comprising a single piece of material, said single piece of material having a support portion for location adjacent to the vehicle side structure, said support portion defining a chamber for receiving said fill member and said protection device when said protection device is in the deflated condition, said single piece of material including a headliner portion for location adjacent to the vehicle roof, said headliner portion of said single piece of material for extending inside of and generally parallel to the vehicle roof between said support portion of said single piece of material and a centerline of the vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said single piece of material includes a door which comprises a part of said support portion, said door having a closed condition when said protection device is in the deflated condition, said door being movable about a hinge portion of said single piece of material from the closed condition to an open condition upon inflation of said protection device to enable movement of said protection device out of said chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said single piece of material has a predetermined weakened portion which retains said door in the closed condition, said weakened portion being rupturable upon inflation of said protection device to allow said door to move to said open condition and enable movement of said protection device out of said chamber into the inflated condition between the occupant and the vehicle side structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
89 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said door includes an edge portion which is releasably engaged by a bulb seal portion of the vehicle side structure to retain said door in the closed condition when said protection device is in the deflated condition, said door being released upon inflation of said protection device to allow said door to move to said open condition and enable movement of said protection device out of said chamber into the inflated condition between the occupant and the vehicle side structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fill member is a fill tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support portion of said single piece of material clamps said fill member and said protection device in said chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said support portion is resiliently deformable to enable movement of said fill member into a clamped condition in said support portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said support portion extends around said fill member for more than 180 degrees when said fill member is in the clamped condition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said material is plastic.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
181 words
An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a side structure including a bulb seal and a roof panel extending from the side structure to the vehicle centerline, said apparatus comprising: an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and having an inflated condition in which said protection device is inflated between the occupant and the vehicle side structure; a fill tube for directing inflation fluid into said protection device to inflate said protection device; a headliner assembly having a portion comprising a single piece of material, said single piece of material being extensible from said bulb seal to the vehicle centerline; and means for supporting said headliner assembly on the vehicle; said headliner assembly including a housing portion defining a chamber for receiving said fill tube and said protection device when said protection device is in the deflated condition; said single piece of material including a door which comprises a part of said portion, said door being movable relative to said housing portion from a closed condition closing said chamber to an open condition.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
181 words
An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a side structure including a bulb seal and a roof panel extending from the side structure to the vehicle centerline, said apparatus comprising: an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and having an inflated condition in which said protection device is inflated between the occupant and the vehicle side structure; a fill tube for directing inflation fluid into said protection device to inflate said protection device; a headliner assembly having a portion comprising a single piece of material, said single piece of material being extensible from said bulb seal to the vehicle centerline; and means for supporting said headliner assembly on the vehicle; said headliner assembly including a housing portion defining a chamber for receiving said fill tube and said protection device when said protection device is in the deflated condition; said single piece of material including a door which comprises a part of said portion, said door being movable relative to said housing portion from a closed condition closing said chamber to an open condition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said housing portion of said headliner assembly clamps said fill tube and said protection device in said chamber when said door is in the closed condition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said headliner assembly has a predetermined weakened portion which retains said door in the closed condition, said weakened portion being rupturable upon inflation of said protection device to allow said door to move to said open condition and enable movement of said protection device out of said chamber into the inflated condition between the occupant and the vehicle side structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said housing portion of said headliner assembly is resiliently deformable to enable movement of said fill tune and said protection device into a clamped condition in said housing portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said housing portion extends around said fill tube and said protection device for more than 180 degrees when said fill member is in the clamped condition.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-08-15 | 2004-02-14 | 2004-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-15 | 2008-02-14 | 2008-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-15 | 2012-02-14 | 2012-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |