Patent Application
20050242550
The present invention relates generally to automotive roofs for automotive vehicles and more specifically to a device and method to attach air bags to a retractable vehicle roof structure.
Protective deployment devices, hereinafter referred to as “airbags”, are provided on modern automotive vehicles to protect the occupants during accidents or collisions of the vehicle. Airbags are attached to one or more sensors in the vehicle which detect rapid vehicle deceleration. Upon identifying a rapid vehicle deceleration, the sensor signals the airbags to deploy. Common airbags rapidly inflate from a normally stowed/deflated condition, to a fully inflated condition, and deflate quickly thereafter. The airbag is designed to absorb the impact between the vehicle occupant and vehicle structure. An example includes airbag systems mounted within a steering column/steering wheel or a dashboard section which deploy to protect occupants during forward/rear impacts.
Airbag systems mounted to permanent, overhead roof structure, e.g., side airbags, generally open during side impacts. A disadvantage of side airbag systems is that permanent structure required to mount or stow the airbag(s) is generally not available on vehicles having convertible roofs, retractable hardtop roofs or removable hardtop roofs. A further disadvantage of these systems is that structure to orient the deployment direction of an airbag system may not be available.
Airbag systems mounted to permanent, overhead roof structure, are known. An example of such an airbag system is U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,103, to Vaillancourt et al., issued Nov. 28, 1995, assigned to Davidson Textron Inc. An example of an airbag system mounted to a headliner of a vehicle is U.S. Patent Publication U.S. 2002/0190506 A1, to Tiesler, Dec. 19, 2002. The subject matter of the above U.S. patent and patent publication are incorporated herein by reference. A disadvantage of these overhead ceiling or headliner mounted airbag systems is that the permanent structure in both a forward/rear and side-to-side direction required to mount or actuate the airbag(s) is generally not available on vehicles having convertible roofs, retractable hardtop roofs or removable hardtop roofs.
Convertible automobiles generally have several interconnected rails on each side of the vehicle to support the convertible roof and allow for roof motion. An example of an outfolding side rail locking design for a convertible automobile application is provided in U.S. Serial number (Not Yet Assigned), entitled “Joint Locking Device for a Convertible Roof System”, invented by A. MacNee et al. (attorney docket no. 5362-000464), filed on the same day with the present application. The subject matter of this application is incorporated herein by reference.
According to one embodiment of the invention, an automobile vehicle displaceable roof includes a pair of vehicle roof support members, each having at least one side rail. A connecting structure joins the roof support members. The roof support members and the connecting structure operably form a vehicle displaceable roof. An automatically releasable airbag is connected to at least one of the side rails of the roof support members.
In another embodiment of the invention, an automobile roof-attached airbag system includes a pair of side rails having at least one airbag attached to each of the side rails. A sensor is detachably connectable to each airbag which initiates airbag deployment.
In still another embodiment of the invention, an airbag equipped vehicle roof system includes connectable structural members. A plurality of brackets each connect an airbag to one of the structural members. A pair of flexible weather-stripping members are also attached to the structural members, which are used to connect a vehicle top cover.
In yet still another embodiment of the invention, a method for constructing a vehicle movable roof is provided, the roof having tubular side members and a plurality of cross support members. The method includes: movably linking distal ends of at least two of the tubular members to form a topstack side rail; parallel aligning a pair of the topstack side rails; linking the parallel aligned topstack side rails with the cross support members to form a retractable roof structure; attaching an airbag to a vehicle inside facing surface of each of the tubular members; and covering the retractable roof structure with a vehicle roof.
The present invention provides several advantages. By locating one or more airbags in the support rails, removable roof systems such as sliding panels, hard covers, or retractable hard top covers have improved vehicle passenger safety. Rail geometry is configured to direct airbag deployment substantially downward and inward and adjacent to vehicle occupants. A removable and/or a plug-in joint between airbag wiring and the sensor allows entire installation/removal of the roof system while retaining the sensor within the vehicle structure.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description of the several preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.
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Convertible roof 12 is supported in multiple locations by a plurality of roof bows 22. Roof bows 22 extend generally in a cross car orientation and are supported at distal ends to roof support structure 16. A number one bow 24 is latched to a windshield structure 26 to position convertible roof 12 in the fully deployed position shown. Portions of roof support structure 16 spanning fore and aft between roof bows 22 form a plurality of support rail structures 28, hereinafter referred to as “rails”. A weather-stripping 30 is provided at an outer perimeter of convertible roof 12 to provide a moisture seal at the junction between automobile vehicle 14 and convertible roof 12.
One or more inflatable assemblies, hereinafter referred to as airbags 32 (shown in a deployed position) are normally stowed in or on selected ones of the rails 28. Each airbag 32 inflates in a generally vehicle inward and downward facing direction “A”, to position the inflated airbag 32 adjacent a vehicle occupant (not shown). Each of the airbags 32 receive a signal to deploy from a sensor 34 supported by a structure 35 of automobile vehicle 14. Sensor 34 operates from a vehicle power source (not shown) such as a 12 Volt DC system and identifies a rapid vehicle deceleration condition. A sensor signal “B” is generated which initiates a deployment of the airbags 32. Sensor wiring 36 connects sensor 34 and each of the airbags 32 to operably transfer sensor signal “B” to airbags 32. Airbags 32 are commonly provided with an energy device (not shown) which is triggered by sensor signal “B” to inflate the airbags 32.
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Airbag support 50 provides a support and enclosure for a stowed airbag 52. The shape of airbag support 50 is shown as a generally rectangular shape, however any structural shape providing rigidity against the forces of deployment of the airbag 52 can be used. Airbag support 50 is generally open on a lower or interior vehicle facing surface of front rail 38. A garnish 54, preferably provided of a polymeric material, is provided on a substantially lower surface of front rail 38. Garnish 54 acts in part to hide front rail 38 as well as center rail 40 or rear rail 42 when applied thereto from occupants inside of vehicle 14. Garnish 54 can optionally be provided with a deformation 56 as necessary to allow deployment of stowed airbag 52 from the stowed position shown to the deployed position shown in
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Displaceable roof airbag systems according to the present invention provide several advantages. By locating one or more airbags in the support rails for retractable or removable roof systems of vehicles, vehicles having soft top convertible roofs, removable roofs such as sliding panels and/or hard covers, and retractable hard top covers are provided with airbags for deployment toward vehicle passengers. By configuring the geometry of the rails that support the airbags, the airbags are directed to deploy in a substantially vehicle downward and inward direction and adjacent to vehicle occupants. At least one sensor connected through a sensor wiring system is used to actuate the airbags of the present invention. A removable joint, for example a plug-in joint, is located between the wiring to the airbags and the sensor such that a removable roof system (for example a hard top removable roof system) can be installed and/or removed in its entirety while retaining the sensor in a supported position within the vehicle structure.
The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.
