BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the interior of a van-type vehicle having the present inventive head impact countermeasure system.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a plastic foam buffer according to one aspect of the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates the outer portion of the plastic foam bumper.
FIG. 3 illustrates the inner surface of the plastic foam bumper of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 illustrates a prior art van having an extended headliner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle has a roof, 10, to which headliner 14 is affixed. Headliner 14 extends over only the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Buffer 30, which is molded from plastic foam, such as expanded polypropylene foam, is attached to roof siderail 26 by means of axially engageable pushpins 44. Note that the leading end of buffer 30, which is shown at 42 in FIG. 2, is interleaved under the trailing edge of headliner 14. Also it should be noted from FIG. 2 that buffer 30 has a leading end 42a, which is molded to conform with the contour of headliner 14 in the region conjoined by buffer 30. The inner surface of buffer 30, which is shown in FIG. 3, is molded to conform with the configuration of roof siderail 26. Although passenger side componentry is shown in FIGS. 1-3, those skilled in the art will appreciate in view of this disclosure that the driver's side componentry may conveniently be constructed as a mirror image of the illustrated parts.
Headliner 14 and buffer 30 are abutted at the location of B-pillar 18. B-pillar molding 22 and headliner 14 and buffer 30 are colored and grained identically so that their surface appearance is identical. In this manner, it is not necessary to apply a separate vinyl covering to buffer 30, and yet buffer 30 may be rendered aesthetically compatible with headliner 14 and B-pillar molding 22.
The material of buffer 30, as noted above, is preferably molded from plastic foam, such as expanded polypropylene foam. The present inventors have determined that although expanded polypropylene foam exhibits the performance requirements desired for use in the present automotive application, blocks formed from yet other types of plastic foam, such as polyurethane foam, may be employed according to the present invention to mitigate the potential for head injury.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, numerous variations and alternate embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only in terms of the appended claims.
Patent Application
20080042471
