Patent ID: 9302642
Filing Date: 2016-04-05
CPC Classification: B60R

Claim Text:
1. A roof support structure for a vehicle comprising: a roof panel; a pair of A-pillars supporting a front end of the roof panel and each being disposed between a windshield and a side door window; a pair of roof rail assemblies extending in a longitudinal direction on right and left sides of the roof panel; and a pair of curtain air bags each assembled to one of the A-pillars and one of the roof rail assemblies, wherein one of the A-pillars and one of the roof rail assemblies include an outer body panel having a first rib that downwardly extends in an inboard direction and a second rib at an end opposite to where the first rib extends, the first rib and the second rib having inner surfaces that define a pocket; a roof rail including a first convex outer wall disposed within the pocket, a second convex outer wall connected to the first convex outer wall and a concave inner wall connected to the second convex outer wall, the concave inner wall opposing the pocket and defining a concave recess extending along a length of the A-pillars and the roof rail assemblies, wherein the concave recess opens toward a passenger compartment of the vehicle and has a smooth curved surface, wherein the curtain air bags are folded and assembled into the concave recess with at least half of an outer surface of the curtain air bag contacting the smooth curved surface of the concave recess.