Patent ID: 6824164
Filing Date: 2004-11-30
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An automotive vehicle body with occupant cushioning against side impacts and vehicle roll-over, said body comprising:an occupant compartment having front, rear and side compartment portions with respect to the forward direction of motion of the vehicle, said compartment being covered by a body roof; said roof having front, rear and side roof portions and a central fore-aft axis, said roof having an interior surface defining the top of said occupant compartment; said roof being fixed on two front body pillars at the corners of said front and side roof portions, two rear body pillars at the corners of said rear and side roof portions and two side body pillars at said roof side portions; at least one flexible sheet member having first and second opposing edges, said second edge having a greater length than said first edge, said sheet member being attached at said first edge to the interior surface of said roof, said sheet being folded between its first and second edges and extending from said attached first edge toward one side roof portion and the side compartment portion for storage against the interior surface of said roof, and sheet pulling means attached to at least one body pillar on said side compartment portion and attached to respective front and rear ends of said second opposing edge of said sheet member for pulling and unfolding said sheet from a stored position against the interior surface of said roof and to draw said sheet in a direction toward said side compartment portion and downwardly within said occupant compartment to an occupant cushioning position wherein the sheet in an unfolded state cushions an occupant on said side of said occupant compartment from impact with said vehicle body, said means being activated for pulling said sheet upon a predetermined lateral acceleration of said vehicle body.