Patent Publication Number: US-6334626-B2

Title: Interior equipment mounting structure for a vehicle incorporating head-protecting air bag body

Description:
This is a division of application Ser. No. 09/159,782, filed Sep. 24, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,173,990. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an interior equipment mounting structure for a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bag body, wherein a head-protecting air bag body accommodated along a pillar portion and a roof side rail portion unfolds similarly to a curtain due to gas jetted by an inflator when a predetermined high load acts on a side portion of a vehicle body. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     There has been proposed a head-protecting air bag device in which, in order to improve the ability to protect the head of a vehicle occupant seated in a front seat when a predetermined high load acts on a side portion of a vehicle body, an air bag body accommodated in a folded state over a region from a front pillar portion to a roof side rail portion is caused to unfold along a side window glass similarly to a curtain. This type of head-protecting air bag device is disclosed in International Publication No. WO 96/26087 and will be described hereinafter. 
     As shown in FIG. 9, a head-protecting air bag device  100  is structured to include, as main components, an elongated duct  106  disposed to extend from a front pillar portion  102  to a roof side rail portion  104 , an air bag body  112  accommodated in the duct  106  in a folded manner and fixed to a vehicle body at a front-end fixed point  108  and at a rear-end fixed point  110 , an inflator  116 , which is connected via a hose  114  to the rear end of the duct  106  and jets out gas when a predetermined high load acts on the side portion of the vehicle body, and a band-shaped strap  118  whose one end is fixed to the vehicle body and other end is fixed to the rear end of the air bag body  112 . The air bag body  112  is formed by a plurality of cells  120 , which are each formed substantially into a cylinder and are disposed with the longitudinal directions thereof substantially coinciding with the vertical direction of the vehicle, being connected together. 
     According to the above-described structure, when a predetermined high load acts on the side portion of the vehicle body, gas is ejected from the inflator  116 . The ejected gas flows into each cell  120  of the folded air bag body  112  via the hose  114  and the duct  106 . As a result, each cell  120  expands substantially into a cylindrical configuration with the longitudinal direction thereof substantially coinciding with the vertical direction of the vehicle. The air bag body  112  is thereby inflated similarly to a curtain along a window glass  122 . Further, the rear end of the air bag body  112  is connected via the strap  118  to the vehicle body, and therefore, the rear-end side of the air bag body  112  is reliably disposed at an inner side of the upper portion of a center pillar portion  124 . 
     However, in this head-protecting air bag device  100 , the air bag body  112  accommodated in the duct  106  in a folded state is disposed over a region from the front pillar portion  102  to the roof side rail portion  104 , and therefore, the air bag body  112  is covered by, for example, a front pillar garnish and a roof head lining. As a result, when the air bag body unfolds, the front pillar garnish and the roof head lining deform, and the air bag body comes out from the respective deformed portions of the front pillar garnish and the roof head lining so as to expand toward the interior side of the vehicle. For this reason, in a case in which a sun visor or other interior equipment is provided in the vicinity of the front pillar garnish or the roof head lining, there is the possibility that the deformed portion of the front pillar garnish or the deformed portion of the roof head lining interferes with the sun visor or the other interior equipment such that the sun visor or other interior equipment is badly damaged due to the large load applied thereto. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the above-described circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide an interior equipment mounting structure for a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bag body, which can reduce damage caused to a sun visor or other interior equipment during expansion of an air bag body. 
     A first aspect of the present invention relates to a sun visor which is provided as an interior equipment mounting structure for a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bag body which unfolds and forms an air-filled cushion in a region from a front pillar to a roof side rail. The sun visor is connected to a vehicle body via an arm and provided to be movable from an accommodated state, in which the sun visor is disposed along a vehicle transverse direction and near to a front end of a roof head lining and substantially parallel to the roof head lining, to at least one predetermined position for use. The sun visor is formed by a main body portion, which is, in the accommodated state of the sun visor, disposed further toward a vehicle-interior side than a point at which the arm is mounted to the vehicle body, and by an overhang portion which is, in the accommodated state of the sun visor, projects further toward a vehicle-exterior side than the mounting point of the arm, and when load of a predetermined value or more acts on the overhang portion, the overhang portion is easily deformable with respect to the main body portion. 
     Accordingly, even if, at the time of expansion of the air bag body, the roof head lining deforms and interferes with the overhang portion of the sun visor which is in an accommodated state, when the load acting on the overhang portion is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the overhang portion easily deforms with respect to the main body portion. As a result, load transmitted to the main body portion and the arm of the sun visor can be minimized, and damage to the sun visor can thereby be reduced. 
     A second aspect of the present invention is that a frame of the sun visor according to the first aspect is divided into two parts, one part being at the overhang portion and the other part being at the main body portion, and the two separated parts are partially connected to one another. 
     Accordingly, when load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the overhang portion via the roof head lining during expansion of the air bag body, the portion at which the frames for the overhang portion and the main body portion are connected together breaks so that load transmitted to the main body portion and to the arm can be minimized. For this reason, damage to the sun visor can be reduced by using a simple structure. 
     A third aspect of the present invention relates to roof head lining deformation limiting means which is provided as an interior equipment mounting structure for a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bag body which expands similarly to a curtain in a region from a pillar to a roof side rail. The roof head lining deformation limiting means is provided at the roof side rail such that at the time of expansion of the air bag body, it restricts deformation of a roof head lining to reduce impact load acting on an interior equipment disposed in the vicinity of the roof head lining. 
     According to the third aspect of the present invention, deformation of the roof head lining is restricted by the roof head lining deformation limiting means during expansion of the air bag body, so that the impact load acting on the interior equipment disposed in the vicinity of the roof head lining can be reduced. Accordingly, damage caused to the sun visor or other interior equipment at the time of expansion of the air bag body can be reduced. 
     A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to the roof head lining deformation limiting means according to the third aspect. The roof head lining deformation limiting means is an interior equipment of the roof side rail, which interior equipment is disposed at an intermediate portion of the roof side rail between a portion where the roof side rail is connected to a front pillar and a portion where the roof side rail is connected to a center pillar. 
     As a result, in addition to the effect obtained by the third aspect, there is an advantage in that a reduction in cost can be achieved because no specially provided roof head lining deformation limiting means is required. 
     A fifth aspect of the present invention is that the interior equipment of the roof side rail according to the fourth aspect is fixed to an energy absorbing member disposed at the roof side rail, the energy absorbing member being associated with a corresponding energy absorption space. 
     As a result, in addition to the effect obtained by the fourth aspect, there is an advantage in that, even if the head of a vehicle occupant hits the interior equipment in a collision, the energy absorbing member plastically deforms to lessen the impact on the head of the vehicle occupant. 
     A sixth aspect of the present invention is that the interior equipment of the roof side rail according to the fourth aspect is an assist grip and a high rigidity seating is provided around a cushion which is made of resin and used to fix the assist grip to a vehicle body. 
     As a result, concentration of load at a fixing portion of the assist grip, which load concentration is caused by deformation of the roof head lining during expansion of the air bag body, can be received by a high rigidity seating so as to prevent transmission of load to the cushion made of resin. For this reason, damage to the cushion made of resin can be prevented. 
     A seventh aspect of the present invention is that the interior equipment of the roof side rail according to the fourth aspect is a card holder and the card holder is a resin molded product and includes a high rigidity insert. 
     As a result, concentration of load at a fixing portion of the card holder, which load concentration is caused by deformation of the roof head lining during expansion of the air bag body, can be received by a high rigidity insert. For this reason, damage to the card holder can be prevented. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional side view taken along line  1 — 1  in FIG. 3, which schematically shows an interior-side surface of a vehicle at a driver&#39;s seat side, to which an interior equipment mounting structure for a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bag body according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view, as seen from the inner rear side of a vehicle, which shows a sun visor of the interior equipment mounting structure for a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bag body according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view which schematically shows an interior-side surface of a vehicle at a driver&#39;s seat side, to which the interior equipment mounting structure for a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bag body according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view which schematically shows a state in which expansion of an air bag body is completed at an interior-side surface of a vehicle at a driver&#39;s seat side, to which the interior equipment mounting structure for a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bag body according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied. 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  in FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 6 is a side view which schematically shows an interior-side surface of a vehicle at a front passenger seat side, to which an interior equipment mounting structure for a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bag body according to a second embodiment of the present invention is applied. 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line  7 — 7  in FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 8 a side view which schematically shows an interior-side surface of a vehicle at a driver&#39;s seat side, to which an interior equipment mounting structure for a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bag body according to a third embodiment of the present invention is applied. 
     FIG. 9 is a side view which schematically shows a state in which expansion of an air bag body is completed in a conventional head-protecting air bag device. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A description will be hereinafter given of an interior equipment mounting structure for a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bag body according to a first embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS. 1 to  4 . 
     It should be noted that arrows “FR”, “UP”, and “IN” shown in the accompanying drawings respectively represent the forward direction of a vehicle, the upward direction thereof, and an inward direction along the transverse direction of the vehicle. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, a head-protecting air bag device  10  of the present embodiment is structured to include, as main components, a sensor  12  for detecting the state of a side collision of the vehicle, a cylindrical inflator  14  which ejects gas upon operation thereof, and an air bag body  16 . The sensor  12  is disposed in the vicinity of the lower end of a center pillar (B pillar)  18 . When a side-collision load of a predetermined value or more acts on a side portion of a vehicle body, the sensor  12  detects the state of a side collision of the vehicle. 
     The inflator  14  is disposed near a portion where a front pillar (A pillar)  20  and an instrument panel  22  are jointed to one another, and is connected to the above-described sensor  12 . Accordingly, when the state of a side collision of the vehicle is detected by the sensor  12 , the inflator  14  is operated. 
     A plurality of non-expanding portions  24 , whose longitudinal direction coincides with the vertical direction of the air bag body, are formed at predetermined intervals at a vertical direction intermediate portion of the air bag body  16  as seen in side view in such a manner as to cross a tension line T which connects a front-side fixed point and a rear-side fixed point of the air bag body  16 . At the time of expansion of the air bag body, these non-expanding portions  24  allow formation of a plurality of cylindrical expanding portions which are disposed substantially parallel to one another and cross the tension line T. 
     The front end  16 A of the air bag body  16  is disposed at a position where the inflator  14  is provided, so as to allow gas ejected from the inflator  14  to flow into the air bag body. An upper end edge of an intermediate portion  16 B is disposed along the front pillar  20  and a roof side rail  28 , and an upper end edge of the rear end  16 C is disposed near a quarter pillar (C pillar)  30 . 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the air bag body  16  is accommodated in a region from a front pillar garnish  26  to an outer side portion  42 A of a roof head lining  42  in the transverse direction of the vehicle in such a manner as to be elongated by being folded in a bellows-like shape substantially in the vertical direction of the vehicle. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the roof side rail  28  is formed by a rail outer panel  48  having a substantially hat-shaped cross-sectional configuration and projecting by a relatively large amount in the outward direction of the vehicle, a rail inner panel  40  which slightly projects toward the rail outer panel  48 , and a rail reinforcement  49  having a substantially hat-shaped cross-sectional configuration along the rail outer panel  48  and interposed between the rail outer panel  48  and the rail inner panel  40 . Respective ends of the rail outer panel  48 , the rail inner panel  40 , and the rail reinforcement  49  at the both sides thereof are joined together by welding to form a closed cross-sectional configuration. Further, the upper end of the roof side rail  28  thus formed is connected by welding to an outer end of a roof panel  46  in the transverse direction of the vehicle. An opening weather strip  53  is fitted to the lower end of the roof side rail  28 . 
     The air bag body  16  is folded within a case  50  in a direction substantially perpendicular to an interior-side surface  39 A of a door glass  39  (i.e., in the directions indicated by the double-headed arrow K in FIG.  1 ), and the case  50  is disposed between the rail inner panel  40  and the roof head lining  42 . When the air bag body  16  expands, a corner portion  50 A formed at the lower end of the case  50  at the outer side in the transverse direction of the vehicle is broken, due to the expansion force of the air bag body  16 , with a V-shaped notch  51 , which is formed further toward the inner side of the case  50  than the corner portion  50 A, serving as a breakage starting point. As a result, a lid portion  50 B opens toward the interior side of the vehicle with respect to a base portion  50 C. 
     At this time, in the roof side rail  28 , the lid portion  50 B pushes the roof head lining  42  and the rail inner panel  40  apart from one another so that the clearance below the lid portion  50 B and between the roof head lining  42  and the rail inner panel  40  (which clearance is usually closed by the weather strip  53 ) is widened, creating an opening from which the air bag body can expand toward the interior of the vehicle. 
     Further, in the case  50 , an upper wall portion  50 D of the lid portion  50 B and an upper wall portion  50 E of the base portion  50 C are disposed parallel to each other with an upper end portion  16 D of the air bag body  16  interposed therebetween. A through hole is formed in each of the upper wall portions  50 D and  50 E of the case  50 . The case  50  is, together with the air bag body  16 , fixed to an interior-side portion of the rail inner panel  40  by a bolt  44  penetrating the through holes formed in the upper wall portions  50 D and  50 E and a mounting hole formed in the upper end portion  16 D of the air bag body  16 , and also by a nut  46  which is screwed onto the bolt  44 . 
     The roof head lining  42  is made of resin and is formed by a base material  43  and a surface cover  45 . When the air bag body  16  expands, the vehicle transverse direction outer side portion  42 A of the roof head lining  42  deforms, as indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, toward the interior side of the vehicle due to the expansion force of the air bag body  16 , and the air bag body  16  thereby expands from the opening toward the interior of the vehicle. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, a sun visor  54  is disposed above and near a front window  52  and is provided to be biaxially rotatable so as to be able to shut out sunlight coming from a transverse direction side of the vehicle as well. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, one end of an arm shaft  56  which forms one part of an arm of the sun visor  54  is connected to an L-shaped bent arm joint  58  which forms another part of the arm. One end of the arm joint  58  is supported at a bracket  60  such that the arm joint  58  rotates in inward directions substantially on a horizontal plane (i.e., the directions indicated by arrows A and B in FIG.  1 ). The bracket  60  is fixed to a header panel (not shown) by self-tapping screws  62 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the arm shaft  56  of the sun visor  54  is rotatably connected to the arm joint  58  such that the arm shaft  56  can rotate in inward directions on a vertical plane (i.e., the directions indicated by arrows C and D in FIG.  2 ). Further, the sun visor  54  is formed by a main body portion  64  in which the arm shaft  56  bent in a rectangular form is built-in as a frame  57  at a peripheral edge portion thereof, and an overhang portion  66  disposed at the side of the main body portion  64  and having a portion which projects further outward in the transverse direction of the vehicle than a point P at which the arm joint  58  is mounted to the roof head lining  42 . A frame  68  bent into a rectangular shape is built-in at a peripheral edge portion of the overhang portion  66  and is fixed, at a side  68 A adjacent to the main body portion  64 , to a side  57 A of the frame  57  at two welded portions Y 1  and Y 2  formed with a predetermined distance therebetween. 
     Accordingly, when a predetermined load or more acts on the overhang portion  66 , the two welded portions Y 1  and Y 2  break, and as indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, the overhang portion  66  easily deforms downward with respect to the main body portion  64  (i.e., in the direction indicated by arrow F in FIG.  1 ). 
     Next, operation of the present first embodiment will be described. 
     In the present first embodiment, when a side-collision load of a predetermined value or more acts on the side portion of the vehicle body, the occurrence of a side surface collision of the vehicle is detected by the sensor  12 . The inflator  14  then operates to eject a predetermined amount of gas. As a result, the air bag body  16  starts to expand, and then further expands similarly to a curtain down to beneath the roof side rail  28  while pushing open the case  50  as well as the pillar garnish  26  of the front pillar  20  and the vehicle transverse direction outer side portion  42 A of the roof head lining  42 . The air bag body  16  is thus interposed between the side portion of the vehicle body and the head of the vehicle occupant to protect the head of the vehicle occupant. 
     In this case, as illustrated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, when the vehicle transverse direction outer side portion  42 A of the roof head lining  42  interferes with the overhang portion  66  of the sun visor  54  and a predetermined load or more acts on the overhang portion  66 , the two welded portions Y 1  and Y 2 , which are portions at which the frame  68  of the overhang portion  66  and the frame  57  of the main body portion  64  are connected, break, and the overhang portion  66  thereby easily deforms downward with respect to the main body portion  64  (i.e., in the direction indicated by arrow F in FIG.  1 ). For this reason, load applied from the air bag body  16  to the sun visor  54  is effectively absorbed and transmission of load to the main body portion  64 , the arm shaft  56 , and the arm joint  58  can be kept to a minimum. As a result, by using a simple structure, it is possible to limit the breakage of the sun visor  54  to merely the downward bending of the overhang portion  66  and also to prevent the sun visor  54  from coming off from the vehicle body. 
     With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, a description will be hereinafter given of a second embodiment of an interior equipment mounting structure for a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bag body according to the present invention. 
     The same members as those of the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, in the present second embodiment, the head-protecting air bag device  10  is disposed along the front pillar  20  and the roof side rail  28  at the side of a front passenger seat  70 . An assist grip  72 , which serves as roof head lining deformation limiting means and which is used as interior equipment of the roof side rail portion, is disposed at an intermediate position between a portion where the roof side rail  28  is connected to the front pillar  20  and a portion where the roof side rail  28  is connected to the center pillar  18 . 
     As shown in FIG. 5, a bracket  76  having a substantially hat-shaped cross-sectional configuration and serving as an energy absorbing member is fixed to the surface of the rail inner panel  40  at an interior side of the vehicle. The plate thickness of the bracket  76  is set to be smaller than that of the rail inner panel  40 . A through hole  77  is formed in the rail inner panel  40  at a position which faces the bracket  76 . 
     A concave portion  74  is formed at the vehicle transverse direction outer side portion  42 A of the roof head lining  42  (i.e., at a predetermined position at the roof side rail  28 ) in such a manner as to be recessed toward the roof side rail  28 . 
     The air bag body  16  of the air bag device  10  and the case  50  are accommodated in a space  78  surrounded by the outer end of the roof head lining  42 , the rail inner panel  40 , and the bracket  76 . The air bag body  16  is folded so as to have a rectangular cross-sectional configuration along the line perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the air bag body, and an upper end portion  16 D of the air bag body  16  extends along the bracket  76  and the concave portion  74 . Correspondingly, the case  50  for maintaining the shape of the air bag body  16  is also bent into a rectangular shape, and the upper wall portions  50 D and  50 E which cover the front and rear surfaces of the upper end portion  16 D of the air bag body  16  also extend along the bracket  76  and the concave portion  74 . Accordingly, when the head of the vehicle occupant secondarily strikes against the assist grip  72  at the time of a side collision of the vehicle, the bracket  76  which has a small plate thickness plastically deforms to allow absorption of energy. 
     At this time, a fastener  80 , which will be described later, passes through the through hole  77  formed in the rail inner panel  40  and moves backward toward an interior side of the closed space of the roof side rail  28 . A rib may be provided at a position which faces the air bag body  16  (i.e., a position between the upper end of the roof side rail  28  and the roof head lining  42 ) to absorb energy generated during the secondary colliding of the head of the vehicle occupant at the time of a side collision. 
     The assist grip  72  made of resin is provided at the concave portion  74  of the roof head lining  42 . The assist grip  72  is formed by a grip portion  72 A (see FIG. 6) which the vehicle occupant grips, flat plate-shaped mounting portions  72 B provided at front and rear ends of the grip portion  72 A in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and cover portions  72 C which cover the mounting portions  72 B, respectively. 
     The assist grip  72  is fixed by fasteners  80 , each of which is formed by a collar  82 , a fixing bolt  84 , a washer  86 , and a nut  88 . More specifically, the cylindrical collar  82  made of resin is fitted with a predetermined position of the concave portion  74  of the roof head lining  42  (i.e., a position coaxial with the through hole  77  of the rail inner panel  40 ). Each mounting portion  72 B of the assist grip  72  is fixed to the b racket  76  by placing the mounting portion  72 B at the vehicle interior side end of the collar  82 , inserting the fixing bolt  84 , which passes through the washer  86 , into the collar  82 , and screwing the fixing bolt  84  with the nut  88 . 
     In the present second embodiment, the upper end portion  16 D of the air bag body  16  and the upper wall portions  50 D and  50 E of the case  50  are disposed in a state of contacting one another (i.e., in a state of being nipped) between the vehicle exterior side surface of the concave portion  74  of the roof head lining  42  and the vehicle interior side surface of the bracket  76 . The upper end portion  16 D of the air bag body  16  and the upper wall portions  50 D and  50 E of the case  50  are, together with the assist grip  72 , fastened together by the fasteners  80  for fixing the assist grip  72 . The assist grip  72  is fixed at two positions (one at the front side and one at the rear side of the assist grip  72 ), and the upper end portion  16 D of the air bag body  16  and the upper wall portions  50 D and  50 E of the case  50  are fastened together at both fixing points. 
     Further, a cushion  90  made of resin is disposed between the collar  82  and the concave portion  74  of the roof head lining  42 . A seating  92  is provided around the cushion  90  at the roof head lining  42  side. The seating  92  is made of metal so as to have a high rigidity, and is nipped between the outer periphery of the cushion  90  and the roof head lining  42 . 
     The structure in which the air bag body  16  and the upper wall portions  50 D and  50 E of the case  50  are tightened together is applied similarly to an assist grip disposed at the rear side of the vehicle. Further, regions of the air bag body  16  other than the portions where the assist grip  72  is disposed are fixed at suitable intervals by fasteners exclusively used for the air bag. 
     Next, the operation and effects of the present second embodiment will be described. 
     When a side-collision load of a predetermined value or more acts on the side portion of the vehicle body, the occurrence of a side-surface collision is detected by the sensor  12 . For this reason, the inflator  14  operates and ejects a predetermined amount of gas. As a result, the air bag body  16  starts to expand, and due to the swelling pressure at this time, the case  50  is broken at the corner portion  50 A so as to allow unfolding of the air bag body  16 . The inflated air bag body  16  further expands similarly to a curtain to below the roof side rail  28  while pushing open the front pillar garnish  26  and the vehicle transverse direction outer side portion  42 A of the roof head lining  42 . As a result, the air bag body  16  is interposed between the side portion of the vehicle body and the head of the vehicle occupant to protect the head of the vehicle occupant. 
     In the present second embodiment, the mounting portions  72 B of the assist grip  72  serving as the roof head lining deformation limiting means restrict deformation of the vehicle transverse direction outer side portion  42 A of the roof head lining  42  at this time so as to prevent the roof head lining  42  from interfering with the sun visor  54  disposed near the roof head lining  42 . In this case, even if the outer side portion  42 A of the roof head lining  42  were to interfere with the sun visor  54  disposed near the roof head lining  42 , impact load acting on the sun visor  54  would be significantly lessened. For this reason, breakage of the sun visor  54  can be reduced and the sun visor  54  can also be prevented from falling off. 
     The present second embodiment provides the seating  92  having high rigidity around the cushion  90  for fixing the assist grip  72  to the vehicle body. Therefore, concentration of load caused by deformation of the outer side portion  42 A of the roof head lining  42  during the expansion of the air bag body is received by the high-rigidity seating  92  so as to prevent transmission of load to the cushion  90  made of resin. As a result, cracking or falling off of the cushion  90  can be prevented. 
     Further, in the present embodiment, when the head of the vehicle occupant secondarily strikes against the assist grip  72  at the time of side collision of the vehicle, the bracket  76  formed to have a relatively small plate thickness plastically deforms, and the fastener  80  passes through the through hole  77  formed in the rail inner panel  40  and moves backward toward the interior of the closed space of the roof side rail  28 , thereby allowing absorption of energy. For this reason, even if the head of the vehicle occupant abuts against the assist grip  72  at the time of collision of the vehicle, the impact applied to the head of the vehicle occupant can be lessened. 
     Moreover, in the present embodiment, the assist grip  72  is used as the roof head lining deformation limiting means, and therefore, it is not necessary to provide a special roof head lining deformation limiting means particularly used for that purpose. A reduction in cost can be achieved accordingly. 
     With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, a description will be hereinafter given of a third embodiment of an interior equipment mounting structure for a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bag body. 
     The same members as those of the second embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. 
     As shown in FIG. 8, in the present third embodiment, the head-protecting air bag device  10  is disposed along the front pillar  20  and the roof side rail  28  at the side of a driver&#39;s seat  94 . A card holder  96 , which serves as the roof head lining deformation limiting means and which is used as interior equipment of the roof side rail portion, is disposed at an intermediate position between a portion where the roof side rail  28  is connected to the front pillar  20  and a portion where the roof side rail  28  is connected to the center pillar  18 . 
     As shown in FIG. 7, the card holder  96  made of resin is disposed at the concave portion  74  of the roof head lining  42  and is formed to have a U-shaped cross-sectional configuration. An insert  98  is embedded in a mounting portion  96 A of the card holder  96 . The card holder  96  is fixed by a fastener  99  which is formed by a fixing screw  97  and a nut  88 . More specifically, the mounting portion  96 A of the card holder  96  abuts against a predetermined position of the concave portion  74  of the roof head lining  42  (i.e., a position coaxial with the through hole  77  of the rail inner panel  40 ), and the screw  97  passes through a through hole formed in the mounting portion  96 A. In this state, when the fixing screw  97  is screwed into the nut  88 , the mounting portion  96 A of the card holder  96  is fixed to the bracket  76 . 
     In the present embodiment, the upper end portion  16 D of the air bag body  16  and the upper wall portions  50 D and  50 E of the case  50  are, together with the card holder  96 , fastened together by the fastener  99  for fixing the card holder  96 . The card holder  96  is fixed at two places, one at the front side and one at the rear side, of the card holder  96  in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The upper end portion  16 D of the air bag body  16  and the upper wall portions  50 D and  50 E of the case  50  are fastened together at both fixing points. Further, the insert  98  is made of a metallic material such as iron and therefore has high rigidity. 
     Next, the operation and effects of the present third embodiment will be described. 
     When a side-collision load acts on the side portion of the vehicle body, the occurrence of a side-surface collision is detected by the sensor  12 . For this reason, the inflator  14  operates and ejects a predetermined amount of gas. As a result, the air bag body  16  starts to expand, and due to the swelling pressure thereof, the case  50  is broken at the corner portion  50 A so as to allow the air bag to unfold. The inflated air bag body  16  further expands similarly to a curtain to beneath the roof side rail  28  while pushing open the front pillar garnish  26  and the vehicle transverse direction outer side portion  42 A of the roof head lining  42 . As a result, the air bag body  16  is interposed between the side portion of the vehicle body and the head of the vehicle occupant so as to protect the head of the vehicle occupant. 
     At this time, in the present embodiment, the mounting portion  96 A of the card holder  96  serving as the roof head lining deformation limiting means restricts deformation of the outer side portion  42 A of the roof head lining  42  so as to prevent the roof head lining  42  from interfering with the sun visor  54  positioned near the roof head lining  42 . In this case, even if the outer side portion  42 A of the roof head lining  42  were to interfere with the sun visor  54  positioned near the roof head lining  42 , impact load acting on the sun visor  54  would be significantly lessened. For this reason, damage caused to the sun visor  54  can be lessened, and the sun visor  54  can also be prevented from falling off. 
     In the present third embodiment, the high-rigidity insert  98  is embedded in the mounting portion  96 A which fixes the card holder  96  to the vehicle body. Therefore, concentration of load caused by deformation of the outer side portion  42 A of the roof head lining  42  during expansion of the air bag body is received by the high-rigidity insert  98 , and thus cracking and falling off of the mounting portion  96 A of the card holder  96  can be prevented. 
     Further, in the present embodiment, when the head of the vehicle occupant secondarily strikes against the card holder  96  at the time of a side collision of the vehicle, the bracket  76  formed to have a relatively small plate thickness plastically deforms, and the fastener  99  passes through the through hole  77  formed in the rail inner panel  40  and moves backward toward the interior of the closed space of the roof side rail  28 , thereby allowing absorption of energy. For this reason, even if the head of the vehicle occupant hits the card holder  96  at the time of a collision of the vehicle, impact applied to the head of the vehicle occupant can be lessened. 
     Moreover, in the present third embodiment, the card holder  96  is used as the roof head lining deformation limiting means, and therefore, it is not necessary to provide a special roof head lining deformation limiting means exclusively used for this purpose. A reduction in cost can be achieved accordingly. 
     Although the present invention has been described in detail as related to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments thereof and other various modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the first embodiment, in the sun visor  54 , the frame  68  of the overhang portion  66  and the frame  57  of the main body portion  64  are fixed together at the two welding portions Y 1  and Y 2 , but the number of these welding portions is not limited to two. Further, these frames may be connected by other means such as bonding or engagement in place of welding. Moreover, a structure in which plate-shaped inserts are connected together may be used in place of the frames  68  and  57 . 
     Further, in the second and third embodiments, although the bracket  76  having a plate thickness smaller than that of the rail inner panel  40  and having a substantially hat-shaped cross-sectional configuration is used as the energy absorbing member, other energy absorbing members may be used in place of the bracket  76 . 
     Moreover, in each of the above-described embodiments, the structure in which the folded air bag body  16  is accommodated within the case  50  is employed. However, the case  50  is not necessarily required, and the air bag body  16  may be maintained in a folded state in such a manner that the folded air bag body  16  is partially wrapped by an easily-broken wrapping material or partially held temporarily by a tape-shaped hook-and-loop fastener.