Occupant Safety Device For Roof Reinforcement

Abstract

An occupant safety device for a motor vehicle having a roof. The safety occupant device comprises a support structure slidably mounted within the vehicle that, upon actuation, extends vertically upwardly within the vehicle to cooperate with the vehicle's roof to increase the amount of weight that the roof can support. The support structure includes an overhanging top portion having a length and a direction of overhang that, upon actuation of the support structure, provide early roof engagement in the event of roof crush.

1 . An occupant safety device for a motor vehicle having a roof, the safety device comprising: 
 a support structure slidably mounted within the vehicle that, upon actuation, extends vertically upwardly within the vehicle to cooperate with the vehicle's roof to increase the amount of weight that the roof can support,    wherein the support structure includes an overhanging top portion having a length and a direction of overhang that, upon actuation of the support structure, provide early roof engagement in the event of roof crush.    
   
   
       2 . The occupant safety device of  claim 1 , further comprising an activation mechanism to activate the support structure.  
   
   
       3 . The occupant safety device of  claim 2 , wherein the activation mechanism is connected to a sensor and activates the support structure when the sensor senses a crash condition for which vehicle roof reinforcement is desirable.  
   
   
       4 . The occupant safety device of  claim 1 , further comprising a first headrest portion attached to the support structure and at least partially surrounding the overhanging top portion, which acts as a headrest when the support structure is not activated.  
   
   
       5 . The occupant safety device of  claim 4 , wherein the support structure is situated in the vehicle and includes first and second substantially vertical portions, the first substantially vertical portion being located toward an exterior of the vehicle and the second substantially vertical portion being located toward an interior of the vehicle, and 
 wherein the overhanging top portion extends between the first and second substantially vertical portions and includes a portion that overhangs the first substantially vertical portion in a direction of the vehicle exterior.    
   
   
       6 . The occupant safety device of  claim 1 , further comprising a retaining mechanism adapted to retain the support structure in an extended position.  
   
   
       7 . An occupant safety device for a motor vehicle having a pillared roof, the safety device comprising: 
 a support structure slidably mounted within the vehicle that, upon actuation, extends vertically upwardly within the vehicle to cooperate with the vehicle's roof to increase the amount of weight that the roof can support,    wherein the support structure includes an overhanging top portion having a length and a direction of overhang that, upon actuation of the support structure, provide early roof engagement in the event of a vehicle rollover.    
   
   
       8 . The occupant safety device of  claim 7 , further comprising an activation mechanism to activate the support structure.  
   
   
       9 . The occupant safety device of  claim 8 , wherein the activation mechanism is connected to a sensor and activates the support structure when the sensor senses a crash condition for which vehicle roof reinforcement is desirable.  
   
   
       10 . The occupant safety device of  claim 7 , further comprising a first headrest portion attached to the support structure and at least partially surrounding the overhanging top portion, which acts as a headrest when the support structure is not activated.  
   
   
       11 . The occupant safety device of  claim 10 , wherein the support structure is situated in the vehicle and includes first and second substantially vertical portions, the first substantially vertical portion being located toward an exterior of the vehicle and the second substantially vertical portion being located toward an interior of the vehicle, and 
 wherein the overhanging top portion extends between the first and second substantially vertical portions and includes a portion that overhangs the first substantially vertical portion in a direction of the vehicle exterior.    
   
   
       12 . The occupant safety device of  claim 7 , further comprising a retaining mechanism adapted to retain the support structure in an extended position.  
   
   
       13 . A method of making an occupant safety device for a motor vehicle having a roof, the method comprising: 
 providing a support structure having an overhanging top portion; and    slidably mounting the support structure within the vehicle so that, upon actuation, the support structure extends vertically upwardly within the vehicle to cooperate with the vehicle's roof to increase the amount of weight that the roof can support,    wherein the overhanging top portion has a length and direction of overhang that provide early roof engagement upon actuation in the event of roof crush.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising providing an activation mechanism to activate the support structure.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the activation mechanism is connected to a sensor and activates the support structure when the sensor senses a crash condition for which vehicle roof reinforcement is desirable.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the activation mechanism comprises at least one spring.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the activation mechanism comprises a pyrotechnic device.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising providing a first headrest portion attached to the support structure and at least partially surrounding the overhanging top portion, which acts as a headrest when the support structure is not activated.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the support structure is situated in the vehicle and includes first and second substantially vertical portions, the first substantially vertical portion being located toward an exterior of the vehicle and the second substantially vertical portion being located toward an interior of the vehicle, and 
 wherein the overhanging top portion extends between the first and second substantially vertical portions and includes a portion that overhangs the first substantially vertical portion in a direction of the vehicle exterior.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising providing a retaining mechanism adapted to retain the support structure in an extended position.