Lamp retainer for curtain side airbag deployment

摘要

The present invention provides an automotive interior lamp assembly mounted to an automotive headliner further including a curtain side airbag mounted about the headliner. As the curtain side airbag quickly deploys and forces through the vehicle headliner, the lamp assembly can be forcibly detached from the headliner at a high rate of speed. The present invention provides an improved retainer to better attach the light assembly to the headliner thereby preventing detachment of the lamp assembly from the headliner. The lamp assembly includes a lamp housing having a lamp receiving configured to accept a lamp. The housing further includes a retainer receiving side configured to accept a retainer. The retainer attached to the housing by means of a plurality of attachment members provided on the retainer, and at least one snap member also provided on the retainer. The housing has a plurality of attachment member receiving cavities and at least one snap member receiving cavity. The retainer configured to slidably connect to the lamp housing. The retainer comprised of a generally U-shaped mid-section and at least one extended member sufficiently extending over the headliner as to prevent accidental dislodgment of the lamp assembly. As the curtain side airbag deploys, the extended side members of the retainer prevent dislodgment of the lamp assembly from the headliner.