Vehicle greenhouse support assembly and associated method

摘要

A vehicle greenhouse support assembly has an elongated substantially rigid beam, a deformable sheet covering at least a portion of the beam adapted to face the interior of the vehicle with the deformable sheet having a plurality of protrusions. An overlying trim element covers at least a portion of the deformable sheet. The protrusions preferably cover about 30 to 60 percent of the sheet and the sheet is preferably an aluminum sheet having a thickness of about 0.01 inch to 0.02 inch. Impact between the support assembly and a passenger will cause deformation and/or tearing of the deformable sheet and absorption of at least a portion of the energy impact, thereby minimizing the likelihood of a vehicle occupant suffering a serious injury. An associated method is provided.