Vehicle having actuator for door and methods for same

A vehicle comprising:

• a body at least partially defining a passenger compartment and comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, and a pillar member that extends to each of the upper portion and the lower portion, wherein the upper portion, the lower portion, and the pillar member cooperate to at least partially define a door opening;
• a door pivotally coupled with the body adjacent to the door opening;
• and
• a supplemental restraint system comprising:
• a plurality of airbags disposed within the passenger compartment;
• an actuator coupled with the pillar member and comprising a movable member that is movable between a deployed position and a retracted position along a path of travel, the movable member having a centerline that is parallel with the path of travel and comprising a striking surface that is intersected by the centerline;
• a collision sensor configured to generate a collision signal in response to a collision;
• and
• a supplemental restraint system controller electrically coupled with the plurality of airbags, the actuator, and the collision sensor;
• wherein:
• the supplemental restraint system controller is configured to facilitate deployment of the plurality of airbags and movement of the movable member into the deployed position substantially simultaneously and in response to receipt of the collision signal from the collision sensor;
• when the movable member is in the deployed position with the door closed, the striking surface of the movable member contacts the door at a location that is intersected by the centerline of the movable member such that the movable member cooperates with the door to provide a collision load path through the door substantially along a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle;
• once the movable member contacts the striking surface of the door, the movable member is prevented from further movement away from the retracted position;
• the movable member is fully extended when in the deployed position;
• and
• when the movable member is in the retracted position, the movable member is spaced from the door.

A method for operating a supplemental restraint system of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• detecting a collision;
• in response to the detection of a collision, deploying a movable member of an actuator along a path of travel, the movable member having a centerline that is parallel with the path of travel and comprising a striking surface that is intersected by the centerline;
• and
• contacting a door of the vehicle with the striking surface of the movable member at a location that is intersected by the centerline of the movable member such that the movable member cooperates with the door to provide a collision load path through the door substantially along a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle;
• wherein the movable member is fully extended when deployed;
• and
• wherein once the movable member contacts the striking surface of the door, the movable member is prevented from further movement away from the retracted position.