Inflatable side curtain

• US 20020014762A1
• Filed: 09/19/2001
• Published: 02/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Bakhsh, Ali Emam, Stein, Russell E., Nayef, Ayad
• Granted Patent: US 6,471,240 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence

Abstract

Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) that has a side structure (16) and a roof (18) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) that is inflatable into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. An inflation fluid source (24) provides inflation fluid for inflating the protection device (14). The protection device (14), when inflated, has a perimeter (44) and front and rear portions (58 and 60) spaced apart horizontally along the protection device. The protection device (14) includes overlying panels (40 and 42) that define an inflatable volume (46) and at least one connection (80) within the perimeter (44) at which the overlying panels are interconnected. The at least one connection (80) defines inflatable chambers (100) of the protection device (14) that extend between the front and rear portions (58 and 60) in a generally horizontal direction when the protection device is inflated. The front and rear portions (58 and 60) are inflated more rapidly away from the vehicle roof (18) than the chambers (100) are inflated when the protection device (14) is inflated.

Claims

1. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, said apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant; and

an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, when inflated, having a perimeter and front and rear portions spaced apart horizontally along said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising overlying panels that define an inflatable volume and at least one connection within said perimeter at which said overlying panels are interconnected;

said at least one connection defining inflatable chambers of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that extend between said front and rear portions in a generally horizontal direction when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated, said front and rear portions being inflated more rapidly away from the vehicle roof than said inflatable chambers are inflated away from the vehicle roof when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is an inflatable curtain having a stored position extending along the side structure adjacent a roof of the vehicle, said inflatable curtain being inflated away from the vehicle roof into said position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said at least one connection has a length extending in a generally horizontal direction when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated, said at least one connection including first and second end portions and a middle portion located between said first and second end portions, said first and second end portions and said middle portion each having a width measured perpendicular to said horizontal direction, said width of said middle portion being greater that said widths of said first and second end portions.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said middle portion of said at least one connection is positioned adjacent a B pillar of the vehicle when said inflatable curtain is inflated.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said front portion of said inflatable curtain is at least partially defined by a front edge of said inflatable curtain extending between an upper edge and a lower edge of said inflatable curtain, and said rear portion of said inflatable curtain is at least partially defined by a rear edge of said inflatable curtain extending between said upper edge and said lower edge.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said first end portion of said at least one connection terminates adjacent said front portion of said inflatable curtain and is spaced away from said front edge of said inflatable curtain, and said second end portion of said at least one connection terminates adjacent said rear portion of said inflatable curtain and is spaced away from said rear edge of said inflatable curtain.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said front portion is partially defined by a front connection spaced away from said front edge of said inflatable curtain and extending transversely of said horizontal direction, and said rear portion is partially defined by a rear connection spaced away from said rear edge of said inflatable curtain and extending transversely of said horizontal direction.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said inflatable curtain further comprises an upper edge and a lower edge, said front and rear portions extending between said upper and lower edges, said inflation fluid flowing through said front and rear portions from adjacent said upper edge to adjacent said lower edge and then into said inflatable chambers when said inflatable curtain is inflated.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said front portion is partially defined by a front connection extending transversely of said horizontal direction, and said rear portion is partially defined by a rear connection extending transversely of said horizontal direction.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said inflatable chambers are in fluid communication with each other.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said overlying panels are woven together to form said at least one connection.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, further including a fill tube having a portion located in said inflatable curtain, said inflation fluid source being in fluid communication with said fill tube, said inflation fluid source, when actuated, providing inflation fluid to said fill tube, said fill tube directing said inflation fluid into said inflatable curtain to inflate said inflatable curtain.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said inflatable curtain, when inflated, extends along the side structure of the vehicle between an A pillar and a C pillar of the vehicle.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said inflatable curtain, when inflated, overlies at least a portion of an A pillar, a B pillar and a C pillar of the vehicle.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, further comprising a sensor for sensing a vehicle condition for which deployment of said inflatable curtain is desired, said sensor actuating said inflation fluid source to provide inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable curtain.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said inflation fluid source comprises an inflator which is actuatable to inflate said inflatable curtain.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is an inflatable curtain having a stored position extending along the side structure adjacent a roof of the vehicle, said inflatable curtain being inflated away from the vehicle roof into said position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant.

19. Apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said middle portion of said at least one connection is positioned adjacent a B pillar of the vehicle when said inflatable curtain is inflated.

20. Apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said front portion of said inflatable curtain is at least partially defined by a front edge of said inflatable curtain, and said rear portion of said inflatable curtain is at least partially defined by a rear edge of said inflatable curtain.

21. Apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein said first end portion of said at least one connection terminates adjacent said front portion of said inflatable curtain and is spaced away from said front edge of said inflatable curtain, and said second end portion of said at least one connection terminates adjacent said rear portion of said inflatable curtain and is spaced away from said rear edge of said inflatable curtain.

22. Apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said at least one connection at least partially defines inflatable chambers of said inflatable curtain that extend between said front and rear portions of said inflatable curtain in said generally horizontal direction.

23. Apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein said front portion and said rear portion of said inflatable curtain are inflated away from the vehicle roof more rapidly than said inflatable chambers are inflated away from the vehicle roof.

17. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, said apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant; and

an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, when inflated, having a perimeter and front and rear portions spaced apart horizontally along said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising overlying panels that define an inflatable volume and at least one connection within said perimeter at which said overlying panels are interconnected;

said at least one connection extending in a generally horizontal direction when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated, said at least one connection including first and second end portions and a middle portion located between said first and second end portions, said first and second end portions and said middle portion each having a width measured in a direction perpendicular to said horizontal direction, said width of said middle portion being greater than said widths of said first and second end portions.