Inflatable structure system and method for using the same

• US 20020027340A1
• Filed: 08/02/2001
• Published: 03/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zodiac Automotive US, Inc. (Safran SA)
• Original Assignee: Simula Inc (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Koster, Steven A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,508,487 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/08 automatically movable from an inoperative to an operative position, e.g. in a collision electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23184 Tubular air bags connected to the vehicle at their two extremities
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

A system and method for deploying a belt-line inflatable structure with substantial axial tension, the system including an inflatable structure serial assembly held at its ends by two static anchors. The serial assembly can be independent inflatable structures connected together, or one continuous inflatable structure. One or more dynamic anchors, mounted opposite the static anchors, restrains the serial assembly at an intermediate portion of the serial assembly such that the serial assembly has a first axis between the one static anchor and the one or more dynamic anchors and a second axis between the other static anchor and the one or more dynamic anchors. The dynamic anchor(s) allow the serial assembly to move axially along the first axis and the second axis and to equalize the axial tension of the serial assembly along the first and second axes. The system can further include a shield covering the inflatable structures.

Claims

1. An inflatable structure system comprising:

(a) a first static anchor attached to a first member of a vehicle;

(b) a second static anchor attached to the first member;

(c) a first inflatable structure attached to the first static anchor;

(d) a second inflatable structure attached to the second static anchor and connected to the first inflatable structure, such that a serial assembly is formed between the first static anchor and the second static anchor;

(e) at least one dynamic anchor attached to a second member of the vehicle opposite to the first member,

wherein the at least one dynamic anchor restrains the serial assembly at an intermediate portion of the serial assembly such that the serial assembly has a first axis between the first static anchor and the at least one dynamic anchor and a second axis between the second static anchor and the at least one dynamic anchor, and

wherein the at least one dynamic anchor allows the serial assembly to move axially along the first axis and the second axis.

2. The inflatable structure system of claim 1, wherein the at least one dynamic anchor is one of a bushing, a bearing, a pulley, an eyehook, a pin, a roller, a gear, a belt, a track, a D-ring, and a lever.

3. The inflatable structure system of claim 1, wherein the inflatable structure system is mounted across a window opening of the vehicle, wherein the window opening has a belt-line, wherein the second static anchor is attached to the first member closer to the belt-line than the first static anchor, and wherein the first inflatable structure and the second inflatable structure span the window opening when deployed.

4. The inflatable structure system of claim 3, wherein the first member is a C-pillar of the vehicle and the second member is an A-pillar of the vehicle.

5. The inflatable structure system of claim 3, wherein the first member is an A-pillar of the vehicle and the second member is a C-pillar of the vehicle.

6. The inflatable structure system of claim 3, wherein the window opening has a roof rail opposite the belt-line, and wherein the inflatable structure system further comprises a shield that is attached to the roof rail and encloses the first inflatable structure and the second inflatable structure, and wherein the shield spans an area of the window opening between the roof rail and the second inflatable structure.

7. The inflatable structure system of claim 3, wherein the window opening has a roof rail opposite the belt-line, and wherein the first inflatable structure and the second inflatable structure are stowed in the roof rail in an uninflated condition.

8. The inflatable structure system of claim 1, wherein the first inflatable structure and the second inflatable structure are joined by a joining cord, and wherein the joining cord wraps around the at least one dynamic anchor.

9. The inflatable structure system of claim 1, wherein the at least one dynamic anchor is a lever having a first end, a second end, and a fulcrum point in between the first end and the second end,

wherein the lever is pivotally attached to the second member at the fulcrum point,

wherein the first inflatable structure is attached to the first end of the lever, and

wherein the second inflatable structure is attached to the second end of the lever.

10. The inflatable structure system of claim 9, wherein the at least one dynamic anchor locks in place after the first inflatable structure and the second inflatable structure are fully deployed.

11. The inflatable structure system of claim 1, wherein the first inflatable structure and the second inflatable structure are a single continuous inflatable structure.

12. The inflatable structure system of claim 1, wherein the at least one dynamic anchor adjusts to different positions.

13. The inflatable structure system of claim 1, further comprising a shield that covers the first inflatable structure and the second inflatable structure.

14. The inflatable structure system of claim 1, wherein the at least one dynamic anchor comprises two dynamic anchors.

15. The inflatable structure system of claim 14, wherein a first dynamic anchor of the two dynamic anchors is substantially level with the first static anchor, and a second dynamic anchor of the two dynamic anchors is substantially level with the second static anchor.

16. The inflatable structure system of claim 1, wherein the at least one dynamic anchor comprises one dynamic anchor that keeps the first inflatable structure and the second inflatable structure substantially level when the first inflatable structure and the second inflatable structure deploy.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the first inflatable structure and the second inflatable structure are inflatable tubular structures.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the window opening has a roof rail at its top, and wherein, prior to the step of inflating, the method further comprises the step of stowing the serial assembly in the roof rail.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the window opening has a roof rail at its top, wherein a shield is attached to the roof rail, wherein the shield encloses the serial assembly, and wherein the method further comprises the step of covering, upon deployment, an area of the window opening from the roof rail to the second inflatable structure.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the inflatable structure serial assembly comprises one of:

two inflatable structures connected in series, and

one continuous inflatable structure that is pinched at the at least one dynamic anchor.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the inflatable structure serial assembly comprises two inflatable structures joined by a cord, and wherein the cord is wrapped around the at least one dynamic anchor.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the inflatable structure serial assembly comprises a first inflatable structure connected in series to a second inflatable structure,

wherein the at least one dynamic anchor comprises a lever pivotally attached to the second member, the lever having a first end and a second end on opposite sides of the pivotal attachment, and

wherein the first inflatable structure is attached to the first end of the lever and the second inflatable structure is attached to the second end of the lever.

25. The inflatable structure system of claim 24 further comprising:

(f) a shield attached to the roof rail, wherein the shield encloses the lower inflatable structure, and wherein upon deployment the shield covers an area of the vehicle window opening from the roof rail to the lower inflatable structure.

26. The inflatable structure system of claim 24, wherein the upper inflatable structure and the belt-line inflatable structure stow in the roof rail before deployment.

27. The inflatable structure system of claim 24, wherein the at least one dynamic anchor is a first dynamic anchor and a second dynamic anchor, and wherein the first dynamic anchor is substantially level with the first static anchor and the second dynamic anchor is substantially level with the second static anchor.

28. The inflatable structure system of claim 24, wherein the at least one dynamic anchor is one of a bushing, a bearing, a pulley, an eyehook, a pin, a roller, a gear, a belt, a track, a D-ring, and a lever.

29. The inflatable structure system of claim 24, wherein the upper inflatable structure and the lower inflatable structure are inflatable tubular structures.

30. The inflatable structure system of claim 24, wherein the at least one dynamic anchor adjusts to different positions.

18. A method for protecting an occupant against impact and ejection across a vehicle window opening,

the vehicle window opening having a first member on one side, a second member on another side, a first static anchor and a second static anchor mounted on the first member, and at least one dynamic anchor mounted on the second member,

wherein an inflatable structure serial assembly is attached to the first static anchor and the second static anchor,

wherein an intermediate portion of the serial assembly is restrained with the at least one dynamic anchor, thereby creating a first axis of the serial assembly between the first static anchor and the at least one dynamic anchor and a second axis of the serial assembly between the second static anchor and the at least one dynamic anchor, and allowing the serial assembly to move axially along the first axis and the second axis, and

wherein the method comprises the steps of:

inflating the serial assembly such that the serial assembly reduces substantially in length;

providing a first inflatable structure between the first static anchor and the at least one dynamic anchor and a second inflatable structure between the second static anchor and the at least one dynamic anchor; and

equalizing tensions of the serial assembly along the first axis and the second axis are substantially equal.

24. An inflatable structure system that provides occupant impact and ejection protection across a vehicle window opening, the vehicle window opening having a roof rail at its top and a belt-line at its bottom, the system comprising:

(a) a first static anchor mounted on a first vehicle structure at a first position;

(b) a second static anchor mounted on the first vehicle structure at a second position, wherein the second position is closer to the belt-line than the first position;

(c) at least one dynamic anchor mounted on a second vehicle structure opposite to the first vehicle structure;

(d) an upper inflatable structure attached to the first static anchor and attached to a joining cord; and

(e) a lower inflatable structure attached to the second static anchor and attached to the joining cord, wherein the joining cord is wrapped around the at least one dynamic anchor.

31. An inflatable structure system that provides occupant impact and ejection protection across a vehicle window opening, the vehicle window opening having a roof rail at its top and a belt-line at its bottom, the system comprising:

(a) a first static anchor attached to a first vehicle structure;

(b) a second static anchor attached to the first vehicle structure closer to the belt-line than the first static anchor;

(c) at least one dynamic anchor attached to a second vehicle structure opposite to the first vehicle structure; and

(d) an inflatable structure attached to the first static anchor and the second static anchor,

wherein the inflatable structure is wrapped around the at least one dynamic anchor, and

wherein, upon deployment, the inflatable structure is pinched by the at least one dynamic anchor to provide an upper inflatable portion between the first static anchor and the at least one dynamic anchor and a lower inflatable portion between the second static anchor and the at least one dynamic anchor.

32. The inflatable structure system of claim 31, wherein the at least one dynamic anchor comprises one dynamic anchor that keeps the upper inflatable portion and the lower inflatable portion substantially level during deployment.

33. The inflatable structure system of claim 31, wherein, before deployment, the inflatable structure is stowed in the roof rail.

34. The inflatable structure system of claim 31, further comprising a shield attached to the roof rail, wherein the shield encloses the inflatable structure.

36. The inflatable structure system of claim 35, wherein the lever is of a length that keeps the upper inflatable structure and the lower inflatable structure substantially level upon deployment.

37. The inflatable structure system of claim 35, wherein the upper inflatable structure and the lower inflatable structure are stowed in the roof rail.

38. The inflatable structure system of claim 35, wherein the lever locks in place after the upper inflatable structure and the lower inflatable structure are fully deployed.

39. The inflatable structure system of claim 35, wherein the upper inflatable structure and the lower inflatable structure are inflatable tubular structures.

35. An inflatable structure system that provides occupant impact and ejection protection across a vehicle window opening, the vehicle window opening having a roof rail at its top and a belt-line at its bottom, the system comprising:

(a) a first static anchor attached to a first vehicle structure;

(b) a second static anchor attached to the first vehicle structure closer to the belt-line than the first static anchor;

(c) a lever pivotally attached to a second vehicle structure opposite to the first vehicle structure, wherein the lever has a first end and a second end on opposite sides of the pivotal attachment;

(d) an upper inflatable structure attached to the first static anchor and attached to the first end of the lever; and

(e) a lower inflatable structure attached to the second static anchor and attached to the second end of the lever.

40. An inflatable structure system that protects an occupant against impact and ejection across a vehicle window opening, the vehicle window opening having a first member on one side and a second member on another side, the system comprising:

(a) means for statically attaching a first end and a second end of an inflatable structure serial assembly to a first member;

(b) means for dynamically anchoring an intermediate portion of the serial assembly to create a first axis of the serial assembly between the first end and the means for dynamically anchoring and a second axis of the serial assembly between the second end and the means for dynamically anchoring, such that the serial assembly can move axially along the first axis and the second axis; and

(c) means for inflating the serial assembly such that the serial assembly reduces substantially in length,

thereby providing a first inflatable structure between the first end and the means for dynamically anchoring, and a second inflatable structure between the second end and the means for dynamically anchoring, and

wherein tensions of the serial assembly along the first axis and the second axis are substantially equal.