Multi-layered inflatable curtain

• US 20020163167A1
• Filed: 05/02/2001
• Published: 11/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2001
• 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: Hill, Bruce R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,742,805 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 2021/23514 coated fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23523 Composite coated fabric B60R2021/23514
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23547 one piece weaving
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/235 characterised by their material

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). The protection device (14) is inflatable away from the vehicle roof (18) into a position between the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant. The protection device (14) includes first and second overlying panels (40 and 42) that are interconnected to define an inflatable volume (50). The first panel (40) includes a first predetermined number of layers of material (94) and the second panel (42) includes a second predetermined number of layers of material (90 and 92) greater than the first predetermined number of layers.

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 adapted to inflate away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising first and second overlying panels interconnected to define an inflatable volume, said first panel comprising a first predetermined number of layers of material, said second panel comprising a second predetermined number of layers of material greater than said first predetermined number of layers.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said second panel is positioned adjacent the side structure of the vehicle when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first panel comprises a single layer of material and said second panel comprises at least two layers of material.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said at least two layers extend substantially over the entire area of said second panel.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second panels are constructed of fabric.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said first and second panels are woven simultaneously, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device thus having a woven one piece construction.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein adjacent layers of said second panel are interwoven at predetermined locations on said second panel.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said first panel and a first layer of said second panel are interwoven to provide a woven one piece construction of said first panel and said first layer of said second panel.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said second layer of said second panel is connected to said first layer of said second panel by a layer of laminate material.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said second layer of said second panel is constructed of a different material than said first layer of said second panel.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said material used to construct said second layer of said second panel has a greater resistance to wear than said material used to construct said first layer of said second panel.

12. Apparatus as defied in claim 5, wherein adjacent layers of said second panel are interconnected by a first layer of laminate material disposed between said adjacent layers.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12, further comprising a second layer of laminate material connected to an outer surface of said first panel.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said first layer of laminate material extends substantially along the entire area of said second panel between said adjacent layers of said second panel and said second layer of laminate material covers a substantial portion of the first panel.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said first and second layers of laminate material comprise a gas impermeable material.

16. apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device has a generally gas tight construction.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second panels are interconnected at predetermined locations on said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

18. 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 to the vehicle roof when said inflatable curtain is in said stored position.

19. Apparatus as defined in claim 18, further comprising an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable curtain, and means for directing said inflation fluid into said inflatable volume to inflate said inflatable curtain.

20. Apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said means for directing said inflation fluid comprises a fill tube having a portion located in said inflatable curtain.

21. Apparatus as defined in claim 20, 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.

22. Apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said inflation fluid source comprises an inflator that is actuatable to inflate said inflatable curtain.

25. Apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein said inflatable curtain has a woven one piece construction.

26. Apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein said second panel is positioned adjacent the side structure of the vehicle when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated.

29. The method as defined in claim 28, wherein said steps of weaving said first panel and weaving said second panel are performed simultaneously, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device thus having a woven one piece construction.

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

an inflatable curtain that is adapted to inflate away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable curtain comprising first and second overlying panels interconnected to define an inflatable volume, said second panel being positioned adjacent the side structure of the vehicle when said inflatable curtain is inflated, said second panel being reinforced to have a wear resistance greater than said first panel.

24. An inflatable curtain that is inflatable away from a vehicle roof into a position between a side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable curtain comprising:

first and second panels defining an inflatable volume located between said panels, said first panel comprising a single layer of woven material, said second panel comprising at least two layers of woven material, said at least two layers being interwoven at predetermined locations on said second panel to interconnect said at least two layers,

said first and second panels overlying each other and interwoven to provide said inflatable volume.

27. 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 adapted to inflate away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising first and second overlying panels interconnected to define an inflatable volume, said second panel comprising first and second layers of material,

said first panel and said first layer being interwoven to provide a woven one piece construction of said first panel and said first layer of said second panel, said second layer being connected to an outer surface of said first layer of said second panel by a layer of laminate material disposed between said first and second layers.

28. A method for manufacturing an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from a vehicle roof into a position between a side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said method comprising the steps of:

weaving a first panel, said first panel comprising a single layer of material;

weaving a second panel, said second panel comprising at least two layers of material;

interweaving said at least two layers at predetermined locations on said second panel to interconnect said at least two layers;

positioning said first and second panels overlying each other; and

interweaving said first and second panels to define an inflatable volume of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

30. A method for manufacturing an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from a vehicle roof into a position between a side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said method comprising the steps of:

weaving a first panel, said first panel comprising a single layer of material;

weaving a second panel, said second panel comprising a single layer of material;

interconnecting said first and second panels to define an inflatable volume of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

coating an outer surface of said second panel with a layer of laminate material;

placing a reinforcing layer in an adjacent and overlying relationship with said outer surface of said second panel; and

connecting said reinforcing layer to said outer surface of said second panel with said layer of laminate material.

31. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein said step of connecting said reinforcing layer comprises the step of applying a combination of heat and pressure to said second layer, said reinforcing layer and said layer of laminate material.

32. the method as defined in claim 31, wherein said step of applying a combination of heat and pressure is performed via heated rollers.

33. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein said step of interconnecting said first and second panels comprises the step of interweaving said first and second panels simultaneously to provide a woven one piece construction of said first and second panels.

34. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein said step of coating said outer surface of said second panel comprises the step of placing a sheet of laminate material in an adjacent and overlying relationship with said outer surface of said second panel.