Air-bag arrangement

• US 20030052477A1
• Filed: 07/26/2002
• Published: 03/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stow, David, Bastien, Olivier, Valkenburg, Simon, Challa, Venkata
• Granted Patent: US 6,796,577 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 21/08 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 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

An air-bag in the form of an inflatable curtain has a plurality of zones each provided with vertically extending cells defined by seams. Uninflatable regions are provided, the uninflatable regions being provided with oval apertures. On deployment of the inflatable curtain, the oval apertures will distend to become circular, enabling the uninflated region effectively to stretch to moderate the tension generated between two anchoring points connected by straps to the lower edge of the air-bag.

Claims

1. An air-bag arrangement in the form of an inflatable curtain adapted to be mounted in a motor vehicle and adapted, when inflated, to extend adjacent the side windows of the motor vehicle, the air-bag arrangement including an inflatable element having an upper edge provided with means to mount the upper edge to the roof of a motor vehicle, and an opposed lower edge, the opposed ends of the lower edge being provided with means to connect the said opposed ends to anchoring points within a motor vehicle, the lower edge of the inflatable element having between the anchoring points at least one inflatable region and at least one uninflatable region, the uninflatable region being provided with one or more apertures therein, the arrangement being such that, on inflation of the inflatable element, the width of the or each aperture will increase to moderate the tension generated between the said anchoring points by the inflation of the inflatable region.

2. An air-bag arrangement according to claim 1 wherein there are at least two inflatable regions separated by a said uninflatable region.

3. An air-bag arrangement according to claim 1 wherein a gas flow duct is defined adjacent the upper edge of the inflatable element, and the gas flow duct communicates with the inflatable regions, each of which extends from the gas flow duct towards the lower edge of the inflatable element, at least one inflatable region being divided into a plurality of inflatable cells by means of seams provided within each inflatable region.

4. An air-bag arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the inflatable element has three inflatable regions, and two uninflatable regions which separate the three inflatable regions, each of the inflatable regions being provided with said apertures.

5. An air-bag arrangement according to any one of claim 1 wherein the inflatable element has an uninflatable region located between an inflatable part of the lower edge and at least one of the anchoring points.

6. An air-bag arrangement according to claim 5 wherein respective uninflatable regions are located between a main part of the lower edge and each of the two anchoring points.

7. An air-bag arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the uninflatable region is provided with a plurality of apertures.

8. An air-bag arrangement according to claim 7 wherein the plurality of apertures are provided in a plurality of rows of apertures, at least one row of apertures extending adjacent and parallel with the lower edge of the inflatable element, and another row of apertures extending at a location between the lower-most row of apertures and the upper edge of the inflatable element.

9. An air-bag arrangement according to claim 7 wherein the number of apertures present in the lower row of apertures is greater than the number of apertures present in the upper row of apertures.

10. An air-bag arrangement according to claim 7 wherein the apertures are oval apertures.

11. An air-bag arrangement according to claim 7 wherein the apertures are zig-zag apertures.

12. A method of making an inflatable element of an air-bag arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the method comprises the steps of using a one-piece weaving process to fabricate the inflatable curtain, and a laser cutting process to cut the or each aperture.