Side impact or curtain air bag with position enhancing or locating mechanism

• US 20030080541A1
• Filed: 10/30/2001
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kalandek, Bruce A., Wipasuramonton, Pongdet P., Olson, Mark O., Salmo, Shakir M., Jakovski, Jovica J., Macy, Philip J., Hague, Michael A., MacLean, John C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,044,500 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

A side impact air bag curtain apparatus comprising: an inflatable air bag adapted to be installed within a vehicle in a stowed condition proximate the roof rail of a vehicle and when inflated expands from the stowed condition to a deployed condition generally in front of an adjacent side of the vehicle; the air bag including a set of first air bag anchors fixedly connected to a determinable set of fixed first vehicle anchors within the vehicle, the air bag including at least one second air bag anchor at an end of the air bag; and a force-resolving member such as a bent rod or other member fixedly mounted at a determinable orientation within the vehicle and adapted to slidingly receive and support the second air bag anchor. The force-resolving member in concert with the foreshortening of the air bag during inflation causing the second air bag anchor to move to a preferred orientation.

Claims

1. A side impact air bag curtain apparatus comprising:

an inflatable air bag adapted to be installed within a vehicle in a stowed condition proximate the roof rail of a vehicle and when inflated expands from the stowed condition to a deployed condition generally in front of an adjacent side of the vehicle;

the air bag including a set of first air bag anchors fixedly connected to a determinable set of fixed first vehicle anchors within the vehicle, the air bag including at least one movable air bag anchor at an end of the air bag; and

a force-directing member or guide fixedly mounted at a determinable orientation within the vehicle and adapted to slidingly receive and support the moving anchor, wherein upon inflation of the air bag, the air bag moves to the deployed condition causing the movable anchor to slide down the force-directing member so that upon inflation of the air bag the movable anchor is self located in or near a center of the force-directing member resisting any tendency of the curtain to move or be moved upwardly.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the force-directing member includes a bent rod with the rod mounted such that the apex of the rod tends to cause the second air bag anchor to self-center.

3. The system as defined in claim 2 wherein the force-directing member includes a positive locking portion.

4. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the force-directing member includes an apex directed away from the air bag.

5. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the force-directing member includes a shaped channel in an adjacent vehicle pillar.