Pressure equalizing curtain airbag
First Claim
1. An airbag cushion, having a top and a bottom, comprising:
- at least two inflatable protection zones;
an inflation channel for receiving pressurized gas from a source of pressurized gas;
at least one connecting zone connecting one of the at least two inflatable protection zones to another inflatable protection zone; and
at least one communication channel disposed within the at least one connecting zone, the at least one communication channel communicating the pressurized gas between a first inflatable protection zone and a second inflatable protection zone.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inflatable airbag cushion for protecting occupants of a vehicle in a side impact, rollover, or other crash situation is presented. The airbag cushion has at least two inflatable protection zones. Each protection zone is configured to protect an occupant in a different seat of the vehicle. An inflation channel receives pressurized gas from a source of pressurized gas and directs the gas into the inflatable airbag. Each protection zone is separated from any adjacent protection zones by a connection zone. At least one communication channel allows the pressurized gas to flow between the protection zones. The gas flow between protection zones allows the pressure within the separate protection zones to equalize. The airbag cushion may have three protection zones and is configured to protect an occupant of a vehicle having pillars A through D. The first, second, and third protecting zones for protecting an occupant seated in the front, middle, and rear seats of the vehicle respectively. Each protection zone is in fluid communication with the adjacent protection zones by a communication channel. The airbag cushion may be formed by two membranes joined together through one of many attachment mechanisms.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. An airbag cushion, having a top and a bottom, comprising:
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at least two inflatable protection zones;
an inflation channel for receiving pressurized gas from a source of pressurized gas;
at least one connecting zone connecting one of the at least two inflatable protection zones to another inflatable protection zone; and
at least one communication channel disposed within the at least one connecting zone, the at least one communication channel communicating the pressurized gas between a first inflatable protection zone and a second inflatable protection zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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7. The cushion of claim 7, wherein the gas guide is configured to direct a portion of the pressurized gas toward a front end of the cushion and portion of the pressurized gas toward a rear end of the cushion.
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15. An airbag cushion comprising:
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a first membrane having an interior portion;
a second membrane having an interior portion, the first and second membranes attachable to form first, second, and third inflatable protection zones between the interior portions of the first and second membranes and to form two connecting zones between each of the inflatable protection zones;
an inflation channel configured to receive pressurized gas from a source of pressurized gas, the gas being directed into the inflatable protection zones by a gas guide; and
at least one communication channel disposed within one of the connecting zones to communicate the pressurized gas from one inflation zone to another inflation zone. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An airbag cushion, having a top and a bottom, for protecting an occupant of a vehicle, the vehicle have pillars A through D, the curtain comprising:
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a first inflatable protection zone for protecting a passenger seated between the A and B pillars;
a second inflatable protection zone for protecting a passenger seated between the B and C pillars;
a third inflatable protection zone for protecting a passenger seated between the C and D pillars;
a first connecting zone between the first protection zone and the second protection zone;
a second connecting zone between the second protection zone and the third protection zone;
an inflation channel for receiving pressurized gas from a source of pressurized gas, the inflation channel directing the pressurized gas into each of the protecting zones;
a first communication channel disposed within the first connecting zone, the first communication channel communicating the pressurized gas between the first protection zone and the second protection zone; and
a second communication channel disposed within the second connecting zone, the second communication channel communicating the pressurized gas between the second inflatable protection zone and the third inflatable protection zone. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39)
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Specification