Twist prevention apparatus and method for an inflatable airbag curtain
First Claim
1. An airbag assembly, comprising:
- an inflatable curtain having a gas inlet for receiving a gas guide and at least one mounting location for mounting the inflatable curtain to a vehicle; and
a stiffening member having a stiffness greater than the inflatable curtain, the stiffening member extending adjacent the at least one mounting location and along a length of the inflatable curtain such that the stiffening member is connectable to the gas guide.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inflatable airbag curtain assembly that includes an inflatable curtain and a stiffening member is provided. The stiffening member is a bar-shaped plastic, metal, or similar component with a stiffness greater than the inflatable curtain. The stiffening member extends along a length of the inflatable curtain adjacent the inlet port and the closest mounting location to the roof rail of the vehicle. The stiffening member can be disposed within a channel formed near the top edge of the curtain. The inlet port of the inflatable curtain can receive a gas guide that extends from an inflator. The stiffening member has an attaching portion that connects to a defined location on the gas guide. The stiffening member thereby resists twisting of the inflatable curtain between the gas guide junction and the closest mounting location.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. An airbag assembly, comprising:
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an inflatable curtain having a gas inlet for receiving a gas guide and at least one mounting location for mounting the inflatable curtain to a vehicle; and
a stiffening member having a stiffness greater than the inflatable curtain, the stiffening member extending adjacent the at least one mounting location and along a length of the inflatable curtain such that the stiffening member is connectable to the gas guide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An airbag assembly, comprising:
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an inflatable curtain having an inlet for receiving a gas guide and at least one mounting locations for mounting the inflatable curtain proximate a roof rail of a vehicle, the inflatable curtain further comprising a channel disposed adjacent the inlet and the at least one mounting location; and
a stiffening member having a stiffness greater than the inflatable curtain, the stiffening member disposed within the channel and extending adjacent the at least one mounting location and along a length of the inflatable curtain to proximate the inlet, the stiffening member having an attaching portion connectable to a defined location on the gas guide. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An airbag assembly, comprising:
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an inflator having a gas guide that extends from the inflator;
an inflatable curtain having an inlet receiving the gas guide and at least one mounting location for mounting the inflatable curtain proximate a roof rail of a vehicle; and
a stiffening member having a stiffness greater than the inflatable curtain, the stiffening member attached to the gas guide and extending along a length of the inflatable curtain adjacent the at least one mounting location. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method for resisting twisting of an inflatable curtain, comprising:
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obtaining an inflatable curtain having an inlet for receiving a gas guide and at least one mounting location for mounting the inflatable curtain proximate a roof rail of a vehicle;
positioning a stiffening member along a length of the inflatable curtain adjacent the at least one mounting location;
connecting the gas guide to the inlet of the inflatable curtain; and
attaching the stiffening member to the gas guide. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification