Inflatable curtain

• US 20050134025A1
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• 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., Ridella, Stephen A.
• Application Number:
  US10/742,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20050134025A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23566 Nesting of panels, i.e. for material utilisation
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) includes an inflatable curtain (14) that is inflatable away from a vehicle roof (18) of the vehicle to a position between a side structure (16) of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The inflatable curtain (14) has a length and includes opposite end portions (64 and 66) spaced apart along its length. The inflatable curtain (14) includes a portion that overlies a B pillar (32) of the vehicle (12). The inflatable curtain (14) has a first portion that has a first vertical height and extends from adjacent the B pillar (32) to one of the end portions (64 and 66). The inflatable curtain (14) has a second portion that has a second vertical height and extends from adjacent the B pillar (32) to the other of the end portions (64 and 66). The first and second vertical heights are different from each other.

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 curtain that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof to a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable curtain having a length and including opposite end portions spaced apart along its length, said inflatable curtain including a portion that overlies a B pillar of the vehicle;

said inflatable curtain having a first portion having a first vertical height and extending from adjacent the B pillar to one of said end portions, said inflatable curtain having a second portion having a second vertical height and extending from adjacent the B pillar to the other of said end portions, said first and second vertical heights being different from each other.

2. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said vertical height is measured between spaced and generally parallel upper and lower edges of said inflatable curtain.

3. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said vertical height is measured between a lower edge of said inflatable curtain and a longitudinal axis of said inflatable curtain.

4. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said inflatable curtain comprises a plurality of inflatable chambers, at least one of said chambers having a curved configuration and extending from between the B pillar and said first end portion to between the B pillar and said second end portion.

5. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said first portion of said inflatable curtain comprises a front portion extending forward from adjacent the B pillar to one of said opposite end portions, and said second portion of said inflatable curtain comprises a rear portion extending rearward from adjacent the B pillar to the other of said opposite end portions.

6. The apparatus recited in claim 5, wherein said inflatable curtain comprises a plurality of inflatable chambers, at least one of said chambers having a curved configuration extending from said front portion into said rear portion of said inflatable curtain.

7. The apparatus recited in claim 5, wherein said front portion has a vertical height that is greater than a vertical height of said rear portion.

8. The apparatus recited in claim 5, wherein said front portion has a vertical height that is at least 15% greater than a vertical height of said rear portion.

9. The apparatus recited in claim 7, wherein the vertical height of said front portion is sufficient to extend down to adjacent or below a belt line of the vehicle when the inflatable curtain is inflated, said rear portion being fixed to a portion of the vehicle roof having a curved downward configuration such that said rear portion when inflated extends down to adjacent or below the belt line of the vehicle.

10. The apparatus recited in claim 5, wherein said rear portion has a vertical height that is greater than a vertical height of said front portion.

11. The apparatus recited in claim 5, wherein said rear portion has a vertical height that is at least 15% greater than a vertical height of said front portion.

12. The apparatus recited in claim 10, wherein said rear portion comprises a chamber that extends vertically lower than said front portion.

13. The apparatus recited in claim 10, wherein said rear portion comprises a chamber that extends entirely vertically below the lower edge of the front portion.

14. 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 inflatable away from the vehicle roof to a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable curtain having a front portion extending forward in the vehicle from adjacent a B pillar of the vehicle, and a rear portion extending rearward in the vehicle from adjacent the B pillar;

said front portion having a first vertical height, said rear portion having a second vertical height, said first vertical height being greater than said second vertical height.

15. The apparatus recited in claim 14, wherein said first vertical height is at least 15% greater than said second vertical height.

16. The apparatus recited in claim 14, wherein said front portion extends from adjacent the B pillar forward to adjacent an A pillar of the vehicle and said rear portion extends from adjacent the B pillar rearward to adjacent a C pillar of the vehicle.

17. The apparatus recited in claim 14, wherein said front portion extends from adjacent the roof of the vehicle down to adjacent a belt line of the vehicle, and said rear portion being fixed to a portion of the vehicle roof having a curved downward configuration such that said rear portion when inflated extends down to the belt line of the vehicle.

18. The apparatus recited in claim 14, wherein said inflatable curtain comprises at least one inflatable chamber having a curved configuration and extending from said front portion into said rear portion of said inflatable curtain.

19. The apparatus recited in claim 14, wherein said inflatable curtain comprises at least one non-inflatable portion positioned adjacent the B-pillar of the vehicle when said inflatable curtain is inflated.

20. 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 inflatable away from the vehicle roof to a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable curtain having a front portion extending forward in the vehicle from adjacent a B pillar of the vehicle, and a rear portion extending rearward in the vehicle from adjacent the B pillar;

said front portion having a first vertical height, said rear portion having a second vertical height that is greater than said first vertical height.

21. The apparatus recited in claim 20, wherein said second vertical height is at least 15% greater than said first vertical height.

22. The apparatus recited in claim 20, wherein said front portion extends from adjacent the B pillar forward to adjacent an A pillar of the vehicle and said rear portion extends from adjacent the B pillar rearward to adjacent a C pillar of the vehicle.

23. The apparatus recited in claim 20, wherein said front portion extends from adjacent the roof of the vehicle down to adjacent a belt line of the vehicle, and said rear portion extends from adjacent the roof of the vehicle down to below the belt line of the vehicle.

24. The apparatus recited in claim 20, wherein said inflatable curtain comprises at least one inflatable chamber having a curved configuration and extending from said front portion into said rear portion of said inflatable curtain.

25. The apparatus recited in claim 20, wherein said inflatable curtain comprises at least one non-inflatable portion positioned adjacent the B-pillar of the vehicle when said inflatable curtain is inflated.