Side curtain air bag design

• US 20050161917A1
• Filed: 12/10/2004
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Stevens, Bruce A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,672,351 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

A side curtain airbag (110, 210, 310, 410, 510) for use with a linear gas generator or inflator. In one embodiment, the airbag (110, 210, 310, 410) includes a first panel (113, 213, 313, 413), a second panel (114, 214, 314, 414) adjacent the first panel, and a plurality of elliptically-shaped seams (116, 220, 320, 420) connecting the adjacent panels to define a plurality of inflation fluid flow passages (117, 217, 317, 417) between the seams. In another embodiment, the airbag includes a first panel (513), a second panel (514) adjacent the first panel, and a plurality of substantially straight seams (520) connecting the adjacent panels to define a plurality of inflation fluid flow passages (517) between the seams (520). Use of the seam patterns described herein in side airbag systems allows for improved airbag performance, particularly when used in conjunction with a linear inflator. Inflation of the airbag takes place in a more uniform manner, reducing the risk of localized overpressurization and seam bursting, and improving occupant protection. Moreover, the seam patterns disclosed herein are relatively simple, and their manufacture is relatively easy ands inexpensive.

Claims

1. An airbag comprising:

a first panel;

a second panel adjacent the first panel; and

a plurality of elliptically-shaped seams connecting the adjacent panels to define a plurality of inflation fluid flow passages between the seams.

2. The airbag of claim 1 wherein each of the seams has a length, and the lengths of the seams are substantially equal.

3. The airbag of claim 1 wherein a minimum separation distance between adjacent seams is substantially equal.

4. The airbag of claim 1 wherein the inflation fluid flow passages formed between the seams extend substantially parallel to each other.

5. The airbag of claim 1 wherein a pair of adjacent seams extends along a plane, and wherein a minimum separation distance between the pair of adjacent seams is such that a portion of the airbag projects at least a predetermined distance out of the plane of the seams when the airbag is inflated.

6. The airbag of claim 1 wherein at least one seam of the plurality of elliptically-shaped seams has an eccentricity of approximately zero.

7. The airbag of claim 1 wherein the inflation fluid flow passages are in fluid communication with each other.

8. The airbag of claim 1 wherein adjacent seams of adjacent pairs of elliptically-shaped seams are connected by substantially straight seams to define an inflation fluid flow passage extending between the substantially straight seams.

9. The airbag of claim 8 wherein all of the substantially straight seams connecting elliptically-shaped seams are spaced apart substantially evenly.

10. The airbag of claim 1 wherein an inflation fluid flow passage formed adjacent at least one of the elliptically-shaped seams extends in a direction substantially parallel to a major axis of the at least one seam.

11. The airbag of claim 1 wherein the seams are arranged in at least a pair of substantially parallel rows.

12. The airbag of claim 11 wherein the seams are substantially evenly spaced apart along a row.

13. The airbag of claim 11 wherein all of the seams are substantially evenly spaced apart.

14. The airbag of claim 11 wherein the seams arranged along a first row of the substantially parallel rows form a zigzag pattern with the seams arranged along a second row of the substantially parallel rows.

15. The airbag of claim 1 wherein major axes of the elliptically-shaped seams are substantially parallel.

16. A side airbag comprising:

a first panel and a second panel adjacent the first panel; and

a plurality of substantially straight seams connecting the adjacent panels to define a plurality of inflation fluid flow passages between the seams.

17. The airbag of claim 16 wherein the seams are spaced apart substantially evenly.

18. The airbag of claim 16 wherein the seams extend substantially parallel to a direction in which an inflation gas exits an inflator.

19. A vehicle occupant restraint system comprising:

at least one inflatable airbag including a first panel, a second panel adjacent the first panel, and a plurality of elliptically-shaped seams connecting the panels to define a plurality of inflation fluid flow passages between the seams; and

an inflator coupled to the airbag so as to enable fluid communication between the inflator and an interior of the airbag upon activation of the inflator.

20. The vehicle occupant restraint system of claim 19 in combination with a crash event sensor in communication with the inflator, the crash event sensor including a crash sensor algorithm that signals activation of the inflator in the event of a collision.