Attachment of a curtain airbag assembly to a vehicle

• US 20050179238A1
• Filed: 02/08/2005
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2004
• 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: Kippschull, Bernd, Negele, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,303,206 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• 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

Abstract

A curtain airbag assembly has, for fastening purposes, at least one strap attached to the airbag. The strap is held in position by being guided through a passage behind a hanger projecting in the manner of a bracket from the structural member of a vehicle. The strap is secured in place by being folded by an angle of more than 90° around at least one edge of the hanger and by at least one means for fastening.

Claims

1. A curtain airbag assembly comprising at least one strap for securing the curtain airbag assembly to a structural member of a motor vehicle by being guided through a passage behind a hanger projecting in the manner of a bracket from the structural member of the motor vehicle, the strap being folded by an angle of more than 90°

around at least one edge of the hanger and the strap is secured around the hanger by at least one means for fastening.

2. The curtain airbag assembly according to claim 1, wherein the strap has at least one opening therein for receiving at least one fastener, the fastener engaging the hanger to hold the airbag assembly in position in an installed state.

3. The curtain airbag assembly according to claim 1, wherein the strap comprises at an end of the strap distal from the airbag a pocket and the hanger further comprises a lug projecting from the hanger as the means for fastening, the pocket of the strap accommodating the lug of the hanger therein to hold the curtain airbag assembly in position in an installed state.

4. The curtain airbag assembly according to claim 2, wherein the strap comprises at an end of the strap distal from the airbag a pocket and the hanger further comprises a lug projecting from the hanger as the means for fastening, the pocket of the strap accommodating the lug of the hanger therein, in order to hold the curtain airbag assembly in position in an installed state.

5. The curtain airbag assembly according to claim 1, wherein the strap has attached on a surface thereon at least one adhesive strip as the means for fastening.

6. The curtain airbag assembly according to claim 1, wherein the strap has attached on a surface thereon at least one hook and loop tape as the means for fastening

7. The curtain airbag assembly according claim 1, further comprising a sheath for protecting the airbag, wherein the sheath is provided with a frangible tear seam for release of the airbag from the sheath during a deployment of the airbag.

8. The curtain airbag assembly according claim 1, wherein an end of the strap distal from the airbag is tapered for improved insertion of the strap through a passage behind the hanger.

9. A motor vehicle comprising:

a structural member having a hanger projecting from the structural member in the manner of a bracket; and

a curtain airbag assembly comprising at least one strap for securing the curtain airbag assembly to the structural member of the motor vehicle by being guided through a passage behind a hanger, the strap being folded by an angle of more than 90°

around at least one edge of the hanger and the strap is secured around the hanger by at least one means for fastening.

10. The motor vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the edge of the hanger is an upper edge of the hanger.

11. The motor vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the edge of the hanger and is curved and extends horizontally.

12. The motor vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the hanger is punched into the structural member of the vehicle such that the hanger projects towards the interior of the vehicle.

13. The motor vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the hanger projects from the structural member of the vehicle such that the hanger projects towards the interior of the vehicle and the hanger is attached to the structural member by welding, threaded fasteners or riveting.

14. The motor vehicle according to claim 9, the strap comprises at an end of the strap distal from the airbag a pocket and the hanger further comprises a lug projecting from the hanger as the means for fastening, the pocket of the strap accommodating the lug of the hanger therein to hold the curtain airbag assembly in position in an installed state.

15. The motor vehicle according to claims 9, wherein the strap has at least one opening therein for receiving at least one fastener, the fastener engaging the hanger to hold the airbag assembly in position in an installed state.