Curtain air bag module

• US 20060043704A1
• Filed: 07/12/2005
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2004
• 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: Padiyar, Prabhakar, Ju, Chang-Hwan, Moniaci, Kenneth D., Coon, Jeffrey S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,213,836 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2617 Curtain bag nozzles
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2346 Soft diffusers

Abstract

A curtain air bag module (100) comprising an air bag (102) having at least one inflatable region with internally configured internal tethers, at least one of the internal tethers disposed at an angle to a stream of inflation gas. The air bag includes a distribution tube located proximate a top portion of the at least one inflatable region of the air bag, the tube having a first end adapted to receive inflation gas, the distribution tube including at least one set of openings proximate each of the at least one inflatable regions for communication of inflation gas to these regions, the at least one internal tether disposed at an oblique angle to the distribution tube.

Claims

1. A curtain air bag module for protecting occupants of a vehicle, the module comprising at least one inflatable region with internally configured internal tethers, at least one of the internal tethers disposed at an angle to a stream of inflation gas.

2. The air bag module as defined in claim 1 including a distribution tube located proximate a top portion of the at least one inflatable region of the air bag, the tube having a first end adapted to receive inflation gas, the distribution tube including at least one set of openings proximate each of the at least one inflatable regions for communication of inflation gas to these regions, the at least one internal tether disposed at an oblique angle to the distribution tube.

3. The air bag module as defined in claim 1 including a neck portion (110) configured to communicate with the inflator via the tube and further including a neck panel disposed about the neck portion.

4. The air bag module as defined in claim 3 wherein the neck panel includes a breakable first portion loosely enveloping a folded portion of the neck portion of the air bag.

5. The air bag module as defined in claim 1 wherein the air bag is configured as a one-piece integrally woven air bag, and wherein the internal tethers are part of the integrally woven air bag.

6. The air bag module as defined in claim 1 including a major non-inflatable region located adjacent the at least one inflatable region, the non-inflatable regions located remote from an upper and lower edge of the air bag.

7. The air bag module as defined in claim 6 wherein the non-inflatable region includes two descending lobes and wherein a lower end of each descending lobe is asymmetrically located relative to the lower edge and to each other.

8. The air bag module as defined in claim 6 including a second inflatable region positioned opposite the at least one inflatable region, on an opposite side of the non-inflatable region.

9. The air bag module as defined in claim 8 including an upper and lower inflatable passage, bounding the non-inflatable region and connecting the at least one inflatable region and the second inflatable region.

10. The air bag module as defined in claim 4 including a plurality of tabs extending from the top of the air bag, each tab insertable through a corresponding opening in the neck panel.

11. The air bag module as defined in claim 10 including an anti-rotation member having a bent side, extendable through a slit in a tab, the bent side extendable through an opening in the vehicle.

12. The air bag module as defined in claim 11 wherein a mounting fastener extends through each tab and anti-rotation member.

13. The air bag module as defined in claim 4 including a deflector mountable on a vehicle pillar and formed as a plastic extrusion.

14. The air bag module as defined in claim 13 wherein the deflector includes a lower tubular portion, in cross-section, with side walls extending from the tubular portion, the intersection of an upper portion of the tubular portion with one of the side walls configured to form a hinge about which the one side wall can rotate upon breakage of a tear seam.