Curtain air bag module

• US 20060119084A1
• Filed: 11/18/2005
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sey Safety Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ju, Chang-Hwan, Coon, Jeffery S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,401,805 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 2021/23386 External tether means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2346 Soft diffusers

Abstract

A curtain air bag module (100) comprising and air bag (102) having at least one inflatable region with internally configured internal tethers and a deflector or ramp locatable above a B-pillar trim part and loosely mounted to the vehicle and to the trim part.

Claims

1. A combination of a deflector or ramp (230, 230a) for use in conjunction with an air bag module (100), the module comprising an air bag (102), the air bag when folded is configured to be placed proximate a roof rail (22) of a vehicle (24), the vehicle including a trim part (32a) covering a pillar (32) of the vehicle (24),

the ramp comprising a body (235) having a hollow cross-section, the body including a flexible top wall (231), a rear wall (232), a bottom (233) and a flexible front wall (234), the top wall configured to hold the front wall in place prior to inflation of the air bag, the top wall and front wall configured to permit the front wall to slide out from under the top wall as the air bag inflates;

and

at least one tab (260) extending from the ramp bag to loosely suspend or tether the ramp to the vehicle.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the front wall is configured to face an interior of a vehicle passenger compartment, prior to the inflation of the air bag with the air bag positioned through the hollow body, the front wall being separable from the top wall by action of the inflating air bag and configured to be moved by the inflating air bag to a position on a top portion of the trim part (32a) to prevent the inflating air bag from being damaged by the top of the trim part, the ramp including an opening (231a) through which the air bag tab extends.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein the depending leg portion is one of curved and flat.

4. The combination according to claim 2 wherein the top portion of the front wall is one of curved and flat.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein the curvature of the leg portion and the curvature of the top portion of the front wall are substantially the same.

6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein a middle portion of the front wall, below the top portion, is one of flat and curved.

7. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the tab is part of the air bag and extends through an opening in the ramp.

8. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the bottom is of a doubled wall construction.

9. The combination according to claim 2 wherein the opening is located in one of the top wall or rear wall.

10. The combination according to claim 1 wherein at least of portion of the air bag is fitted within a long narrow covering (102a) and wherein a layer of adhesive (256) is secured to a rear portion of the covering to secure the covering to a part of the vehicle.

11. A combination of a deflector or ramp (230, 230a) for use in conjunction with an air bag module (100), the module comprising an air bag (102), the air bag when folded is configured to be placed proximate a roof rail (22) of a vehicle (24), and above a trim part (32a) covering a pillar (32) of a vehicle (24), the air bag including at least one tab (260) extending from the air bag to loosely tether the ramp to the vehicle,

the ramp comprising a body (235) having a hollow cross-section, the body including a flexible top wall (231), a rear wall (232), a bottom (233) and a flexible front wall (234), the front wall configured to face the interior of the vehicle, prior to the inflation of the air bag;

the front wall is located behind a portion of the top wall with the air bag extending through the hollow body, the front wall being separable from the top wall by action of the inflating air bag, the front wall movable by the inflating air bag to a position on a top portion of the trim part (32a) to prevent the inflating air bag from being damaged by the top of the trim part, the ramp including an opening (231a) through which the air bag tab extends.

12. The combination according to claim 11 wherein the top wall includes a depending flexible leg portion 236 operatively connected to a top portion (234a) of the front wall and slidable relative to an underside of the leg portion as the air bag inflates.

13. The combination according to claim 11 wherein at least a portion of the air bag is fitted within a long narrow covering (102a) and wherein a layer of adhesive (256) is secured to a rear portion of the covering to secure the covering to a part of the vehicle.

16. The air bag module according to claim 11 wherein at least a portion of the air bag is fitted within a long narrow covering (102a) and wherein a layer of adhesive (256) is secured to a rear portion of the covering to secure the covering to a part of the vehicle.

14. A curtain air bag module for protecting occupants of a vehicle, the module comprising an air bag and a deflector or ramp, the vehicle having a passenger compartment and a pillar covered by a trim part, the trim part having an upper edge in proximity to the folded air bag and ramp,

the air bag comprising at least one inflatable region, the air bag includable from its folded state to an inflated state extending into the passenger compartment and adjacent the trim part, the air bag including at least one tab extending from a top of the air bag which is configured to be secured to the vehicle,

the deflector or ramp configured to be placed about the folded air bag and located above a pillar trim part and suspended by the air bag tab, the ramp including an opening to receive the air bag tab, the deflector or ramp further including a flexible front wall that is movable upon inflation of the air bag from a first position adjacent the folded air bag to an active position atop the trim part.

15. The air bag module as defined in claim 14 wherein the top of the ramp includes a downward turned portion and wherein the front side of the ramp is locatable behind the downward turned portion prior to inflation of the air bag and upon inflation of the air bag, the inflating air bag front side moves or rotates away from the downward turned portion and covers a top of the trim part.