Inflatable curtain cushion tab shock absorption

• US 20060192368A1
• Filed: 02/28/2005
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jones, Terry S., Drake, Eric R., Burton, Thomas C., Hall, Michael Ray
• Granted Patent: US 7,357,408 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• 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 retention tab unit is disclosed comprising a retention tab configured for attaching an inflatable curtain to a vehicle. The retention tab unit has an energy absorption mechanism that facilitates confinement of the retention tab in an initial configuration wherein the retention tab is not taut. Once the inflatable curtain is deployed, the energy absorption mechanism is configured to release the retention tab from its initial configuration and allow it to be forced into a deployed configuration wherein the retention tab tautly extends from the vehicle.

Claims

1. An inflatable curtain module comprising:

an inflatable curtain;

a retention tab configured for attaching the inflatable curtain to a vehicle, wherein the retention tab has an initial configuration when attached to a vehicle and is adapted to have a deployed configuration, wherein the initial configuration prevents the retention tab from being both taut and fully extended, and wherein a greater amount of the length of the retention tab tautly extends to support the curtain once the retention tab is in its deployed configuration as compared with the initial configuration of the retention tab; and

a frangible energy absorption mechanism, wherein the energy absorption mechanism facilitates confinement of the retention tab in its initial configuration until the inflatable curtain is deployed, at which time the energy absorption mechanism is configured to break and thereby release the retention tab from its initial configuration and allow the retention tab to be forced into its deployed configuration by the energy of the inflatable curtain deployment.

2. The module of claim 1, wherein the distance between the top of the retention tab and the bottom of the retention tab in the initial configuration is less than the distance between the top of the retention tab and the bottom of the retention tab in the deployed configuration such that the length of the retention tab in its deployed configuration controls the position of the deployed curtain.

3. The module of claim 1, wherein the frangible energy absorption mechanism comprises a sacrificial retention tab with a weakened portion.

4. The module of claim 3, wherein the weakened portion comprises at least two rows of slits, wherein the rows of slits are offset such that a substantial number of lines perpendicular to an intact portion of one row intersect a slit in an adjacent row.

5. The module of claim 3, wherein the weakened portion comprises a slit pattern, wherein the slit pattern is configured such that all or substantially all vertical threads in the retention tab are severed by at least one slit.

6. The module of claim 5, wherein the slit pattern comprises a herringbone pattern.

7. The module of claim 3, wherein the weakened portion is formed by a laser cut.

8. The module of claim 1, wherein the retention tab is folded against itself twice while in the initial configuration.

9. The module of claim 8, wherein the frangible energy absorption mechanism comprises at least one stitch.

10. The module of claim 8, wherein the retention tab is folded against itself twice in two separate locations while in the initial configuration.

11. The module of claim 1, wherein the frangible energy absorption mechanism comprises a plurality of stitches.

12. The module of claim 1, wherein the frangible energy absorption mechanism comprises a piece of fabric with a plurality of small hooks.

13. The module of claim 1, wherein the frangible energy absorption mechanism comprises at least one snap-fit element with mating components.

14. The module of claim 1, wherein the retention tab is elongated such that it extends along a substantial portion of the inflatable curtain.

15. The module of claim 1, wherein the inflatable curtain module comprises a plurality of the retention tabs.

16. An inflatable curtain module comprising:

an inflatable curtain;

a retention tab configured for attaching the inflatable curtain to a vehicle, wherein the retention tab has a folded portion which is folded against itself; and

a frangible energy absorption mechanism configured to temporarily hold the folded portion of the retention tab in its folded configuration, wherein the frangible energy absorption mechanism is configured such that, upon deployment of the inflatable curtain, the frangible energy absorption mechanism breaks and no longer holds the retention tab in its folded configuration.

17. The module of claim 16, wherein the frangible energy absorption mechanism comprises at least one stitch.

18. The module of claim 16, wherein the frangible energy absorption mechanism comprises a clip.

19. The module of claim 16, wherein the retention tab is folded against itself twice in two separate locations while in the folded configuration.

20. The module of claim 16, wherein the retention tab is folded against itself at least four times in the same general location.

21. An inflatable curtain module comprising:

an inflatable curtain;

a retention tab extending from the module and configured for attaching the inflatable curtain to a vehicle; and

a sacrificial retention tab extending from generally the same portion of the module as the retention tab, wherein the sacrificial retention tab has a weakened portion which allows the sacrificial retention tab to be severed during deployment of the inflatable curtain.

22. The module of claim 21, wherein the weakened portion comprises at least two rows of slits, and wherein the rows of slits are offset such that a substantial number of lines perpendicular to an intact portion of one row intersect a slit in an adjacent row.

23. The module of claim 21, wherein the weakened portion comprises a slit pattern, wherein the slit pattern is configured such that all or substantially all vertical threads in the retention tab are severed by at least one slit.

24. The module of claim 23, wherein the slit pattern comprises a herringbone pattern.

25. The module of claim 21, wherein the weakened portion is formed by a laser cut.

26. The module of claim 21, wherein the weakened portion comprises perforations.

27. The module of claim 21, wherein the retention tab is longer than the sacrificial retention tab.

28. The module of claim 21, wherein the weakened portion comprises a pre-severed portion that has been reattached.

29. An inflatable curtain module comprising:

an inflatable curtain;

a retention tab configured for attaching an inflatable curtain to a vehicle, wherein the retention tab has an initial configuration and is adapted to have a deployed configuration, wherein the initial configuration prevents the retention tab from being both taut and fully extended, and wherein a greater amount of the length of the retention tab tautly extends to support the curtain once the retention tab is in its deployed configuration as compared with the initial configuration of the retention tab; and

means for temporarily confining the retention tab in its initial configuration until the inflatable curtain is deployed, and for enabling the retention tab to be released from its initial configuration such that it is forced into its deployed configuration by the energy of the inflatable curtain deployment.

30. A retention tab unit for attachment to an inflatable curtain comprising:

a retention tab configured for attaching an inflatable curtain to a vehicle, wherein the retention tab is adapted to have an initial configuration once attached to an inflatable curtain and is adapted to have a deployed configuration, wherein the initial configuration prevents the retention tab from being both taut and fully extended, and wherein the retention tab is adapted to enable a greater amount of the length of the retention tab to tautly extend to support the curtain once the retention tab is in its deployed configuration as compared with the initial configuration of the retention tab; and

an energy absorption mechanism, wherein the energy absorption mechanism facilitates confinement of the retention tab in its initial configuration until the inflatable curtain is deployed, at which time the energy absorption mechanism is configured to release the retention tab from its initial configuration and allow the retention tab to be forced into its deployed configuration by the energy of the inflatable curtain deployment.