Air-bag
First Claim
1. An inflatable curtain for a vehicle comprising the inflatable curtain formed from at least two super-imposed layers of fabric and having an upper attachment edge provided with a plurality of mounting elements for mounting the inflatable curtain in the interior of the vehicle for deployment beside an interior surface of the vehicle cabin, with one of the fabric layers being an inboard layer, and the other of the fabric layers being an outboard layer, the inflatable curtain also having a lower deployable edge spaced from the upper attachment edge, a gas-flow passage extending along the upper attachment edge, and between the upper attachment edge and the lower deployable edge an inflatable region which is divided into a plurality of cells by a plurality of partitions extending substantially transversely relative to the axis of the gas-flow passage, the cells communicating with the gas-flow passage, at least one of the mounting element being positioned intermediate an adjacent pair of the partitions, the lower deployable edge of the inflatable curtain being movable from a stowed position to a deployed position by inflation of the inflatable region of the inflatable curtain, the inflatable curtain being at least partially rolled-up in the stowed position to form a roll with its lower deployable edge within the roll, with the inboard layer of fabric forming the exterior of the roll.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inflatable curtain (2) having an upper attachment edge (6) provided with mounting elements (14) for mounting the inflatable curtain in a vehicle cabin for deployment beside an interior surface (38) of the vehicle cabin. A gas-flow passage (28) extends along the attachment edge, and communicates with cells (32) defined by seams (30) in an inflatable region (4) which has a lower edge (8). Mounting elements (14) are located between the seams (30) of a respective cell (32). The inflatable curtain is formed from an inboard layer of fabric and an outboard layer of fabric, and is rolled from the region of the lower edge (8) with the roll being adjacent the outboard layer and with part of the inboard layer forming the exterior of the roll.
13 Citations
16 Claims
- 1. An inflatable curtain for a vehicle comprising the inflatable curtain formed from at least two super-imposed layers of fabric and having an upper attachment edge provided with a plurality of mounting elements for mounting the inflatable curtain in the interior of the vehicle for deployment beside an interior surface of the vehicle cabin, with one of the fabric layers being an inboard layer, and the other of the fabric layers being an outboard layer, the inflatable curtain also having a lower deployable edge spaced from the upper attachment edge, a gas-flow passage extending along the upper attachment edge, and between the upper attachment edge and the lower deployable edge an inflatable region which is divided into a plurality of cells by a plurality of partitions extending substantially transversely relative to the axis of the gas-flow passage, the cells communicating with the gas-flow passage, at least one of the mounting element being positioned intermediate an adjacent pair of the partitions, the lower deployable edge of the inflatable curtain being movable from a stowed position to a deployed position by inflation of the inflatable region of the inflatable curtain, the inflatable curtain being at least partially rolled-up in the stowed position to form a roll with its lower deployable edge within the roll, with the inboard layer of fabric forming the exterior of the roll.
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10. An air-bag according to claim 10 wherein parts of the air-bag extend through apertures formed in the sleeve such that the parts protrude from the sleeve.
- 12. A method of preparing an air-bag for a vehicle cabin for deployment beside an interior surface of the vehicle cabin, the air-bag of the type having an inflatable curtain formed from at least two super-imposed layers and having an upper attachment edge provided with a plurality of mounting elements for mounting the inflatable curtain in the vehicle cabin for deployment beside an interior surface of the vehicle cabin, with one of the layers being an inboard layer, and the other of the layers being an outboard layer, the inflatable curtain also having a lower deployable edge spaced from the upper attachment edge, a gas-flow passage extending along the upper attachment edge, and between the upper attachment edge and the lower deployable edge an inflatable region which is divided into a plurality of cells by a plurality of partitions extending substantially transversely relative to the axis of the gas-flow passage, the cells communicating with the gas-flow passage, at least one of the mounting elements being positioned intermediate an adjacent pair of partitions, the lower deployable edge of the inflatable curtain being movable from a stowed position to a deployed position by inflation of the inflatable region of the inflatable curtain, the method comprising the steps of rolling at least part of the inflatable curtain with its lower deployable edge within the roll, with the inboard layer forming the exterior of the roll.
Specification