Energy absorbing feature for inflatable curtain airbag

• US 20070273128A1
• Filed: 05/26/2006
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cheal, Blake L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,597,342 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together

Abstract

A new type of mounting system that may be used to mount an inflatable curtain airbag to a vehicle is described herein. This mounting system uses a “P-type” mounting bracket, which is designed such that the all (or substantially all) of the rolled inflatable curtain will be positioned above the bracket. An energy absorbing member is also associated with the P-type mounting bracket. When the inflatable curtain is in the rolled configuration, the energy absorbing member will engage the inflatable curtain. The energy member will also deform and absorb energy when the inflatable curtain is deployed from the rolled configuration into the deployed configuration. The mounting bracket may also include a curved arm that engages the inflatable curtain in the rolled configuration. The curved arm may be designed such that deployment of the inflatable curtain into the deployed configuration deforms the curved arm.

Claims

1. A mounting system for mounting an inflatable curtain to a vehicle, the inflatable curtain having a rolled configuration and a deployed configuration, the system comprising:

a P-type mounting bracket; and

an energy absorbing member associated with the P-type mounting bracket, the energy absorbing member engaging the inflatable curtain in the rolled configuration, wherein the energy absorbing member will deform and absorb energy when the inflatable curtain is deployed from the rolled configuration into the deployed configuration.

2. A mounting system as in claim 1 wherein the energy absorbing member is integral with the mounting bracket.

3. A mounting system as in claim 1 wherein the energy absorbing member absorbs energy of deployment, thereby preventing a cushion mounting tab from separating from the vehicle under normal deployment conditions.

4. A mounting system as in claim 1 wherein the leading edge of the energy absorbing member will deform in the substantially the same direction as the direction of deployment of the inflatable curtain.

5. A mounting system as in claim 1 wherein deployment of the inflatable curtain deforms the energy absorbing member into an inverted U-shape.

6. A mounting system as in claim 1 wherein the mounting bracket comprises a back member and a front member, the mounting bracket being constructed such that a fastener mounts the inflatable curtain to the vehicle by passing through the back member and the front member, wherein the energy absorbing member is associated with the front member.

7. A mounting system as in claim 6 wherein the energy absorbing member is substantially parallel to the back member when the inflatable curtain is in the rolled configuration.

8. A mounting system as in claim 6 wherein deployment of the inflatable curtain deforms the energy absorbing member such that a portion of the energy absorbing member becomes generally parallel to the front member.

9. A mounting system as in claim 1 wherein the mounting bracket further comprises a curved arm that engages the inflatable curtain in the rolled configuration, and deployment of the inflatable curtain deforms the curved arm.

10. A mounting system as in claim 9 wherein the curved arm has an inverted U-shape when the inflatable curtain is in the rolled configuration.

11. A mounting system as in claim 9 wherein deployment of the inflatable curtain deforms the curved arm such that the curved arm is substantially perpendicular to a back member of the mounting bracket.

12. A mounting system as in claim 1 wherein the leading edge of the energy absorbing member has a non-puncture configuration so not to puncture the inflatable curtain during deployment.

13. A mounting system for mounting an inflatable curtain to a vehicle, the inflatable curtain having a rolled configuration and a deployed configuration, the system comprising:

a P-type mounting bracket, the mounting bracket comprising;

a back member;

a front member, the bracket being constructed such that a fastener mounts the inflatable curtain to the vehicle by passing through the back member and the front member; and

a curved arm that is attached to the back member, the curved arm having

an inverted U-shape when the inflatable curtain is in the rolled configuration; and

an energy absorbing member that is integral with the front member, the energy absorbing member engaging the inflatable curtain in the rolled configuration,

wherein the energy absorbing member will deform and absorb energy when the inflatable curtain is deployed from the rolled configuration into the deployed configuration.

14. A mounting system as in claim 13 wherein the energy absorbing member is substantially parallel to the back member when the inflatable curtain is in the rolled configuration, and wherein deployment of the inflatable curtain deforms the energy absorbing member such that a portion of the energy absorbing member becomes generally parallel to the front member.

15. A mounting system as in claim 14 wherein the energy absorbing member absorbs energy of deployment, thereby preventing the mounting bracket from separating from the vehicle under normal deployment conditions.

16. A mounting system as in claim 15 wherein deployment of the inflatable curtain deforms the curved arm and causes the curved arm to become substantially perpendicular to the back member.

17. A method of preventing an inflatable curtain from separating from the vehicle during deployment of the inflatable curtain from a rolled configuration into a deployed configuration, the method comprising:

mounting the inflatable curtain in the rolled configuration to the vehicle using a P-type mounting bracket, wherein an energy absorbing member is associated with the P-type mounting bracket; and

positioning the energy absorbing member to engage the inflatable curtain in the rolled configuration, energy absorbing member capable of deforming and absorbing energy when the inflatable curtain is deployed from the rolled configuration into the deployed configuration, wherein the energy absorbing member is constructed to prevent the cushion mounting tab from separating from the vehicle under normal deployment conditions.

18. A method as in claim 17 wherein the mounting bracket further comprises a curved arm that engages the inflatable curtain in the rolled configuration, wherein deployment of the inflatable curtain deforms the curved arm.

19. A method as in claim 17 wherein deployment of the inflatable curtain deforms the energy absorbing member in the substantially the same direction as the direction of deployment of the inflatable curtain.