Airbag

• US 20080116670A1
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ruterbusch, John Paul, Card, Gary Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,002,311 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2612 Gas guiding means, e.g. ducts
• 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

An airbag system including an airbag having a first section and a second section coupled to the first section. The airbag further includes an inlet coupled to an inflatable portion. The first section is configured to inflate between a trim member and a vehicle frame; and the second section is configured to inflate into a vehicle cabin.

Claims

1. An airbag configured to extend longitudinally along a side of a vehicle comprising:

a first section configured to extend in a longitudinal and vertical direction;

a second section coupled to the first section and configured to extend in a longitudinal and vertical direction;

an inlet for receiving inflation gas from an inflator;

wherein the length of the first section in the vertical direction is substantially less than the length of the second section in the vertical direction so that the first section inflates in a region located between a first trim member and a vehicle frame;

and the second section inflates into a vehicle cabin.

2. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the first section is integrally formed with the second section.

3. The airbag of claim 2, wherein the first section and the second section are in fluid communication.

4. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the first section is a separate section connected to the second section.

5. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the first section comprises a single longitudinally extending chamber and the second section comprises multiple vertical chambers extending chambers.

6. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the inlet is and positioned between the first section and second section.

7. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the first section and second section are inflated simultaneously.

8. An curtain airbag module comprising:

an inflator;

a curtain type airbag coupled to the inflator, the airbag having a first section and a second section, wherein the airbag module is configured so that the first section is located rearward of the second section when the airbag module is installed in a vehicle;

wherein the first section is configured to inflate between a first trim member and a vehicle frame so that the first section does not deploy downward into a vehicle cabin; and

wherein the second section is configured to inflate into a vehicle cabin along a side of a vehicle.

9. The airbag module of claim 8, wherein the first trim member is configured to act as a load distribution plate to evenly distribute an impact to the first section of the airbag after the first section is inflated.

10. The airbag module of claim 8, wherein the first trim component is configured to act as a load distribution plate to distribute an impact to the first and second sections of the airbag after the first and second sections are inflated.

11. The airbag module of claim 8, wherein the airbag module is configured to be coupled to a roof rail of a vehicle.

12. The airbag module of claim 11, wherein the second section is configured to extend from an A-pillar of a vehicle to a C-pillar of the vehicle and the first section is configured to extend from a C-pillar of a vehicle to a D-pillar of the vehicle.

13. The airbag module of claim 8, wherein the first trim member is coupled to the vehicle frame by a tether.

14. The airbag module of claim 8, wherein the first trim member is coupled to the vehicle frame by a top tether and a bottom tether.

15. An airbag system comprising:

an inflator;

an airbag having an inflator inlet coupled to the inflator, the airbag further having a first section and a second section, the airbag coupled to a vehicle frame;

a first trim member coupled to the vehicle frame and positioned over the first section of the airbag;

wherein the first section of the airbag is configured to inflate between the first trim member and the vehicle frame so that the first section does not deploy downward into a vehicle cabin;

wherein the second section of the airbag is configured to inflate downward into a vehicle cabin; and

wherein the first trim component is configured to act as a load distribution plate to evenly distribute an impact to the first section after the first section inflates.

16. The airbag system of claim 15, wherein the first trim component is configured to act as a load distribution plate to distribute an impact to the first and second sections of the airbag after the first and second sections are inflated.

17. The airbag system of claim 16, wherein gas may flow between the first section and second section.

18. The airbag system of claim 15, wherein the first trim member is coupled to the vehicle frame by a top tether and a bottom tether;

wherein the top tether is located above the first section of the airbag and bottom tether is located below the first section of the airbag.

19. The airbag system of claim 15, wherein the second section of the airbag is a curtain type airbag configured to deploy along the side of the vehicle in the vehicle cabin.