Method and apparatus for placing an inflatable curtain in a stored condition

• US 20080258442A1
• Filed: 04/23/2007
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Pionk, Mike P., Quach, Thanh H., Bakhsh, Ali Emam, Lynch, Serena M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,002,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2375 Folding devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2612 Gas guiding means, e.g. ducts
• 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 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

An apparatus (10) helps to protect an occupant (28) of a vehicle (12) that has a side structure (16) and a roof (18). The apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) that has a stored condition for being positioned along the vehicle roof (18). The protection device (14) is inflatable away from the vehicle roof (18) to a deployed condition positioned between the side structure (16) and a vehicle occupant (28). The protection device (14) further comprises a portion (38) for receiving an elongated member (94) for helping to place the protection device in the stored condition.

Claims

1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, the apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a stored condition for being positioned along the vehicle roof, the protection device being inflatable away from the vehicle roof to a deployed condition positioned between the side structure and a vehicle occupant, the protection device comprising a portion for receiving an elongated member for helping to place the protection device in the stored condition.

2. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the elongated member comprises a bar.

3. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the portion for receiving the elongated member comprises a sleeve extending along a lower edge portion of the protection device.

4. The apparatus recited in claim 3, wherein the sleeve is formed integrally in a one piece woven construction of the protection device.

5. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises a separate component secured to the protection device.

6. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the portion for receiving the elongated member comprises apertures spaced along the protection device, the elongated member being extendible through the apertures.

7. The apparatus recited in claim 6, wherein the spaced apertures help define flaps that help secure the protection device to the elongated member.

8. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the elongated member has a longitudinal axis, the elongated member and the portion for receiving the elongated member being rotated about the longitudinal axis to help place the protection device in the stored condition.

9. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the elongated member facilitates rolling up the protection device to help place the protection device in the stored condition.

10. The apparatus recited in claim 1, further comprising a cover that envelops the protection device in the stored condition, the cover comprising a sheet of material with opposite longitudinal edge portions interconnected by an ultrasonic weld.

11. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the protection device further comprises a portion for receiving at least one forked member for maintaining a fold in the protection device while the protection device is placed in a cover.

12. The apparatus recited in claim 11, wherein the protection device is receivable in a channel member while the at least one forked member maintains a fold in the protection device, the channel providing rigid support for the protection device during insertion into the cover.

13. An apparatus for helping to place an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device in a stored condition in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising at least one forked member for maintaining a fold in the protection device while the protection device is placed in a cover.

14. The apparatus recited in claim 13, further comprising a channel member for receiving the protection device and the at least one forked member, the channel providing rigid support for the protection device during insertion into the cover.

15. The apparatus recited in claim 14, wherein the channel and the at least one forked member are removable from the protection device leaving the protection device in the cover.

16. The apparatus recited in claim 13, wherein the protection device is inflatable from the stored condition away from a roof of a vehicle to a deployed condition positioned between a side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant.

17. The apparatus recited in claim 13, further comprising an elongated member receivable in a portion of the protection device and operable to help to place the protection device in the stored condition.

18. The apparatus recited in claim 17, wherein the elongated member is receivable in a sleeve formed in the protection device.

19. The apparatus recited in claim 17, wherein the elongated member is receivable in apertures spaced along the protection device.

20. The apparatus recited in claim 17, wherein the elongated member has a longitudinal axis, the elongated member and the portion for receiving the elongated member being rotated about the longitudinal axis to help place the protection device in the stored condition.

21. The apparatus recited in claim 13, wherein the at least one forked member comprises a pair of prongs, portions of the protection device on opposite sides of a fold in the protection device being positioned between the prongs such that the prongs help maintain the fold in the protection device.

22. A method for placing an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device in a stored condition, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

inserting an elongated member in a portion of the protection device; and

rotating the elongated member about a longitudinal axis of the elongated member to help manipulate the protection device to place the protection device in the stored condition, the manipulation of the protection device including at least one of rolling and folding the protection device.

23. A method for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

placing the protection device in at least one of a rolled and folded condition;

placing the protection device in an elongated channel;

inserting the channel and protection device into a cover; and

removing the channel, leaving the protection device packaged in the cover.

24. The method recited in claim 23, further comprising the step of inserting at least one forked member longitudinally in the at least one of rolled and folded protection device to help maintain a fold in the protection device.