Curtain airbag

• US 20090179405A1
• Filed: 01/09/2009
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Steinbach, Mark A., Trovato, Sandi M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,025,309 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.200
• 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 airbag module for use in a vehicle includes a gas generator and a side airbag coupled to the gas generator and configured to deploy upon receiving gas from the gas generator. The side airbag includes a main body extending along a ceiling of the vehicle configured to restrain a head of a vehicle occupant when the airbag is deployed and an extended portion extending from the main body in a downwards direction and configured to restrain at least a portion of a torso of the vehicle occupant when the airbag is deployed. The extended portion is at least partially tucked into the main body and the airbag is folded in a Z pattern and rolled when the airbag is installed. The tuck of the extended portion and the folds of the main body control the deployment angle of the main body and extended portion.

Claims

1. An airbag module for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a gas generator; and

a side airbag coupled to the gas generator and configured to deploy upon receiving gas from the gas generator, the side airbag comprising;

a main body extending along a ceiling of the vehicle configured to restrain a head of a vehicle occupant when the airbag is deployed; and

an extended portion extending from the main body in a downwards direction and configured to restrain at least a portion of a torso of the vehicle occupant when the airbag is deployed,

wherein the extended portion is at least partially tucked into the main body and the airbag is folded in a Z pattern and rolled when the airbag is installed, wherein the tuck of the extended portion and the folds of the main body control the deployment angle of the main body and extended portion.

2. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the airbag is mounted on a vehicle seat or a bolster.

3. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the airbag is rolled in an outboard direction.

4. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the extended portion is tucked into the main body by folding the extended portion within itself and then pulling a portion of the extended portion back through itself to form an inverted half-tuck.

5. The airbag module of claim 1, further comprising a tether coupled to an inboard side of the main body and to a vehicle frame or to another portion of the airbag module, the tether configured to control the deployment angle of the main body and extended portion.

6. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the airbag is rolled at an angle matching the angle between the vehicle ceiling and a vehicle frame.

7. The airbag module of claim 6, wherein the angle is between 10 and 20 degrees.

8. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the extended portion is rolled in an inboard direction and the main body is rolled in an outboard direction.

9. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein a silicon bead is added at the sewn seams of the airbag chambers.

10. A side airbag for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a main body extending along a ceiling of the vehicle configured to restrain a head of a vehicle occupant when the airbag is deployed;

an extended portion extending from the main body in a downwards direction and configured to restrain at least a portion of a torso of the vehicle occupant when the airbag is deployed, and

a tether coupled to an inboard side of the main body and to a vehicle frame or to another portion of the airbag, the tether configured to control the deployment angle of the main body and extended portion,

wherein the extended portion is at least partially tucked into the main body and the airbag is folded in a Z pattern and rolled in an inboard or outboard direction when the airbag is installed, wherein the tuck of the extended portion and the folds of the main body further control the deployment angle of the main body and extended portion.

11. The side airbag of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the airbag is rolled at an angle matching the angle between the vehicle ceiling and a vehicle frame.

12. The side airbag of claim 11, wherein the angle is between 10 and 20 degrees.

13. The side airbag of claim 10, wherein the extended portion is rolled in an inboard direction and the main body is rolled in an outboard direction.

14. The side airbag of claim 10, wherein a silicon bead is added at the sewn seams of the airbag chambers.

15. A side airbag for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a main body extending along a ceiling of the vehicle configured to restrain a head of a vehicle occupant when the airbag is deployed; and

an extended portion extending from the main body in a downwards direction and configured to restrain at least a portion of a torso of the vehicle occupant when the airbag is deployed,

wherein the extended portion is at least partially tucked into the main body and the airbag is folded in a Z pattern and rolled when the airbag is installed, wherein at least a portion of the airbag is rolled at an angle matching the angle between the vehicle ceiling and a vehicle frame.

16. The side airbag of claim 15, wherein the airbag is rolled in an inboard or an outboard direction.

17. The side airbag of claim 15, wherein the extended portion is rolled in an inboard direction and the main body is rolled in an outboard direction.

18. The side airbag of claim 15, wherein the angle is between 10 and 20 degrees.

19. The side airbag of claim 15, further comprising a tether coupled to an inboard side of the main body and to a vehicle frame or to another portion of the airbag, the tether configured to control the deployment angle of the main body and extended portion.

20. The side airbag of claim 15, wherein a silicon bead is added at the sewn seams of the airbag chambers.