CURTAIN AIRBAG UNIT

• US 20090309339A1
• Filed: 02/03/2005
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Siewiera, Thomas, Dominissini, David L., Massot, Felix
• Granted Patent: US 7,823,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2612 Gas guiding means, e.g. ducts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

Curtain air bag unit for a motor vehicle is provided which comprises an air bag extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle. Further it comprises fixing means for fixing the air bag in the area of the roof bar of the motor vehicle, whereby the fixing means comprise a tension member, that extends from a first fixing element to a second fixing element. It also comprises tensioning means for influencing the tensile stress of the tension member during mounting of the curtain air bag unit into the motor vehicle. A pre-cut tension member can be used whose length is chosen in a way that the mounting in the vehicle can be carried out simply and conveniently.

Claims

1. Curtain air bag unit for a motor vehicle comprising:

an air bag extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle,

fixing means for fixing the air bag in the area of the roof bar of the motor vehicle, whereby

the fixing means comprise a tension member, that extends from a first fixing element to a second fixing element, and

tensioning means for influencing the tensile stress of the tension member during mounting of the curtain air bag unit into the motor vehicle.

2. Curtain air bag unit according to claim 1, whereby one of the two fixing elements is also the tensioning means.

3. Curtain air bag unit according to claim 1, whereby the tensioning means is located between the two fixing elements.

4. Curtain air bag unit according to one of the preceding claims with the first fixing element being mounted in the area of a front column of the motor vehicle and the second fixing element being mounted in the area of a rear column of the motor vehicle.

5. Curtain air bag unit according to claim 4 with the first fixing element being mounted to the A-column of the motor vehicle and the second fixing element being mounted to the C-column of the motor vehicle.

6. Curtain air bag unit according to one of the preceding claims with the airbag comprising an expansion section and a tube section, said tube section having gaps in which intermediate hooks reach in order to guide the tension member and/or to attach the tension member to the roof bar.

7. Curtain air bag unit according to claim 6, wherein the intermediate hooks are secured on the cable.

8. Curtain air bag unit according to claim 6, wherein the intermediate hooks are formed in the roof bar structure.

9. Curtain air bag unit according to one of the preceding claim, characterized in that the tensioning means can be actuated by the movement of a lever.

10. Curtain air bag unit according to one of the preceding claim, characterized in that the tensioning means can be actuated by the movement of a leveling screw.

11. Curtain air bag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tensile stress of the tension member is increased in a last step of the mounting of the air bag.

12. Curtain air bag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tension member is formed as cable, as cord or as strip and is formed from metal, plastic or fabric.