Airbag

• US 20100244415A1
• Filed: 03/31/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Wipasuramonton, Pongdet Paul, Steinbach, Mark Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,267,423 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23576 Sewing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23595 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/235 characterised by their material

Abstract

A side airbag extends along a side of an interior roof of a vehicle and is configured to restrain a head of a vehicle occupant when the airbag is deployed. The airbag includes an inboard panel, an outboard panel, and one or more seams configured to join the inboard panel and the outboard panel. The at least one or more seams include first seam portions and second seam portions. The first seam portions are subject to higher stress than the second seam portions when the airbag inflates. The first seam portions are reinforced by sewing or by at least one bead of energy absorbent sealant or adhesive.

Claims

1. An airbag module for use in a vehicle to restrain an occupant of the vehicle in a side impact type collision, comprising:

an inflator configured to generate gas; and

an airbag coupled to the inflator and configured to deploy upon receiving gas from the inflator, the airbag comprising;

a main chamber extending along a side of an interior of the vehicle and configured to restrain a head of a vehicle occupant when the airbag is deployed, the main chamber comprising an inboard panel and an outboard panel joined together by seams, the seams comprising first seam portions and second seam portions, the first seam portions being subject to higher stress than the second seam portions when the airbag inflates, the first seam portions being reinforced by sewing or by at least one bead of energy absorbent sealant or adhesive.

2. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the first seam portions are located proximate to the inflator and extend in convex curvatures with respect to gas flowing into the main chamber from the inflator.

3. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the first seam portions are located proximate to the inflator.

4. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the first seam portions extend in convex curvatures with respect to gas flowing into the airbag from the inflator.

5. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the second seam portions comprise non-energy or low-energy absorbent sealant or adhesive, and wherein the first seam portions comprise the energy absorbent sealant or adhesive;

the energy absorbent sealant or adhesive having a peel strength lower than the non-energy absorbent sealant or adhesive.

6. The airbag module of claim 5, wherein the non-energy or low-energy absorbent sealant or adhesive comprises at least one of a silicone, polyurethane, and rubber cement.

7. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the energy absorbent sealant or adhesive comprises at least one of a silicone, polyurethane, and rubber cement.

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

a main chamber extending along a side of an interior of the vehicle and configured to restrain a head of a vehicle occupant when the airbag is deployed, the main chamber comprising;

an inboard panel;

an outboard panel; and

one or more seams configured to join the inboard panel and the outboard panel, the at least one or more seams comprising first seam portions and second seam portions, the first seam portions being subject to higher stress than the second seam portions when the airbag inflates, the first seam portions being reinforced by sewing or by at least one bead of energy absorbent sealant or adhesive.

9. The airbag module of claim 8, wherein the first seam portions are located proximate to the inflator and extend in convex curvatures with respect to flowing into the main chamber from the inflator.

10. The airbag module of claim 8, wherein the first seam portions are located proximate to the inflator.

11. The airbag module of claim 8, wherein the first seam portions extend in convex curvatures with respect to gas flowing into the main chamber from the inflator.

12. The airbag of claim 8, wherein the first seam portions comprise energy absorbent sealant or adhesive and the second seam portions comprise non-energy or low-energy absorbent sealant or adhesive, the energy absorbent sealant or adhesive having a peel strength lower than the non-energy absorbent sealant or adhesive.

13. The airbag module of claim 12, wherein the non-energy or low energy absorbent sealant or adhesive comprises at least one of a silicone, polyurethane, and rubber cement.

14. The airbag module of claim 8, wherein the energy absorbent sealant or adhesive comprises at least one of a silicone, polyurethane, and rubber cement.

15. A side airbag extending along a side of an interior of a vehicle and configured to restrain a head of a vehicle occupant when the airbag is deployed, comprising:

an inboard panel;

an outboard panel; and

one or more seams configured to join the inboard panel and the outboard panel, the at least one or more seams comprising first seam portions and second seam portions, the first seam portions being subject to higher stress than the second seam portions when the airbag inflates, the first seam portions being reinforced by sewing or by at least one bead of energy absorbent sealant or adhesive.

16. The airbag module of claim 15, wherein the first seam portions comprise seam portions located proximate to the inflator and extending in convex curvatures with respect to gas flowing into the airbag from the inflator.

17. The airbag module of claim 15, wherein the first seam portions are located proximate to the inflator.

18. The airbag module of claim 15, wherein the first seam portions extend in convex curvatures with respect to gas flowing into the airbag from an inflator.

19. The airbag of claim 15, wherein the first seam portions comprise energy absorbent sealant or adhesive and second seam portions comprise non-energy or low-energy absorbent sealant or adhesive, the energy absorbent sealant or adhesive having a peel strength lower than the non-energy or low-energy absorbent sealant or adhesive.

20. The airbag module of claim 15, wherein the energy absorbent sealant or adhesive comprises at least one of a silicone, polyurethane, and rubber cement.