SIDE AIRBAG CUSHION AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

• US 20100270781A1
• Filed: 05/03/2010
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nxgen Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Nxgen Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Pinsenschaum, Ryan T., Winters, Mark T., Weston, Douglas S., Abney, William III, Hassett, Dayne B., Fink, Mike F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,047,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0048 Head
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to an inflatable cushion for deployment along an interior side of a vehicle. In one exemplary embodiment the inflatable cushion has: an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion partially surrounding an area; a non-inflatable member secured to the inflatable portion and positioned in the area; and a retentive pocket formed by the non-inflatable member and the inflatable cushion, the retentive pocket having a periphery bounded on at least one side by the non-inflatable member and the non-inflatable member being configured such that a recessed area is formed in the retentive pocket, the recessed area being disposed within the periphery of the retentive pocket.

Claims

1. An inflatable cushion for deployment along an interior side of a vehicle, comprising:

an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion partially surrounding an area when the inflatable portion is inflated;

a non-inflatable member secured to the inflatable portion and positioned in the area; and

a retentive pocket formed by the non-inflatable member, the retentive pocket having a periphery bounded on at least one side by the non-inflatable member and a peripheral portion of the non-inflatable member being configured to vary a length of the peripheral portion of the non-inflatable member such that a recessed area is formed in the retentive pocket, the recessed area being disposed within the periphery of the retentive pocket; and

wherein the area is defined by a first perimeter, the first perimeter being further defined by an edge of the inflatable cushion and a gap defined by the edge of the inflatable cushion defining a portion of the first perimeter; and

the non-inflatable member having a second perimeter, the second perimeter being larger than the first perimeter, the second perimeter being further defined by a first edge portion and a second edge portion, the first edge portion traversing the gap and having a distance less than a length of the gap when the inflatable cushion is inflated and when the non-inflatable member is not secured to the inflatable cushion.

3. An inflatable cushion for deployment along an interior side of a vehicle, comprising:

an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion partially surrounding an area when the inflatable portion is inflated;

a non-inflatable member secured to the inflatable portion and positioned in the area; and

a retentive pocket formed by the non-inflatable member, the retentive pocket having a periphery bounded on at least one side by the non-inflatable member and a peripheral portion of the non-inflatable member being configured to vary a length of the peripheral portion of the non-inflatable member such that a recessed area is formed in the retentive pocket, the recessed area being disposed within the periphery of the retentive pocket; and

wherein the area is defined by a first perimeter, the first perimeter being further defined by an edge of the inflatable cushion and a gap defined by the edge of the inflatable cushion defining a portion of the first perimeter; and

a tether is secured to the edge of the inflatable cushion defining the portion of the first perimeter, the tether traversing the gap and providing a limit to a size of the gap when the inflatable cushion is inflated and the non-inflatable member has a second perimeter, the second perimeter being larger than the first perimeter, the second perimeter being further defined by a first edge portion and a second edge portion, the first edge portion traversing the gap and the second edge portion is secured to the non-inflatable member such that the tether is at least partially enclosed in the non-inflatable member.

4. The inflatable cushion as in claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the second edge portion of the non-inflatable member is secured to the edge of the inflatable cushion.

5. An inflatable cushion for deployment along an interior side of a vehicle, comprising:

an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion surrounding an area, wherein no portion of the inflatable portion is disposed in the area;

a non-inflatable member secured to the inflatable portion and positioned in the area; and

a retentive pocket formed by the non-inflatable member and the inflatable cushion, the retentive pocket having a periphery bounded by the inflatable portion and the non-inflatable member being configured such that a recessed area is formed in the retentive pocket, the recessed area being disposed within the periphery of the retentive pocket.

2. The inflatable cushion as in claim 6, wherein the second edge portion of the non-inflatable member is at least partially secured to the edge of the inflatable cushion defining the portion of the first perimeter.

6. The inflatable cushion as in claim 5, wherein the area is defined by a perimeter, the perimeter having an edge portion bounded by a lower edge portion of the inflatable portion, the lower edge portion of the inflatable portion being constrained to limit a lateral expansion of the lower edge portion of the inflatable portion.

7. The inflatable cushion as in claim 5, wherein the lower edge portion of the inflatable portion is a tubular member and the tubular member has portions stitched together in an alternating fashion to limit an expanded size of the tubular member when the inflatable cushion is inflated.

8. The inflatable cushion as in claim 5, wherein the non-inflatable member is a single layer of fabric and the inflatable portion further comprises a plurality of inflatable cells.

9. The inflatable cushion as in claim 5, wherein the recessed area of the retentive pocket is centrally located in the non-inflatable member and interaction of the inflatable cushion with an occupant creates a vertical tension and horizontal tension in areas of the inflatable cushion surrounding the retentive pocket.