INFLATABLE AIRBAG ASSEMBLIES WITH ALIGNMENT APERTURES

• US 20110042923A1
• Filed: 08/20/2009
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hatfield, Mark S., Cheal, Blake
• Granted Patent: US 8,056,924 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• 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

Abstract

Inflatable airbag cushions often have modular components attached to them after the main airbag has been manufactured. Such modular components can include external tethers, mounting tabs, mounting assemblies, and fill tubes. Often, these modular components are positioned at predetermined locations on the airbag. Further, the modular components typically have a predetermined orientation. Employing an alignment aperture and at least one landmark on the airbag can allow a modular component to be positioned correctly along at least one axis of the airbag. Landmarks can include seams, edges, folds, and marks, such as ink from printing. Additional apertures, landmarks and/or hardware can be used to assure proper orientation of the modular component on the airbag. The modular component can be coupled to the airbag by stitching.

Claims

1. An inflatable airbag assembly, comprising:

an inflatable airbag comprising a landmark; and

a modular component having an alignment aperture that is located at a predetermined location on the modular component such that when the alignment aperture is at least partially aligned with the landmark, the modular component is located at a predetermined location on the inflatable airbag along at least one axis.

2. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the inflatable airbag comprises an inflatable curtain airbag.

3. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 2, wherein the modular component comprises a mounting assembly, comprising:

a mounting member; and

a connecting member coupled to the mounting member and the inflatable airbag.

4. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 3, wherein the mounting assembly further comprises a wrapping member that is configured to wrap around an external surface of an inflatable curtain airbag and retain the airbag in a rolled configuration, and

wherein the wrapping member and the connecting member each comprise alignment apertures, and wherein the connecting member and the wrapping member are positioned on the mounting assembly such that the alignment apertures at least partially overlap.

5. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 2, wherein the modular component comprises an external tether.

6. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 2, wherein the modular component comprises a fill tube.

7. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 2, wherein the landmark comprises a seam.

8. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 2, wherein the landmark comprises an ink mark.

9. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 2, wherein the inflatable airbag comprises a second landmark that denotes a predetermined position along a second axis of the inflatable airbag.

10. An inflatable airbag assembly, comprising:

an inflatable curtain airbag that comprises a first landmark and a second landmark;

a mounting assembly, comprising;

a mounting member, and

a connecting member coupled to the mounting member and configured to be coupled to the inflatable airbag,

wherein the mounting assembly comprises an alignment aperture that is located at a predetermined position on the mounting assembly, such that when the alignment aperture is aligned with the landmark on the inflatable airbag, the mounting assembly is located at a predetermined location on the inflatable airbag along at least one axis; and

,

an external tether configured to be coupled to the inflatable airbag and extending to a vehicle structure, wherein the external tether comprises an alignment aperture that is located at a predetermined position on the external tether, such that when the alignment aperture is aligned with the second landmark on the inflatable airbag, the external tether is located at a predetermined location on the inflatable airbag along at least one axis.

11. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 10, wherein the first landmark and the second landmark comprise different portions of a contiguous landmark.

12. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 11, wherein the contiguous landmark comprises a perimeter seam.

13. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 10, wherein the connecting member of the mounting assembly comprises the alignment aperture.

14. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 10, wherein the mounting member of the mounting assembly comprises the alignment aperture.

15. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 10, wherein the mounting assembly further comprises a wrapping member that is configured to wrap around an external surface of an inflatable curtain airbag and retain the airbag in a rolled configuration, and

wherein the wrapping member and the connecting member each comprise alignment apertures, and wherein the connecting member and the wrapping member are positioned on the mounting assembly such that the alignment apertures at least partially overlap.

16. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 10, wherein the assembly further comprises an inflator fill tube that is configured to be coupled to the inflatable airbag, and wherein the fill tube comprises an alignment aperture that is located at a predetermined position on the inflator fill tube such that when the alignment aperture is aligned with a third landmark on the inflatable airbag, the inflator fill tube is located at a predetermined location on the inflatable airbag along at least one axis.

17. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 10, wherein the inflatable airbag comprises a second landmark that denotes a predetermined position along a second axis of the inflatable airbag.

18. A method of locating a modular component of an inflatable airbag assembly at a predetermined location along at least one axis of the inflatable airbag, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an inflatable airbag;

forming a landmark at a predetermined location on the inflatable airbag;

providing a modular component;

forming an alignment aperture at a predetermined location on the modular component;

placing the modular component on the inflatable airbag such that a portion of the inflatable airbag is visible through the alignment aperture; and

aligning the alignment aperture and the land mark such that a portion of the landmark is visible within the alignment aperture.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of orienting the modular component in a predetermined orientation relative to the inflatable airbag.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of coupling the modular component to the inflatable airbag such that the modular component is retained in the predetermined location and retains the predetermined orientation.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of providing a second landmark on the inflatable airbag.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the second landmark is positioned in relation to the first landmark such that at least a portion of both the first and the second landmark can be viewed through an alignment aperture at the same time.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of aligning the alignment aperture of the modular component with the first and second landmark.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of providing a second alignment aperture that is located at a predetermined location on the modular component.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of aligning the first alignment aperture of the modular component with the first landmark and aligning the second alignment aperture with the second landmark.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of providing a second modular component having an alignment aperture located at a predetermined location on the second modular component.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of aligning the alignment aperture with the second landmark such that a portion of the second landmark is visible through the alignment aperture.