Inflatable restraint for a vehicle occupant

• US 5,865,462 A
• Filed: 09/18/1997
• Issued: 02/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Cundill, David James, Robins, Stephen Leonard
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Application Number:
  US08/933,021
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/730.1, 280/743.1, 280/749, 280/753
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23184 Tubular air bags connected to the vehicle at their two extremities
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

A restraint comprises an inflatable curtain and a deployment member. The deployment member can be an inflatable tube within a braided tube or an elastic member. The deployment member is attached to the inflatable curtain and on receipt of a signal the member deploys the curtain into an occupant protection position in the event of a crash. The restraint is particularly intended for location on one side of a vehicle to provide protection against side impacts.

Claims

1. An inflatable restraint for a vehicle occupant comprising an inflatable curtain and a deployment member for moving the curtain into an occupant protection position wherein the deployment member is a resilient member which is held in an extended state under tension by a solenoid operated latch when the inflatable curtain is in an un-deployed state and the tension on the deployment member is released to deploy the inflatable curtain, said solenoid is operable by means of a pressure sensor connected to inflating means for inflating the inflatable curtain.

2. The inflatable restraint of claim 1 having more than one deployment member.

3. An inflatable restraint of claim 2 wherein the deployment members are connected by structural members to provide structural rigidity to the curtain upon deployment thereof.

4. The inflatable restraint of claim 1 wherein the curtain has strengthening ribs.

5. The inflatable restraint of claim 1 wherein the curtain has inflatable tubes which are inflatable before the remainder of the curtain.

6. An inflatable restraint of claim 1 wherein the curtain has an inflatable guide member for directing the curtain away from an obstruction in a vehicle.

7. A vehicle having installed therein an inflatable restraint for a vehicle occupant comprising an inflatable curtain and a deployment member for moving the curtain into an occupant protection position wherein the deployment member is a resilient member which is held in an extended state under tension by a solenoid operated latch when the inflatable curtain is in an un-deployed state and the tension on the deployment member is released to deploy the inflatable curtain, said solenoid is operable by means of a pressure sensor connected to inflating means for inflating the inflatable curtain.

8. A vehicle according to claim 7 in which the inflatable curtain is located along one whole side of the interior of the vehicle.

9. A vehicle according to claim 7 in which one inflatable restraint is located at the front on one side of the interior of the vehicle and a second curtain is located at the rear on said side of the interior of the vehicle.

10. A vehicle according to claim 7 in which the inflatable curtain is located in a slot in a roof rail of the vehicle.

11. A vehicle according to claim 7 in which the inflatable curtain is located in a slot in a door pillar of the vehicle.

12. A vehicle according to claim 7 in which the inflatable curtain is located in a slot in a roof rail of the vehicle and in a slot in a door pillar of the vehicle.