Side airbag

• US 6,176,514 B1
• Filed: 05/25/1999
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Germany GmbH (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata (Europe) Vehicle Safety Technology GmbH
• Inventors: Einsiedel, Heinrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US09/318,123
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

Inflatable side airbag with duct-shaped forming chambers (19) having a fastening side (11), which is provided for the fastening of the airbag along a substantially curvilinear fastening section (23) along a roof spar of a motor vehicle, as well as a free side (15) which can be unfolded through inflation of the airbag, which is fastened at the fastening section (23), along a main development direction (A) which extends substantially downwardly in the vertical direction, and which free side in the thus inflated state of the airbag is provided at the lower side of the airbag as well as lying substantially opposite to the fastening side (11), with the cut of the airbag along the fastening side (11) having a substantially rectilinear border, which has substantially the same length as the total length of the curvilinear fastening section (23), and with the cut having a substantially curvilinear border along the free side (15).

Claims

1. Inflatable side airbag with duct-shaped forming chambers (19) having

a fastening side (11) which is provided for the fastening of the airbag along a substantially curvilinear fastening section (23) along a roof spar of a motor vehicle, as well as a free side (15) which can be unfolded through inflation of the airbag, which is fastened at the fastening section (23), along a main development direction (A) which extends substantially downwardly in the vertical direction, and which in the thus inflated state of the airbag is provided at the lower side of the airbag as well as lying substantially opposite to the fastening side (11),

characterised in that

the cut of the airbag along the fastening side (11) has a substantially rectilinear border, which has substantially the same length as the total length of the curvilinear fastening section (23);

and in that the cut along the free side (15) has a substantially curvilinear border.

2. Airbag in accordance with claim 1,

characterised in that

the shape of the airbag in the state which is inflated and fastened at the fastening section (23) (operating shape) has a border at the free side (15) which is substantially rectilinear and extends in the horizontal direction.

3. Airbag in accordance with claim 2

characterised in that

in the cut the distance (35) between the rectilinear border of the fastening side (11) and the border of the free side (15) (cut height) is chosen section-wise in each case to be at least as large as the corresponding extent (27) of the desired operating shape of the airbag (airbag height).

4. Airbag in accordance with claim 3

characterised in that

the duct shape of a forming chamber (19) in the cut is formed at the free side (15) to be substantially perpendicular to the border of the free side (15) or to its tangent respectively.

5. Airbag in accordance with claim 4

characterised in that

the duct shape of a forming chamber (19) in the cut is formed to be substantially rectilinear or curved.

6. Airbag in accordance with claim 5

characterised in that

the widths or the diameters respectively of the duct shapes are chosen at least in the region of the free side (15) in such a manner that the total length of the border of the free side (15) of the cut is shortened by a narrowing of the forming chambers (19) to the desired corresponding total length of the operating shape which takes place during the inflation of the airbag.

7. Airbag in accordance with claim 6

characterised in that

for the compensation of a course of the duct shape of a forming chamber (19) at an angle to the main development direction which is different from zero, the cut height (35) is extended in the region of this forming chamber (19) with respect to the airbag height (27) through an addition in the cut.

8. Airbag in accordance with claim 7

characterised in that

in the cut the forming chambers (19) are displaced in each case by such a displacement distance with respect to their desired position in the inflated state of the airbag which corresponds in length and direction to the shortening of the airbag transverse to the duct-shaped course of the forming chambers (19) which is caused by the inflation of the airbag.

9. Method for the manufacture of a cut of a side airbag in accordance with claim 8

characterised in that

the cut is formed along the fastening side (11) with a substantially rectilinear border which has substantially the same length as the total length of the curvilinear fastening section (23);

and in that the cut is formed along the free side (15) with a substantially curvilinear border which, starting from the rectilinear border of the fastening side (11), corresponds to the course of the fastening section (23) and to the course of the border of the free side (15) of the desired operating shape of the airbag.

10. Airbag in accordance with claim 9,

characterised in that

in the formation of the cut along the free side (15) with the substantially curvilinear border the cut height (35) is chosen to be at least as large for a plurality of sections along the fastening side (11) as the desired corresponding airbag height (27).