Inflatable curtain with two inflatable members

• US 6,203,058 B1
• Filed: 02/24/2000
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zodiac Automotive US, Inc. (Safran SA), TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Simula Inc (BAE Systems Plc), TRW Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation), TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Arnold, Aron, Hill, Bruce R., Swann, Timothy A., Elqadah, Wael S., Butters, Nathan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US09/512,584
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/743.2, 280/743.1, 280/729, 280/730.1, 280/749, 280/751, 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

Abstract

Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) which has a side structure (16) and a roof (28) comprises an inflatable curtain (14). The curtain (14) is inflatable in a first direction away from the roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The inflatable curtain (14) when inflated extends fore and aft in the vehicle (12) along the side structure (16) of the vehicle. First and second inflatable members (52 and 54) connect the inflatable curtain (14) to the vehicle (12). An inflation fluid source (24) provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable curtain (14) and the first and second inflatable members (52 and 54). The first and second inflatable members (52 and 54) are inflatable to resist movement of the inflatable curtain (14) away from the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) when the inflatable curtain is inflated.

Claims

1. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle which has a side structure and a roof, said apparatus comprising:

an inflatable curtain which is inflatable in a first direction away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable curtain when inflating extending fore and aft in the vehicle along the side structure of the vehicle;

first and second inflatable members which connect said inflatable curtain to the vehicle; and

an inflation fluid source which provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable curtain and said first and second inflatable members;

said first and second inflatable members being inflatable to resist movement of said inflatable curtain away from the side structure of the vehicle when said inflatable curtain is inflated,

said first and second inflatable members being generally tubular in shape and each having a given diameter and a given length when uninflated, said first inflatable member having a first end and an opposite second end, said first end being connected to said inflatable curtain at a location adjacent to a bottom edge and a forward edge of said inflatable curtain, said second end being connected to the vehicle at a first location, said second inflatable member also having a first end and an opposite second end, said first end of said second inflatable member being connected to said inflatable curtain at a location adjacent to said bottom edge and a rear edge of said inflatable curtain, said second edge of said second inflatable member being connected to the vehicle at a second location,

said diameters of said first and second inflatable members increase and said lengths of said first and second inflatable members decrease when said first and second inflatable members when inflated resisting movement of said inflatable curtain away from the side structure of the vehicle,

a first flexible elongated member connecting said first end of said first inflatable member to said inflatable curtain;

a first pulley connected to the vehicle at a third location, said first flexible elongated member being guided by said first pulley from said first end of said first inflatable member to said inflatable curtain;

a second flexible elongated member connecting said first end of said second inflatable member to said inflatable curtain; and

a second pulley connected to the vehicle at a fourth location, said second flexible elongated member being guided by said second pulley form said first end of said second inflatable member to said inflatable curtain.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second inflatable members when inflated tension said inflatable curtain between said third and fourth locations.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first inflatable member is inflated into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and the vehicle occupant.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said second inflatable member is inflated into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and the vehicle occupant.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said third location is positioned forward of said forward edge of said inflatable curtain and between said inflatable curtain and said first inflatable member.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said fourth location is positioned rearward of said rear edge of said inflatable curtain and between said inflatable curtain and said second inflatable member.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said third location is on an A pillar of the vehicle.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said fourth location is on a C pillar of the vehicle.

9. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle which has a side structure and a roof, said apparatus comprising:

an inflatable curtain which is inflatable in a first direction away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable curtain when inflating extending fore and aft in the vehicle along the side structure of the vehicle;

first and second inflatable members which connect said inflatable curtain to the vehicle; and

an inflation fluid source which provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable curtain and said first and second inflatable members;

said first and second inflatable members being inflatable to resist movement of said inflatable curtain away from the side structure of the vehicle when said inflatable curtain is inflated, and

a first fill tube having a portion located in said inflatable curtain, said inflation fluid source being in fluid communication with said first fill tube, said inflation fluid source, when actuated, providing inflation fluid to said first fill tube, said first fill tube directing said inflation fluid into said inflatable curtain to inflate said inflatable curtain, and

a second fill tube connected to said first and second inflatable members, said inflation fluid source being in fluid communication with said second fill tube, said inflation fluid source, when actuated, providing inflation fluid to said second fill tube, said second fill tube directing said inflation fluid into said first and second inflatable members to inflate said first and second inflatable members,

said first and second inflatable members being sealed members except for an opening for said second fill tube and being generally tubular in shape and each having a diameter and a given length when uninflated, said first inflatable member having a first end and an opposite second end, said first end being connected to said inflatable curtain at a location adjacent to a bottom edge and a forward edge of said inflatable curtain, said second end being connected to the vehicle at a first location, said second inflatable member also having a first end and an opposite second end, said first end of said second inflatable member being connected to said inflatable curtain at a location adjacent to said bottom edge and a rear edge of said inflatable curtain, said second end of said second inflatable member being connected to the vehicle at a second location, said opening for said second fill tube on each of said first and second inflatable members being at a location other than said first and second locations.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said inflatable curtain and said first and second inflatable members have a stored position extending along the side structure adjacent to the roof of the vehicle.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said diameters of said first and second inflatable members increase and said lengths of said first and second inflatable members decrease when said first and second inflatable members are inflated, said first and second inflatable members when inflated resisting movement of said inflatable curtain away from the side structure of the vehicle.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said first and second inflatable members when inflated tension said inflatable curtain between said first and second locations.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said first location is positioned forward of said forward edge of said inflatable curtain and said second location is located rearward of said rear edge of said inflatable curtain.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said first location is on an A pillar of the vehicle.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said second location is on a C pillar of the vehicle.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, further including a sensor for sensing a vehicle condition for which inflation of said inflatable curtain is desired, said sensor actuating said source to provide inflation fluid to said inflatable members.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said source comprises an inflator which is actuatable to inflate said inflatable curtain and said inflatable members.