Folded inflatable side curtain with tether

• US 6,361,068 B1
• Filed: 05/23/2000
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Nayef, Ayad G., Stein, Russell E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, J. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US09/576,787
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/743.1, 280/743.2, 280/730.1, 280/728.2, 531/16, 531/17, 534/29
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• 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 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) that has a side structure (16) and a roof (18) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure and a vehicle occupant. The inflatable device (14), when inflated, has a perimeter at least partially defined by an upper edge (50), a lower edge (52), and front and rear portions (54 and 56) spaced apart horizontally along the upper and lower edges. An inflation fluid source (24) provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable device (14). A flexible elongated member (70) has a first end (72) connected to the inflatable device (14) at a first location (74) on the inflatable device (14) and an opposite second end (80) connected to the vehicle side structure (16) at a second location (82). The inflatable device (14), prior to inflation, is folded along a first fold line (100) such that a lower portion (104) of the device overlies an upper portion (102) of the device and such that the first end (72) of the flexible elongated member (70) is positioned adjacent the upper edge (50) of the inflatable device.

Claims

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

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a perimeter at least partially defined by upper and lower edges of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and front and rear portions of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device spaced apart along said upper and lower edges, a first fold line extending generally horizontally along the length of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device between said upper and lower edges, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device including an upper portion extending between said upper edge and said first fold line and a lower portion extending between said lower edge and said first fold line;

an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

a slider assembly connected to the vehicle side structure, said slider assembly including a track extending generally vertically in the vehicle and an element that is slidable along said track; and

a flexible elongated member having a first end connected to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device at a first location on said lower portion of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and an opposite second end connected to said element;

said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device prior to inflation being folded along said first fold line such that said lower portion overlies said upper portion and such that said first location is positioned adjacent said upper edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is an inflatable curtain having a stored position prior to inflation extending along the vehicle side structure adjacent the vehicle roof, said inflatable curtain being inflated away from the vehicle roof into said position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said inflatable curtain comprises overlying first and second panels that are interconnected along at least a portion of said perimeter, said first panel being positioned adjacent the vehicle side structure when said inflatable curtain is inflated.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said inflatable curtain is folded along said first fold line and then rolled up into said stored position.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said first panel faces outwardly of said inflatable curtain and said second panel faces inwardly of said inflatable curtain when said inflatable curtain is rolled up in said stored position.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said first location is adjacent said lower edge of said inflatable curtain and on said first panel in said lower portion of said inflatable curtain, said upper portion being located between said lower portion and the vehicle side structure when said inflatable curtain is folded along said first line.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said first location is spaced away from said lower edge of said inflatable curtain and on said first panel in said lower portion of said inflatable curtain, a portion of said lower portion being folded over along a second fold line before said inflatable curtain is folded along said first fold line, said second fold line extending generally parallel to said first fold line between said lower edge and said first location, said portion of said lower portion when folded over along said second fold line being positioned adjacent said second panel and overlying said second panel, said upper portion being located between said lower portion and the vehicle side structure when said inflatable curtain is folded along said first fold line.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said front portion of said inflatable curtain is at least partially defined by a front edge of said inflatable curtain extending between said upper edge and said lower edge, and said rear portion of said inflatable curtain is at least partially defined by a rear edge of said inflatable curtain extending between said upper edge and said lower edge.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said flexible elongated member has a first portion extending along a generally straight line from said first location to a rear extent of said inflatable curtain and a second portion extending along a generally straight line from said rear extent of said inflatable curtain to said second location when said inflatable curtain is in said stored position.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said inflatable curtain is folded along a rear fold line that is spaced away from said rear edge and extends generally perpendicular to said first fold line prior to folding said inflatable curtain along said first fold line.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said second location is on a C pillar of the vehicle.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said element is slidable along said track when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said slider assembly is connected to a C pillar of the vehicle.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, further including a fill tube having a portion located in said inflatable curtain, said inflation fluid source being in fluid communication with said fill tube, said inflation fluid source, when actuated, providing inflation fluid to said fill tube, said fill tube directing said inflation fluid into said inflatable curtain to inflate said inflatable curtain.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said inflatable curtain when inflated extends along the side structure of the vehicle between an A pillar and a C pillar of the vehicle.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said inflatable curtain, when inflated, overlies at least a portion of an A pillar, a 3 pillar and a C pillar of the vehicle.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a sensor for sensing a vehicle condition for which deployment of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is desired, said sensor actuating said inflation fluid source to provide inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said inflation fluid source comprises an inflator which is actuatable to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

19. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first location is positioned near an upper end of said track when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is folded along said first fold line.

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

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising overlying first and second panels, said first panel being positioned adjacent the vehicle side structure when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a perimeter at least partially defined by upper and lower edges of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, a first fold line extending generally horizontally along the length of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device between said upper and lower edges, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device including an upper portion extending between said upper edge and said first fold line and a lower portion extending between said lower edge and said first fold line;

an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

a slider assembly connected to the vehicle side structure, said slider assembly including a track extending generally vertically in the vehicle and an element that is slidable along said track; and

a flexible elongated member having a first end connected to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device at a first location on said first panel on said lower portion of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and an opposite second end connected to said element;

said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device prior to inflation folded along said first fold line such that said lower portion overlies said upper portion and such that said first location is positioned adjacent said upper edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and near an upper end of said track, said first and second panels being positioned between said flexible elongated member and the vehicle side structure when said inflatable curtain is folded along said first fold line.

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

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising overlying first and second panels, said first panel being positioned adjacent the vehicle side structure when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a perimeter at least partially defined by upper and lower edges of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and front and rear portions of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device spaced apart along said upper and lower edges, a first fold line extending generally horizontally along the length of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device between said upper and lower edges, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device including an upper portion extending between said upper edge and said first fold line and a lower portion extending between said lower edge and said first fold line, a second fold line extending generally parallel to said first fold line on said lower portion of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

a slider assembly connected to the vehicle side structure, said slider assembly including a track extending generally vertically in the vehicle and an element that is slidable along said track; and

a flexible elongated member having a first end connected to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device at a first location spaced away from said lower edge on said lower portion of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and an opposite second end connected to said element;

said lower portion prior to inflation of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device being folded over along said second fold line such that a portion of said lower portion is positioned adjacent said second panel and overlying said second panel, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device being folded along said first fold line such that said lower portion overlies said upper portion and such that said first location is positioned adjacent said upper edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said upper portion being located between said lower portion and the vehicle side structure when said inflatable curtain is folded along said first fold line.

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

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a perimeter at least partially defined by upper and lower edges of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and front and rear portions of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device spaced apart along said upper and lower edges, said rear portion being at least partially defined by a rear edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device extending between said upper edge and said lower edge, a first fold line extending generally horizontally along the length of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device between said upper and lower edges, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device including an upper portion extending between said upper edge and said first fold line and a lower portion extending between said lower edge and said first fold line, a rear fold line being spaced away from said rear edge and extending generally perpendicular to said first fold line;

an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

a slider assembly connected to the vehicle side structure, said slider assembly including a track extending generally vertically in the vehicle and an element that is slidable along said track; and

a flexible elongated member having a first end connected to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device at a first location on said lower portion of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and an opposite second end connected to said element;

said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device prior to inflation being folded along said rear fold line and being folded along said first fold line such that said lower portion overlies said upper portion and such that said first location is positioned adjacent said upper edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.