Inflatable side curtain

• US 6,431,590 B1
• Filed: 09/05/2001
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2000
• 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., Bakhsh, Ali Emam, Stein, Russell E., Bowers, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, J. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US09/946,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20020036393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• Field of Search: 280/729, 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/743.1, 280/743.2, 280/742
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

An apparatus (10) comprises an inflatable protection device (14) inflatable between the side structure (16) of a vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant. The device (14) includes at least one inflatable front chamber (120), rear chamber (150), and middle chamber (100). The front chamber (120) and the rear chamber (150) each have an inflation fluid inlet (122 and 152) near an upper edge (50) of the device (14) and an inflation fluid outlet (124 and 154). The middle chamber (100) has at least one inflation fluid inlet (102, 104) near the lower edge (52) and is free from inlets near the upper edge (50). Inflation fluid enters the front and rear chambers (120 and 150) through the inlets (122 and 152) and exits through the outlets (124 and 154) into the inflation fluid inlets (102, 104) of the middle chamber (100) to inflate the middle chamber.

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; and

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

said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising overlying panels interconnected to form said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device including connections interconnecting said overlying panels;

said connections helping to define at least one inflatable front chamber, at least one inflatable rear chamber, and at least one inflatable middle chamber, said at least one front chamber and said at least one rear chamber each having an inflation fluid inlet positioned near an upper edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and an inflation fluid outlet located near a lower edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said at least one middle chamber having an arc-shaped configuration defined by spaced arc-shaped connections, said arc-shaped connections having opposite ends positioned near said lower edge which define inflation fluid inlets of said at least one middle chamber, said inflation fluid inlets of said at least one middle chamber being positioned near said lower edge, said at least one middle chamber being free from an inflation fluid inlet and outlet near said upper edge,

said inflation fluid inlets of said front and rear chambers directing inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source into said front and rear chambers, said inflation fluid outlets of said front and rear chambers directing inflation fluid from said front and rear chambers into said inflation fluid inlets of said at least one middle chamber to inflate said at least one middle chamber.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one front chamber and said at least one rear chamber begin to inflate before said at least one middle chamber begins to inflate.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one front chamber and said at least one rear chamber are substantially inflated before said at least one middle chamber begins to inflate.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one connection comprises at least one front connection that helps to define said at least one front chamber and at least one rear connection that helps to define said at least one rear chamber.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said at least one front connection and said at least one rear connection include portions that direct said inflation fluid out of said at least one front chamber and out of said at least one rear chamber, respectively, through said inflation fluid outlets towards said at least one middle chamber.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one breakable connection interconnecting said overlying panels, said at least one breakable connection breaking and disconnecting said overlying panels when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device has an inflatable volume that increases when said at least one breakable connection breaks and said overlying panels move away from each other.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said at least one breakable connection helps to define said at least one front chamber, said at least one breakable connection breaking when inflation fluid pressure within said at least one front chamber reaches a predetermined level.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said inflation fluid enters said at least one inflation fluid inlet of said at least one middle chamber to inflate said at least one middle chamber when said at least one breakable connection breaks.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said at least one breakable connection helps to define said at least one rear chamber, said at least one breakable connection breaking when inflation fluid pressure within said at least one rear chamber reaches a predetermined level.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said at least one front connection and said at least one rear connection have a round shape.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein at least one front connection and said at least one rear connection have a curved shape.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is an inflatable curtain having a stored position extending along the side structure adjacent a roof of the vehicle.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13, further including a fill tube having a portion located in said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device along said upper edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, 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 inflation fluid inlet of said at least one front chamber and of said at least one rear chamber to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device includes a pocket for receiving an end portion of said fill tube, said pocket surrounding said end portion of said fill tube and forming a snug fit with said end portion of said fill tube, said pocket helping to position said fill tube relative to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said at least one connection comprises at least one front connection that helps to define said at least one front chamber, at least one rear connection that helps to define said at least one rear chamber, and at least one middle connection that helps to define said at least one middle chamber, portions of said front, rear and middle connections helping to position said fill tube relative to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device when inflated extends along the side structure of the vehicle between an A pillar and a C pillar of the vehicle.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, when inflated, overlies at least a portion of an A pillar, a B pillar and a C pillar of the vehicle.

19. 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.

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

21. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one middle chamber is inflated by inflation fluid entering said middle chambers through said inflation fluid inlets at opposite ends of said at least one middle chamber simultaneously.

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 comprising overlying panels interconnected to form a perimeter connection extending along a perimeter of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said perimeter being at least partially defined by upper and lower edges of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and front and rear portions spaced apart along said upper and lower edges, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device including at least one connection interconnecting said overlying panels within said perimeter and at least one breakable connection interconnecting said overlying panels within said perimeter; and

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

said at least one connection helping to define at least one inflatable front chamber located in said front portion, at least one inflatable rear chamber located in said rear portion and at least one inflatable middle chamber located between said at least one front chamber and said at least one rear chamber,

said inflation fluid source directing inflation fluid into said at least one front chamber and said at least one rear chamber, said at least one breakable connection breaking when inflation fluid pressure in said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device reaches a predetermined level, said inflation fluid being directed into said at least one middle chamber when said at least one breakable connection breaks to inflate said at least one middle chamber.

23. 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; and

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

said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising overlying panels interconnected to form said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device including connect ions that interconnect said panels to define at least one front chamber, at least one rear chamber, and at least one middle chamber of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and further including at least one breakable connection that interconnects said panels and helps to define said at least one front chamber,

said at least one front chamber and said at least one rear chamber each having an inflation fluid inlet positioned near an upper edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and an inflation fluid outlet located near a lower edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said at least one middle chamber having at least one inflation fluid inlet positioned near said lower edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and being free from an inflation fluid inlet and outlet near said upper edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device,

said inflation fluid inlets directing inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source into said front and rear chambers, said inflation fluid outlets directing inflation fluid from said front and rear chambers into said at least one inflation fluid inlet of said at least one middle chamber, said at least one breakable connection breaking when inflation fluid pressure within said at least one front chamber reaches a predetermined level.

24. 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; and

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

said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising overlying panels interconnected to form said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device including connections that interconnect said panels to define at least one front chamber, at least one rear chamber, and at least one middle chamber of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and further including at least one breakable connection that interconnects said panels and helps to define said at least one rear chamber,

said at least one front chamber and said at least one rear chamber each having an inflation fluid inlet positioned near an upper edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and an inflation fluid outlet locate near a lower edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said at least one middle chamber having at least one inflation fluid inlet positioned near said lower edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and being free from an inflation fluid inlet and outlet near said upper edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device,

said inflation fluid inlets directing inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source into said front and rear chambers, said inflation fluid outlets directing inflation fluid from said front and rear chambers into said at least one inflation fluid inlet of said at least one middle chamber, said at least one breakable connection breaking when inflation fluid pressure within said at least one rear chamber reaches a predetermined level.

25. 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; and

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

said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising overlying panels interconnected to form said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device including connections that interconnect said panels to define at least one front chamber, at least one rear chamber, and at least one middle chamber of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and further including at least one breakable connection that interconnects said panels adjacent respective ones of said inflation fluid inlets of said at least one middle chamber,

said at least one front chamber and said at least one rear chamber each having an inflation fluid inlet positioned near an upper edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and an inflation fluid outlet located near a lower edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said at least one middle chamber having at least one inflation fluid inlet positioned near said lower ledge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and being free from an inflation fluid inlet and outlet near said upper edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device,

said inflation fluid inlets directing inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source into said front and rear chambers, said inflation fluid outlets directing inflation fluid from said front and rear chambers into said at least one inflation fluid inlet of said at least one middle chamber, said at least one breakable connection breaking when inflation fluid pressure reaches a predetermined level, said inflation fluid flowing through said respective ones of said inflation fluid inlets when said at least one breakable connection breaks.