Side air bag for roll-over restraint

• US 6,454,296 B1
• Filed: 11/22/2000
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Melia, Sharon K, Islam, Solomon I, Tesch, Todd E, Stober, Scott A., Welch, Jeffrey Allen, Niederman, Robert Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US09/721,054
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/749, 280/743.1, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/24 secured to the side, door, or roof of the vehicle

Abstract

An inflatable restraint assembly including an inflatable curtain structure deployable from a storage position along the roof rail of the vehicle so as to extend downwardly over an area within the vehicle interior adjacent to an occupant to be protected. The inflatable curtain structure is deployed downwardly along a deployment path from its storage location along the roof rail of the vehicle in substantially nonobstructing relation to shoulder harness structures and is thereafter anchored over the covered area in a substantially tensioned configuration.

Claims

1. In a transportation vehicle, an inflatable restraint assembly disposed within the interior of the transportation vehicle so as to provide a restraining cover over an area adjacent to an occupant during a collision event wherein the vehicle includes a framework comprising a roof rail extending along the roof line of the vehicle, a first pillar element extending away from the roof rail adjacent to a windshield and at least a second pillar element extending away from the roof rail at a location rearward of the first pillar element, the inflatable restraint assembly comprising:

an inflatable curtain structure in fluid communication with an inflation unit, the inflatable curtain structure being stored in a region substantially adjacent to the roof line of the vehicle such that upon inflation, the inflatable curtain structure expands downwardly in covering relation to regions within the interior of the vehicle below the roof rail, the inflatable curtain structure being operatively connected to a travel guide element such that the travel guide element guides the inflatable curtain structure downwardly along a predetermined deployment path during inflation and such that upon inflation being completed, the travel guide element thereafter holds the inflatable curtain structure in place in a substantially taut orientation over a portion of the vehicle interior below the roof rail and adjacent to the occupant so as to span at least a portion of the region between the first pillar element and the second pillar element so as to provide a barrier between the occupant and the vehicle interior during an extended roll-over event wherein the travel guide element comprises a flexible elongate lace element in sliding engagement with the inflatable curtain structure, the elongate lace element being disposed along the deployment path of the inflatable curtain structure such that during inflation the inflatable curtain structure travels downwardly along the elongate lace element and wherein a directional locking element is disposed in substantially fixed relation along the elongate lace element so as to hold the inflatable curtain structure in place at a position below the roof rail following deployment.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the directional locking element comprises a loop element formed integral with the elongated lace element.

3. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the directional locking element comprises at least one independent flare member fixedly attached to the elongate lace element.

4. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the directional locking element is of a substantially saw tooth configuration.

5. In a transportation vehicle, an inflatable restraint assembly disposed within the interior of the transportation vehicle so as to provide a restraining cover over an area adjacent to an occupant during a collision event wherein the vehicle includes a framework comprising a roof rail extending along the roof line of the vehicle, and a plurality of pillar elements extending away from the roof rail along the length of the vehicle, the inflatable restraint assembly comprising:

an inflatable curtain structure in fluid communication with an inflation unit, the inflatable curtain structure being stored in a region substantially adjacent to the roof line of the vehicle such that upon inflation, the inflatable curtain structure expands downwardly across an expanse within the interior of the vehicle below the e roof rail including a location having an outwardly extending safety harness structure, the inflatable curtain structure being of a substantially segmented construction including a cloven gap structure disposed across the inflatable curtain structure such that upon inflation of the inflatable curtain structure the gap structure is adapted to pass over the safety harness structure so as to substantially avoid interference between the inflatable curtain structure and the safety harness structure.

6. The invention according to claim 5, wherein the gap structure is of a substantially elongate configuration including a pair of lateral sides extending away from the lower edge of the inflatable curtain structure.

7. The invention according to claim 6, wherein the gap structure extends partially but not completely across the inflatable curtain structure.

8. The invention according to claim 6, wherein the lower edge of the inflatable curtain structure is held in tension across the expanse covered by the inflatable curtain structure.

9. In a transportation vehicle, an inflatable restraint assembly disposed within the interior of the transportation vehicle so as to provide a restraining cover over an area adjacent to an occupant during a collision event wherein the vehicle includes a framework comprising a roof rail extending along the roof line of the vehicle, and a plurality of pillar elements extending away from the roof rail along the length of the vehicle, the inflatable restraint assembly comprising:

an inflatable curtain structure in fluid communication with an inflation unit, the inflatable curtain structure being stored in a region substantially adjacent to the roof line of the vehicle such that upon inflation, the inflatable curtain structure expands downwardly across an expanse within the interior of the vehicle below the roof rail including a location having an outwardly extending safety harness structure, the inflatable curtain structure being of a substantially segmented construction including a gap structure disposed across the inflatable curtain structure such that upon inflation of the inflatable curtain structure the gap structure is adapted to pass over the safety harness structure so as to substantially avoid interference between the inflatable curtain structure and the safety harness structure, wherein the gap structure is of a substantially elongate configuration including a pair of lateral sides extending away from the lower edge of the inflatable curtain structure and wherein portions of the gap structure are operatively connected to a pair of longitudinally extending travel guide elements such that the lateral sides of the gap structure are guided around the safety harness structure during inflation of the inflatable curtain structure and such that upon inflation being completed, the travel guide elements thereafter hold the inflatable curtain structure in place in a substantially taut orientation such that tension is maintained across the lower edge of the inflatable curtain structure.

10. The invention according to claim 9, wherein the travel guide elements comprise elongate lace elements in sliding engagement with lace accepting elements extending away from the lateral sides of the gap structure.

11. The invention according to claim 10, wherein the elongate lace elements comprise flexible straps.

12. The invention according to claim 9, wherein the travel guide elements comprise tether accepting channels in sliding engagement with tethering elements fixedly attached to portions of the inflatable curtain structure.

13. The invention according to claim 12, wherein the tether accepting channels are disposed along the length of a pillar element on either side of the safety harness structure.