Inflatable curtain with anchor device

• US 6,474,681 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2001
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2001
• 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: Braun, William P., Osentoski, Thomas, Peer, Thomas L.
• Primary Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US09/779,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20020105172A1
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/730.1, 280/749, 280/753, 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

Abstract

An apparatus (10) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) inflatable in a first direction away from a vehicle roof (18) into a position between a side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant. An elongated member (70) is connected to the side structure (16) and has a first end (72), an opposite second end (76) and a length measured between the first and second ends. An element (100) is connected to the protection device (14) and at least partially encircles the elongated member (70). The element (100) is slidable along the elongated member (70) in the first direction when the protection device (14) is inflated. The element (100) includes at least one portion (150, 212) that engages the elongated member (70) and blocks the element from sliding along the elongated member in a direction opposite the first direction.

Claims

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

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant;

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

an elongated member connected to the vehicle side structure, said elongated member having a length extending along a longitudinal axis of said elongated member, said elongated member including at least one portion positioned along said length, said at least one portion having first and second surfaces extending transverse to said axis; and

an element connected to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and slidable along the length of said elongated member in a first direction when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated, said element including a first end portion, an opposite second end portion, and a wall portion extending between said first and second end portions and at least partially encircling said elongated member along a portion of the length of said elongated member, said element further including a latch positioned between said first and second end portions, said latch extending from said wall portion in a direction transverse to said wall portion toward said elongated member, said latch having a first surface slidable along said first surface of said at least one portion of said elongated member upon sliding movement of said element in said first direction along said elongated member, said latch having a second surface engageable with said second surface of said at least one portion to block sliding movement of said element in a second direction along said elongated member opposite said first direction.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said elongated member comprises a bar, said at least one portion comprising at least one aperture positioned along the length of said bar and extending through said bar,

said latch moving into said at least one aperture when said element is positioned adjacent said at least one aperture,

said first surface of said latch engaging a side wall of said at least one aperture and permitting further movement of said element along said bar in said first direction, said second surface of said latch engaging said side wall to block movement of said element along said bar in said second direction.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said first surface of said latch extends at an acute angle with respect to said side wall when said latch is in said at least one aperture, said first surface of said latch urging said latch out of said aperture when said element moves in said first direction.

4. 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 the roof of the vehicle, said inflatable curtain being inflated in said first direction away from the vehicle roof and along the side structure of the vehicle.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, 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.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said inflatable curtain moves said element in said first direction as said inflatable curtain is inflated.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said element helps to maintain the position of said inflatable curtain when said inflatable curtain is inflated.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said inflatable curtain when inflated has a top edge positioned adjacent to the vehicle roof and an opposite bottom edge, said element being connected to said inflatable curtain at a position adjacent to said bottom edge.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein a tether connects said element to said inflatable curtain.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, further including a sensor for sensing a predetermined vehicle condition and providing a signal in response to said predetermined vehicle condition that causes said inflation fluid source to provide said inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable curtain.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said predetermined vehicle condition is one of a side impact and a vehicle rollover.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said elongated member is connected to a pillar of the vehicle.

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

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one portion of said elongated member comprises a plurality of portions located at predetermined positions spaced along the length of said elongated member, each of said portions having first and second surfaces extending transverse to said axis, said first surface of said latch being slidable along said first surface of each of said portions upon sliding movement of said element in said first direction along said elongated member, said second surface of said latch being engageable with said second surface of each of said portions to block sliding movement of said element in said second direction along said elongated member at said predetermined positions along said elongated member.

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

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant;

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

an elongated member connected to the vehicle side structure; and

an element connected to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said element having a first end portion, an opposite second end portion, and a tubular wall portion having a generally rectangular cross-section extending between said first and second end portions, said elongated member extending through a channel defined by said tubular wall portion, said element being slidable along said elongated member in a first direction when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated, said element further including a latch positioned between said first and second end portions and extending at an acute angle from said tubular wall portion toward said elongated member, said latch having a first surface slidable along said elongated member upon sliding movement of said element over said elongated member in said first direction, said latch having a second surface engageable with said elongated member to block sliding movement of said element along said elongated member in a second direction opposite said first direction.

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

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant;

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

an elongated bar connected to the vehicle side structure, said bar having a length and at least one aperture positioned along said length and extending through said bar, said at least one aperture including a side wall; and

an element connected to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said element at least partially encircling said bar along a portion of the length of said bar, said element being slidable along the length of said bar in a first direction when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated, said element including a latch movable into said at least one aperture when said element is positioned adjacent said at least one aperture, said latch having a first surface that engages said side wall of said at least one aperture and permits further movement of said element along said bar in said first direction, said latch having a second surface that engages said side wall and blocks movement of said element along said bar in a second direction opposite said first direction.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said first surface of said latch extends at an acute angle with respect to said side wall when said latch is positioned in said at least one aperture, said first surface urging said latch out of said aperture when said element moves in said first direction.