Inflatable side curtain

• US 6,527,296 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2001
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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: Bakhsh, Ali Emam, Bertossi, Rico Scott, Nayef, Ayad G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US09/963,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20020036394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 280/729, 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/736, 280/742, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• 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 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

An inflatable protection device (14) includes a triangular front portion (64) and a main portion (62). The front portion (64) includes a forward edge (72), a rear edge (76), and a bottom edge (74). The front portion (64) is connected to the main portion (62) via a first inflation fluid passage (106) positioned adjacent the bottom edge (74). The front portion (64) includes a plurality of inflatable chambers (120) that have a tapered configuration with a narrow end (134) and an opposite wide end (136) positioned near the bottom edge (74). Inflation fluid is directed into the main portion (62), and the fluid enters the front portion (62) through the first inflation fluid passage (106). The chambers (120) of the front portion (64) when inflated contract in a direction transverse to the length of the chambers and help to tension the device (14) along the length of the 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 comprising an inflatable front portion having a generally triangular configuration and an inflatable main portion positioned rearward of said front portion, said front portion including a forward edge, a rear edge, and a bottom edge, said front portion being in fluid communication with said main portion via a first inflation fluid passage positioned adjacent said bottom edge of said front portion,

said front portion comprising a plurality of inflatable chambers, said chambers having a generally tapered configuration with a narrow end and an opposite wide end, said narrow end being positioned near an intersection of said forward edge and said rear edge of said front portion, said wide end being positioned near said bottom edge of said front portion; and

an inflation fluid source that is actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflation fluid source when actuated directing inflation fluid into said main portion to inflate said main portion, said first inflation fluid passage directing inflation fluid from said main portion into said front portion to inflate said front portion, said chambers of said front portion when inflated contracting in a direction transverse to the length of said chambers and helping to tension said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device along the length of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprises 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, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device including a first connection interconnecting said overlying panels, said first connection having a first end intersecting said perimeter connection adjacent said upper edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and an opposite second end spaced from said perimeter connection near said lower edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said front portion being positioned forward of said first connection, said main portion being positioned rearward of said first connection, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device further comprising at least one connection interconnecting said overlying panels within said front portion to define said chambers of said front portion.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said first inflation fluid passage is defined between said second end of said first connection and said lower edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said main portion begins to inflate before said front portion begins to inflate.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said main portion is substantially inflated before said front portion begins to inflate.

6. Apparatus as recited 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.

7. Apparatus as recited 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.

8. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said forward edge of said front portion is connected to an A pillar of the vehicle.

9. Apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device has a portion connected to a C pillar of the vehicle, said front portion, when contracted in a direction transverse to said length of said chambers, helping to tension said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device between the A pillar and the C pillar.

10. Apparatus as recited in claim 9, further comprising a slider mechanism for connecting said portion of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to the C pillar.

11. Apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device includes at least one middle connection interconnecting said overlying panels within said main portion, said at least one middle connection helping to define at least one inflatable front chamber of said main portion, at least one inflatable rear chamber of said main portion, and at least one inflatable middle chamber of said main portion located between said at least one front chamber and 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 said upper edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and an inflation fluid outlet located near said 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, said at least one middle chamber being free from inflation fluid inlets near said upper edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device,

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 at least one inflation fluid inlet of said at least one middle chamber to inflate said at least one middle chamber.

12. Apparatus as recited in claim 11, 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.

13. Apparatus as recited in claim 11, 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.

14. Apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said at least one middle 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.

15. Apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said at least one middle chamber is arc-shaped and positioned facing concavely downward toward said lower edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated, said at least one middle chamber having first and second opposite ends with respective first and second inflation fluid inlets positioned near said lower edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

16. Apparatus as recited 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.

17. Apparatus as recited in claim 16, further including a fill tube in fluid communication with said main portion 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 main portion of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

18. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprises an inflatable rear portion of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said rear portion having a generally triangular configuration, said main portion of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device being positioned between said front and rear portions, said rear portion including a forward edge, a rear edge, and a bottom edge, said rear portion being in fluid communication with said main portion via a second inflation fluid passage positioned adjacent said bottom edge of said rear portion,

said rear portion comprising a plurality of inflatable chambers, said chambers having a generally tapered configuration with a narrow end and an opposite wide end, said narrow end being positioned near an intersection of said forward edge and said rear edge of said rear portion, said wide end being positioned near said bottom edge of said rear portion,

said inflation fluid source when actuated directing inflation fluid into said main portion to inflate said main portion, said second inflation fluid passage directing inflation fluid from said main portion into said rear portion to inflate said rear portion, said chambers of said rear portion when inflated contracting in a direction transverse to the length of said chambers and helping to tension said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device along the length of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

19. Apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device includes a second connection interconnecting said overlying panels, said second connection having a first end intersecting said perimeter connection adjacent said upper edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and an opposite second end spaced from said perimeter connection near said lower edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said rear portion being positioned rearward of said second connection, said main portion of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device being positioned forward of said second connection.

20. Apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein said second inflation fluid passage is defined between said second end of said second connection and said lower edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

21. Apparatus as recited in claim 18, further comprising at least one connection interconnecting said overlying panels within said rear portion to help define said chambers of said rear portion.

22. Apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein said main portion begins to inflate before said rear portion begins to inflate.

23. Apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein said main portion is substantially inflated before said rear portion begins to inflate.

24. Apparatus as recited in claim 18, 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.

25. Apparatus as recited in claim 18, 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.

26. Apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein said forward edge of said front portion is connected to an A pillar of the vehicle and said rear edge of said rear portion is connected to a C pillar of the vehicle.

27. 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 an upper edge, an opposite lower edge, and inflatable front and rear portions spaced away from each other and extending between said upper and lower edges, said front portion comprising a forwardmost inflatable portion of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and said rear portion comprising a rearwardmost inflatable portion of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device further comprising an inflatable main portion positioned between said front and rear portions and extending between said upper and lower edges, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device further comprising a first inflation fluid passage that provides fluid communication between said main portion and said front portion and a second inflation fluid passage that provides fluid communication between said main portion and said rear portion, said first and second inflation fluid passages being positioned adjacent said lower edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

an inflation fluid source that is actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; and

a fill tube having a first end portion connected to said inflation fluid source and an opposite second end disposed in said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said fill tube providing fluid communication between said inflation fluid source and said main portion,

said inflation fluid source when actuated directing inflation fluid into said main portion via said fill tube to inflate said main portion, said inflation fluid being directed from said main portion into said front portion through said first inflation fluid passage to inflate said front portion, said inflation fluid being directed from said main portion into said rear portion through said second inflation fluid passage to inflate said rear portion.

28. 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 edges spaced apart along said upper and lower edges;

an inflation fluid source that is actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; and

a fill tube having a first end portion connected to said inflation fluid source and an opposite second end disposed in said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device,

said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising an inflatable front portion having a generally triangular configuration, an inflatable rear portion having a generally triangular configuration and an inflatable main portion positioned between said front and rear portions, said front portion being partially defined by said front edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said rear portion being partially defined by said rear edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device,

said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device including first and second inflation fluid passages positioned adjacent a lower edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said first inflation fluid passage providing fluid communication between said front portion and said main portion, said second inflation fluid passage providing fluid communication between said rear portion and said main portion

said inflation fluid source when actuated directing inflation fluid into said main portion via said fill tube to inflate said main portion, said inflation fluid being directed from said main portion into said front portion through said first inflation fluid passage to inflate said front portion, said inflation fluid being directed from said main portion into said rear portion through said second inflation fluid passage to inflate said rear portion.

29. 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 for providing inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device including an inflatable main portion and an inflatable first portion, said first portion including a plurality of adjacent inflatable chambers, each of said inflatable chambers having a tapered configuration with a narrow portion positioned toward an upper edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and a widened portion positioned toward a lower edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device,

said inflation fluid source when actuated providing inflation fluid for inflating said first portion and said main portion, said inflation fluid for inflating said first portion being directed into said first portion from said main portion through an inflation fluid passage positioned adjacent said lower edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.