Apparatus and method for inflatable curtain wrap

• US 6,626,456 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2001
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: OʼNeill, Daniel T., Terbu, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SLITERIS, JOSELYNN Y
• Application Number:
  US09/892,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20020195803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 280/743.1, 280/732, 280/728.1
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

A novel airbag device, especially well suited to protect occupants of a vehicle from lateral impact is described. The airbag device includes an inflatable curtain and a wrap having a first edge and a second edge. The edges are configured such that the wrap can be secured about the curtain when the curtain is in a folded state. One edge of the wrap includes a securement portion which may be two-sided tape secured along an edge of the wrap. The securement portion allows the edges of the wrap to be secured to each other. Attachment tabs extend from an edge of the curtain through slots in the wrap to facilitate attachment of the curtain airbag to a vehicle as part of an airbag system. The curtain is folded into a predetermined configuration. The wrap is then secured about the curtain by removing a backing of the two-side tape, cinching the wrap about the curtain, and then securing one edge of the wrap to the second edge about the curtain.

Claims

1. An airbag device comprising:

an inflatable curtain having a first edge and a second edge; and

a wrap having a first edge and a second edge, the wrap configured to at least partially enclose the inflatable curtain wherein the curtain comprises at least one attachment tab extending from the first edge of the curtain, thereby permitting the airbag device to be attached to a vehicle interior, wherein the wrap comprises at least one notch configured to substantially align with the attachment tab when the wrap is secured about the curtain, thereby permitting the attachment to be within the notch.

2. The airbag device of claim 1,

wherein the first edge of the curtain is folded to a position adjacent the first side to create a fold portion and wherein the second edge of the curtain is rolled toward the first edge of the curtain to create a rolled portion of the curtain adjacent the fold portion, thereby configuring the curtain in a folded state; and

wherein the wrap has a first free edge and a second free edge, the wrap further having an inside surface and an outside surface, wherein the first free edge of the wrap is configured to be attached adjacent the second free edge of the wrap about the curtain when the curtain is in the folded state, wherein the wrap comprises a securement portion to facilitate attachment of the first edge of the wrap adjacent the second edge of the wrap such that the securement portion attaches the inside surface and the outside surface of the wrap in an overlapping configuration, wherein the securement portion comprises two-sided tape, a first side being secured near the second edge of the wrap, and a second side configured to be secured near the first edge of the wrap, and wherein the wrap comprises a tear seam running longitudinally along the wrap.

3. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the wrap is substantially as long as the curtain.

4. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the wrap is attached to the curtain.

5. The airbag device of claim 4, wherein the wrap is attached longitudinally to the curtain near the first edge of the curtain.

6. The airbag device of claim 4, wherein the wrap is attached to the curtain adjacent a centerline portion of the wrap.

7. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the curtain comprises at least one attachment tab extending from the first edge of the curtain, thereby permitting the airbag device to be attached to a vehicle interior.

8. The airbag device of claim 7, wherein the wrap comprises at least one slot configured to receive the attachment tab therethrough.

9. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the securement portion that attaches the curtain has a tensile strength of at least 500 N.

10. The airbag device of claim 9, wherein the points of attachment of the wrap to the curtain have a tensile strength of about 1400 N.

11. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the tear seam comprises a tear strength of between about 10 pounds and about 50 pounds under tensile load.

12. The airbag device of claim 11, wherein the tear seam comprises a tear strength of about 30 pounds under tensile load.

13. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the curtain comprises a plurality of attachment tabs extending from the first edge of the curtain, thereby permitting the curtain airbag to be attached to a vehicle interior.

14. The airbag device of claim 13, wherein the wrap comprises a plurality of slots configured to receive the attachment tabs therethrough.

15. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the first edge of the wrap is configured to be attached near the second edge of the wrap about the curtain when the curtain is in a folded state.

16. The airbag device of claim 15, wherein the wrap comprises a securement portion to facilitate attachment of the first edge of the wrap adjacent a second edge of the wrap.

17. The airbag device of claim 15, wherein the securement portion comprises two-sided tape, a first side being secured near the second edge of the wrap, and a second side configured to be secured near the first edge of the wrap.

18. The airbag device of claim 16, wherein the securement portion is positioned longitudinally near the second edge of the wrap.

19. The airbag device of claim 17, wherein the two-sided tape is acrylic based.

20. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the wrap comprises a tear seam running longitudinally along the wrap.

21. The airbag device of claim 20, wherein the tear seam is positioned between the securement portion of the wrap and the first edge of the wrap, and is configured to permit the curtain to burst through the wrap at the tear seam and into a vehicle upon inflation.

22. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the first edge of the curtain is folded once to a position adjacent the first side to create a fold portion with one fold.

23. An airbag device comprising:

an inflatable curtain having a first edge and a second edge; and

a wrap having a first edge and a second edge, the wrap being attached to the curtain, the first edge of the wrap configured to be attached near the second edge of the wrap about the curtain when the curtain is in a folded state, wherein the curtain comprises a plurality of attachment tabs extending from the first edge of the curtain, thereby permitting the curtain airbag to be attached to a vehicle interior wherein the wrap comprises a plurality of notches configured to substantially align with the attachment tab when the wrap is secured about the curtain, thereby permitting the attachment to be within the notch.

24. An inflatable curtain device, comprising:

an inflatable curtain having a first edge and a second edge and a first side, wherein the first edge of the curtain is folded to a position adjacent the first side to create a fold portion and wherein the second edge of the curtain is rolled toward the first edge of the curtain to create a rolled portion of the curtain adjacent the fold portion, thereby configuring the curtain in a folded state; and

a wrap comprising a first free edge and a second free edge, the wrap further having an inside surface and an outside surface, the wrap being longitudinally attached adjacent the first edge of the curtain, the wrap further comprising a securement portion longitudinally positioned near the second edge of the wrap to facilitate attachment of the second edge of the wrap adjacent the first edge of the wrap about the curtain when the curtain is in a folded state such that the securement portion attaches the inside surface and the outside surface of the wrap in an overlapping configuration, the wrap further comprising a tear seam running longitudinally along the wrap to allow the curtain to burst through the wrap upon inflation, wherein the curtain comprises at least one attachment tab extending from the first edge of the curtain, thereby permitting the airbag device to he attached to a vehicle interior, wherein the wrap comprises at least one notch configured to substantially align with the attachment tab when the wrap is secured about the curtain, thereby permitting the attachment to be within the notch.

25. The inflatable curtain device of claim 24, wherein the securement portion comprises tape having a first side and a second side, the first side being secured near the first edge of the wrap, and the second side configured to be secured near the second edge of the wrap.

26. The inflatable curtain device of claim 25, in the tape is acrylic based.

27. A method for assembling a curtain airbag device comprising a curtain and a wrap configured to at least partially enclose the curtain, the method comprising:

positioning the curtain in a folded state; and

securing the wrap about the curtain, wherein the curtain includes at least one attachment tab and aligning the attachment tab within a corresponding notch configured within the wrap.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the positioning step comprises folding a first edge of the curtain to a position adjacent a first side of the curtain to thereby create a fold portion.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the positioning step further comprises rolling a second edge of the curtain toward the first edge of the curtain airbag to thereby create a rolled portion of the air bag opposite the fold portion.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of cinching the curtain in the folded state prior to attaching the first edge near the second edge.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the wrap comprises a first free edge and a second free edge, an inside surface and an outside surface, and a tear seam running longitudinally along the wrap to allow the curtain to burst through the wrap upon inflation,

and wherein the first free edge is attached near the second free edge of the wrap using two-sided tape in an overlapping configuration such that the inside surface is attached to the outside surface.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the wrap comprises a securement portion positioned adjacent the first edge of the wrap.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of securing comprises longitudinally securing the first edge of the wrap about the curtain to the second edge of the wrap at the securement portion.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the securement portion comprises two-sided tape, a first side of the two-sided tape being secured to the second edge of the wrap and a second side of the two-sided type being covered with a liner.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the step of securing further comprises removing the liner from the second side of the two-sided tape and adhering a second side to the first edge of the wrap.