Curtain air bag including inflatable perimeter gas channel

• US 6,758,492 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2002
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technology, Inc. (Sapiens International Corp. NV)
• Inventors: Tesch, Todd E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US10/263,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20030111829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/730.1, 280/743.1, 280/743.2, 280/728.1
• 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 air bag restraint system for a transportation vehicle. The restraint system includes an inflatable curtain having a gas inlet, an upper edge, a lower edge and a perimeter. A gas emitting inflator is in fluid communication with the gas inlet. The inflatable curtain includes an inflatable flow channel in fluid communication with the gas inlet. The inflatable flow channel extends at least partially around the inflatable curtain in a path such that at least a potion of the inflation gas is communicated through the inflatable flow channel and along the lower edge.

Claims

1. An air bag restraint system for a transportation vehicle, the restraint system comprising:

an inflatable curtain including a gas inlet, an upper edge, a lower edge and a perimeter, wherein the inflatable curtain is adapted to inflate away from a vehicle roof line in covering relation to a side portion of the vehicle upon introduction of an inflation gas; and

a gas emitting inflator in fluid communication with the gas inlet, wherein the inflatable curtain includes an inflatable flow channel in fluid communication with the gas inlet, the inflatable flow channel extending at least partially around the inflatable curtain in a path inboard of the perimeter such that at least a potion of the inflation gas is communicated through the inflatable flow channel and along the lower edge, wherein the inflatable flow channel is bounded by a flow barrier disposed between the inflatable flow channel and an interior portion of the inflatable curtain, wherein the flow barrier is discontinuous along the length of the inflatable flow channel so as define a plurality of gas passages between the inflatable flow channel and the interior portion of the inflatable curtain, such that at least a portion of the inflation gas is communicated through the inflatable flow channel and into the interior portion of the inflatable curtain through said plurality of gas passages.

2. The air bag restraint system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the flow barrier comprises outboard edges of regions of noninflatable character.

3. The air bag restraint system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said plurality of gas passages are disposed between the interior portion of the inflatable curtain and the lower edge of the inflatable curtain.

4. An air bag restraint system for a transportation vehicle, the restraint system comprising:

an inflatable curtain including an upper edge, a lower edge and a perimeter, wherein the inflatable curtain includes a gas inlet disposed along the upper edge and is adapted to inflate away from a vehicle roof line in covering relation to a side portion of the vehicle upon introduction of an inflation gas; and

a gas emitting inflator in fluid communication with the gas inlet, wherein the gas inlet feeds into an interior portion of the inflatable curtain so as to transport a first portion of the inflation gas from the gas inlet into the interior portion of the inflatable curtain, and wherein the inflatable curtain includes an inflatable flow channel in fluid communication with the gas inlet, the inflatable flow channel extending at least partially around the inflatable curtain in a path inboard of the perimeter such that a second portion of the inflation gas is communicated through the inflatable flow channel and along the lower edge, wherein the inflatable flow channel is bounded by a flow barrier of substantially noninflatable character disposed between the inflatable flow channel and the interior portion of the inflatable curtain.

5. The air bag restraint system as recited in claim 4, wherein the flow barrier comprises a zero length tether.

6. The air bag restraint system as recited in claim 5, wherein the zero length tether is formed by a method selected from the group consisting of welding, sewing and adhesive bonding.

7. The air bag restraint system as recited in claim 4, wherein the flow barrier is discontinuous along the length of the inflatable flow channel so as define a plurality of gas passages between the inflatable flow channel and the interior portion of the inflatable curtain, such that at least a percentage of said second portion of inflation gas is communicated through the inflatable flow channel and into the interior portion of the inflatable curtain through said plurality of gas passages.

8. The air bag restraint system as recited in claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the flow barrier comprises outboard edges of regions of noninflatable character facing towards the perimeter.

9. The air bag restraint system as recited in claim 7, wherein at least a portion of said plurality of gas passages are disposed between the interior portion of the inflatable curtain and the lower edge of the inflatable curtain such that at least a percentage of said second portion of the inflation gas is fed into the interior portion at a location along the lower edge.

10. An air bag restraint system for a transportation vehicle, the restraint system comprising:

an inflatable curtain including an upper edge, a lower edge and a perimeter, wherein the inflatable curtain includes a gas inlet disposed along the upper edge and is adapted to inflate away from a vehicle roof line in covering relation to a side portion of the vehicle upon introduction of an inflation gas; and

a gas emitting inflator operatively connected to the gas inlet at a central portion of the upper edge, wherein the gas inlet feeds into an interior portion of the inflatable curtain so as to transport a first portion of the inflation gas from the gas inlet into the interior portion of the inflatable curtain, and wherein the inflatable curtain includes an inflatable flow channel in fluid communication with the gas inlet, the inflatable flow channel extending at least partially around the inflatable curtain in a path inboard of the perimeter such that a second portion of the inflation gas is communicated through the inflatable flow channel and along the lower edge, wherein the inflatable flow channel is bounded by a flow barrier of substantially noninflatable character disposed between the inflatable flow channel and the interior portion of the inflatable curtain.

11. The air bag restraint system as recited in claim 10, wherein the flow barrier comprises a zero length tether.

12. The air bag restraint system as recited in claim 11, wherein the zero length tether is formed by a method selected from the group consisting of welding, sewing and adhesive bonding.

13. The air bag restraint system as recited in claim 10, wherein the flow barrier is discontinuous along the length of the inflatable flow channel so as define a plurality of gas passages between the inflatable flow channel and the interior portion of the inflatable curtain, such that at least a percentage of said second portion of inflation gas is communicated through the inflatable flow channel and into the interior portion of the inflatable curtain through said plurality of gas passages.

14. The air bag restraint system as recited in claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the flow barrier comprises outboard edges of regions of noninflatable character facing towards the perimeter.

15. The air bag restraint system as recited in claim 13, wherein at least a portion of said plurality of gas passages are disposed between the interior portion of the inflatable curtain and the lower edge of the inflatable curtain such that at least a percentage of said second portion of the inflation gas is fed into the interior portion at a location along the lower edge.