Pressure equalizing curtain airbag

• US 6,846,010 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2002
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Enders, Mark L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US10/060,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20030141708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 280/729, 280/730.2, 280/743.1
• 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 2021/2617 Curtain bag nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

An inflatable airbag cushion for protecting occupants of a vehicle in a side impact, rollover, or other crash situation is presented. The airbag cushion has at least two inflatable protection zones. Each protection zone is configured to protect an occupant in a different seat of the vehicle. An inflation channel receives pressurized gas from a source of pressurized gas and directs the gas into the inflatable airbag. Each protection zone is separated from any adjacent protection zones by a connection zone. At least one communication channel allows the pressurized gas to flow between the protection zones. The gas flow between protection zones allows the pressure within the separate protection zones to equalize. The airbag cushion may have three protection zones and is configured to protect an occupant of a vehicle having pillars A through D. The first, second, and third protecting zones for protecting an occupant seated in the front, middle, and rear seats of the vehicle respectively. Each protection zone is in fluid communication with the adjacent protection zones by a communication channel. The airbag cushion may be formed by two membranes joined together through one of many attachment mechanisms.

Claims

1. An airbag cushion, having a top and a bottom, comprising:

at least two inflatable protection zones, each of which comprises a plurality of chambers longitudinally displaced from each other;

an inflation channel for receiving pressurized gas from a source of pressurized gas

at least one connecting zone connecting one of the at least two inflatable protection zones to another inflatable protection zone, wherein a majority of the at least one connecting zone does not permit air flow between the at least two inflatable protection zones; and

a plurality of communication channels, each of which is disposed within a connecting zone, each communication channel communicating the pressurized gas between two of the inflatable protection zones, wherein each of the communication channels is longitudinally elongated and horizontally oriented.

2. The cushion of claim 1, wherein the at least one communication channel is proximate the bottom of the cushion.

3. The cushion of claim 1, wherein the at least one communication channel is proximate the top of the cushion.

4. The cushion of claim 1, wherein at least one of the inflatable protection zones is joined to a second inflatable protection zone by a first communication channel and a second communication channel.

5. The cushion of claim 4, wherein the first communication channel is proximate the top of the cushion and the second communication channel is proximate the bottom of the cushion.

6. The cushion of claim 1, further comprising a gas guide connected to the inflation channel.

7. The cushion of claim 6, wherein the gas guide is configured to direct a portion of the pressurized gas toward a front end of the cushion and a portion of the pressurized gas toward a rear end of the cushion.

8. The cushion of claim 1, wherein the each of the inflatable protection zones is divided into one or more chambers.

9. The cushion of claim 1, wherein the cushion has a first, a second, and a third inflatable protection zone, the first inflatable protection zone connected to the second inflatable protection zone by a first connecting zone and the second inflatable protection zone connected to the third inflatable protection zone by a second connecting zone.

10. The cushion of claim 9, wherein a first communication channel communicates the pressurized gas between the first inflatable protection zone and the second inflatable protection zone, and a second communication channel communicates the pressurized gas between the second inflatable protection zone and the third inflatable protection zone.

11. The cushion of claim 10, wherein the first communication channel is located proximate the top of the cushion.

12. The cushion of claim 10, wherein the first communication channel is located proximate the bottom of the cushion.

13. The cushion of claim 10, wherein the second communication channel is located proximate the top of the cushion.

14. The cushion of claim 10, wherein the second communication channel is located proximate the bottom of the cushion.

15. An airbag cushion comprising:

a first membrane having an interior portion;

a second membrane having an interior portion, the first and second membranes attachable to form first, second, and third inflatable protection zones between the interior portions of the first and second membranes and to form a first connecting zone between the first and second inflatable protection zones and a second connecting zone between the second and third inflatable protection zones;

an inflation channel configured to receive pressurized gas from a source of pressurized gas, wherein a majority of the first connecting zone does not permit air flow between the first and second inflatable protection zones, and wherein a majority of the second connecting zone does not permit air flow between the second and third inflatable protection zones; and

at least one communication channel disposed within one of the connecting zones to communicate the pressurized gas from one inflatable protection zone to another inflatable protection zone,

wherein the first inflatable protection zone is divided into three chambers, the second inflatable protection zone is divided into three chambers, and the third inflatable protection zone is divided into two chambers.

16. The cushion of claim 15, wherein the at least one communication channel is proximate the bottom of the cushion.

17. The cushion of claim 15, wherein the at least one communication channel is proximate the top of the cushion.

18. The cushion of claim 15, wherein the airbag cushion further comprises a gas guide that is configured to direct a portion of the pressurized gas toward a front end of the cushion and a portion of the pressurized gas toward a rear end of the cushion.

19. The cushion of claim 15, wherein the airbag cushion further comprises a gas guide that is located between the first and second inflatable protection zones.

20. The cushion of claim 19, wherein the gas guide is configured to direct a greater portion of the pressurized gas toward the second and third inflatable protection zones than toward the first inflatable protection zone.

21. The cushion of claim 15, wherein the each of the inflatable protection zones is divided into one or more chambers.

22. The cushion of claim 15, wherein the first and second membranes are attached together via a first attachment mechanism, the attachment mechanism select from the group consisting of mechanical fastening, sewing, weaving, chemical bonding, adhesive bonding, thermal welding, sonic welding, RF welding, and electromagnetic welding.

23. An airbag cushion, having a top and a bottom, for protecting an occupant of a vehicle, the vehicle having pillars A through D, the curtain comprising:

a first inflatable protection zone for protecting a passenger seated between the A and B pillars;

a second inflatable protection zone for protecting a passenger seated between the B and C pillars;

a third inflatable protection zone for protecting a passenger seated between the C and D pillars;

a first connecting zone between the first protection zone and the second protection zone, wherein a majority of the first connecting zone does not permit air flow between the first protection zone and the second protection zone;

a second connecting zone between the second protection zone and the third protection zone, wherein a majority of the second connecting zone does not permit air flow between the second protection zone and the third protection zone;

an inflation channel for receiving pressurized gas from a source of pressurized gas, the inflation channel directing the pressurized gas into each of the protection zones;

a first communication channel disposed within the first connecting zone, the first communication channel communicating the pressurized gas between the first protection zone and the second protection zone, wherein the first communication channel is separated from the inflation channel by a first non-inflatable portion in the first connecting zone; and

a second communication channel disposed within the second connecting zone, the second communication channel communicating the pressurized gas between the second inflatable protection zone and the third inflatable protection zone, wherein the second communication channel is separated from the inflation channel by a second non-inflatable portion in the second connecting zone,

wherein the first and second communication channels are proximate the top of the cushion.

24. The cushion of claim 23, wherein the first and second communication channels are proximate the bottom of the cushion.

25. The cushion of claim 23, further comprising a third communication channel for communicating the pressurized gas from the first inflatable protection zone to the second inflatable protection zone.

26. The cushion of claim 25, wherein the third communication channel is located proximate the top of the cushion.

27. The cushion of claim 25, wherein the third communication channel is located proximate the bottom of the cushion.

28. The cushion of claim 23, further comprising a fourth communication channel for communicating the pressurized gas from the second inflatable protection zone to the third inflatable protection zone.

29. The cushion of claim 28, wherein the fourth communication channel is located proximate the top of the cushion.

30. The cushion of claim 28, wherein the fourth communication channel is located proximate the bottom of the cushion.

31. The cushion of claim 23, further comprising a gas guide connected to the inflation channel.

32. The cushion of claim 31, wherein the gas guide is configured to direct a portion of the pressurized gas toward a front end of the cushion and portion of the pressurized gas toward a rear end of the cushion.

33. The cushion of claim 31, wherein the gas guide is located between the first and second inflatable protection zones.

34. The cushion of claim 33, wherein the gas guide is configured to direct a greater portion of the pressurized gas toward the second and third inflatable protection zones than toward the first inflatable protection zone.

35. The cushion of claim 23, wherein the each of the inflatable protection zones is divided into one or more chambers.

36. The cushion of claim 35, wherein the first inflatable protection zone is divided into three chambers, the second inflatable protection zone is divided into three chambers, and the third inflatable protection zone is divided into two chambers.