Inflatable side curtain

• US 6,851,707 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2001
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• 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: Stein, Russell E., Nayef, Ayad G., Boxey, Kevin J., Bakhsh, Ali Emam
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US09/963,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20020036395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/728.2, 280/743.1, 280/728.1, 280/730.1, 280/742, 280/749
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0018 Roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

Apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) inflatable into a position between a side structure (16) of a vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant (252). The protection device (14) includes a forwardmost inflatable chamber (122). The protection device (14) is rolled up in an outboard direction into a stored position. An inflation fluid source (24) provides inflation fluid for inflating the device (14) for at least five seconds. The device (14) is adapted to inflate and unroll in a downward direction away from the vehicle roof (18). A first portion (270) is adapted to engage an occupant'"'"'s head (250) positioned against the side structure (16). The first portion (270) moves the occupant'"'"'s head (250) laterally in the vehicle (12) away from the side structure (16) and inflates between the side structure of the vehicle and the occupant'"'"'s head.

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 inflatable between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a stored position in which said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is rolled up in an outboard direction towards the vehicle side structure;

an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; and

means for directing said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to unroll away from the vehicle roof and at an angle toward the vehicle side structure,

said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising means for moving an occupant'"'"'s head positioned against the side structure of the vehicle laterally in the vehicle and away from the vehicle side structure to allow said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to inflate between the side structure of the vehicle and the occupant'"'"'s head.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprises a plurality of inflatable chambers including a forwardmost chamber, at least a portion of said forwardmost chamber being adapted to initially deploy adjacent the vehicle side structure forward of the occupant'"'"'s head and vertically below the top of the occupant'"'"'s head, a first portion of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflating rearward of said at least a portion of said forwardmost chamber and being adapted to move the occupant'"'"'s head laterally in the vehicle away from the vehicle side structure, said first portion being adapted to inflate between the side structure of the vehicle and the occupant'"'"'s head.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is adapted to engage the occupant'"'"'s head when the occupant'"'"'s head is positioned against a side window of the vehicle side structure prior to inflation of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said occupant is a front seat occupant of the vehicle.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said first portion is adapted to be forced between the occupant'"'"'s head and the vehicle side structure at least partially by inflation of said forwardmost chamber.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said first portion is inflated at least partially by inflation fluid directed rearward from said forwardmost chamber into said first portion.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device further includes an inflatable rearwardmost chamber positioned rearward of all other inflatable chambers, a second portion of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device positioned forward of said rearwardmost chamber when inflated being adapted to engage a rear seat occupant'"'"'s head positioned against the side structure of the vehicle, at least a portion of said rearwardmost chamber being adapted to initially deploy adjacent the vehicle side structure rearward of the rear seat occupant'"'"'s head and vertically below the top of the rear seat occupant'"'"'s head, said second portion inflating forward of said at least a portion of said rearwardmost chamber and being adapted to move the rear seat occupant'"'"'s head away from the vehicle side structure, said second portion being adapted to inflate between the side structure of the vehicle and the rear seat occupant'"'"'s head.

8. Apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is adapted to engage the rear seat occupant'"'"'s head when the rear seat occupant'"'"'s head is positioned against a side window of the vehicle side structure prior to inflation of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

9. Apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said second portion is adapted to be forced between the occupant'"'"'s head and the vehicle side structure at least partially by inflation of said rearwardmost chamber.

10. Apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said second portion is inflated at least partially by inflation fluid directed forward from said rearwardmost chamber into said first portion.

11. Apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device includes front and rear portions spaced apart along the length of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said forwardmost chamber being positioned at least partially in said front portion, said rearwardmost chamber being positioned at least partially in said rear portion.

12. Apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said forwardmost chamber defines said front portion and said rearwardmost chamber defines said rear portion, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device further comprising a middle portion extending between said front and rear portions, said inflation fluid being directed from said front and rear portions into said middle portion when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated.

13. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device when rolled up in said outboard direction towards the vehicle side structure is rolled up about an axis extending generally parallel to the length of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

14. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a housing for storing said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device in said stored, position, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and said housing having a generally elongated configuration extending along the side structure of the vehicle near the intersection of the side structure and the vehicle roof when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is in said stored position.

15. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a fill tube for directing said inflation fluid into said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is an inflatable curtain.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said inflation fluid source comprises a stored gas inflator for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and maintaining said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflated for at least five seconds.

22. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said angle is about thirty degrees relative to a vertical axis in the vehicle.

23. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is adapted to engage the occupant'"'"'s head proximate a location where the occupant'"'"'s head engages the vehicle side structure.

18. 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 inflatable between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device including an inflatable front chamber and at least one inflatable chamber positioned rearward of said front chamber, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a stored position in which said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is rolled up in an outboard direction towards the vehicle side structure; and

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

said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device being adapted to unroll away from the vehicle roof and angled toward the vehicle side structure, said at least one chamber when inflated being adapted to engage an occupant'"'"'s head positioned against the side structure of the vehicle, said front chamber being adapted to deploy vertically below said at least one chamber engaging the top of the occupant'"'"'s head, said at least one chamber being inflated at least partially by inflation fluid directed rearward from said front chamber into said at least one chamber, said at least one chamber moving the occupant'"'"'s head away from the vehicle side structure.

19. 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 inflatable between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device including an inflatable rear chamber and at least one inflatable chamber positioned forward of said front chamber, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a stored position in which said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is rolled up in an outboard direction towards the vehicle side structure; and

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

said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device being adapted to unroll away from the vehicle roof and angled toward the vehicle side structure, said at least one chamber when inflated being adapted to engage an occupant'"'"'s head positioned against the side structure of the vehicle, said rear chamber being adapted to deploy vertically below said at least one chamber engaging the top of the occupant'"'"'s head, said at least one chamber being inflated at least partially by inflation fluid directed forward from said rear chamber into said at least one chamber, said at least one chamber moving the occupant'"'"'s head away from the vehicle side structure.

20. A method for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, wherein a head of the occupant is positioned against the vehicle side structure, said method comprising the steps of:

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

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

rolling up said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device in an outboard direction towards the vehicle side structure into a stored position;

directing said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to inflate and unroll in a direction away from the vehicle roof and angled toward the vehicle side structure; and

moving the occupant'"'"'s head away from the vehicle side structure by inflating and unrolling said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device between the vehicle side structure and the occupant'"'"'s head.

21. 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 having a stored position rolled up in an outboard direction toward the vehicle side structure, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device being inflatable away from the vehicle roof between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device being constructed and arranged for engaging an occupant'"'"'s head positioned against the side structure of the vehicle and unrolling between the occupant'"'"'s head and the vehicle side structure to move the occupant'"'"'s head laterally in the vehicle and away from the vehicle side structure, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device being adapted to inflate between the side structure of the vehicle and the occupant'"'"'s head.

24. 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 inflatable between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a stored position in which said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is rolled up in an outboard direction towards the vehicle side structure, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device being free of any inboard roll and any inboard fold;

an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; and

means for directing said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to unroll away from the vehicle roof and at an angle toward the vehicle side structure;

said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising means for moving an occupant'"'"'s head positioned against the side structure of the vehicle laterally in the vehicle and away from the vehicle side structure to allow said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to inflate between the side structure of the vehicle and the occupant'"'"'s head.

25. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, said apparatus comprising actuatable means for moving an occupant'"'"'s head positioned against the side structure laterally away from the side structure, said means for moving being deployable into engagement with the occupant'"'"'s head from a stored position adjacent an intersection of the side structure of the vehicle and the vehicle roof.