Cushion mount with slide device

• US 6,902,188 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2002
• Issued: 06/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takata Restraint Systems Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Restraint Systems Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Kenji, Scavnicky, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US10/269,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20040070183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/730.1, 280/743.2, 280/749, 280/753, 606/35, 606/32, 74/2, 185/37, 267/174
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• 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 22/195 with means to tension the belt in an emergency, e.g. means of the through-anchor or splitted reel typeelectrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/11 Tripping mechanism

Abstract

A restraint apparatus for protecting a vehicle occupant in a side impact or rollover event. The restraint apparatus includes a deployment guide that includes a housing having a channel with a substantially smoothed interior and longitudinal slot. A guide member is slidably retained in the channel and has an extension protruding from the slotted side of the channel. The extension is attachable to a restraint device deployable laterally of a vehicle occupant. An actuator is provided and is operable to drive the guide member from a first end of the channel toward a second end. A driving of the guide member facilitates deployment of the restraint device and supplies at least a longitudinal tensioning force to the restraint device to provide lateral support thereto.

Claims

1. A deployment guide for a vehicle occupant restraint device, comprising:

a housing having a channel with a slotted side, said channel having a first end and a second end;

a guide member slidably retained in said channel and attachable to a deployable restraint device;

an actuator operable to drive said guide member alone said channel to provide a tensioning force to said restraint device, said actuator comprising a spring having a first end engaging said guide member and a second end secured toward said second end of said channel; and

a hinged trigger proximate said first end of said channel, said guide member engageable with said trigger;

said trigger operable to disengage said guide member upon deployment of said restraint device.

2. A guide according to claim 1 further comprising a flexible tether integral with said restraint device, said flexible tether connecting said restraint device to said guide member.

3. A side impact restraint apparatus mounted in a vehicle for protecting an occupant during a collision, said apparatus comprising:

an inflatable restraint cushion mounted inside the vehicle;

a partially closed guide track;

a guide member movably mounted in said guide track, said guide member connected with said inflatable restraint cushion; and

a spring actuator coupled to said guide member and expansible to an energized state, said spring actuator releasable from said energized state to drive said guide member through said guide track, thereby tensioning said cushion, wherein said spring actuator is releasable from said energized state by actuating a trigger with pressurized gas from an airbag inflator.

4. The restraint apparatus of claim 3 wherein said spring actuator is a helical spring positioned in said guide track.

5. A restraint apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

an inflatable restraint device;

a housing having a partially enclosed channel with a longitudinal slot;

a slidable member retained in said channel and attachable to said restraint device;

an actuator operable to drive said slidable member toward an end of said channel through a defined length of travel; and

a catch for retaining said slidable member at a terminus end of said length of travel, said catch comprising a boss on said slidable member and a substantially complementary receptacle defined by said housing, said boss engageable with said receptacle to prevent dislodging of said slidable member when engaged therewith, and said catch is disengaged until said slidable member reaches said terminus end of said length of travel.

6. The restraint apparatus of claim 5, wherein said boss is a flared extension from an underside of said slidable member, said boss snap-fittable with said receptacle.