Twist prevention apparatus and method for an inflatable airbag curtain
First Claim
1. An airbag assembly, comprising:
- an inflatable curtain having a gas inlet for receiving a gas guide and at least one mounting location for mounting the inflatable curtain to a vehicle; and
a stiffening member having a stiffness greater than the inflatable curtain, the stiffening member extending adjacent the at least one mounting location and along a length of the inflatable curtain such that the stiffening member is connectable to the gas guide, wherein the stiffening member is a bar-shaped elongated flat member.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inflatable airbag curtain assembly that includes an inflatable curtain and a stiffening member is provided. The stiffening member is a bar-shaped plastic, metal, or similar component with a stiffness greater than the inflatable curtain. The stiffening member extends along a length of the inflatable curtain adjacent the inlet port and the closest mounting location to the roof rail of the vehicle. The stiffening member can be disposed within a channel formed near the top edge of the curtain. The inlet port of the inflatable curtain can receive a gas guide that extends from an inflator. The stiffening member has an attaching portion that connects to a defined location on the gas guide. The stiffening member thereby resists twisting of the inflatable curtain between the gas guide junction and the closest mounting location.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An airbag assembly, comprising:
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an inflatable curtain having a gas inlet for receiving a gas guide and at least one mounting location for mounting the inflatable curtain to a vehicle; and a stiffening member having a stiffness greater than the inflatable curtain, the stiffening member extending adjacent the at least one mounting location and along a length of the inflatable curtain such that the stiffening member is connectable to the gas guide, wherein the stiffening member is a bar-shaped elongated flat member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An airbag assembly, comprising:
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an inflatable curtain having an inlet for receiving a gas guide and at least one mounting locations for mounting the inflatable curtain proximate a roof rail of a vehicle, the inflatable curtain further comprising a channel disposed adjacent the inlet and the at least one mounting location; and a stiffening member having a stiffness greater than the inflatable curtain, the stiffening member disposed within the channel and extending adjacent the at least one mounting location and along a length of the inflatable curtain to proximate the inlet, the stiffening member having an attaching portion connectable to a defined location on the gas guide, wherein the stiffening member is rigidly connected to the gas guide to prevent twisting of the inflatable curtain between the gas guide and the at least one mounting location, wherein the channel is formed integral with a material of the inflatable curtain wherein the stiffening member is a bar-shaped elongated flat member. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification