Occupant ejection prevention assembly

• US 7,178,827 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2004
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Le, Jialiang, Chou, Clifford C., Balavich, Karen M., Wu, Fubang N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan; Ruth
• Application Number:
  US10/708,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20050173901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/748, 280/749
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/08 automatically movable from an inoperative to an operative position, e.g. in a collision electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21 in vehicle side panels, e.g. doors pillar mounted arrangements B60R21/213
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence

Abstract

An automotive ejection prevention assembly is provided comprising an airbag mounted within the beltline of a vehicle door. The airbag has an airbag stored condition and an airbag deployed position. The airbag expands vertically upwards from the beltline when in the airbag deployed position. A cover cloth assembly is mounted within a window frame of the vehicle door. The cover cloth assembly has a vertical restraint edge mounted to a vertical portion of the window frame and a horizontal restraint edge mounted to the beltline. The cover cloth assembly includes an inner cloth surface and an outer cloth surface joined to form an internal pocket. The airbag is positioned within the internal pocket. The cover cloth assembly fills a portion of the window frame upon the airbag entering the airbag deployed position. The cover cloth assembly prevents occupant ejection through the window frame.

Claims

1. An automotive ejection prevention assembly comprising:

an airbag mounted within the beltline of a vehicle door, said airbag having an airbag stored condition and an airbag deployed position, said airbag expanded vertically upwards from said beltline when in said airbag deployed position;

a cover cloth assembly mounted within a window frame of said vehicle door, said cover cloth assembly having a vertical restraint edge mounted to a vertical position of said window frame and a horizontal restraint edge mounted to said beltline, said cover cloth assembly including an inner cloth surface and an outer cloth surface joined to form an internal pocket, said airbag positioned within said internal pocket;

wherein said cover cloth assembly fills a portion of said window frame as a result of said airbag inflating within said internal pocket as said airbag enters said airbag deployed position, said cover cloth assembly preventing occupant ejection through said window frame.

2. An automotive ejection prevention assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said airbag is positioned inboard of said window frame.

3. An automotive ejection prevention assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said airbag is positioned outboard of said window frame.

4. An automotive ejection prevention assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said cover cloth assembly comprises a triangular cloth assembly.

5. An automotive ejection prevention assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said cover cloth assembly is mounted to said window frame using at least three triangular anchor points.

6. An automotive ejection prevention assembly as described in claim 1, further comprising:

a side-impact sensor;

a controller in communication with said side-impact sensor and said airbag, said controller deploying said airbag in response to said side-impact sensor.

7. An automotive ejection prevention assembly as described in claim 6, further comprising:

a rollover sensor, said controller in communication with said rollover sensor and deploying said airbag in response to said rollover sensor.

8. An automotive ejection prevention assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said airbag is deployed at a deployment angle greater than 5 degrees relative to a window plane within said window frame.

9. An automotive ejection prevention assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said cover cloth assembly generates an inward force on a passenger protruding through said window frame.

10. An automotive ejection prevention assembly comprising:

an airbag mounted within the beltline of a vehicle door, said airbag having an airbag stored condition and an airbag deployed position, said airbag expanded vertically upwards from said beltline when in said airbag deployed position;

a rollover sensor;

a controller in communication with said rollover sensor and said airbag, said controller deploying said airbag in response to said rollover sensor;

A cover cloth assembly mounted within a window frame of said vehicle door, said cover cloth assembly having a vertical restraint edge mounted to a vertical portion of said window frame and a horizontal restraint edge mounted to said beltline, said cover cloth assembly including an inner cloth surface and an outer cloth surface joined to form an internal pocket, said airbag positioned within said internal pocket, said cover cloth assembly fills a portion of said window frame as a result of said airbag inflating within said internal pocket as said airbag enters said airbag deployed position.

11. An automotive ejection prevention assembly as described in claim 10, wherein said airbag is positioned inboard of said window frame.

12. An automotive ejection prevention assembly as described in claim 10, wherein said airbag is positioned outboard of said window frame.

13. An automotive ejection prevention assembly as described in claim 10, further comprising:

a side-impact sensor, said controller in communication with said side-impact sensor and deploying said airbag in response to said side-impact sensor.

14. An automotive ejection prevention assembly as described in claim 10, wherein said cover cloth assembly is mounted to said window frame using at least three triangular anchor points.

15. An automotive ejection prevention assembly as described in claim 10, wherein said airbag generates an inward force on a passenger protruding through said window frame when said airbag moves into the airbag deployed position.

16. A method of preventing passenger ejection during a vehicular rollover comprising:

storing an airbag within the beltline of a vehicle door, said airbag having an airbag stored condition and an airbag deployed position;

monitoring a rollover sensor to determine vehicle orientation;

deploying said airbag vertically upward from said beltline into a window frame such that said airbag enters said airbag deployed position when said rollover sensor indicates a rollover;

preventing occupant ejection through said window frame by placing said airbag within a cover cloth assembly mounted within said window frame of said vehicle door, said cover cloth assembly having a vertical restraint edge mounted to a vertical portion of said window frame and a horizontal restraint edge mounted to said beltline, said cover cloth assembly including an inner cloth surface and an outer cloth surface joined to form an internal pocket, said airbag positioned within said internal pocket, said cover cloth assembly fills a portion of said window frame as a result of said airbag inflating within said internal pocket as said airbag enters said airbag deployed position.

17. A method as described in claim 16, further comprising:

securing said cover cloth assembly wherein to said window frame using at least three triangular anchor points.

18. A method as described in claim 16, further comprising:

monitoring a side-impact sensor; and

deploying said airbag vertically upwards from said beltline into a window frame such that said airbag enters said airbag deployed position when said vehicle indicates side-impact.