Curtain air bag module

• US 7,213,836 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2005
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Padiyar, Prabhakar, Ju, Chang-Hwan, Coon, Jeffery S., Moniaci, Kenneth D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US11/179,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20060043704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/728.2, 280/729, 280/743.2, 280/743.1, 280/728.3
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• 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 21/213 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 21/2346 Soft diffusers

Abstract

A curtain air bag module (100) comprising an air bag (102) having at least one inflatable region with internally configured internal tethers, at least one of the internal tethers disposed at an angle to a stream of inflation gas. The air bag includes a distribution tube located proximate a top portion of the at least one inflatable region of the air bag, the tube having a first end adapted to receive inflation gas, the distribution tube including at least one set of openings proximate each of the at least one inflatable regions for communication of inflation gas to these regions, the at least one internal tether disposed at an oblique angle to the distribution tube.

Claims

1. A curtain air bag module for protecting occupants of a vehicle, the module comprising an air bag having opposing panels of material with a generally enclosed perimeter and forward and rear inflatable regions within the perimeter, a distribution tube located proximate a top of the enclosed perimeter and generally above each of the inflatable regions, the tube having a first end adapted to receive inflation gas and a first set and a second set of openings for communicating inflation gas to each of the forward and rear inflatable region, the second set of openings located proximate an end of the distribution tube and above the forward inflatable region, the distribution tube configured so that a stream of inflation gas exiting the second set of openings is at an angle to the tube, the air bag having a plurality of interconnected regions linking the opposing panels together at various locations throughout the air bag, one of these interconnected regions extending from a top portion of the periphery of the air bag, proximate an end of the distribution tube and partially extending into the forward inflatable region sufficient to intercept the stream of inflation gas, the one interconnected region disposed at an angle to a stream of inflation gas and to the top of the perimeter of the air bag.

2. A curtain air bag module for protecting occupants of a vehicle, the module comprising an air bag having opposing panels of material with a generally enclosed perimeter and forward and rear inflatable regions within the perimeter, a distribution tube located proximate a top of the enclosed perimeter and generally above each of the inflatable regions, the tube having a first end adapted to receive inflation gas and a first set and a second set of openings for communicating inflation gas to each of the forward and rear inflatable region, the second set of openings located proximate an end of the distribution tube and above the forward inflatable region, the distribution tube configured so that a stream of inflation gas exiting the second set of openings is at an angle to the tube, the air bag having a plurality of interconnected regions linking the opposing panels together at various locations throughout the air bag, one of these interconnected regions extending from a top portion of the periphery of the air bag, proximate an end of the distribution tube and partially extending into the forward inflatable region sufficient to intercept the stream of inflation gas, the one interconnected region disposed at an angle to a stream of inflation gas and to the top of the perimeter of the air bag;

including a neck portion (110) configured to communicate with the inflator via the tube, the neck portion located above a portion of the rear inflatable region, a portion of which extends rearward of the neck portion, the rear inflatable region, proximate a top portion thereof including a concavely shaped transition region connecting the neck portion with the top portion of the rear inflatable region, the air bag further including a neck panel disposed about the neck portion and the concavely shaped transition region, the neck panel configured to reinforce the neck portion and the transition region.

3. The air bag module as defined in claim 2 including a plurality of tabs extending from the top of the air bag, each tab insertable through a corresponding opening in a covering configured to be fitted about a folded air bag panel.

4. The air bag module as defined in claim 2 wherein the concavely shaped transition region is formed by opposing first and second concavely shaped curved regions in each of the opposing panels, wherein the neck panel includes oppositely positioned concave cutouts, each cutout portion overlaying each of the first and second concavely shaped curved region, the neck panel being sewn to the opposing panels to reinforce same.

5. A curtain air bag module for protecting occupants of a vehicle, the module comprising an air bag having opposing panels of material with a generally enclosed perimeter and forward and rear inflatable regions within the perimeter, a distribution tube located proximate a top of the enclosed perimeter and generally above each of the inflatable regions, the tube having a first end adapted to receive inflation gas and a first set and a second set of openings for communicating inflation gas to each of the forward and rear inflatable region, the second set of openings located proximate an end of the distribution tube and above the forward inflatable region, the distribution tube configured so that a stream of inflation gas exiting the second set of openings is at an angle to the tube, the air bag having a plurality of interconnected regions linking the opposing panels together at various locations throughout the air bag, one of these interconnected regions extending from a top portion of the periphery of the air bag, proximate an end of the distribution tube and partially extending into the forward inflatable region sufficient to intercept the stream of inflation gas, the one interconnected region disposed at an angle to a stream of inflation gas and to the top of the perimeter of the air bag;

a deflector mountable on a vehicle pillar, formed as a plastic extrusion, the deflector having first and second side walls, at least one of the first and second wall being movable from a first condition which defines a space to receive the air bag in its folded state to a second condition in which the side walls are separated from one another forming a ramp to guide the motion of the inflating air bag; and

wherein the deflector includes a frangible upper tubular portion and a lower tubular portion with side walls extending from the lower tubular portion, the side walls in combination with a top portion of the lower tubular portion forming the upper tubular portion, intersection of the upper portion of the lower tubular portion with the first side wall configured to form a hinge about which the one side wall can rotate upon breakage of a tear seam.

6. The air bag module as defined in claim 5 wherein the second side wall includes a flat portion and the first side wall is L-shaped.

7. The air bag module as defined in claim 6 wherein the first and second walls each include a respective mounting tab, the mounting tabs are configured to lie in an overlaid manner and wherein the hinge is formed at the intersection of the L-shaped portion of the first side wall and its mounting tab.

8. A curtain air bag module for protecting occupants of a vehicle, the module comprising an air bag having opposing panels of material with a generally enclosed perimeter and at least one inflatable region, the air bag when in a folded configuration located proximate a roof rail of the vehicle and above a center pillar and center pillar trim, the module including a deflector which envelops that portion of the air bag proximate the center pillar trim, the deflector having first and second side walls, at least one of the first and second wall being movable from a first condition which defines a space to receive the air bag in its folded state to a second condition in which the side walls are separated from one another forming a ramp to guide the motion of the inflating airbag;

wherein the deflector includes a frangible upper tubular portion and a lower tubular portion with side walls extending from the lower tubular portion, the side walls in combination with a top portion of the lower tubular portion forming the upper tubular portion, intersection of the upper portion of the lower tubular portion with the first side wall configured to form a hinge about which the one side wall can rotate upon breakage of a tear seam.

9. The air bag module as defined in claim 8 wherein the second side wall includes a flat portion and the first side wall is L-shaped.

10. The air bag module as defined in claim 9 wherein the first and second walls each include a respective mounting tab, the mounting tabs are configured to lie in an overlaid manner and wherein the hinge is formed at the intersection of the L-shaped portion of the first side wall and its mounting tab.