Attachment of a curtain airbag assembly to a vehicle

• US 7,303,206 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2005
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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: Kippschull, Bernd, Negele, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coker; Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US11/053,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20050179238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/728.2, 280/728.1, 280/730.1, 208/749
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• 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

Abstract

A curtain airbag assembly has, for fastening purposes, at least one strap attached to the airbag. The strap is held in position by being guided through a passage behind a hanger projecting in the manner of a bracket from the structural member of a vehicle. The strap is secured in place by being folded by an angle of more than 90° around at least one edge of the hanger and by at least one means for fastening.

Claims

1. A curtain airbag assembly comprising at least one strap for securing the curtain airbag assembly to a structural member of a motor vehicle by being guided from above or below through a passage behind a horizontal lengthwise extending hanger, the strap being folded by an angle of more than 90°

around at least one horizontal edge of the hanger and the strap is secured around the hanger wherein the hanger is punched into and is part of the structural member of the vehicle projecting in the manner of a bracket from the structural member of the motor vehicle.

2. The curtain airbag assembly according to claim 1, wherein the strap has at least one opening therein for receiving at least one fastener, the fastener engaging the hanger to hold the airbag assembly in position in an installed state.

3. The curtain airbag assembly according claim 1, further comprising a sheath for protecting the airbag, wherein the sheath is provided with a frangible tear seam for release of the airbag from the sheath during a deployment of the airbag.

4. The curtain airbag assembly according claim 1, wherein an end of the strap distal from the airbag is tapered for improved insertion of the strap through a passage behind the hanger.

5. A motor vehicle comprising:

a structural member having a hanger projecting from the structural member toward the interior of the vehicle located on the sidewall or on the roof side facing the sides of the vehicle occupants in the manner of a bracket, the hanger being punched into and part of the structural member and extending horizontally lengthwise in the structural member and

a curtain airbag assembly comprising at least one strap for securing the curtain airbag assembly to the structural member of the motor vehicle by being guided from above or below through a passage behind the horizontally lengthwise extending hanger, the strap being folded by an angle of more than 90°

around at least one horizontal edge of the hanger and the strap is secured around the hanger by at least one means for fastening.

6. The motor vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the horizontal edge of the hanger is an upper edge of the hanger.

7. The motor vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the horizontal edge of the hanger and is curved.

8. The motor vehicle according to claims 5, wherein the strap has at least one opening therein for receiving at least one fastener, the fastener engaging the hanger to hold the airbag assembly in position in an installed state.