Side curtain air-bag

• US 7,527,287 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2004
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lovqvist, Marcus, Kjell, Fredrik, Hellberg, Per, Berntsson, Mats
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuibreth; Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spisich; George D.
• Application Number:
  US10/577,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20070075526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,651 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

An air-bag in the form of an inflatable curtain (1) rolled to form a roll (7). Part (5) of the inflatable curtain that is to form the uppermost edge (2) of the inflatable curtain when inflated initially extends downwardly from the roll to lie adjacent a side part on motor vehicle on which the inflatable curtain is to be mounted.

Claims

1. An inflatable curtain for a motor vehicle formed of layers of fabric and being deployable from a rolled state forming a roll to an inflated state, the air-bag comprising part of the air-bag that forms the upper-most edge of the air-bag when the air-bag is in the inflated state extending downwardly from the lowermost portion of the roll to lie proximate a side part of the motor vehicle on which the air-bag is to be mounted, the upper-most edge that is downwardly extending is a substantially uninflatable region of the air-bag provided with one or more mounting formations that are located at a position which is not above an upper-most part of the roll.

2. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the mounting formations comprise a plurality of mounting tabs to be connected to mounting lugs affixed to the motor vehicle.

3. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the mounting formations comprise a plurality of mounting apertures to engage a fastener.

4. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the air-bag further comprises a mounting bracket.

5. An air-bag according to claim 4 wherein the bracket includes a supporting platform to support the air-bag in the rolled state.

6. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the air-bag in the rolled state is contained within a protective cover.

7. An air-bag according to claim 6 wherein the protective cover comprises a sleeve provided with a breakable seam.

8. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the air-bag is rolled to form the rolled state in a direction towards the outboard side of the air-bag.

9. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the air-bag further provides a gas flow duct, the gas flow duct, when the air-bag is in the rolled state, being provided at the top part of the roll.

10. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the one or more mounting formations are located below the roll.

11. An inflatable curtain for a motor vehicle formed of layers of fabric and being deployable from a rolled state forming a roll to an inflated state, the air-bag comprising part of the air-bag that forms the upper-most edge of the air-bag when the air-bag is in the inflated state extending downwardly from the roll to lie proximate a side Dart of the motor vehicle on which the air-bag is to be mounted, wherein the airbag further comprises a mounting bracket that incorporates an open topped channel dimensioned to receive part of the upper-most edge of the air-bag that is downwardly extending.

12. An air-bag according to claim 11 wherein side-walls of the channel are provided with co-aligned apertures to be co-aligned with the mounting formations formed in the air-bag to enable mounting elements to pass through the co-aligned apertures to mount the bracket and the air-bag to the motor vehicle.

13. An air-bag according to claim 11 wherein the bracket incorporates a plurality of hooks.

14. An air-bag according to claim 13 wherein the hooks are provided at a position above the open-topped channel to engage apertures provided in a side-wall of the motor vehicle.

15. An inflatable curtain for a motor vehicle formed of layers of fabric and being deployable from a rolled state forming a roll to an inflated state, the air-bag comprising part of the air-bag that forms the upper-most edge of the air-bag when the air-bag is in the inflated state extending downwardly from the lowermost portion of the roll to lie proximate a side part of the motor vehicle on which the air-bag is to be mounted, wherein at least a portion of the roll is positioned above the upper-most edge in the rolled state and is driven downward below the upper-most edge during deployment to the inflated state.

16. An air-bag according to claim 15 wherein the upper-most edge that is downwardly extending is a substantially uninflatable region of the air-bag provided with one or more mounting formations.

17. An air-bag according to claim 15 wherein the air-bag further comprises a mounting bracket.

18. An air-bag according to claim 15 wherein the air-bag in the rolled state is contained within a protective cover.

19. An air-bag according to claim 15 wherein the air-bag is rolled to form the rolled state in a direction towards the outboard side of the air-bag.

20. An air-bag according to claim 15 wherein the air-bag further provides a gas flow duct, the gas flow duct, when the air-bag is in the rolled state, being provided at the top part of the roll.