Inflatable curtain with multi-layered tab

• US 7,547,038 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2005
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Coleman, James
• Primary Examiner(s): To; Toan C
• Application Number:
  US11/192,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20070024031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.1, 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 521/671, 521/677, 248/59, 248/200, 248/225.11, 248/223.21
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together

Abstract

Disclosed are embodiments of an inflatable curtain airbag having one or more multi-layered tabs to facilitate mounting of the curtain to a vehicle. In one embodiment of the invention, the tabs comprise at least two layers attached to one another along at least one side of the two layers such that an axial opening is created between the layers. A rigid insert, such as a bracket, may be inserted into the axial opening so as to facilitate mounting the tab inside a vehicle.

Claims

1. An inflatable curtain airbag, comprising:

an inflatable cushion;

a tab connected with the inflatable cushion, wherein the tab comprises at least two layers, wherein the at least two layers are attached to one another such that an axial opening is created between the layers, wherein the tab further comprises an aperture extending through portions of the at least two layers that define the axial opening, and wherein the aperture is configured to receive an attachment structure used to connect the tab to a vehicle; and

a rigid insert configured to be positioned at least partially in the axial opening in between two of the tab layers.

2. The inflatable curtain airbag of claim 1, wherein the at least two layers are attached to one another at opposite sides thereof such that a sleeve-like axial opening is created between the layers.

3. The inflatable curtain airbag of claim 1, wherein the rigid insert comprises a bracket comprising a first portion configured to be positioned in the axial opening and a second portion configured to be positioned outside of the tab layers.

4. The inflatable curtain airbag of claim 3, wherein the bracket comprises a third portion configured to be positioned outside of the tab layers such that two layers of the tab are sandwiched between the first, second, and third portions of the bracket.

5. The inflatable curtain airbag of claim 3, wherein the bracket further comprises an attachment member configured to allow the first portion to be selectively connected with the second portion.

6. The inflatable curtain airbag of claim 1, wherein the rigid insert includes an aperture configured to at least partially coincide with the aperture extending through each of the tab layers.

7. The inflatable curtain airbag of claim 1, wherein the rigid insert is configured to be fully positioned within the axial opening in between two of the tab layers.

8. The inflatable curtain airbag of claim 1, wherein the tab is woven into the inflatable cushion.

9. The inflatable curtain airbag of claim 1, wherein the at least two layers are sewn together to form the axial opening.

10. The inflatable curtain airbag of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of tabs connected with the inflatable cushion.

11. The inflatable curtain airbag of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of tabs includes at least one region having at least two layers.

12. The inflatable curtain airbag of claim 10, wherein the rigid insert comprises a mounting bar configured to be threaded through the axial openings of the tabs.

13. An inflatable curtain airbag, comprising:

an inflatable cushion

a tab connected with the inflatable cushion, wherein the tab comprises two layers, wherein the two layers are attached to one another such that an axial opening is created between the layers, wherein the tab further comprises an aperture extending through each of the layers, and wherein the aperture is configured to receive an attachment structure used to connect the tab to a vehicle; and

a rigid insert configured to be positioned at least partially in the axial opening in between two of the tab layers, and wherein the rigid insert includes an aperture configured to at least partially coincide with the aperture extending through each of the tab layers.

14. The inflatable curtain airbag of claim 13, wherein the rigid insert comprises a bracket comprising a first portion configured to be positioned in the axial opening and a second portion configured to be positioned outside of the tab layers.

15. The inflatable curtain airbag of claim 14, wherein the bracket comprises a third portion configured to be positioned outside of the tab layers such that two layers of the tab are sandwiched between the first, second, and third portions of the bracket.

16. The inflatable curtain airbag of claim 13, wherein the at least two layers are attached to one another at opposite sides thereof such that a sleeve-like axial opening is created between the layers.

17. The inflatable curtain airbag of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of tabs connected with the inflatable cushion.

18. The inflatable curtain airbag of claim 17, wherein the rigid insert comprises a mounting bar configured to be threaded through the axial openings of the tabs, wherein each of the plurality of tabs comprises an aperture extending through each of the layers of the tab, and wherein the mounting bar comprises a plurality of apertures corresponding with the apertures in the tabs.

19. The inflatable curtain airbag of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of tabs includes at least one region having at least two layers.

20. An inflatable curtain airbag, comprising:

an inflatable cushion;

a plurality of tabs connected with the inflatable cushion, wherein each of the tabs comprises at least two layers that define an aperture, and wherein the at least two layers are attached to one another such that an axial opening is created between the layers; and

a plurality of rigid inserts corresponding with the plurality of tabs, wherein each of the rigid inserts defines an opening,

wherein each of the rigid inserts is configured to be positioned through the axial opening in between two of the tab layers such that the opening of the rigid insert and the aperture of the tab layers align to receive an attachment structure so as to mount the inflatable curtain airbag to a vehicle.

21. The inflatable curtain airbag of claim 20, wherein the at least two layers of each of the tabs are attached to one another at opposite sides thereof such that a sleeve-like axial opening is created between the layers of each of the tabs.

22. The inflatable curtain airbag of claim 20, wherein each of the plurality of tabs includes at least one region having at least two layers.