Side airbag cushion and method of manufacture

• US 7,708,308 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2007
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nxgen Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pinsenschaum, Ryan T., Winters, Mark T., Weston, Douglas S., Abney, William III, Hassett, Dayne B., Fink, Mike F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coker; Robert A
• Application Number:
  US11/866,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20080084052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0048 Head
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to an inflatable cushion for deployment along an interior side of a vehicle. In one exemplary embodiment the inflatable cushion has: an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion partially surrounding an area; a non-inflatable member secured to the inflatable portion and positioned in the area; and a retentive pocket formed by the non-inflatable member and the inflatable cushion, the retentive pocket having a periphery bounded on at least one side by the non-inflatable member and the non-inflatable member being configured such that a recessed area is formed in the retentive pocket, the recessed area being disposed within the periphery of the retentive pocket.

Claims

1. An inflatable cushion for deployment along an interior side of a vehicle, comprising:

an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion partially surrounding an area when the inflatable portion is inflated;

a non-inflatable member secured to the inflatable portion and positioned in the area; and

a retentive pocket formed by the non-inflatable member, the retentive pocket having a periphery bounded on at least one side by the non-inflatable member and a peripheral portion of the non-inflatable member being configured to vary a length of the peripheral portion of the non-inflatable member such that a recessed area is formed in the retentive pocket, the recessed area being disposed within the periphery of the retentive pocket.

2. The inflatable cushion as in claim 1, wherein the periphery of the retentive pocket bounded by the non-inflatable member further comprises a pleat.

3. The inflatable cushion as in claim 2, wherein the pleat comprises a portion of the non-inflatable member that is folded and secured together and the pleat shortens a length of a lower edge portion of the non-inflatable member.

4. The inflatable cushion as in claim 2, wherein the pleat is located on a lower edge of the inflatable cushion and wherein the pleat limits lateral expansion of the inflatable cushion in a direction parallel to the lower edge of the inflatable cushion.

5. The inflatable cushion as in claim 1, wherein the non-inflatable member is a single layer of fabric and the inflatable portion further comprises a plurality of inflatable cells.

6. The inflatable cushion as in claim 1, wherein the recessed area of the retentive pocket is centrally located within the non-inflatable member.

7. An inflatable cushion for deployment along an interior side of a vehicle, comprising:

a first inflatable portion having an opening providing fluid communication into an inflation chamber of the first inflatable portion;

a non-inflatable member depending away from the first inflatable portion, wherein the non-inflatable member comprises a single layer of fabric; and

a pleat formed proximate to a lower edge portion of the non-inflatable member, the pleat causing the non-inflatable member to form a retentive pocket, the retentive pocket having a periphery bounded on at least one side by the non-inflatable member and the non-inflatable member being configured such that a recessed area is formed in the retentive pocket, the recessed area being disposed within the periphery of the retentive pocket, wherein the pleat limits lateral expansion of the inflatable cushion in a direction parallel to the lower edge portion of the non-inflatable member.

8. The inflatable cushion as in claim 7, wherein the pleat comprises a portion of the non-inflatable member that is folded and secured together and the pleat shortens a length of the lower edge portion of the non-inflatable member.

9. The inflatable cushion as in claim 7, wherein the non-inflatable member has a forward leading edge, a rearward edge and the lower edge portion is disposed between the forward leading edge and the rearward edge, wherein the rearward edge is secured to an edge portion of the first inflatable portion.

10. The inflatable cushion as in claim 7, further comprising:

a second inflatable portion having an opening providing fluid communication into an inflation chamber of the second inflatable portion, wherein the non-inflatable member is disposed between the second inflatable portion and the first inflatable portion.

11. The inflatable cushion as in claim 10, wherein the non-inflatable member has a forward leading edge, a rearward edge and the lower edge portion is disposed between the forward leading edge and the rearward edge, wherein the rearward edge is secured to an edge portion of the first inflatable portion and the forward edge is secured to an edge portion of the second inflatable portion and the first inflatable portion and the second inflatable portion are in fluid communication with each other via a connecting portion, the connecting portion being located above the lower edge of the non-inflatable member.