Twist resistant head side airbag

• US 7,748,734 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2006
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Wilmot, Larry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Freedman; Laura
• Application Number:
  US11/580,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20070090630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,362 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2
• 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

The disclosed airbag module can be used in the storage, handling, and installation of airbags to a motor vehicle. One embodiment of the airbag module can comprise: an airbag for protecting a vehicle occupant; and an anti-twist assembly attached to the airbag for preventing the airbag from twisting and for preventing the airbag from being stretched during installation.

Claims

1. An airbag module for a vehicle, comprising:

an airbag for protecting a vehicle occupant;

wherein the airbag is folded and is configured to deploy along an interior side portion of the vehicle;

an anti-twist assembly attached to the airbag at a plurality of points along a length of the airbag; and

one or more fasteners for attaching the anti-twist assembly to the airbag,

wherein the anti-twist assembly and airbag are configured to be folded along a longitudinal direction of the anti-twist assembly such that a first portion of the anti-twist assembly overlaps a second portion of the anti-twist assembly such that the first and second portions of the anti-twist assembly run alongside each other in the longitudinal direction, and

wherein the anti-twist assembly comprises a strip of material extending longitudinally along the length of the airbag.

2. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the strip of material is flexible but does not elongate in the longitudinal direction.

3. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the anti-twist assembly comprises at least two apertures.

4. The airbag module according to claim 3, wherein the airbag includes at least two tabs, wherein each tab includes an aperture which aligns with an aperture of the anti-twist assembly.

5. The airbag module according to claim 4, wherein alignment pins are fed through the apertures of the anti-twist assembly for securing the anti-twist assembly to the airbag.

6. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the anti-twist assembly includes three anti-twist members.

7. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the strip of material comprises at least one of plastic, steel, and stainless steel.

8. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the strip of material comprises at least one living hinge.

9. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the anti-twist assembly is attached to the airbag by at least one of the following:

mechanical fasteners, sewn stitches, straps, welding, and adhesives.

10. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is folded and wherein the module further comprises a cover encapsulating the airbag, wherein the anti-twist assembly is sewn to the cover.

11. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the anti-twist assembly is V-shaped and the airbag is disposed inside the V-shape.

12. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the anti-twist assembly comprises one or more living hinges.

13. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the anti-twist assembly and airbag are configured to be folded along the longitudinal direction of the anti-twist assembly such that a first portion of the airbag overlaps a second portion of the airbag such that the first and second portions of the airbag run alongside each other in the longitudinal direction.

14. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the anti-twist assembly and airbag are configured to be folded along the longitudinal direction of the anti-twist assembly such that a first portion of the airbag abuts a second portion of the airbag as the second portion of the airbag runs alongside the first portion of the airbag in the longitudinal direction.

15. An airbag module, comprising:

a side curtain type airbag configured to be stored along a side of a vehicle; and

an anti-twist assembly attached to the airbag for preventing the airbag from twisting and for preventing the airbag from being stretched during installation,

wherein the anti-twist assembly and airbag are configured to be folded along a longitudinal direction of the anti-twist assembly such that a first portion of the anti-twist assembly overlaps a second portion of the anti-twist assembly such that the first and second portions of the anti-twist assembly run alongside each other in the longitudinal direction.

16. The airbag module according to claim 15, wherein the anti-twist assembly comprises one or more anti-twist members attached to the airbag at a plurality of points along a length of the airbag.

17. The airbag module according to claim 16, wherein the anti-twist member comprises at least two apertures, and wherein the airbag includes at least two tabs, wherein each tab includes an aperture which aligns with an aperture of the anti-twist member.

18. The airbag module according to claim 17, wherein alignment pins pass through the apertures of the anti-twist member for securing the anti-twist member to the airbag.

19. The airbag module according to claim 15, wherein the anti-twist assembly and airbag are configured to be folded along the longitudinal direction of the anti-twist assembly such that a first portion of the airbag overlaps a second portion of the airbag such that the first and second portions of the airbag run alongside each other in the longitudinal direction.

20. The airbag module according to claim 15, wherein the anti-twist assembly and airbag are configured to be folded along the longitudinal direction of the anti-twist assembly such that a first portion of the airbag abuts a second portion of the airbag as the second portion of the airbag runs alongside the first portion of the airbag in the longitudinal direction.