Curtain airbag and vehicle

• US 7,770,918 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2007
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kjell, Fredrik, Jacobsson, Borje, Berntsson, Mats, Henriksson, Ola
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris; Lesley
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coker; Robert A
• Application Number:
  US11/853,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20070296189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

A curtain airbag for installation in the roof frame area of a motor vehicle exhibits at least one guide chamber which is located in the upper section of curtain airbag and which is connected with its inflatable area from the point of view of gas flow. The at least one guide chamber can be inflated on the outer side of the curtain airbag when this is in a mounted state. The upper section of curtain airbag is directed downwards when in the mounted state.

Claims

1. A side curtain airbag installed in a mounted state in a side roof frame area of a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle having an internal vehicle structure disposed adjacent to the side roof frame area, the side curtain airbag comprising:

at least one guide chamber in fluid communication with an inflatable protection area via a filling channel formed in the inflatable protection area, the at least one guide chamber configured such that upon inflation with inflation gas from a gas generator, the guide chamber blocks a hollow space formed at least in part by a portion of the internal vehicle structure to allow the inflatable protection area to deploy past the internal vehicle structure;

the inflatable protection area having an upper section and one or more chambers which receive the inflation gas from the gas generator when the airbag is deployed; and

wherein the side curtain airbag is in the mounted state with the inflatable protection area rolled up defining a roll and the upper section extends downwardly without forming a sharp fold that defines a fold line between the guide chamber and the filling channel.

2. The side curtain airbag according to claim 1 wherein the upper section includes a plurality of retaining means that mount the side curtain airbag to the motor vehicle.

3. The side curtain airbag according to claim 2 wherein the at least one guide chamber is located between two of the retaining means.

4. The side curtain airbag according to claim 2 wherein at least one of the retaining means is located on the guide chamber.

5. The side curtain airbag according to claim 1 wherein the guide chamber is positioned to correspond to a vehicle pillar of the motor vehicle.

6. The side curtain airbag according to claim 1 wherein the upper section includes a first guide chamber and a second guide chamber, wherein the first guide chamber and the second guide chamber are adjacent respectively to a B pillar and a C pillar of the motor vehicle.

7. The side curtain airbag according to claim 1 wherein the curtain airbag is rolled up in an undeployed state and is held in the undeployed state by at least one cover.

8. The side curtain airbag according to claim 1 wherein the curtain airbag is rolled up along its outer side.

9. The side curtain airbag according to claim 1 wherein the upper section includes at least one retaining means that mounts the side curtain airbag to the motor vehicle wherein the at least one retaining means is positioned underneath the undeployed rolled up side curtain airbag.

10. The side curtain airbag according to claim 1 wherein the at least one guide chamber points downward as the side curtain airbag is mounted in the motor vehicle in an undeployed state.

11. The side curtain airbag according to claim 1 wherein the at least one guide chamber is rolled up together with the side curtain airbag in an undeployed state.

12. The side curtain airbag according to claim 1 wherein the at least one guide chamber is connected in one piece with the protection area of the side curtain airbag.

13. The side curtain airbag according to claim 1 wherein the at least one guide chamber extends downwardly from and below the roll.