Curtain air bag unit

• US 7,823,913 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2005
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Siewiera, Thomas, Dominissini, David L., Massot, Felix
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Faye M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rocca; Joseph
• Application Number:
  US11/795,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20090309339A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,098 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 280/743.2, 745/024, 745/026, 74504-506, 745/08, 745/09, 745/10, 24/711, 242/388.2, 242/417, 242/417.3, 248/493, 248/498, 248/60, 248/316.7, 254/93.HP, 254/213, 254/517, 254/218, 254/219, 254231-236, 254237-242
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2612 Gas guiding means, e.g. ducts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

Curtain air bag unit for a motor vehicle is provided which comprises an air bag extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle. Further it comprises fixing means for fixing the air bag in the area of the roof bar of the motor vehicle, whereby the fixing means comprise a tension member, that extends from a first fixing element to a second fixing element. It also comprises tensioning means for influencing the tensile stress of the tension member during mounting of the curtain air bag unit into the motor vehicle. A pre-cut tension member can be used whose length is chosen in a way that the mounting in the vehicle can be carried out simply and conveniently.

Claims

1. A curtain air bag unit for a motor vehicle comprising:

an air bag extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle,

fixing means for fixing the air bag in the area of a roof bar of the motor vehicle,

wherein the fixing means comprise a tension member, that extends from a first fixing element to a second fixing element, and tensioning means for influencing the tensile stress of the tension member during mounting of the curtain air bag unit into the motor vehicle, and

wherein one of the two fixing elements is also the tensioning means.

2. A curtain air bag unit according to claim 1, wherein the first fixing element is mounted in the area of a front column of the motor vehicle and the second fixing element is mounted in the area of a rear column of the motor vehicle.

3. A curtain air bag unit according to claim 2, wherein the first fixing element is mounted to the A-column of the motor vehicle and the second fixing element is mounted to the C-column of the motor vehicle.

4. A curtain air bag unit according to claim 1, wherein the airbag comprises an expansion section and a tube section, said tube section having gaps in which intermediate hooks reach in order to guide the tension member and/or to attach the tension member to the roof bar.

5. A curtain air bag unit according to claim 4, wherein the intermediate hooks are secured on the tension member.

6. A curtain air bag unit according to claim 4, wherein the intermediate hooks are formed in the roof bar structure.

7. A curtain air bag unit according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning means can be actuated by the movement of a lever.

8. A curtain air bag unit according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning means can be actuated by the movement of a leveling screw.

9. A curtain air bag unit according to claim 1, wherein the tensile stress of the tension member is increased in a last step of the mounting of the air bag.

10. A curtain air bag unit according to claim 1, wherein the tension member is formed from metal, plastic or fabric.

11. A curtain air bag unit for a motor vehicle comprising:

an air bag extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle,

a tension member extending from a first fixing element to a second fixing element, wherein the air bag is coupled to the tension member to fix the air bag in the area of a roof bar of the motor vehicle via the fixing elements, and

a tensioning mechanism configured to influence the tensile stress of the tension member during mounting of the curtain air bag unit into the motor vehicle,

wherein the tension member, the fixing elements and the tensioning mechanism cooperate together in a manner that permits the fixing elements and the tensioning mechanism to be positioned only along the roof bar of the motor vehicle such that the tension member extends only along the roof bar of the motor vehicle.

12. A curtain air bag unit according to claim 11, wherein one of the two fixing elements is also the tensioning mechanism.

13. A curtain air bag unit according to claim 11, wherein the tensioning mechanism is located between the two fixing elements.

14. A curtain air bag unit according to claim 11, wherein the first fixing element is mounted in the area of a front column of the motor vehicle and the second fixing element is mounted in the area of a rear column of the motor vehicle.

15. A curtain air bag unit according to claim 14, wherein the first fixing element is mounted to the A-column of the motor vehicle and the second fixing element is mounted to the C-column of the motor vehicle.

16. A curtain air bag unit according to claim 11, wherein the airbag comprises an expansion section and a tube section, said tube section having gaps in which intermediate hooks reach in order to guide the tension member and/or to attach the tension member to the roof bar.

17. A curtain air bag unit according to claim 16, wherein the intermediate hooks are secured on the cable.

18. A curtain air bag unit according to claim 16, wherein the intermediate hooks are formed in the roof bar structure.

19. A curtain air bag unit according to claim 11, wherein the tensioning mechanism can be actuated by the movement of a lever.

20. A curtain air bag unit according to claim 11, wherein the tensioning mechanism can be actuated by the movement of a leveling screw.

21. A curtain air bag unit according to claim 11, wherein the tensile stress of the tension member is increased in a last step of the mounting of the air bag.

22. A curtain air bag unit according to claim 11, wherein the tension member is formed from metal, plastic or fabric.