Curtain airbag

• US 7,931,293 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2008
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2008
• 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: Wiik, Richard, Slaats, Paul Maria-Antonius, Wipasuramonton, Pongdet Paul, Steinbach, Mark Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENGLISH, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US12/010,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20090184499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 280/729, 280/730.2, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

An airbag is provided. The airbag is configured to extend longitudinally along a side of a vehicle and includes a first section configured to inflate in a longitudinal and vertical direction, a second section coupled to the first section and configured to inflate in a longitudinal and vertical direction, an inlet for receiving inflation gas from an inflator, tabs positioned at the top of the airbag for attaching the airbag to a ceiling of the vehicle and chambers positioned between the tabs along the top of the airbag, wherein the chambers stabilize the airbag during deployment.

Claims

1. An airbag configured to extend longitudinally along a side of a vehicle comprising:

a first section configured to inflate in a longitudinal and vertical direction;

a second section coupled to the first section and configured to inflate in a longitudinal and vertical direction;

an inlet for receiving inflation gas from an inflator;

tabs positioned at the top of the airbag for attaching the airbag to a roof-rail or vehicle side structure of the vehicle, wherein the tabs are elongated such that when the airbag is deployed the airbag provides window coverage and head protection along the side of the vehicle; and

chambers positioned between the tabs along the top of the airbag such that the tabs extend above an upper edge of the chambers, wherein when the airbag is deployed the chambers are not folded relative to the first and second sections and are located between the tabs above the first and second sections in contact with a roof-rail surface of the vehicle to stabilize the position of the airbag after the airbag is deployed.

2. An airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first section and second section have multiple vertical chambers.

3. An airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first section and second section are coupled such that air may flow between the first section and the second section.

4. An airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inlet is positioned at the top of the airbag between the first section and second section.

5. An airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tabs are elongated such that when the airbag is deployed the bottom of the airbag is positioned below a beltline of the vehicle.

11. An airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chambers push against the roof-rail.

12. An airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chambers push the airbag down in a vertical direction to insure that the airbag stays deployed at its full length.

13. An airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chambers minimize vertical oscillation of the airbag once the airbag is deployed.

6. A vehicle, comprising:

an airbag configured to extend longitudinally along a side of a vehicle including;

a first section configured to extend in a longitudinal and vertical direction;

a second section coupled to the first section and configured to extend in a longitudinal and vertical direction;

an inlet for receiving inflation gas from an inflator;

tabs positioned at the top of the airbag for attaching the airbag to a ceiling of the vehicle, wherein the tabs are elongated such that when the airbag is deployed the airbag provides window coverage and head protection along the side of the vehicle; and

chambers positioned between the tabs along the top of the airbag such that the tabs extend above an upper edge of the chambers, wherein when the airbag is deployed the chambers are not folded relative to the first and second sections and are located between the tabs above the first and second sections in contact with a roof-rail surface of the vehicle to stabilize the airbag once the airbag is deployed.

7. A vehicle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first section and second section have multiple vertical chambers.

8. A vehicle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first section and second section are coupled such that air may flow between the first section and the second section.

9. A vehicle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the inlet is positioned at the top of the airbag between the first section and second section.

10. A vehicle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the tabs are elongated such that when the airbag is deployed the bottom of the airbag is positioned below a beltline of the vehicle.

14. A vehicle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the chambers push against the roof-rail.

15. A vehicle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the chambers push the airbag down in a vertical direction to insure that the airbag stays deployed at its full length.

16. A vehicle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the chambers minimize vertical oscillation of the airbag once the airbag is deployed.

17. An airbag configured to extend longitudinally along a side of a vehicle comprising:

a section configured to inflate in a longitudinal and vertical direction;

an inlet for receiving inflation gas from an inflator;

tabs positioned at the top of the airbag for attaching the airbag to a roof-rail or vehicle side structure of the vehicle, wherein the tabs are elongated such that when the airbag is deployed the airbag provides window coverage and head protection along the side of the vehicle; and

chambers positioned between the tabs along the top of the airbag such that the tabs extend above an upper edge of the chambers, wherein when the airbag is deployed the chambers are not folded relative to the first and second sections and are located between the tabs above the first and second sections in contact with a roof-rail surface of the vehicle to stabilize the position of the airbag after the airbag is deployed.

18. A vehicle, comprising:

an airbag configured to extend longitudinally along a side of a vehicle including;

a section configured to extend in a longitudinal and vertical direction;

an inlet for receiving inflation gas from an inflator;

tabs positioned at the top of the airbag for attaching the airbag to a ceiling of the vehicle, wherein the tabs are elongated such that when the airbag is deployed the airbag provides window coverage and head protection along the side of the vehicle; and

chambers positioned between the tabs along the top of the airbag such that the tabs extend above an upper edge of the chambers, wherein when the airbag is deployed the chambers are not folded relative to the first and second sections and are located between the tabs above the first and second sections in contact with a roof-rail surface of the vehicle to stabilize the position of the airbag after the airbag is deployed.