Inflatable ramp for inflatable curtain side impact restraint
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An airbag for use in a vehicle having an interstitial volume, comprising:
- a primary inflatable portion having an aperture, wherein the primary inflatable portion defines a curtain having an upper longitudinal edge that is connectable to the vehicle; and
an inflatable guide pocket attached to the primary inflatable portion by at least a first seam that at least partially circumscribes the aperture, with the guide pocket being disposed adjacent to the upper longitudinal edge of the primary inflatable portion,wherein the guide pocket is sized and configured to define a localized projection into the interstitial volume when the guide pocket and the primary inflatable portion are at least partially inflated, the guide pocket expands laterally away from the primary inflatable portion in an outboard direction of the vehicle during inflation of the airbag, the primary inflatable portion includes an outboard surface, the aperture is defined through the outboard surface of the primary inflatable portion, and the localized projection includes at least one flat surface that is spaced from the outboard surface of the primary inflatable portion in the outboard direction of the vehicle.
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Abstract
A curtain airbag for use in a vehicle having an interstitial volume includes a primary inflatable portion and an inflatable guide pocket. The primary inflatable portion has an aperture, and the inflatable guide pocket is attached to the primary inflatable portion by at least a first seam that at least partially circumscribes the aperture. The guide pocket is sized and configured to define a localized projection into the interstitial volume when the guide pocket and the primary inflatable portion are at least partially inflated.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An airbag for use in a vehicle having an interstitial volume, comprising:
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a primary inflatable portion having an aperture, wherein the primary inflatable portion defines a curtain having an upper longitudinal edge that is connectable to the vehicle; and an inflatable guide pocket attached to the primary inflatable portion by at least a first seam that at least partially circumscribes the aperture, with the guide pocket being disposed adjacent to the upper longitudinal edge of the primary inflatable portion, wherein the guide pocket is sized and configured to define a localized projection into the interstitial volume when the guide pocket and the primary inflatable portion are at least partially inflated, the guide pocket expands laterally away from the primary inflatable portion in an outboard direction of the vehicle during inflation of the airbag, the primary inflatable portion includes an outboard surface, the aperture is defined through the outboard surface of the primary inflatable portion, and the localized projection includes at least one flat surface that is spaced from the outboard surface of the primary inflatable portion in the outboard direction of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 26)
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3. An airbag for use in a vehicle having an interstitial volume, comprising:
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a primary inflatable portion having an aperture, wherein the primary inflatable portion defines a curtain having an upper longitudinal edge that is connectable to the vehicle; and an inflatable guide pocket attached to the primary inflatable portion by at least a first seam that at least partially circumscribes the aperture, with the guide pocket being disposed adjacent to the upper longitudinal edge of the primary inflatable portion, wherein the guide pocket is sized and configured to define a localized projection into the interstitial volume when the guide pocket and the primary inflatable portion are at least partially inflated, the guide pocket expands laterally away from the primary inflatable portion in an outboard direction of the vehicle during inflation of the airbag, the guide pocket is fabricated from a single, continuous expanse of material that is folded to lay substantially flat against the primary inflatable portion prior to inflation of the primary inflatable portion and the guide pocket, and the guide pocket is folded such that the guide pocket includes pleats that extend through the first seam. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 10, 16)
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12. An airbag for use in a vehicle having an interstitial volume, comprising:
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a primary inflatable portion having an aperture, wherein the primary inflatable portion defines a curtain having an upper longitudinal edge that is connectable to the vehicle; and an inflatable guide pocket attached to the primary inflatable portion by at least a first seam that at least partially circumscribes the aperture, with the guide pocket being disposed adjacent to the upper longitudinal edge of the primary inflatable portion, wherein the guide pocket is sized and configured to define a localized projection into the interstitial volume when the guide pocket and the primary inflatable portion are at least partially inflated, the guide pocket expands laterally away from the primary inflatable portion in an outboard direction of the vehicle during inflation of the airbag, and the first seam completely circumscribes the aperture.
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17. An airbag for use in a vehicle having a door, a structural pillar adjacent to the door, and a trim panel connected to the structural pillar, wherein the airbag is connectable to the vehicle above the door and the structural pillar, the airbag comprising:
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a primary inflatable portion having an upper longitudinal edge connectable to the vehicle, an interior surface adapted to face a passenger compartment of the vehicle when the primary inflatable portion is inflated, an exterior surface adapted to face the door and the structural pillar when the primary inflatable portion is inflated, and an aperture defined through the exterior surface; and an inflatable guide pocket attached to the exterior surface of the primary inflatable portion by at least a first seam that at least partially circumscribes the aperture, wherein the guide pocket is disposed above an upper end of the trim panel and is sized and configured to define a localized projection that is engageable with at least one of the structural pillar and the upper end of the trim panel when the guide pocket and the primary inflatable portion are at least partially inflated. - View Dependent Claims (19, 27, 28)
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18. An airbag for use in a vehicle having a door, a structural pillar adjacent to the door, and a trim panel connected to the structural pillar, wherein the airbag is connectable to the vehicle above the door and the structural pillar, the airbag comprising:
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a primary inflatable portion having an upper longitudinal edge connectable to the vehicle, an interior surface adapted to face a passenger compartment of the vehicle when the primary inflatable portion is inflated, an exterior surface adapted to face the door and the structural pillar when the primary inflatable portion is inflated, and an aperture defined through the exterior surface; and an inflatable guide pocket attached to the exterior surface of the primary inflatable portion by at least a first seam that at least partially circumscribes the aperture, wherein the guide pocket is sized and configured to define a localized projection that is engageable with at least one of the structural pillar and an upper end of the trim panel when the guide pocket and the primary inflatable portion are at least partially inflated and the localized projection has a fore-to-aft width complementary to a fore-to-aft width of the structural pillar.
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22. An airbag for use in a vehicle having an interstitial volume, comprising:
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a primary inflatable portion having an aperture, wherein the primary inflatable portion defines a curtain having an upper longitudinal edge that is connectable to the vehicle; and an inflatable guide pocket attached to the primary inflatable portion by at least a first seam that at least partially circumscribes the aperture, with the guide pocket being disposed adjacent to the upper longitudinal edge of the primary inflatable portion, wherein the guide pocket is sized and configured to define a localized projection into the interstitial volume when the guide pocket and the primary inflatable portion are at least partially inflated, the guide pocket expands laterally away from the primary inflatable portion in an outboard direction of the vehicle during inflation of the airbag, the guide pocket is fabricated from a single, continuous expanse of material that is folded to lay substantially flat against the primary inflatable portion prior to inflation of the primary inflatable portion and the guide pocket, and the guide pocket is folded to define a first pleat and a second pleat that crosses the first pleat. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification