Side airbag cushion and method of manufacture

• US 8,047,566 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2010
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nxgen Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Nxgen Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Fink, Mike F., Pinsenschaum, Ryan T., Winters, Mark T., Weston, Douglas S., Abney, William III, Hassett, Dayne B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coker; Robert A
• Application Number:
  US12/772,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20100270781A1
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0048 Head
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to an inflatable cushion for deployment along an interior side of a vehicle. In one exemplary embodiment the inflatable cushion has: an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion partially surrounding an area; a non-inflatable member secured to the inflatable portion and positioned in the area; and a retentive pocket formed by the non-inflatable member and the inflatable cushion, the retentive pocket having a periphery bounded on at least one side by the non-inflatable member and the non-inflatable member being configured such that a recessed area is formed in the retentive pocket, the recessed area being disposed within the periphery of the retentive pocket.

Claims

1. An inflatable cushion for deployment along an interior side of a vehicle, comprising:

an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion partially surrounding an area when the inflatable portion is inflated;

a non-inflatable member secured to the inflatable portion and positioned in the area; and

a retentive pocket formed by the non-inflatable member, the retentive pocket having a periphery bounded on at least one side by the non-inflatable member and a peripheral portion of the non-inflatable member is configured to create a recessed area in the retentive pocket when the non-inflatable member is secured to the inflatable portion and the inflatable portion is in an inflated state, the recessed area being disposed within the periphery of the retentive pocket; and

wherein the area has a first perimeter defined by a portion of an edge of the inflatable cushion partially surrounding the area and a gap located between a first edge portion and a second edge portion of the portion of the edge of the inflatable cushion partially surrounding the area; and

wherein the non-inflatable member has a second perimeter, the second perimeter being larger than the first perimeter and being defined by a first edge portion of the non-inflatable member and a second edge portion non-inflatable member, the second edge portion of the non-inflatable member being secured to the portion of the edge of the inflatable cushion partially surrounding the area and being located between the first edge portion and the second edge portion of the portion of the edge of the inflatable cushion partially surrounding the area and the first edge portion of the non-inflatable member traversing the gap, the first edge portion of the non-inflatable member having a dimension that is less than a dimension of the gap that corresponds to when the inflatable cushion is inflated and when the non-inflatable member is not secured to the inflatable cushion.

2. The inflatable cushion as in claim 1, wherein the second edge portion of the non-inflatable member is at least partially secured to the portion of the edge of the inflatable cushion partially surrounding the area.

3. The inflatable cushion as in claim 1, wherein the recessed area of the retentive pocket is centrally located in the non-inflatable member and interaction of the inflatable cushion with an occupant creates a vertical tension and horizontal tension in areas of the inflatable cushion surrounding the retentive pocket.

4. An inflatable cushion for deployment along an interior side of a vehicle, comprising:

an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion surrounding an area, wherein no portion of the inflatable portion is disposed in the area, the area being defined by a perimeter;

a non-inflatable member secured to the inflatable portion and positioned in the area, the non-inflatable member being defined by a perimeter and wherein the non-inflatable member does not have any tear seams and wherein the perimeter of the non-inflatable member is greater than the perimeter of the area; and

a retentive pocket formed by the non-inflatable member and the inflatable cushion, the retentive pocket having a periphery partially bounded by the inflatable portion and the non-inflatable member being configured such that a recessed area is formed in the retentive pocket, the recessed area being disposed within the periphery of the retentive pocket.

5. The inflatable cushion as in claim 4, wherein the area is defined by a perimeter, the perimeter having an edge portion bounded by a lower edge portion of the inflatable portion, the lower edge portion of the inflatable portion being constrained to limit a lateral expansion of the lower edge portion of the inflatable portion.

6. The inflatable cushion as in claim 4, wherein the lower edge portion of the inflatable portion is a tubular member and the tubular member has portions stitched together in an alternating fashion to limit an expanded size of the tubular member when the inflatable cushion is inflated.

7. The inflatable cushion as in claim 4, wherein the non-inflatable member is a single layer of fabric and the inflatable portion further comprises a plurality of inflatable cells.

8. The inflatable cushion as in claim 4, wherein the recessed area of the retentive pocket is centrally located in the non-inflatable member and interaction of the inflatable cushion with an occupant creates a vertical tension and horizontal tension in areas of the inflatable cushion surrounding the retentive pocket.