Inflatable airbag assemblies with alignment apertures
First Claim
1. An inflatable airbag assembly, comprising:
- an inflatable curtain airbag comprising a first landmark; and
a mounting assembly, comprising;
a mounting member; and
a connecting member coupled to the mounting member and the inflatable curtain airbag,wherein the connecting member comprises an alignment aperture located at a predetermined location such that when the alignment aperture is at least partially aligned with the first landmark, the mounting assembly is located at a predetermined location on the inflatable airbag along at least one axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Inflatable airbag cushions often have modular components attached to them after the main airbag has been manufactured. Such modular components can include external tethers, mounting tabs, mounting assemblies, and fill tubes. Often, these modular components are positioned at predetermined locations on the airbag. Further, the modular components typically have a predetermined orientation. Employing an alignment aperture and at least one landmark on the airbag can allow a modular component to be positioned correctly along at least one axis of the airbag. Landmarks can include seams, edges, folds, and marks, such as ink from printing. Additional apertures, landmarks and/or hardware can be used to assure proper orientation of the modular component on the airbag. The modular component can be coupled to the airbag by stitching.
114 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An inflatable airbag assembly, comprising:
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an inflatable curtain airbag comprising a first landmark; and a mounting assembly, comprising; a mounting member; and a connecting member coupled to the mounting member and the inflatable curtain airbag, wherein the connecting member comprises an alignment aperture located at a predetermined location such that when the alignment aperture is at least partially aligned with the first landmark, the mounting assembly is located at a predetermined location on the inflatable airbag along at least one axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of manufacturing an inflatable airbag assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an inflatable airbag comprising a first landmark at a predetermined location; providing a modular component comprising an alignment aperture at a predetermined location placing the modular component on the inflatable airbag such that a portion of the inflatable airbag is visible through the alignment aperture; aligning the alignment aperture and the landmark along at least one axis of the inflatable airbag such that a portion of the landmark is visible within the alignment aperture; orienting the modular component in a predetermined orientation relative to the inflatable airbag; and coupling the modular component to the inflatable airbag, while viewing the landmark through the alignment aperture, such that the modular component is retained in the predetermined location and retains the predetermined orientation. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An inflatable airbag assembly, comprising:
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an inflatable airbag comprising a first landmark at a predetermined location; and a modular component having an alignment aperture, wherein the alignment aperture is located at a predetermined location on the modular component, and wherein the alignment aperture has a diameter within a range from about 3 mm to about 20 mm, whereby when the alignment aperture is at least partially aligned with the first landmark, a portion of the inflatable airbag is visible through the alignment aperture, and the modular component is located at a predetermined location on the inflatable airbag and with a predetermined orientation along at least one axis. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification