Inflatable curtain airbag systems

• US 8,240,707 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2009
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Valdez, Edgardo, Abramczyk, William, Balavich, Karen
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Freedman, Laura
• Application Number:
  US12/644,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20100096842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/743.1, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• 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 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

A curtain airbag system includes a sail panel. The sail panel may be attached with an inflatable curtain of the curtain airbag system.

Claims

1. A curtain airbag system for a vehicle having a passenger compartment with a front corner, the system comprising:

an inflatable curtain having a front edge; and

a sail panel configured to reduce occupant limb excursion through the front corner of the passenger compartment if the system is deployed, the sail panel having an overlapping portion including a discontinuous overlapping edge that overlaps at least a portion of the front edge of the inflatable curtain, the sail panel being attached at linearly spaced intervals with the inflatable curtain along the discontinuous overlapping edge.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the sail panel has a triangular shape.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the sail panel is sewn to the inflatable curtain.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the sail panel is riveted to the inflatable curtain.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the sail panel does not overlap the front edge of the inflatable curtain.