Side curtain airbag with fabric diffuser
First Claim
1. An inflatable cushion for a side of a vehicle, the inflatable cushion, comprising:
- a first cushion section formed from a first layer of material secured to a second layer of material, the first cushion section having a plurality of separate inflatable cells each of which having an inlet opening for receipt of an inflation gas;
an internal passageway formed in the first cushion section, the internal passageway linking and fluidly coupling to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells via the inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells, the internal passageway being formed by an upper portion of the first layer of material and an upper portion of the second layer of material;
a fabric diffuser member secured in the internal passageway, the fabric diffuser member being configured to supply the inflation gas to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells; and
means for restricting fluid flow between the plurality of inflatable cells by limiting fluid flow between an exterior portion of the fabric diffuser member and an interior surface of the internal passageway proximate to an edge of the inlet openings of the plurality of inflatable cells, wherein each of the plurality of inflatable cells are segmented from each other and only a limited amount of inflation gas is transferred from cell to cell.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inflatable cushion for a side of a vehicle, the inflatable cushion having: a first cushion section formed from a first sheet of material secured to a second sheet of material, the first cushion section having a plurality of separate inflatable cells each of which having an inlet opening for receipt of an inflation gas; an internal passageway formed in the first cushion section, the internal passageway linking and fluidly coupling to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells via the inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells, the internal passageway being formed by an upper portion of the first sheet of material and an upper portion of the second sheet of material; a fabric diffuser member secured in the internal passageway, the fabric diffuser member being configured to supply the inflation gas to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells; and means for restricting fluid flow between the plurality of inflatable cells by limiting fluid flow between an exterior portion of the fabric diffuser member and an interior surface of the internal passageway proximate to an edge of the inlet openings of the plurality of inflatable cells.
76 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An inflatable cushion for a side of a vehicle, the inflatable cushion, comprising:
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a first cushion section formed from a first layer of material secured to a second layer of material, the first cushion section having a plurality of separate inflatable cells each of which having an inlet opening for receipt of an inflation gas; an internal passageway formed in the first cushion section, the internal passageway linking and fluidly coupling to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells via the inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells, the internal passageway being formed by an upper portion of the first layer of material and an upper portion of the second layer of material; a fabric diffuser member secured in the internal passageway, the fabric diffuser member being configured to supply the inflation gas to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells; and means for restricting fluid flow between the plurality of inflatable cells by limiting fluid flow between an exterior portion of the fabric diffuser member and an interior surface of the internal passageway proximate to an edge of the inlet openings of the plurality of inflatable cells, wherein each of the plurality of inflatable cells are segmented from each other and only a limited amount of inflation gas is transferred from cell to cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An airbag module for a vehicle, comprising:
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a side curtain inflatable cushion comprising; a first cushion section formed from a first layer of material secured to a second layer of material, the first cushion section having a plurality of separate inflatable cells each of which having an inlet opening for receipt of an inflation gas; an internal passageway formed in the first cushion section, the internal passageway linking and fluidly coupling to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells via the inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells, the internal passageway being formed by an upper portion of the first layer of material and an upper portion of the second layer of material; a fabric diffuser member secured in the internal passageway, the fabric diffuser member being configured to supply the inflation gas to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells, wherein each of the plurality of inflatable cells are segmented from each other and only a limited amount of inflation gas is transferred from cell to cell; and means for restricting fluid flow between the plurality of inflatable cells by limiting fluid flow between an exterior portion of the fabric diffuser member and an interior surface of the internal passageway proximate to an edge of the inlet openings of the plurality of inflatable cells; and an inflator for providing the inflation gas, the inflator being fluidly coupled to the fabric diffuser member. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of securing a fabric diffuser to an inflatable cushion, the method comprising:
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securing a first layer of material only to a first portion of the fabric diffuser; securing a second layer of material only to a second portion of the fabric diffuser; securing the first portion of the fabric diffuser only to the second portion of the fabric diffuser; and securing the first layer of material to the second layer of material to define portions of the inflatable cushion, wherein the inflatable cushion has a plurality of inflatable cells and each of the plurality of inflatable cells are segmented from each other and only a limited amount of an inflation gas supplied from the fabric diffuser to each of the plurality of inflatable cells during inflation of the inflatable cushion is transferred from cell to cell. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification