Ejection countermeasures for curtain air bags

• US 8,382,151 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2012
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kalandek, Bruce Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, DREW J
• Application Number:
  US13/442,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20120193898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 322 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/728.2, 280/730.1, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

A curtain air bag (100) for containing an occupant within a vehicle (300), configured to be attached to a corresponding portion of the vehicle (300) above a location of windows (304) in a side (302) of the vehicle (300). Each of the first and second sides (104, 106) are configured to be connected to a respective adjacent first and second pillar of the vehicle (300) at an anchoring location of at or not more than 25 millimeters below the center of gravity of a NHTSA test head form (20) impact location, preferably the inflated portion of the air bag (100) extends well below the anchoring location so that the lower inflated portion of the air bag extends 25 mm or more below the bottom of the test head form (20).

Claims

1. A curtain air bag (100, 100A) to constrain a vehicle occupant within a vehicle (300), the air bag configured to receive a test head form (20) at a target location near the bottom of a window (304) on the side of the vehicle, the head form having a center of gravity CG, a low portion of the target location being offset from the bottom of the inflated portion of the air bag comprising:

a top (130) configured to be attached to a roof rail (320) of the vehicle (300) above the location of windows in a side of the vehicle, a bottom (132) configured to be disposed proximate a lower edge of the vehicle window upon deployment of the air bag, a first and a second side (104, 106) linking the top and bottom, each side having a lateral end (180 or 182) being configured to be connected at anchoring locations (184, 186) at the lateral ends (180, 182) of the curtain airbag (100) to a respective adjacent first and second pillars of the vehicle at a vertical location X at or 25 mm below an impact point of the center of gravity of the head form, wherein the anchor locations are set above the lowest portion of the window opening; and

wherein the bottom of the air bag is reinforced and the anchor locations are set between 113 mm to 138 mm above the lowest portion of the window opening and the inflated portion of the airbag extends at least 25 mm beyond the lower portion of impacting test head to a reinforced bottom (132) of the curtain airbag (100), the reinforced bottom (132) extends through to the lateral anchors (184 and 186) along the entire length of the airbag.

2. The curtain air bag according to claim 1 wherein the elongation of the bottom of the air bag is reduced from the elongation of the air bag above the reinforced bottom (132).

3. The curtain air bag according to claim 2 wherein the bottom of the air bag includes selvage (150-156) below an inflatable portion of the air bag, the selvage including a first selvage part below an inflatable portion of the air bag (120) and a second selvage part below the first selvage part, wherein the second selvage part is reinforced by addition of another layer of material or where the selvage part is folded over or rolled over the first selvage part, forming a fold or roll, and the first and second selvage parts are sewn together or otherwise attached together thereby reinforcing the bottom of the air bag to reduce the elongation of the air bag along the outer perimeter.

4. The curtain air bag according to claim 3 wherein a stiffening member (170, 193) is placed in the fold prior to securing the first and second selvage parts together.

5. The curtain air bag according to claim 4 wherein the stiffening member is positioned proximate the bottom of the fold and a seam that fastens the first and second selvage parts together also maintains the stiffening member generally at the bottom of the fold.

6. The curtain air bag according to claim 5 wherein the stiffening member is one of a length of rope, wire or woven fabric or webbing, having ends secured at anchors (184 and 186).

7. The curtain air bag according to claim 1 wherein the air bag includes opposing sides (154A, 156A) which are reinforced to reduce the elongation of each side of the air bag below that of the elongation of the air bag above the reinforced bottom (132).

8. The curtain air bag according to claim 7 wherein the bottom of the air bag includes a first side selvage (252) at a side (154A-156A) of an inflatable portion of the air bag, the first side selvage extending from an anchor along the top of the air bag to an anchor (184, 186) along a side of the air bag, wherein the first side selvage part is reinforced by the addition of another layer of material or where the selvage part is folded over or rolled over the first side selvage part, forming a fold or roll, and the first side selvage part sewn together or otherwise attached together thereby reinforcing the side of the air bag to the elongation of a respective side of the air bag.

9. The curtain air bag according to claim 8 wherein a stiffening member including one of a length of rope, wire or woven fabric or webbing is located within the folded-over first side selvage region and extending to and secured at anchors (184 and 186).

10. A curtain air bag (100, 100A) for containing an occupant within a vehicle (300), comprising:

top (130), bottom (132) and first and opposing second side (104, 106) portions linking the top and bottom;

the top portion configured to be attached to a corresponding portion of the vehicle above a location of windows (304) in a side of the vehicle, the bottom configured to be disposed, upon deployment of the air bag, proximate a lower edge of the vehicle window, each of the first and second side having a lateral end (180 or 182) being configured to be connected at an anchoring location (184, 186) at the lateral ends (180, 182) of the curtain airbag (100, 100A) to a respective adjacent first and second pillar of the vehicle at a location X at or not more than 25 mm below the center-of-gravity of a NHTSA test head form (20) impact at a location 113 mm or more above the bottom of the vehicle window opening, wherein the bottom portion of the inflated portion of the air bag extends to a stiffened bottom folded edge portion, the stiffened bottom folded edge portion being located a distance Y, of 25 mm or more from a lower portion of the head form; and

wherein the bottom of the air bag is reinforced, the reinforced bottom (132) extends through to the lateral anchors (184 and 186) along the entire length of the airbag.

11. The curtain air bag according to claim 10 wherein bottom of the air bag includes selvage below an inflatable portion of the air bag, the selvage including a first selvage part below an inflatable portion of the air bag and a second selvage part below the first selvage part, wherein the second selvage part is folded over or rolled over the first selvage part, forming a fold or roll, and the first and second selvage parts sewn together or otherwise attached together thereby reinforcing the bottom of the air bag and reducing the elongation of the bottom of the air bag along the outer perimeter.

12. The curtain air bag according to claim 11 wherein a stiffening member is placed in the fold prior to securing the first and second selvage parts together.

13. The curtain air bag according to claim 12 wherein the stiffening member is positioned proximate the bottom of the fold and a seam that fastens the first and second selvage parts together also maintains the stiffening member generally near the bottom of the fold.

14. The curtain air bag according to claim 13 wherein the stiffening member is one of a length of rope, wire or woven fabric or webbing.

15. The curtain air bag according to claim 14 wherein the air bag includes opposing sides (154A, 156A) which are reinforced to reduce the elongation of each side of the air bag below that of the elongation of the air bag between the sides and above the reinforced bottom (132).

16. The curtain air bag according to claim 15 wherein bottom of the air bag includes a first side selvage (252) at a side (154A-156A) of an inflatable portion of the air bag, the first side selvage extending from an anchor along the top of the air bag to an anchor (184, 186) along a side of the air bag, wherein the first side selvage part is reinforced by the addition of another layer of material or where the selvage part is folded over or rolled over the first side selvage part, forming a fold or roll, and the first side selvage part sewn together or otherwise attached together thereby reinforcing the side of the air bag to the elongation of a respective side of the air bag.

17. The curtain air bag according to claim 16 wherein a stiffening member including one of a length of rope, wire or woven fabric or webbing is located within the folded-over first side selvage region.