Top tether for curtain airbag
First Claim
1. An airbag assembly for disposition proximate a roof of a vehicle to shield a vehicle occupant from impacting at least one lateral surface of the vehicle, the airbag assembly comprising:
- an inflatable curtain airbag having a stowed configuration proximate the roof of the vehicle and a deployed configuration into which the inflatable curtain airbag deploys downward between the vehicle occupant and the at least one lateral surface of the vehicle, the inflatable curtain airbag comprising;
a first protection zone comprising a first interior chamber; and
a second protection zone comprising a second interior chamber in fluid communication with the first interior chamber; and
a restraint member secured to the second protection zone;
wherein, in the stowed configuration, the inflatable curtain airbag is folded at a stowed fold line such that the second protection zone overlies a portion of the first protection zone;
wherein, during deployment, the inflatable curtain airbag unfolds such that the second protection zone moves forward to be positioned forward of the first protection zone in the deployed configuration;
wherein the restraint member restricts outboard motion of the second protection zone in the deployed configuration to resist motion of the second protection zone to a position parallel to the first protection zone.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag assembly may include an inflatable curtain airbag with a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. The inflatable curtain may have a first protection zone and a second protection zone that inflates forward of the first protection zone to provide enhanced protection. The second protection zone may be folded against the first protection zone so that, during deployment, the second protection zone pivots to unfold relative to the first protection zone. The airbag assembly may have a restraint member that limits the ability of the second protection zone to unfold to a configuration parallel to the first protection zone, thereby keeping the second protection zone at an optimal location to protect the vehicle occupant from rollover and/or small overlap or oblique collisions. The restraint member may be a tether with ends secured proximate the top of the second protection zone and the top of the first protection zone.
80 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An airbag assembly for disposition proximate a roof of a vehicle to shield a vehicle occupant from impacting at least one lateral surface of the vehicle, the airbag assembly comprising:
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an inflatable curtain airbag having a stowed configuration proximate the roof of the vehicle and a deployed configuration into which the inflatable curtain airbag deploys downward between the vehicle occupant and the at least one lateral surface of the vehicle, the inflatable curtain airbag comprising; a first protection zone comprising a first interior chamber; and a second protection zone comprising a second interior chamber in fluid communication with the first interior chamber; and a restraint member secured to the second protection zone; wherein, in the stowed configuration, the inflatable curtain airbag is folded at a stowed fold line such that the second protection zone overlies a portion of the first protection zone; wherein, during deployment, the inflatable curtain airbag unfolds such that the second protection zone moves forward to be positioned forward of the first protection zone in the deployed configuration; wherein the restraint member restricts outboard motion of the second protection zone in the deployed configuration to resist motion of the second protection zone to a position parallel to the first protection zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for stowing an airbag assembly proximate a roof of a vehicle for protecting a vehicle occupant in the vehicle having a lateral surface, the method comprising:
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providing an inflatable curtain airbag comprising a first protection zone comprising a first interior chamber and a second protection zone comprising a second interior chamber in fluid communication with the first interior chamber; providing a restraint member; securing the restraint member to the second protection zone; folding the inflatable curtain airbag at a stowed fold line such that the second protection zone overlies at least a portion of the first protection zone; compacting the inflatable curtain airbag into a generally elongated shape; and securing the inflatable curtain airbag proximate the roof of the vehicle such that, in response to introduction of inflation gas into the inflatable curtain airbag, the first protection zone expands downward to be positioned between the vehicle occupant and the lateral surface of the vehicle and the second protection zone unfolds forward of the first protection zone to an extent limited by the restraint member so that, upon full deployment of the inflatable curtain airbag, the second protection zone is oriented nonparallel to the first protection zone. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An airbag assembly, comprising:
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an inflatable curtain airbag stowed proximate a roof of a vehicle, the inflatable curtain airbag comprising a first protection zone and a second protection zone folded against the first protection zone such that the second protection zone overlies at least a portion of the first protection zone; an inflator in fluid communication with a first chamber within the first protection zone and a second chamber within the second protection zone; a plurality of mounting assemblies that secure the first protection zone to the vehicle; and a first tether comprising a first end secured to at least one of the vehicle and the first protection zone and a second end secured to the second protection zone; wherein, in response to production of gas by the inflator, the inflatable curtain airbag expands downward such that the first protection zone is positioned between an occupant zone that would ordinarily be occupied by a vehicle occupant'"'"'s head and a lateral surface of the vehicle; wherein, in response to production of the gas, the second protection zone pivots forward of the first protection zone; wherein the first tether limits outboard motion of the second protection zone to keep the second protection zone positioned between the occupant zone and at least one of an A-pillar of the vehicle, a portion of an instrument panel of the vehicle, and a portion of a door located forward of a steering wheel of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification