Side-impact airbag module
First Claim
1. A side curtain air bag module for a motor vehicle, comprising:
- an inflatable cushion having an inlet and an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion including an inboard layer and an outboard layer;
an inflator in fluidic communication with the inlet and configured to provide inflation gas to the inflatable cushion; and
a tether having a first end coupled to the inflatable cushion at a first coupling location of the inflatable cushion, and having a second end coupled to the inboard layer of the inflatable cushion at a second coupling location of the inflatable cushion, the second coupling location being positioned between an upper end and a lower end of the inflatable cushion and being positioned closer to the upper end than the lower end of the inflatable cushion;
wherein a length of the tether between the first end and the second end is less than an upper portion of the inboard layer between the first coupling location and the second coupling location;
wherein during inflation, the tether is configured to be in tension prior to the upper portion of the inboard layer being in tension, the upper portion of the inboard layer extending generally upward from the second coupling location;
wherein after inflation, the first coupling location is above the second coupling location; and
wherein after inflation, the inboard layer and the outboard layer are separated at the second coupling location.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A side curtain air bag module for a motor vehicle includes an inflatable cushion, an inflator, and a tether. The inflatable cushion includes an inlet and an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion including an inboard layer and an outboard layer. The inflator is in fluidic communication with the inlet and is configured to inflate the inflatable cushion. The tether includes a first end coupled to the inflatable cushion at a first coupling location on an inboard side of the inflatable cushion. During inflation, the tether is configured to be in tension prior to an upper portion of the inboard layer being in tension, the upper portion of the inboard layer extending generally upward from the first coupling location.
14 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A side curtain air bag module for a motor vehicle, comprising:
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an inflatable cushion having an inlet and an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion including an inboard layer and an outboard layer; an inflator in fluidic communication with the inlet and configured to provide inflation gas to the inflatable cushion; and a tether having a first end coupled to the inflatable cushion at a first coupling location of the inflatable cushion, and having a second end coupled to the inboard layer of the inflatable cushion at a second coupling location of the inflatable cushion, the second coupling location being positioned between an upper end and a lower end of the inflatable cushion and being positioned closer to the upper end than the lower end of the inflatable cushion; wherein a length of the tether between the first end and the second end is less than an upper portion of the inboard layer between the first coupling location and the second coupling location; wherein during inflation, the tether is configured to be in tension prior to the upper portion of the inboard layer being in tension, the upper portion of the inboard layer extending generally upward from the second coupling location; wherein after inflation, the first coupling location is above the second coupling location; and wherein after inflation, the inboard layer and the outboard layer are separated at the second coupling location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A side curtain air bag module for a motor vehicle, comprising:
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an inflatable cushion having an inlet and an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion including an inboard layer and an outboard layer; an inflator in fluidic communication with the inlet and configured to provide inflation gas to the inflatable cushion; and a tether having a first end coupled to the inflatable cushion at a first coupling location on an inboard side of the inflatable cushion; wherein during inflation, the tether is configured to be in tension prior to an upper portion of the inboard layer being in tension, the upper portion of the inboard layer extending generally upward from the first coupling location; and wherein in a stored position, an upper portion of the inboard layer and the outboard layer are folded, and lower portions of the inboard layer and the outboard layer are rolled together in an outboard direction. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A side curtain air bag module for a motor vehicle, comprising:
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an inflatable cushion including an inboard panel and an outboard panel; and a strap having a first end coupled to the inflatable cushion at a first coupling location on an inboard side of the inflatable cushion; wherein the side curtain air bag module is configured to be mounted to a vehicle in a position at least partially above a structure of the vehicle; wherein during an initial stage of deployment, the inflatable cushion is configured to have a trajectory generally downward toward the structure; wherein during a second stage of deployment after the initial stage, the strap is configured to alter the trajectory of the inflatable cushion in an inboard direction relative to the vehicle to a position at least partially inboard of the structure; and wherein during a third stage of deployment after the second stage, the airbag cushion is configured to have a generally downward trajectory to a height lower than at least a portion of the structure. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification