Curtain airbag assembly with a reinforced region

• US 8,851,510 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rickenbach, Roger, Dinsdale, Charles Paul, Christiansen, Tyler
• Primary Examiner(s): TO, TOAN C
• Application Number:
  US13/842,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20140265271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/743.1, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21 in vehicle side panels, e.g. doors pillar mounted arrangements B60R21/213
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/235 characterised by their material

Abstract

An inflatable curtain airbag system can include a first inflatable curtain airbag, a second inflatable curtain airbag, and a reinforced region. In some arrangements, the reinforced region may include a region where a portion of the first inflatable curtain airbag overlaps a portion of the second inflatable curtain airbag. In other arrangements, the reinforced region may include a region where either or both of the first and second inflatable curtain airbags comprise a localized region of increased stiffness.

Claims

1. An inflatable curtain airbag system comprising a reinforced region, wherein the inflatable curtain airbag system comprises:

a first inflatable airbag assembly comprising a first inflatable curtain airbag that is configured to be mounted to a door of a vehicle structure, wherein the first inflatable curtain airbag is configured to deploy upwardly from the door of the vehicle structure in a direction that is towards a roof of the vehicle structure;

a second inflatable airbag assembly comprising a second inflatable curtain airbag that is configured to be mounted to a body of the vehicle structure, wherein the second inflatable curtain airbag is configured to deploy upwardly from the body of the vehicle structure in a direction that is towards the roof of the vehicle structure; and

a reinforced region, wherein when the inflatable curtain airbag system is in a deployed configuration, the reinforced region is disposed at an intermediate region of the vehicle structure.

2. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 1, wherein the reinforced region comprises a region wherein a portion of the first inflatable curtain airbag overlaps a portion of the second inflatable curtain airbag.

3. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 2, wherein the portion of the first inflatable curtain airbag overlaps the portion of the second inflatable curtain airbag such that a portion of an exterior facing surface of the first inflatable curtain airbag abuts a portion of an interior facing surface of the second inflatable curtain airbag.

4. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 2, wherein the portion of the first inflatable curtain airbag overlaps the portion of the second inflatable curtain airbag such that a portion of an interior facing surface of the first inflatable curtain airbag abuts a portion of an exterior facing surface of the second inflatable curtain airbag.

5. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 1, wherein the reinforced region comprises a region of increased stiffness within either or both of the first inflatable curtain airbag and the second inflatable curtain airbag.

6. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 5, wherein the reinforced region comprises a region of increased stiffness within the first inflatable curtain airbag.

7. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 5, wherein the reinforced region comprises a region of increased stiffness within the second inflatable curtain airbag.

8. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 5, wherein the region of increased stiffness is the result of increased pressure within a region of either or both of the first inflatable curtain airbag and the second inflatable curtain airbag.

9. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 5, wherein the region of increased stiffness comprises a region within either or both of the first inflatable curtain airbag and the second inflatable curtain airbag that comprises thicker material.

10. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 5, wherein the region of increased stiffness comprises a region within either or both of the first inflatable curtain airbag and the second inflatable curtain airbag that comprises additional layers of material.

11. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 5, wherein the region of increased stiffness comprises a region within either or both of the first inflatable curtain airbag and the second inflatable curtain airbag that comprises stiffer material.

12. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 5, wherein the region of increased stiffness comprises a region within either or both of the first inflatable curtain airbag and the second inflatable curtain airbag that comprises a reinforcement member.

13. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 5, wherein the region of increased stiffness is the result of varying the weave of a region within either or both of the first inflatable curtain airbag and the second inflatable curtain airbag.

14. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 1, wherein the intermediate region of the vehicle structure is located at an interface between a front side window of the vehicle structure and a rear side window of the vehicle structure.

15. An inflatable curtain airbag system configured to be mounted to a vehicle structure having an A-pillar and a C-pillar without a B-pillar in between, the inflatable curtain airbag system, comprising:

a first inflatable airbag assembly comprising a first inflatable curtain airbag that is configured to be mounted to a door of the vehicle structure, wherein the first inflatable curtain airbag is configured to deploy upwardly from the door of the vehicle structure in a direction that is towards a roof of the vehicle structure;

a second inflatable airbag assembly comprising a second inflatable curtain airbag that is configured to be mounted to a vehicle structure, wherein the second inflatable curtain airbag is configured to deploy upwardly in a direction that is towards the roof of the vehicle structure; and

a reinforced region, wherein when the inflatable curtain airbag system is in a deployed configuration, the reinforced region is disposed at an intermediate region of the vehicle structure, wherein the intermediate region is located at an interface between a front side window of the vehicle structure and a rear side window of the vehicle structure.

16. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 15, wherein the second inflatable curtain airbag is configured to be mounted to a body of the vehicle structure.

17. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 15, wherein the second inflatable curtain airbag is configured to be mounted to a rear side door of the vehicle structure.

18. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 15, wherein the reinforced region comprises a region wherein a portion of the first inflatable curtain airbag overlaps a portion of the second inflatable curtain airbag.

19. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 18, wherein the portion of the first inflatable curtain airbag overlaps the portion of the second inflatable curtain airbag such that a portion of an exterior facing surface of the first inflatable curtain airbag abuts a portion of an interior facing surface of the second inflatable curtain airbag.

20. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 18, wherein the portion of the first inflatable curtain airbag overlaps the portion of the second inflatable curtain airbag such that a portion of an interior facing surface of the first inflatable curtain airbag abuts a portion of an exterior facing surface of the second inflatable curtain airbag.

21. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 15, wherein the reinforced region comprises a region of increased stiffness within either or both of the first inflatable curtain airbag and the second inflatable curtain airbag.

22. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 21, wherein the reinforced region comprises a region of increased stiffness within the first inflatable curtain airbag.

23. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 21, wherein the reinforced region comprises a region of increased stiffness within the second inflatable curtain airbag.

24. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 21, wherein the region of increased stiffness is the result of increased pressure within a region of either or both of the first inflatable curtain airbag and the second inflatable curtain airbag.

25. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 21, wherein the region of increased stiffness comprises a region within either or both of the first inflatable curtain airbag and the second inflatable curtain airbag that comprises thicker material.

26. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 21, wherein the region of increased stiffness comprises a region within either or both of the first inflatable curtain airbag and the second inflatable curtain airbag that comprises additional layers of material.

27. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 21, wherein the region of increased stiffness comprises a region within either or both of the first inflatable curtain airbag and the second inflatable curtain airbag that comprises stiffer material.

28. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 21, wherein the region of increased stiffness comprises a region within either or both of the first inflatable curtain airbag and the second inflatable curtain airbag that comprises a reinforcement member.

29. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 21, wherein the region of increased stiffness is the result of varying the weave of a region within either or both of the first inflatable curtain airbag and the second inflatable curtain airbag.

30. An inflatable curtain airbag system configured to be mounted to a vehicle structure having an A-pillar and a C-pillar without a B-pillar in between, the inflatable curtain airbag system, comprising:

a first inflatable airbag assembly comprising a first inflatable curtain airbag that is configured to be mounted to a door of the vehicle structure, wherein the first inflatable curtain airbag is configured to deploy upwardly from the door of the vehicle structure in a direction that is towards a roof of the vehicle structure;

a second inflatable airbag assembly comprising a second inflatable curtain airbag that is configured to be mounted to the vehicle structure, wherein the second inflatable curtain airbag is configured to deploy upwardly in a direction that is towards the roof of the vehicle structure; and

a reinforced region, wherein when the inflatable curtain airbag system is in a deployed configuration, the reinforced region is disposed at an intermediate region of the vehicle structure, wherein the reinforced region comprises a region wherein a portion of the first inflatable curtain airbag overlaps a portion of the second inflatable curtain airbag such that a portion of an exterior facing surface of the first inflatable curtain airbag abuts a portion of an interior facing surface of the second inflatable curtain airbag.

31. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 30, wherein the second inflatable curtain airbag is configured to be mounted to a body of the vehicle structure.

32. The inflatable curtain airbag system of claim 30, wherein the second inflatable curtain airbag is configured to be mounted to a rear side door of the vehicle structure.