Co-extruded inflatable curtain deployment ramp

• US 9,004,525 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2009
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Ruedisueli, Kevin L., Hill, Darin K., Kowalak, Jennifer J.
• Primary Examiner(s): TO, TOAN C
• Application Number:
  US12/492,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20100327563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,118 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 280/730.2
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/215 characterised by the covers for the inflatable member B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2171 specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

An apparatus (10) helps to protect an occupant (13) of a vehicle (12) that has a roof (18), a side structure (16), and a trim piece (310) overlying the side structure (16). The apparatus (10) includes an inflatable curtain (14) that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof (18) to a position adjacent the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12). A deployment ramp (200) includes a mounting member (202) that helps to support the inflatable curtain (14) in a stored condition. A deployment member (220) helps to direct the inflatable curtain (14) to deploy inboard of the trim piece (310). A co-extruded joint interconnects the mounting member (202) and the deployment member (220).

Claims

1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a roof, a side structure, and a trim piece overlying the side structure, the apparatus comprising:

an inflatable curtain that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof to a position adjacent the side structure of the vehicle; and

a deployment ramp comprising;

a mounting member for helping to support the inflatable curtain in a stored condition;

a deployment member for helping to direct the inflatable curtain to deploy inboard of the trim piece; and

a co-extruded joint interconnecting the mounting member with the deployment member.

2. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the co-extruded joint between the deployment member and the mounting member is a tongue and groove joint.

3. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the mounting member further includes a fastening portion for fastening the deployment ramp to the vehicle and a co-extruded joint that interconnects the fastening portion with the mounting member.

4. The apparatus recited in claim 3, wherein stitching connects the fastening portion to the inflatable curtain.

5. The apparatus recited in claim 3, wherein the co-extruded joint between the fastening portion and the support portion is a tongue and groove joint.

6. The apparatus recited in claim 3, wherein the fastening portion and the support portion are constructed of different elastomeric materials, the elastomeric material used to construct the support portion having strength and rigidity properties greater than those of the elastomeric material used to construct the fastening portion.

7. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the mounting member and the deployment member are constructed of different elastomeric materials.

8. The apparatus recited in claim 7, wherein the elastomeric material of the mounting member is fiber reinforced polypropylene.

9. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the support portion includes a projection that extends into an opening in the vehicle for securing the deployment ramp to the vehicle.

10. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a roof, a side structure, and a trim piece overlying the side structure, the apparatus comprising:

an inflatable curtain that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof to a position adjacent the side structure of the vehicle; and

a deployment ramp comprising;

a mounting member including a support portion having first and second longitudinal edge portions and a fastening portion secured to the second longitudinal edge portion, the fastening portion being stitched to the inflatable curtain, the support portion including a projection between the first and second longitudinal edge portions for securing the deployment ramp to the vehicle;

a deployment member for directing the inflatable curtain to deploy inboard of the trim piece; and

a joint comprising co-extruded portions of the mounting member and the deployment member to interconnect the mounting member and the deployment member.

11. The apparatus recited in claim 10, wherein the co-extruded joint between the deployment member and the support portion is a tongue and groove joint.

12. The apparatus recited in claim 10, wherein the mounting member includes a joint comprising co-extruded portions of the fastening portion and the second longitudinal edge portion of the support portion to interconnect the fastening portion and the support portion.

13. The apparatus recited in claim 12, wherein the co-extruded joint between the fastening portion and the support portion is a tongue and groove joint.

14. The apparatus recited in claim 10, wherein the support portion and the deployment member are constructed of different elastomeric materials.

15. The apparatus recited in claim 12, wherein the fastening portion and the support portion are constructed of different elastomeric materials.

16. The apparatus recited in claim 10, wherein the elastomeric material of the support portion is fiber reinforced polypropylene.

17. A deployment ramp for an inflatable curtain, the deployment ramp comprising:

a first portion constructed with a first material;

a second portion constructed with a second material different than the first material; and

a joint interconnecting the first and second portions, the joint comprising co-extruded portions of the first and second portions.

18. The deployment ramp recited in claim 17, wherein the first portion and the second portion are constructed of different elastomeric materials, the elastomeric material used to construct the first portion having strength and rigidity properties greater than those of the elastomeric material used to construct the second portion.

19. The deployment ramp recited in claim 18, wherein the elastomeric material of the first portion is fiber reinforced polypropylene.

20. The deployment ramp recited in claim 18, wherein the elastomeric material of the second portion is a thermoplastic olefinic elastomer.

21. The deployment ramp recited in claim 17, wherein the first portion is a mounting member for helping to support the inflatable curtain in a stored condition.

22. The deployment ramp recited in claim 21, wherein the second portion is a deployment member for helping to direct the inflatable curtain to deploy inboard of a vehicle trim piece.

23. The deployment ramp recited in claim 17, where the co-extruded joint between the first portion and the second portion is a tongue and groove joint.

24. The deployment ramp recited in claim 23, wherein the material of one of the first and second portions engages a terminal edge of a longitudinal edge portion of the other of first and second portions and extends partially along opposite surfaces of the longitudinal edge portion.

25. The deployment ramp recited in claim 17, wherein the co-extruded joint between the first portion and the second portion is formed along co-extruded longitudinal edge portions of the first and second portions.

26. The deployment ramp recited in claim 17, wherein the ramp is adapted to be positioned adjacent a roof rail of a vehicle.