Cost-effective use of one-piece woven fabric for curtain airbags

• US 9,156,427 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2014
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wang, Xiaohong, Walston, Bryan, Yakumo, Arthur, Paranjpe, Avadhoot, Hicken, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Freedman, Laura
• Application Number:
  US14/150,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20150191141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/743.1, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/216 comprising tether means for limitation of cover motion during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

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 chamber and a second chamber that inflates forward of the first chamber. The second chamber may have a height above the height of the first chamber so that a bottom of the second chamber is pressed downward adjacent to a door of the vehicle. A plurality of airbag assembly components may be integrally formed with a non-inflating peripheral region surrounding the first and second chambers. Such components may include a front or rear tether cut from the front or rear of the non-inflating peripheral region, a top tether cut from the top of the non-inflating peripheral region to control deployment of the second chamber, and a fabric shield cut from the top to at least partially wrap around the stowed inflatable curtain airbag.

Claims

1. An airbag assembly for use in a vehicle having a roof, an A-pillar, a window extending below the A-pillar, and a lateral surface positioned below the window, the airbag assembly for disposition proximate the roof of the vehicle to shield a vehicle occupant from impacting the window and the 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 lateral surface of the vehicle, the inflatable curtain airbag comprising a peripheral juncture that defines, interior to the peripheral juncture, a first protection zone and a second protection zone, and, exterior to the peripheral juncture, a non-inflating peripheral region;

wherein, to move the inflatable curtain airbag from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration, the first protection zone inflates and the second protection zone inflates forward of the first protection zone;

wherein, in the deployed configuration, the peripheral juncture comprises a top portion comprising a rearward section defining an upper boundary of the first protection zone, and a forward section defining an upper boundary of the second protection zone;

wherein, in the deployed configuration, the forward section is vertically offset from the rearward section such that the forward section is higher than a portion of the rearward section adjacent to the forward section; and

wherein, in the deployed configuration, the second protection zone extends below the A-pillar to a depth sufficient to traverse the window and position a bottom portion of the second protection zone alongside the lateral surface.

2. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein, in the deployed configuration, the forward section abuts the roof of the vehicle to urge downward motion of a bottom portion of the second protection zone.

3. The airbag assembly of claim 1, further comprising an inflator, wherein the rearward section of the peripheral juncture further defines an inflation conduit positioned to convey gas from the inflator into a first chamber defined within the first protection zone, wherein, prior to installation in the vehicle, the inflation conduit and a second chamber defined within the second protection zone extend to approximately equal heights above the first protection zone.