Fold over design for small overlap

• US 9,266,494 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wang, Xiaohong
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sliteris, Joselynn Y
• Application Number:
  US13/833,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20140265270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23388 having ends which are movable or detachable during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

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 forward tether that provides longitudinal tension on the inflatable curtain airbag. The forward tether may be secured to the A-pillar of the vehicle and to a divider between the first and second protection zones so that deformation of the A-pillar may relieve the tension to allow the second protection zone to pivot inboard to provide protection from injuries that may be sustained in a small overlap or oblique collision.

Claims

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 or a portion of an instrument panel during a rollover or during side impact, small overlap and oblique collisions, 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, the inflatable curtain airbag deploys downward between the vehicle occupant and the at least one lateral surface of the vehicle and angled inboard between the portion of the instrument panel and the vehicle occupant, 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;

a divider that defines the first interior chamber as distinct from the second interior chamber, the divider forming a fold line and restricting inflation gas flow from the first protection zone into the second protection zone during deployment;

a forward tether comprising a first end secured to the inflatable curtain airbag and a second end securable to an A-pillar of the vehicle;

wherein, in the stowed configuration, the inflatable curtain airbag is folded at the fold line such that the second protection zone lies alongside a portion of the first protection zone;

wherein, during deployment, the inflatable curtain airbag unfolds at the fold line such that the second protection zone pivots forward about the divider to be positioned both forward of the first protection zone and angled inboard between the vehicle occupant and the at least one lateral surface of the vehicle and the portion of the instrument panel in the deployed configuration, the forward tether applying some level of tension to the second protection zone tending to facilitate the pivoting of the second protection zone forward and to control the angled inboard disposition of the second protection zone to the first protection zone; and

wherein, in the deployed configuration, the second protection zone extends to a height proximate the roof of the vehicle.

2. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the second protection zone comprises a top edge, wherein, in the deployed configuration, the top edge is substantially parallel to the roof of the vehicle.

3. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein, in the stowed configuration, the first and second protection zones are rolled together after folding of the inflatable curtain airbag at the fold line.

4. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein, in the stowed configuration, the fold line defines a forward edge of the inflatable curtain airbag;

and

wherein, in the deployed configuration, the second protection zone is positioned between an occupant zone that would ordinarily be occupied by the vehicle occupant'"'"'s head and at least one of an A-pillar of the vehicle and the instrument panel portion of the vehicle.

5. The airbag assembly of claim 4, wherein in the deployed configuration, the second protection zone at the fold line defines an angle falling within the range of about 110°

to about 160°

relative to the first protection zone.

6. The airbag assembly of claim 4, wherein in the deployed configuration, the second protection zone at the fold line defines an angle falling within the range of about 120°

to about 150°

relative to the first protection zone.

7. The airbag assembly of claim 4, wherein the second end of the forward tether is secured to an anchoring location on the A-pillar that is likely to move rearward in response to deflection of the A-pillar during small overlap or oblique collisions to release tension in the forward tether, thereby facilitating inboard positioning of the second protection zone.

8. The airbag assembly of claim 7, wherein the first end of the forward tether is secured to the second protection zone proximate the fold line at or forward of the fold line so that tension in the forward tether facilitates inboard pivoting of the second protection zone.

9. The airbag assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of mounting assemblies distributed along a length of the inflatable curtain airbag to facilitate attachment of the inflatable curtain airbag to the vehicle; and

wherein in the stowed configuration, all of the plurality of mounting assemblies are positioned rearward of the A-pillar so that the second end of the forward tether is the only feature of the airbag assembly that is secured to the A-pillar.

10. The airbag assembly of claim 9, further comprising:

an inflator that produces gas in response to detection of impact to trigger deployment of the inflatable curtain airbag;

a rearward tether comprising a first end secured to the inflatable curtain airbag and a second end securable to the vehicle rearward of the inflatable curtain airbag; and

wherein, in the deployed configuration, the rearward tether and the forward tether cooperate to keep the first protection zone under tension in a longitudinal direction.

11. A method for stowing and deploying an airbag assembly, the airbag assembly deploying between a lateral surface of a vehicle having a roof and a vehicle occupant and deploying between the vehicle occupant and a portion of a vehicle instrument panel, the method comprising:

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;

securing a first end of a forward tether to the inflatable curtain airbag;

securing a second end of the forward tether to an A-pillar of the vehicle;

folding the inflatable curtain airbag at a fold line defined by a divider such that the second protection zone overlies at least a portion of the first protection zone, the divider defines the first interior chamber as distinct from the second interior chamber and restricts flow of inflation gas from the first interior chamber into the second interior chamber;

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 pivots about the divider forward of the first protection zone; and

pivoting the second protection zone about the divider forward of the first protection zone to an angled inboard disposition relative to the first protection zone, wherein the forward tether applies some level of tension to the second protection zone tending to facilitate the pivoting of the second protection zone forward and to control the angled inboard disposition of the second protection zone to the first protection zone.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second protection zone comprises a top edge, wherein pivoting the second protection zone forward of the first protection zone comprises positioning the top edge of the second protection zone substantially parallel to the roof of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein securing the inflatable curtain airbag proximate the roof of the vehicle comprises positioning the inflatable curtain airbag such that, prior to deployment, the fold line defines a forward edge of the inflatable curtain airbag;

and

wherein pivoting the second protection zone forward of the first protection zone comprises positioning the second protection zone between an occupant zone that would ordinarily be occupied by the vehicle occupant'"'"'s head and at least one of an A-pillar of the vehicle and the portion of the instrument panel of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein securing the first end of the forward tether to the inflatable curtain airbag comprises securing the first end proximate the fold line at or forward of the fold line so that release of tension in the tether facilitates inboard pivoting of the second protection zone.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein securing the second end of the forward tether to the A-pillar comprises securing the second end of the forward tether to an anchoring location on the A-pillar that is likely to move rearward in response to deflection of the A-pillar during a small overlap or oblique collision to release tension in the forward tether, thereby facilitating inboard positioning of the second protection zone.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein securing the inflatable curtain airbag proximate the roof of the vehicle comprises attaching a plurality of mounting assemblies distributed along a length of the inflatable curtain airbag to the vehicle rearward of the A-pillar so that the second end of the forward tether is the only feature of the airbag assembly that is secured to the A-pillar.

17. An airbag assembly, comprising:

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 divider defines the first chamber as distinct from the second chamber and restricts fluid flow from the first chamber into the second chamber;

a plurality of mounting assemblies that secure the first protection zone to the vehicle; and

a forward tether comprising a first end secured to the inflatable curtain airbag at or forward of the divider and a second end secured to an A-pillar of the vehicle;

wherein, in response to production of fluid 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 fluid by the inflator, the second protection zone pivots forward of the first protection zone such that the second protection zone pivots forward about the divider to an angled inboard disposition relative to the first protection zone and between an occupant zone that would ordinarily be occupied by the vehicle occupant'"'"'s head and at least one of an A-pillar of the vehicle and a portion of an instrument panel of the vehicle; and

wherein all of the plurality of mounting assemblies are positioned rearward of the A-pillar so that the second end of the forward tether is the only feature of the airbag assembly that is secured to the A-pillar.

18. The airbag assembly of claim 17, wherein, after deployment of the inflatable curtain airbag, the second protection zone extends to a height proximate the roof of the vehicle;

wherein the second protection zone comprises a top edge; and

wherein, after deployment of the inflatable curtain airbag, the top edge is substantially parallel to the roof of the vehicle.

19. The airbag assembly of claim 17, wherein the divider forms a fold line;

wherein, after deployment, the angled inboard disposition of the second protection zone at the fold line defines an angle falling within the range of about 110°

to about 160°

relative to the first protection zone; and

wherein the second end of the forward tether is secured to an anchoring location on the A-pillar that is likely to move rearward in response to deflection of the A-pillar during a small overlap or oblique collision to release tension in the forward tether, thereby facilitating inboard positioning of the second protection zone.