Curtain airbag for a vehicle

• US 9,539,978 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2012
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mazanek, Jan, Kruse, Dion
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sliteris, Joselynn Y
• Application Number:
  US14/361,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20150115581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,511 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• 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 21/2334 Expansion control features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

A curtain airbag for a vehicle includes a main chamber shaped in such a way that, in the position being mounted on the vehicle, in the inflated state the main chamber covers an inner side structure of the vehicle. The curtain airbag further includes an additional chamber which, in the mounting position, is located on the in driving direction of the vehicle front portion of the main chamber, and deploys in the direction of the interior of the vehicle when the curtain airbag is inflated. An extended section connects the additional chamber and the main chamber at a rim section at the same side and limits movement of the additional chamber during the inflation process.

Claims

1. A curtain airbag for a vehicle comprising:

a main chamber having an upper perimeter for mounting to the vehicle, the main chamber shaped such that in a position mounted on the vehicle in an inflated state, the main chamber is for covering an inner side structure of the vehicle, the main chamber including upper and lower edges and having a length greater than a height;

an additional chamber which in the position mounted on the vehicle is located on a vehicle front portion of the main chamber in a driving direction of the vehicle, and deploys in a direction of an interior of the vehicle when the curtain airbag is inflated, the additional chamber in fluid communication with the main chamber; and

an extended section connecting the additional chamber and the main chamber at a rim section at a same side and which limits movement of the additional chamber during an inflation process, the extended section extending from the additional chamber and secured along the lower edge of the main chamber so as to orient the additional chamber generally perpendicular to the main chamber within a horizontal plane upon inflation of the airbag.

2. The curtain airbag according to claim 1, wherein the extended section is non-inflatable.

3. The curtain airbag according to claim 1, wherein the extended section is attached at the main chamber after folding the additional chamber onto the main chamber.

4. The curtain airbag according to claim 1, wherein the additional chamber is further provided with another extended section, the extended section and the another extended section are both connected after folding the additional chamber onto the main chamber.

5. The curtain airbag according to claim 4, wherein the extended section and the another extended section of the additional chamber are made in one piece with the additional chamber.

6. The curtain airbag according to claim 1, wherein the extended section is shaped triangular and attached with one side rim at the additional chamber and with another side rim at the main chamber enabling a predefined angular orientation of the additional chamber with respect to the main chamber in the inflated state.

7. The curtain airbag according to claim 1, wherein the extended section is located in a horizontal plane when the curtain airbag is inflated.

8. The curtain airbag according to claim 1, wherein the main chamber, the additional chamber and extended section cooperate to define a cavity having a closed bottom.

9. The curtain airbag according to claim 1, wherein:

the main chamber has a length and a height, the length being greater than the height, the main chamber further including upper and lower edges parallel to the length; and

the extended section extending from the additional chamber and is secured along the lower edge of the main chamber.

10. The curtain airbag according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower edges are parallel to the length.

11. A curtain airbag for a vehicle comprising:

a main chamber having a length and a height, the length being greater than the height, the main chamber further including upper and lower edges parallel to the length;

an additional chamber in fluid communication with the main chamber; and

an extended section connecting the additional chamber and the main chamber, the extended section extending from the additional chamber and is secured along the lower edge of the main chamber so as to orient the additional chamber generally perpendicular to the main chamber within a horizontal plane upon inflation of the airbag.

12. A curtain airbag for a vehicle comprising:

a main chamber having a length and a height, the length being greater than the height, the main chamber further including upper and lower edges parallel to the length;

an additional chamber in fluid communication with the main chamber;

a first extended section connecting the additional chamber and the main chamber, the first extended section extending from the additional chamber and is secured along the lower edge of the main chamber so as to orient the additional chamber generally perpendicular to the main chamber within a horizontal plane upon inflation of the airbag; and

a second extended section connecting the additional chamber and the main chamber, the second extended section extending from the additional chamber and secured along the upper edge of the main chamber.