Inflatable curtain airbag assembly

• US 9,555,761 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2014
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gilles, Garett, Wold, Dana, Witt, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): VERLEY, NICOLE T
• Application Number:
  US14/762,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20150367810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2334 Expansion control features

Abstract

An inflatable curtain airbag assembly has a tubular rolled or folded curtain airbag, and at least one stiffening member provided at the tubular rolled or folded curtain airbag. The stiffening member is fixed by an adhesive connection, a sewing connection, a welding connection or a melting connection directly to the curtain airbag.

Claims

1. An inflatable curtain airbag assembly comprising:

a curtain airbag selected from a group consisting of a tubular rolled airbag and a folded airbag; and

at least one stiffening member provided at the curtain airbag, the stiffening member fixed directly to the curtain airbag by a connection,

wherein the at least one stiffening member includes a planar stiffening member integrally formed of plastic and including a first portion fixed directly to the curtain airbag and a second portion defining a mounting tab for fixing the inflatable curtain airbag assembly to an interior vehicle structure.

2. The inflatable curtain airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the connection is selected from a group consisting of an adhesive connection, a sewing connection, a welding connection and a melting connection.

3. The inflatable curtain airbag assembly according to claim 1, wherein the stiffening member includes at least in one section with a height perpendicular to a length direction of the curtain airbag which is greater than a diameter of the curtain airbag.

4. The inflatable curtain airbag assembly according to claim 3, further comprising a wrapper attached with two side rims at the stiffening member.

5. The inflatable curtain airbag assembly according to claim 4, wherein the wrapper presses the curtain airbag in an oval-shaped cross section.

6. The inflatable curtain airbag assembly according to claim 4, wherein the stiffening member includes at least one protruding section to which the wrapper is fixed.

7. The inflatable curtain airbag assembly according to claim 1, wherein the stiffening member is made of a plastic tab having a thickness of at least 0.5 mm.

8. The inflatable curtain airbag assembly according to claim 1, wherein the planar stiffening member is secured directly to an outer surface of the curtain airbag.

9. The inflatable curtain airbag assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one stiffening member includes a plurality of independently formed and distinct stiffening members, each stiffening member integrally formed of a flat sheet of plastic to include a mounting portion for attachment to an interior vehicle structure.

10. An inflatable curtain airbag assembly comprising:

a curtain airbag selected from a group consisting of a tubular rolled airbag and a folded airbag; and

at least one stiffening member provided at the curtain airbag, the stiffening member fixed directly to the curtain airbag by a connection,

wherein the stiffening member protrudes the curtain airbag at least in one protrusion, and the at least one protrusion of the stiffening member integrally formed with a remainder of the stiffening member and including an attachment section for fixing the inflatable curtain airbag assembly at an interior vehicle structure.

11. The inflatable curtain airbag assembly according to claim 10, wherein the stiffening member is made as a molded plastic part, and comprises an integrated molded fastener.

12. The inflatable curtain airbag assembly according to claim 10, wherein the stiffening member includes at least two projecting fingers to which a wrapper is fixed, the at least two projecting fingers arranged in a distance to each other, and wherein the protrusion for fixing the inflatable curtain airbag assembly at an interior vehicle structure is arranged between the at least two projecting fingers.

13. An inflatable curtain airbag assembly comprising:

a curtain airbag selected from a group consisting of a tubular rolled airbag and a folded airbag; and

at least two stiffening members fixed directly to the curtain airbag by a connection, the at least two stiffening members spaced apart a distance from one another, wherein the distance is smaller than 120% of a circumference or perimeter of a cross-section of the curtain airbag,

wherein the at least two stiffening members are each a flat sheet of plastic, the flat sheet of plastic sewn directly to the curtain airbag.

14. The inflatable curtain airbag assembly according to claim 13, wherein the at least two stiffening members are integrally formed to include a first portion fixed directly to the curtain airbag and a second portion defining a mounting tab for fixing the curtain airbag assembly to an interior vehicle structure.

15. The inflatable curtain airbag assembly according to claim 14, wherein the planar stiffening member is secured directly to an outer surface of the curtain airbag.

16. The inflatable curtain airbag assembly according to claim 13, wherein the at least two stiffening members include a mounting portion for attachment to an interior vehicle structure.

17. An inflatable curtain airbag assembly comprising:

a curtain airbag selected from a group consisting of a tubular rolled airbag and a folded airbag; and

at least one stiffening member provided at the curtain airbag, the stiffening member fixed directly to the curtain airbag by a connection,

wherein the at least one stiffening member is a flat sheet of plastic, the flat sheet of plastic sewn directly to the curtain airbag.