Double fold and roll cushions for IC
First Claim
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, the airbag assembly comprising:
- an inflatable curtain airbag having a stowed configuration for disposition proximate the roof of the vehicle and a deployed configuration into which the inflatable curtain airbag deploys downward between the vehicle occupant and the at least one lateral surface of the vehicle, the inflatable curtain airbag comprising;
a first protection zone comprising a first interior chamber and a first non-inflating region;
a second protection zone comprising a second interior chamber in fluid communication with the first interior chamber and a second non-inflating region; and
a first attachment feature;
wherein, in the stowed configuration, the inflatable curtain airbag is folded longitudinally at a first stowed fold line such that the second protection zone overlies a portion of the first protection zone;
wherein, in the stowed configuration, the first attachment feature secures the second non-inflating region of the second protection zone to the first non-inflating region of the first protection zone to keep the second protection zone folded rearward until deployment such that, during deployment, the first attachment feature releases the second protection zone to allow the second protection zone to unfold one of forward and rearward of the first protection zone.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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 or rearward of the first protection zone to provide enhanced protection. The second protection zone may be double-folded against the first protection zone so that, during deployment, the second protection zone pivots to unfold relative to the first protection zone. Attachment features such as tack stitching may be used to secure the folded portions together. The tack stitching may be designed to break during deployment of the airbag such that the first protection zone inflates first, followed by a proximal portion of the second protection zone, and then by a distal portion of the second protection zone.
44 Citations
17 Claims
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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, the airbag assembly comprising:
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an inflatable curtain airbag having a stowed configuration for disposition proximate the roof of the vehicle and a deployed configuration into which the inflatable curtain airbag deploys downward between the vehicle occupant and the at least one lateral surface of the vehicle, the inflatable curtain airbag comprising; a first protection zone comprising a first interior chamber and a first non-inflating region; a second protection zone comprising a second interior chamber in fluid communication with the first interior chamber and a second non-inflating region; and a first attachment feature; wherein, in the stowed configuration, the inflatable curtain airbag is folded longitudinally at a first stowed fold line such that the second protection zone overlies a portion of the first protection zone; wherein, in the stowed configuration, the first attachment feature secures the second non-inflating region of the second protection zone to the first non-inflating region of the first protection zone to keep the second protection zone folded rearward until deployment such that, during deployment, the first attachment feature releases the second protection zone to allow the second protection zone to unfold one of forward and rearward of the first protection zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. 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, the airbag assembly comprising:
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an inflatable curtain airbag having a stowed configuration for disposition proximate the roof of the vehicle and a deployed configuration into which the inflatable curtain airbag deploys downward between the vehicle occupant and the at least one lateral surface of the vehicle, the inflatable curtain airbag comprising; a first protection zone comprising a first interior chamber; a second protection zone comprising a second interior chamber in fluid communication with the first interior chamber, a distal portion, and a proximal portion positioned between the distal portion and the first protection zone in the deployed configuration; a first attachment feature; wherein, in the stowed configuration, the inflatable curtain airbag is folded longitudinally at a first stowed fold line such that the second protection zone overlies a portion of the first protection zone and the second protection zone is further folded at a second stowed fold line such that the distal portion overlies the proximal portion; wherein, in the stowed configuration, the first attachment feature secures the second protection zone to the portion of the first protection zone to keep the second protection zone folded rearward until deployment such that, during deployment, the first attachment feature releases the second protection zone to allow the second protection zone to unfold one of forward and rearward of the first protection zone; and a second attachment feature; wherein, in the stowed configuration, the second attachment feature secures the distal portion to the proximal portion to keep the distal portion and the proximal portion folded together until deployment; wherein, during deployment, the second attachment feature releases the distal portion from the proximal portion to allow the distal portion to unfold one of forward and rearward of the proximal portion. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for stowing an airbag assembly proximate a roof of a vehicle having a lateral surface, to protect an occupant in the vehicle, the method comprising:
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providing an inflatable curtain airbag comprising a first protection zone comprising a first interior chamber and a first non-inflating region, and a second protection zone comprising a second interior chamber in fluid communication with the first interior chamber and a second non-inflating region; folding the inflatable curtain airbag at a first stowed fold line such that the second protection zone overlies at least a portion of the first protection zone; securing the second protection zone to the portion of the first protection zone with a first attachment feature to keep the second protection zone folded longitudinally until deployment; 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 occupant and the lateral surface of the vehicle; wherein securing the second non-inflating region of the second protection zone to the first non-inflating region of the first protection zone comprises applying the first attachment feature such that, during deployment, the first attachment feature releases the second protection zone to allow the second protection zone to unfold one of forward and rearward of the first protection zone. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An airbag assembly, comprising:
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an inflatable curtain airbag stowed proximate a roof of a vehicle, the inflatable curtain airbag comprising a first protection zone, a first attachment feature, 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 plurality of mounting assemblies that secure the first protection zone to the vehicle; and at least one tether comprising a first end secured to the inflatable curtain airbag and a second end securable to the vehicle to help keep the inflatable curtain airbag in place after deployment; wherein, prior to deployment, the first attachment feature secures the second protection zone to the portion of the first protection zone to keep the second protection zone folded longitudinally until deployment such that, in response to production of gas by the inflator, the first protection zone deploys downward between a vehicle occupant and at least one lateral surface of the vehicle, and the first attachment feature releases the second protection zone to allow the second protection zone to unfold one of forward and rearward of the first protection zone; and wherein the first attachment feature comprises first tack stitching that breaks in response to application of a threshold level of stress on the first tack stitching to release the second protection zone from the first protection zone; wherein the first protection zone comprises a first non-inflating region and the second protection zone comprises a second non-inflating region, wherein the first tack stitching secures the first non-inflating region to the second non-inflating region. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification