Inspection windows for curtain side airbag systems
First Claim
1. A curtain side airbag system, comprising:
- an inflatable curtain;
a flexible sock operatively connected to the inflatable curtain, the sock extending a substantial majority of a length of the inflatable curtain, the sock defining a sock window; and
a substantially rigid protector operatively connected to the inflatable curtain, the protector covering a portion of an exterior side of the inflatable curtain and leaving a portion of an interior side uncovered, the protector defining a protector window opening to at least one of a side edge and a bottom edge,the protector window being substantially aligned with the sock window such that a portion of the sock window, a portion of the protector window, and at least one curtain feature are substantially aligned in a radial direction outward from a longitudinal axis of the inflatable curtain.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Curtain side airbag (CSA) systems are presented. The CSA systems can include a folded curtain configured to be inflated upon detection of an activation event. CSA systems can further include one or more components to protect the folded curtain, such as a sock and a protector. Windows can be defined in the sock and/or protector to allow inspection of a stored curtain airbag. In some arrangements, the protector window and the sock window can be substantially aligned to allow inspection access to at least one curtain feature through the substantially aligned protector window and sock window. Curtain features can include fold configurations of the curtain airbag or other visual or physical markings.
19 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A curtain side airbag system, comprising:
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an inflatable curtain; a flexible sock operatively connected to the inflatable curtain, the sock extending a substantial majority of a length of the inflatable curtain, the sock defining a sock window; and a substantially rigid protector operatively connected to the inflatable curtain, the protector covering a portion of an exterior side of the inflatable curtain and leaving a portion of an interior side uncovered, the protector defining a protector window opening to at least one of a side edge and a bottom edge, the protector window being substantially aligned with the sock window such that a portion of the sock window, a portion of the protector window, and at least one curtain feature are substantially aligned in a radial direction outward from a longitudinal axis of the inflatable curtain. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A curtain side airbag system, comprising:
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an inflatable curtain folded with a roll plus one fold configuration; an inflator is connected in fluid communication with the inflatable curtain, the inflator being configured to selectively introduce a gas into the inflatable curtain; a flexible sock operatively connected to folded inflatable curtain, the sock extending a substantial majority of a length of the inflatable curtain, the sock including a sock seam having overlapping portions stitched together, the sock defining a sock window; and a substantially rigid protector operatively connected to the folded inflatable curtain, the protector covering a portion of an exterior side of the inflatable curtain and leaving a portion of an interior side uncovered, the protector defining a protector window opening to at least one of a side edge and a bottom edge of the protector, the protector window being substantially aligned with the sock window such that a portion of the sock window, a portion of the protector window, and a fold feature of the inflatable curtain are substantially aligned in a radial direction outward from a longitudinal axis of the inflatable curtain. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for providing a curtain side airbag system, the system having a folded curtain configured for deployment, the method comprising:
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positioning a flexible sock around at least a portion of the folded curtain, the sock extending a substantial majority of a length of the folded curtain, the sock defining a sock window; and operatively connecting a substantially rigid protector to the folded curtain, the protector covering a portion of an exterior side of the inflatable curtain and leaving a portion of an interior side uncovered, the protector defining a protector window opening to at least one of a side edge and a bottom edge of the protector, the protector window being substantially aligned with the sock window such that a portion of the sock window, a portion of the protector window, and a curtain feature of the folded curtain are is allowed through the substantially aligned in a radial direction outward from a longitudinal axis of the folded curtain. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification