CURTAIN AIRBAG

• US 20090243267A1
• Filed: 10/08/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Fletcher, James R., Steinbach, Mark A., Wiik, Richard A., Pitonyak, Andrew J., Kirby, Jesse B., Wipasuramonton, Pongdet P., Lane, Keith P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,025,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

A curtain airbag assembly comprises an inflatable curtain airbag configured to prevent egress of an occupant out of a window during a collision or rollover event. When the curtain airbag is inflated, a bottom edge of the curtain airbag extends below a window sill in a vehicle. A distance the inflated curtain airbag extends below the window sill is greater than a radius of curvature of the inflated curtain airbag.

Claims

1. A curtain airbag assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

an inflatable curtain airbag configured to prevent egress of an occupant out of a window during a collision or rollover event,

wherein when the curtain airbag is inflated, a bottom edge of the curtain airbag extends below a window sill in a vehicle, and

wherein a distance the inflated curtain airbag extends below the window sill is greater than a radius of curvature of the inflated curtain airbag.

2. The curtain airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the curtain airbag includes non-inflated areas, and wherein the non-inflated areas comprise non-horizontal and non-circular shapes.

3. The curtain airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the inflated curtain airbag is at least 1.5 inches.

4. The curtain airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein a width of the inflated curtain airbag chamber is in a range of 2.75 inches to 6.0 inches.

5. The curtain airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the inflated curtain airbag has a minimum cushion pressure to inflated curtain airbag width ratio of 0.1 kPa/mm to 1.5 kPa/mm.

6. The curtain airbag assembly of claim 5, wherein the ratio is about 0.1 kPa/mm for the inflated curtain airbag with a width equal to or greater than 150 mm.

7. The curtain airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein a portion of a side edge of the inflated curtain airbag extends beyond a window side edge in the vehicle.

8. The curtain airbag assembly of claim 7, wherein the side edge of the inflated curtain airbag includes:

outer edge parts extending towards a side edge of the window and ending before reaching the window side edge; and

the portion of the side edge of the inflated curtain airbag being a central edge part extending beyond the window side edge.

9. A curtain airbag assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

an inflatable curtain airbag configured to prevent egress of an occupant out of a window during a collision or rollover event,

wherein when the curtain airbag is inflated, the inflated curtain airbag includes;

a bottom edge of a majority of the inflated curtain airbag that extends toward a bottom edge of the window and ends before reaching the bottom edge of the window; and

at least one tab extension extending from the majority bottom edge, a bottom edge of the at least one tab extension extending below the bottom edge of the window.

10. The curtain airbag assembly of claim 9, wherein a distance the inflated curtain airbag extends below a window sill is greater than a radius of curvature of the inflated curtain airbag.

11. The curtain airbag assembly of claim 9, wherein a portion of a side edge of the inflated curtain airbag extends beyond a window side edge in the vehicle.

12. The curtain airbag assembly of claim 11, wherein the side edge of the inflated curtain airbag includes:

outer edge parts extending towards a side edge of the window and ending before reaching the window side edge; and

the portion of the side edge of the inflated curtain airbag being a central edge part extending beyond the window side edge.

13. The curtain airbag assembly of claim 9, further comprising an inflator to inflate the curtain airbag.

14. The curtain airbag assembly of claim 13, wherein the inflator inflates the at least one tab extension.

15. The curtain airbag assembly of claim 9, wherein the curtain airbag includes non-inflated areas, and wherein the non-inflated areas comprise non-horizontal and non-circular shapes.

16. The curtain airbag assembly of claim 9, wherein a thickness of the inflated curtain airbag is at least 1.5 inches.

17. The curtain airbag assembly of claim 9, wherein a width of the inflated curtain airbag is in a range of 2.75 inches to 6.0 inches.

18. The curtain airbag assembly of claim 9, wherein the inflated curtain airbag has a minimum cushion pressure to inflated curtain airbag width ratio of 0.1 kPa/mm to 1.5 kPa/mm.

19. The curtain airbag assembly of claim 18, wherein the ratio is about 0.1 kPa/mm for the inflated curtain airbag with a width equal to or greater than 150 mm.