VARIABLE TRAJECTORY SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS
First Claim
1. A side curtain airbag assembly, comprising:
- a folded curtain having one or more interior chambers configured to be in fluid communication with an inflator, wherein the curtain comprises at least a first and second portion, the first portion having a first folded pattern and the second portion having a second folded pattern distinct from the first folded pattern.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Side curtain airbag assemblies for use inside motor vehicles and methods of preparing airbag assemblies are described herein that allow for the deployment of a curtain with varying trajectory. The curtain may be attached to an inflator that is configured to rapidly inflate the curtain from a folded condition to a deployed condition upon signals generated from an activation event, such as a collision or vehicle roll-over. The trajectory of the curtain can be defined as the direction of the curtain being inflated in relation to other components of a vehicle. Different portions of the curtain may have different fold configurations, allowing for tuning of the trajectory upon deployment of each distinct portion of the curtain.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A side curtain airbag assembly, comprising:
a folded curtain having one or more interior chambers configured to be in fluid communication with an inflator, wherein the curtain comprises at least a first and second portion, the first portion having a first folded pattern and the second portion having a second folded pattern distinct from the first folded pattern. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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2. The side curtain airbag assembly of 1, wherein the inflator comprises a container body that is one of a stored gas type, pyrotechnic type, and a combination of stored gas and pyrotechnic type.
- 3. The side curtain airbag assembly of 1, wherein the inflator comprises two outlet nozzles configured to introduce air into the curtain.
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12. A side curtain airbag assembly, comprising:
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an inflator comprising a body configured to retain compressed gas, mounting structure configured to attach the inflator to one or more vehicle components, and two gas outlet nozzles projecting in substantially opposite directions; a folded curtain having one or more interior chambers in fluid communication with the inflator, wherein the curtain comprises at least a first and second portion, the first portion having a first folded pattern and the second portion having a second folded pattern distinct from the first folded pattern; and a plurality of anchors configured to retain a portion of the curtain to one or more vehicle components, wherein each of the first and second folded patterns comprise a top folded section formed by doubling a portion of the curtain back upon itself and a bottom rolled section, and the top folded section of the first folded pattern is different in length from the top folded section of the second folded pattern. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for tuning the trajectory of a side curtain airbag assembly, comprising the steps of:
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providing a curtain having one or more interior chambers in fluid communication with an inflator; and folding the curtain into a folded condition along a top edge of the curtain such that a first portion of the curtain has a substantially consistent first folded cross section and that a second portion of the curtain has a substantially consistent second folded cross section distinct from the first folded cross section. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification