Inflatable airbag

• US 7,784,822 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2005
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nxgen Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Nxgen Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Fink, Michael F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coker; Robert A
• Application Number:
  US11/190,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20060017267A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,862 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/729, 280/743.1, 280/737, 280/741
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2615 for diverting the gas into a plurality of bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2617 Curtain bag nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10

Abstract

An inflatable side curtain airbag for a passenger vehicle is provided. The airbag incorporates a new diode design that restricts gas flow, creating a plurality of substantially isolated cells. A delivery tube delivers gas to the cells through a plurality of outlet orifices that open to the cells. Upon inflation of the cells with a gas, flow of gas between each of the plurality of substantially isolated cells is restricted during occupant loading.

Claims

1. An inflatable airbag assembly for a passenger vehicle, said airbag assembly comprising:

an airbag having a plurality of substantially isolated cells;

a delivery tube having a plurality of outlet orifices for supplying an inflation gas to the plurality of substantially isolated cells;

an upper restraint for the delivery tube;

a series of discrete stitchings located between the substantially isolated cells, the series of discrete stitchings each forming a lower restraint for the delivery tube; and

wherein, upon inflation of the plurality of substantially isolated cells with the inflation gas, flow of gas between each of the plurality of substantially isolated cells is restricted by the series of discrete stitchings and the upper restraint.

2. The airbag assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of outlet orifices includes a scoop configured to direct the inflation gas through the at least one of the plurality of orifices.

3. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of outlet orifices includes a scoop configured to direct the inflation gas through the plurality of outlet orifices.

4. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of outlet orifices are staggered about the delivery tube and each of the plurality of outlet orifices has a scoop for directing the inflation gas through the plurality of outlet orifices.

5. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the series of discrete stitchings and the upper restraint define an effective flow area between an exterior of the delivery tube and the upper restraint and each of the series of discrete stitchings, wherein at least one effective flow area is greater than 0 and less than 0.5 square inches.

6. The airbag of claim 5 wherein the effective flow area is greater than 0 and less than 0.25 square inches.

7. The airbag assembly of claim 1 wherein the inflation gas is provided by an inflator for a time period in the range of 100 to 500 milliseconds.

8. The airbag assembly of claim 7 wherein an operating pressure of the plurality of substantially isolated cells is about 20 to 40 kilopascals, the operating pressure being provided by the inflation gas.

9. The airbag assembly of claim 7 wherein the percent by weight of a large molecule gas within the inflator is between 10% and 40% and the airbag is filled by the inflator to a substantially full volume in about 15-20 milliseconds.

10. The airbag assembly of claim 9 wherein the large molecule gas is argon.

11. The airbag assembly of claim 7 wherein the percent by weight of a large molecule gas within the inflator is about 50% and the airbag is filled by the inflator to a substantially full volume in about 40 milliseconds.

12. The airbag assembly of claim 1 wherein the delivery tube is rigid.

13. The airbag assembly of claim 1 wherein the delivery tube is flexible.

14. The airbag assembly of claim 13 wherein the flexible delivery tube is constructed of a fabric.

15. The inflatable airbag assembly as in claim 1, wherein the delivery tube extends in a first direction and each of the series of discrete stitchings have a curved portion extending at least partially in the first direction and an apex of the curved portion defines a portion of an effective flow area between an outer surface of the delivery tube and the upper restraint.

16. The inflatable airbag assembly as in claim 1, wherein each of the series of discrete stitchings secure a separate piece of reinforcing fabric to an exterior surface of the airbag.

17. An inflatable side curtain airbag assembly for protecting an occupant of a passenger vehicle, said airbag assembly comprising:

an airbag having a plurality of substantially isolated cells formed by joining together a first layer and a second layer;

a delivery tube having a plurality of outlet orifices for supplying an inflation gas to the plurality of substantially isolated cells;

an upper restraint for the delivery tube;

a series of discrete stitchings located between the substantially isolated cells, the series of discrete stitchings each forming a lower restraint for the delivery tube;

wherein, upon inflation of the plurality of substantially isolated cells with the inflation gas, flow of gas between each of the plurality of substantially isolated cells is restricted through an effective flow area defined by the upper restraint and the series of discrete stitchings between each adjacent cell of the plurality of substantially isolated cells and wherein at least one effective flow area is greater than 0 square inches and less than 0.5 square inches; and

wherein at least two of the plurality of substantially isolated cells are located adjacent to one another.

18. The airbag assembly of claim 17 wherein the effective flow area between each adjacent cell of the plurality of substantially isolated cells is greater than 0 square inches and less than 0.25 square inches.

19. The airbag assembly of claim 17 wherein the first layer and the second layer are stitched together using thread to form a stitched seam.

20. The airbag assembly of claim 19 wherein the stitched seam is sealed.

21. The airbag assembly of claim 19 further comprising a reinforcing layer in high stress areas of the stitching.

22. The airbag assembly of claim 17 wherein the first layer and the second layer are joined using a one piece woven construction.

23. The airbag assembly of claim 17 wherein the first layer and second layer are comprised of fabric.

24. The airbag assembly of claim 23 wherein the fabric is a coated fabric.

25. The inflatable side curtain assembly as in claim 17, wherein the delivery tube extends in a first direction and each of the series of discrete stitchings have a curved portion extending at least partially in the first direction and an apex of the curved portion defines a portion of the effective flow area.

26. The inflatable airbag assembly as in claim 17, wherein each of the series of discrete stitchings secure a separate piece of reinforcing fabric to an exterior of the airbag.

27. An inflatable airbag assembly for a passenger vehicle, said airbag comprising:

an airbag having a plurality of substantially isolated cells;

a delivery tube having a plurality of outlet orifices for supplying an inflation gas to the plurality of substantially isolated cells;

an upper restraint for the delivery tube;

a series of discrete areas located between the substantially isolated cells, the series of discrete areas each forming a lower restraint for the delivery tube; and

wherein, upon inflation of the plurality of substantially isolated cells with the inflation gas, flow of gas between each of the plurality of substantially isolated cells is restricted by the series of discrete areas and the upper restraint.

28. The airbag assembly of claim 27, wherein at least one of the plurality of substantially isolated cells is configured to inflate before another one of the plurality of substantially isolated cells and each of the plurality of orifices is located proximate to a scoop configured to direct the inflation gas therethrough and the configuration of the scoops determines which one of the plurality of substantially isolated cells is inflated first and wherein the configuration of the scoops directs the inflation gas through the plurality of orifices.

29. The airbag assembly of claim 28, wherein the scoops are staggered about the delivery tube.

30. The inflatable airbag assembly as in claim 27, wherein the delivery tube extends in a first direction and each of the series of discrete areas are a series of discrete stitchings each having a curved portion extending at least partially in the first direction and an apex of the curved portion defines a portion of the effective flow area between and wherein each of the series of discrete stitchings secure a separate piece of reinforcing fabric to an exterior surface of the airbag.

31. The occupant restraint system as in claim 27, wherein each of the series of discrete areas are formed by a one piece woven piece of fabric that defines the airbag.

32. An occupant restraint system for use in a passenger vehicle, said system comprising:

an extended output inflator;

a sensor configured to send a signal to the extended output inflator at a desired time;

a delivery tube having a plurality of outlet orifices, wherein the delivery tube is connected to the extended output inflator;

an airbag having a plurality of substantially isolated cells

an upper restraint for the delivery tube;

a series of discrete stitchings located between the substantially isolated cells, the series of discrete stitchings each forming a lower restraint for the delivery tube; and

wherein, upon inflation of the plurality of substantially isolated cells with an inflation gas from the extended output inflator, flow of gas between each of the plurality of substantially isolated cells is restricted through an effective flow area between each adjacent cell of the plurality of substantially isolated cells, wherein the effective flow area is between an outer surface of the delivery tube and the upper restraint and the series of discrete stitchings and wherein at least one effective flow area is greater than 0 square inches and less than 0.5 square inches.

33. The occupant restraint system as in claim 32, wherein the delivery tube extends in a first direction and each of the series of discrete stitchings have a curved portion extending at least partially in the first direction and an apex of the curved portion defines a portion of an effective flow area between an outer surface of the delivery tube and the upper restraint.