Single side curtain airbag for vehicles

• US 9,043,093 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Inventors: Breed, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mawari, Redhwan k
• Assistant Examiner(s): King, Rodney P
• Application Number:
  US11/930,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20080243342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,764 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 280/736
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23192 Roof bags, i.e. protecting the occupant in a roll-over situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23308 the individual compartments defining the external shape of the bag
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23504 characterised by material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23514 coated fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23519 Resin for coating fabric B60R2021/23514
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23523 Composite coated fabric B60R2021/23514
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2612 Gas guiding means, e.g. ducts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2636 The volume of gas being continuously adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/16 Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags protective garments with automatically inflatable shock-absorbing means A41D13/018; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2032 the inflator or inflatable member not being rotatable with the steering wheel; Arrangements using the steering column or steering wheel rim for storing, supplying or evacuating the inflation gas or for storing the inflatable member
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/206 in the lower part of dashboards, e.g. for protecting the knees
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/214 : in roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 : Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 : comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/235 : characterised by their material
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/264 : using instantaneous generation of gas, e.g. pyrotechnic B60R21/268 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/30 : with means to draw ambient air into the flow line and mix such air with the inflation fluid

Abstract

Airbag inflator system includes an inflatable airbag, e.g., a side curtain airbag, a housing, a gas generating system arranged apart from the housing for generating gas, and a conduit leading from the gas generating system to the housing to provide gas to the housing, e.g., to a lateral end of the housing. A filter may be arranged between the gas generating system and the housing, possibly in the conduit. A nozzle may be arranged between the gas generating system and an interior of the airbag, which nozzle is varied as a function of temperature. The housing may be movably arranged relative to a fixed base and mounted to vary its relation to the base as a function of temperature, e.g., via elastic or deformable supports which support the housing on the base.

Claims

1. An airbag system of a vehicle, the airbag system comprising:

a single airbag extending across at least two seating positions of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the single airbag arranged to deploy into the passenger compartment along a lateral side of the vehicle and adjacent each of the at least two seating positions;

a cover interposed between the single airbag and the passenger compartment to cover the single airbag prior to deployment;

a single gas-providing system that has only one inflator that provides gas to inflate the single airbag and which is arranged apart from the single airbag; and

a conduit leading from the single gas-providing system to provide gas to inflate the single airbag, the conduit being arranged to deliver the gas from the single gas-providing system into the single airbag;

the at least two seating positions comprising a first seating position in a first seat row of seats of the vehicle and a second seating position in a second seat row of seats of the vehicle longitudinally displaced from the first seat row of seats, along the lateral side of the vehicle;

wherein the single airbag has a plurality of compartments for receiving the gas, and wherein the plurality of compartments are in flow communication with each other.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a nozzle or flow restrictor between the single gas-providing system and an interior of the single airbag, said nozzle or flow restrictor affecting the flow rate of the gas into the single airbag as a function of temperature.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the nozzle or the flow restrictor has an opening that changes in size as a function of temperature.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said cover is part of a ceiling of the vehicle that defines the passenger compartment and is flexible to conform to a mounting location at which the single airbag system is mounted.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the single airbag comprises at least two material layers with an outermost one of said at least two layers being made from film.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the single gas-providing system is arranged to produce gas from a container of stored gas.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the single airbag comprises at least one layer of film.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the single gas-providing system includes stored gas which is directed into the single airbag via said conduit to inflate the single airbag.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the single gas-providing system is a hybrid gas inflation system.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the conduit is a single conduit leading from the single gas-providing system to provide gas for inflating the single airbag.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the conduit is configured to vary as a function of pressure for providing variable amounts of gas to the single airbag as a function of pressure, wherein a first amount of gas is provided to the single airbag at a first pressure and a second amount of gas is provided to the single airbag at a second pressure different than the first pressure.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the single air bag is housed in the ceiling of the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the one inflator is within a headliner of the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the one inflator and the single airbag are connected to each other and are within a ceiling of the vehicle.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the one inflator and the single airbag are in an airbag module, and wherein the airbag module is within a ceiling of the vehicle.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the one inflator is configured to provide a first propellant formulation and a second propellant formulation, wherein the first propellant formulation is a faster burning propellant than the second propellant formulation.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein at least two of the plurality of compartments of the single airbag are in direct flow communication with each other.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein at least two of the plurality of compartments of the single airbag are directly attached to each other and are in direct flow communication with each other.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of compartments are configured in a row or a column.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of compartments are in two-way flow communication with each other.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the single air bag is deployed from a B-Pillar of the vehicle.

33. A vehicle comprising a passenger compartment defined in part by a ceiling, two rows of seats arranged in said passenger compartment, one behind the other, and the system of claim 1, the single airbag being mounted to said ceiling alongside said two rows of seats.

34. The vehicle of claim 33, wherein the single airbag comprises at least one layer of film.

35. The vehicle of claim 34, wherein said at least one layer of film comprises an outermost layer of the single airbag.

22. An airbag system of a vehicle, the airbag system comprising:

a single airbag extending across at least two seating positions of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the single airbag arranged to deploy into the passenger compartment along a lateral side of the vehicle and adjacent each of the at least two seating positions, wherein the at least two seating positions include a first seating position in a first seat row of seats of the vehicle and a second seating position in a second seat row of seats of the vehicle longitudinally displaced from the first seat row of seats, along the lateral side of the vehicle, wherein the single airbag has a plurality of compartments configured to receive gas, wherein the plurality of compartments are in flow communication with each other;

a cover interposed between the single airbag and the passenger compartment to cover the single airbag prior to deployment;

a single gas-providing system that provides the gas to inflate the single airbag and which is arranged apart from the single airbag;

a conduit leading from the single gas-providing system to provide gas to inflate the single airbag, the conduit being arranged to deliver the gas from the single gas-providing system into the single airbag; and

a nozzle or flow restrictor between the single gas-providing system and an interior of the single airbag, said nozzle or flow restrictor affecting the flow rate of the gas into the single airbag as a function of pressure.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the single airbag is configured to be inflated by the single gas-providing system and air from a cabin of the vehicle.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the nozzle or the flow restrictor has an opening that changes in size as a function of pressure.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the single gas-providing system has only one inflator.

26. A method for inflating a single airbag of a vehicle, the method comprising:

arranging the single airbag to extend across at least two seating positions of a passenger compartment of the vehicle and arranged to deploy into the passenger compartment along a lateral side of the vehicle and adjacent each of the at least two seating positions;

directing gas from a single inflator of a single gas-providing system situated at a location apart from the single airbag through a conduit into the single airbag such that the single airbag, when inflated with the gas, extends across the at least two seating positions of the vehicle, wherein the single airbag only receives directed gas from the single inflator,

the at least two seating positions comprising a first seating position in a first row of seats of the vehicle and a second seating position in a second row of seats of the vehicle longitudinally displaced from the first row of seats, along the lateral side of the vehicle;

wherein the single airbag has a plurality of compartments for receiving the gas, and wherein the plurality of compartments are in flow communication with each other.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the conduit is a single conduit leading from the single gas-providing system to provide gas for inflating the single airbag.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising varying the conduit as a function of pressure for providing variable amounts of gas to'"'"' the single airbag as a function of pressure, wherein a first amount of gas is provided to the single airbag at a first pressure and a second amount of gas is provided to the single airbag at a second pressure different than the first pressure.

29. A method for inflating a single airbag of a vehicle, the method comprising:

arranging the single airbag to extend across at least two seating positions of a passenger compartment of the vehicle and arranged to deploy into the passenger compartment along a lateral side of the vehicle and adjacent each of the at least two seating positions, wherein the at least two seating positions include a first seating position in a first row of seats of the vehicle and a second seating position in a second row of seats of the vehicle longitudinally displaced from the first row of seats, along the lateral side of the vehicle;

directing gas from a single gas-providing system situated at a location apart from the single airbag through a conduit into the single airbag such that the single airbag, when inflated with the gas, extends across the at least two seating positions of the vehicle, wherein the single airbag has a plurality of compartments for receiving the gas, wherein the plurality of compartments are in flow communication with each other; and

varying the conduit as a function of temperature for providing variable amounts of gas to the single airbag as a function of temperature, wherein a first amount of gas is provided to the single airbag at a first temperature and a second amount of gas is provided to the single airbag at a second temperature different than the first temperature.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the varying of the conduit is automatic.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the conduit has an opening that varies as a function of temperature for providing variable amounts of gas to the single airbag as a function of temperature.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein directing the gas comprises directing the gas from a single inflator of a single gas-providing system, and wherein the single airbag only receives directed gas from the single inflator.

36. An airbag system of a vehicle, the airbag system comprising:

a single airbag extending across at least two seating positions of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the single airbag arranged to deploy into the passenger compartment along a lateral side of the vehicle and adjacent each of the at least two seating positions, wherein the at least two seating positions include a first seating position in a first seat row of seats of the vehicle and a second seating position in a second seat row of seats of the vehicle longitudinally displaced from the first seat row of seats, along the lateral side of the vehicle, wherein the single airbag has a plurality of compartments configured to receive gas, wherein the plurality of compartments are in flow communication with each other;

a cover interposed between the single airbag and the passenger compartment to cover the single airbag prior to deployment;

a single gas-providing system that provides the gas to inflate the single airbag and which is arranged apart from the single airbag; and

a conduit leading from the single gas-providing system to provide gas to inflate the single airbag, the conduit being arranged to deliver the gas from the single gas-providing system into the single airbag,

wherein the single airbag is arranged to deploy downward into the passenger compartment and the conduit is arranged at or adjacent to a top edge of the single airbag.

37. A method for inflating a single airbag of a vehicle, the method comprising:

arranging the single airbag to extend across at least two seating positions of a passenger compartment of the vehicle, wherein the single airbag is arranged to deploy into the passenger compartment along a lateral side of the vehicle and adjacent each of the at least two seating positions; and

directing gas from a single gas-providing system situated at a location apart from the single airbag through a conduit into the single airbag such that the single airbag, when inflated with the gas, extends across the at least two seating positions of the vehicle,

wherein the at least two seating positions include a first seating position in a first row of seats of the vehicle and a second seating position in a second row of seats of the vehicle longitudinally displaced from the first row of seats, along the lateral side of the vehicle,

wherein the single airbag has a plurality of compartments for receiving the gas,

wherein the plurality of compartments are in flow communication with each other, and

wherein the single airbag is arranged to deploy downward into the passenger compartment and the conduit is arranged at or adjacent to a top edge of the single airbag.

38. An airbag system of a vehicle, the airbag system comprising:

a single airbag extending across at least two seating positions of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the single airbag arranged to deploy into the passenger compartment along a lateral side of the vehicle and adjacent each of the at least two seating positions, wherein the at least two seating positions include a first seating position in a first seat row of seats of the vehicle and a second seating position in a second seat row of seats of the vehicle longitudinally displaced from the first seat row of seats, along the lateral side of the vehicle, wherein the single airbag has a plurality of compartments configured to receive gas, wherein the plurality of compartments are in flow communication with each other;

a cover interposed between the single airbag and the passenger compartment to cover the single airbag prior to deployment;

a single gas-providing system that provides the gas to inflate the single airbag and which is arranged apart from the single airbag; and

a conduit leading from the single gas-providing system to provide gas to inflate the single airbag, the conduit being arranged to deliver the gas from the single gas-providing system into the single airbag,

wherein the gas from the single gas-providing system passes through one of the plurality of compartments to another one of the plurality of compartments for inflating the single airbag.

39. An airbag system of a vehicle, the airbag system comprising:

a single airbag extending across at least two seating positions of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the single airbag arranged to deploy into the passenger compartment along a lateral side of the vehicle and adjacent each of the at least two seating positions, wherein the at least two seating positions include a first seating position in a first seat row of seats of the vehicle and a second seating position in a second seat row of seats of the vehicle longitudinally displaced from the first seat row of seats, along the lateral side of the vehicle, wherein the single airbag has a plurality of compartments configured to receive gas, wherein the plurality of compartments are in flow communication with each other;

a cover interposed between the single airbag and the passenger compartment to cover the single airbag prior to deployment;

a single gas-providing system that provides the gas to inflate the single airbag and which is arranged apart from the single airbag; and

a conduit leading from the single gas-providing system to provide gas to inflate the single airbag, the conduit being arranged to deliver the gas from the single gas-providing system into the single airbag,

wherein the single airbag has a single inflating portion and no other inflating portion, wherein the single inflating portion consists of the plurality of compartments.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the gas from the single gas-providing system passes through one of the plurality of compartments to another one of the plurality of compartments for inflating the single airbag.

41. An airbag system of a vehicle, the airbag system comprising:

a single airbag extending across at least two seating positions of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the single airbag arranged to deploy into the passenger compartment along a lateral side of the vehicle and adjacent each of the at least two seating positions, wherein the at least two seating positions include a first seating position in a first seat row of seats of the vehicle and a second seating position in a second seat row of seats of the vehicle longitudinally displaced from the first seat row of seats, along the lateral side of the vehicle, wherein the single airbag has a plurality of compartments configured to receive gas, wherein the plurality of compartments are in flow communication with each other;

a cover interposed between the single airbag and the passenger compartment to cover the single airbag prior to deployment;

a single gas-providing system that provides the gas to inflate the single airbag and which is arranged apart from the single airbag; and

a conduit leading from the single gas-providing system to provide gas to inflate the single airbag, the conduit being arranged to deliver the gas from the single gas-providing system into the single airbag, wherein the conduit is configured to vary as a function of temperature for providing variable amounts of gas to the single airbag as a function of temperature, wherein a first amount of gas is provided to the single airbag at a first temperature and a second amount of gas is provided to the single airbag at a second temperature different than the first temperature.

42. A method for inflating a single airbag of a vehicle, the method comprising:

arranging the single airbag to extend across at least two seating positions of a passenger compartment of the vehicle, wherein the single airbag is arranged to deploy into the passenger compartment along a lateral side of the vehicle and adjacent each of the at least two seating positions; and

directing gas from a single gas-providing system situated at a location apart from the single airbag through a conduit into the single airbag such that the single airbag, when inflated with the gas, extends across the at least two seating positions of the vehicle,

wherein the at least two seating positions include a first seating position in a first row of seats of the vehicle and a second seating position in a second row of seats of the vehicle longitudinally displaced from the first row of seats, along the lateral side of the vehicle,

wherein the single airbag has a plurality of compartments for receiving the gas,

wherein the plurality of compartments are in flow communication with each other, and

wherein the gas from the single gas-providing system passes through one of the plurality of compartments to another one of the plurality of compartments for inflating the single airbag.

43. A method for inflating a single airbag of a vehicle, the method comprising:

arranging the single airbag to extend across at least two seating positions of a passenger compartment of the vehicle, wherein the single airbag is arranged to deploy into the passenger compartment along a lateral side of the vehicle and adjacent each of the at least two seating positions; and

directing gas from a single gas-providing system situated at a location apart from the single airbag through a conduit into the single airbag such that the single airbag, when inflated with the gas, extends across the at least two seating positions of the vehicle,

wherein the at least two seating positions include a first seating position in a first row of seats of the vehicle and a second seating position in a second row of seats of the vehicle longitudinally displaced from the first row of seats, along the lateral side of the vehicle,

wherein the single airbag has a plurality of compartments for receiving the gas,

wherein the plurality of compartments are in flow communication with each other,

wherein the single airbag has a single inflating portion and no other inflating portion, wherein the single inflating portion consists of the plurality of compartments.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the gas from the single gas-providing system passes through one of the plurality of compartments to another one of the plurality of compartments for inflating the single airbag.