Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2002-09-10
2004-05-11
Ilan, Ruth (Department: 3616)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S743200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06733035
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an assembly for guiding an inflatable curtain-type airbag cushion across a side portion of a vehicle during a collision event and thereafter holding the airbag cushion in a tensioned condition subsequent to the deployment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known in motor vehicles to provide air bag cushions for protecting a vehicle occupant during a collision event wherein such air bag cushions are in fluid communication with gas generating inflators so as to inflate the cushions upon sensing predetermined vehicle conditions such as deceleration exceeding a certain level. It is further known to provide air bag systems including inflatable restraint cushions which are deployed from positions of attachment along the roof rail portion of the vehicle frame above the doors of the vehicle such that the inflatable cushion extends downwardly in substantially curtain-like fashion between the occupant to be protected and the side portions of the vehicle adjacent to such occupants. Such coverage provides a cushioning restraint to the occupant during a side impact or extended roll-over collision event thereby aiding in the protection of the occupant during such events.
It is generally desirable for a curtain-like side air bag cushion to be held in a substantially tensioned condition across the surface being covered so as to provide a well defined extended barrier between the occupant and the side portion of the vehicle. Such a condition may be useful in holding the vehicle occupant within the protective frame of the vehicle during an extended roll-over event.
A typical prior tethering arrangement for maintaining tension across the lower edge of a curtain-like cushion is illustrated in
FIGS. 1A and 1B
. As illustrated, in such prior embodiments an inflatable curtain
10
is stored in packed relation generally along the roof rail
12
of a vehicle
14
generally above the doors
16
. The length of the inflatable curtain
10
is such that upon inflation coverage is provided over at least a portion of the distance extending along the side of the vehicle interior between two or more structural pillars
20
extending away from the roof rail
12
.
In the illustrated embodiment, the inflatable curtain
10
is shown to be attached at the forward “A” pillar and at the rearward “C” pillar so as to cover the intermediate “B” pillar. As shown, in prior constructions the inflatable curtain
10
is inflated by a gas generating inflator
22
thereby causing the lower edge of the inflatable curtain
10
to move downwardly away from the roof rail
12
. As the inflatable curtain
10
undergoes inflation, it tends to shorten as cushioning depth is developed (FIG.
1
B). This shortening may be restricted by the presence of tethering straps
24
of fixed length extending between the lower edge of the inflatable curtain
10
and the forward and rearward pillars
20
bordering the area to be covered.
Utilizing the prior design of fixed length tethers
24
is useful in providing tension across the lower edge once the designed inflation of the inflatable curtain
10
is complete provided that the length of the tethers is well matched to the particular coverage characteristics of the inflatable curtain
10
relative to the pillars
20
. In particular, once the curtain
10
is in the fully inflated condition if the tethers are of the proper length, a balanced tension is established and may thereafter be maintained between the shortened inflatable curtain
10
and the fully extended tethering straps
24
. Thus prior curtain constructions which utilize a combination of inflation induced shortening and fixed length tethering straps
24
are typically dependent upon the cushion shape being substantially fully established before the final tension is generated. Accordingly, the tethers in such systems are generally slack during the preliminary stages of deployment prior to the bottom edge becoming positioned and fully tensioned. After deployment has taken place, the tensioning may be at least partially lost if the airbag cushion becomes deflated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides advantages and alternatives over the prior art by providing a system which assists in guiding an inflatable curtain-style air bag cushion into position and which thereafter holds the airbag cushion in place to provide tensioning support to the cushion.
In the invention, a dynamic tethering element is utilized which travels in conjunction with the downward deployment of the inflatable curtain structure so as to both tension the curtain structure while at the same time providing a guiding action so as to bring the curtain structure into the proper position at which it is thereafter maintained. The dynamic tethering element is blocked against retreating movement after deployment has taken place. The dynamic tethering element avoids substantial reliance upon curtain shortening to provide a tensioning force across the inflatable curtain structure. In addition, the dynamic tethering element may be useful in pulling the inflating curtain into a desired position at an early stage of deployment. Accordingly, a number of useful advantages are provided.
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Copy of EP Search Report Dated Jul. 2, 2003.
Bevak Rebecca A
Fosberg Tim A.
Sinks Leland
Thomas David James
Delphi Technologies Inc.
Ilan Ruth
McBain Scott A.
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