Inflatable curtain airbag systems

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 11/669,444, filed Jan. 31, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to inflatable curtain airbag systems.

2. Background Discussion

Vehicle curtain airbag systems may include a sail panel to reduce occupant limb excursion through a front corner of the vehicle if the curtain airbag system is deployed.

Packaging space for pre-deployed curtain airbag systems may be limited. Curtain airbag systems including a sail panel may require more packaging space than curtain airbag systems not including a sail panel.

It is desirable to reduce the amount of packaging space required for pre-deployed curtain airbag systems including a sail panel.

Embodiments of the invention may take the form of a curtain airbag system for a vehicle having a passenger compartment with a front corner. The system includes an inflatable curtain having a front edge and a sail panel for reducing occupant limb excursion through the front corner of the passenger compartment if the system is deployed. The sail panel has an overlapping portion including an overlapping edge that overlaps at least a portion of the front edge of the inflatable curtain. The sail panel is intermittently attached with the inflatable curtain along the overlapping edge.

Embodiments of the invention may include an inflatable curtain having a front edge and a first tether attached to the inflatable curtain for maintaining the inflatable curtain in a desired position if the system is deployed. The system may also include a sail panel attached to the first tether for reducing occupant limb excursion through the front corner of the passenger compartment if the system is deployed. At least a portion of the sail panel does not overlap the front edge of the inflatable curtain.

The system may also include an inflatable curtain having front and bottom edges. The front edge forms an angle with the bottom edge. The system also includes a sail panel for reducing occupant limb excursion through the front corner of the passenger compartment if the system is deployed. The sail panel has an overlapping portion including an overlapping edge that overlaps at least a portion of the front edge of the inflatable curtain. The sail panel is attached to the inflatable curtain along the overlapping edge. The overlapping edge forms an angle with the bottom edge of the inflatable curtain different than the angle formed by the front and bottom edges of the inflatable curtain.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle environment for an embodiment of a deployed curtain airbag system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a sail panel and a portion of an inflatable curtain.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an alterative embodiment of a sail panel and a portion of an inflatable curtain.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of another alterative embodiment of a sail panel and a portion of an inflatable curtain.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of yet another alterative embodiment of a sail panel and a portion of an inflatable curtain.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of still another alterative embodiment of a sail panel and a portion of an inflatable curtain.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram, in cross-section, of a vehicle environment for an embodiment of a pre-deployed curtain airbag system.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an environment for curtain airbag system 10 if system 10 is deployed. The environment includes vehicle 12 having a front corner 14 including A-pillar 15 of passenger compartment 16 .

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a portion of system 10 . System 10 includes inflatable curtain 18 which is made from reinforced nylon. If deployed, curtain 18 is filed with gas from an airbag inflator (not shown). Gas travels along fill tube 20 and into curtain 18 . Fill tube 20 includes crimped end 22 with hole 23 drilled through to mount system 10 to A-pillar 15 ( FIG. 1 ). Curtain 18 includes front edge 24 .

System 10 also includes triangular shaped sail panel 26 which is made from reinforced nylon. Overlapping portion 28 overlaps a portion of inflatable curtain 18 . Overlapping portion 28 includes overlapping edge 30 . Sail panel 26 is sewn at linearly spaced intervals to curtain 18 along overlapping edge 30 , as shown at 32 . Sail panel 26 may be attached alternatively to curtain 18 along overlapping edge 30 in any desired fashion, e.g., riveted.

System 10 further includes retainer clip 34 attached with sail panel 26 and configured to be attached with a base of A-pillar 15 ( FIG. 1 ).

If system 10 is deployed, sail panel 26 reduces occupant limb excursion through front corner 14 ( FIG. 1 ) of passenger compartment 16 ( FIG. 1 ).

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of a portion of system 10 . Numbered elements of FIG. 3 , and numbered elements of any additional figures, that differ by multiples of 100 relative to numbered elements of FIG. 2 have similar descriptions, e.g., 118 and 18 are each curtains.

FIG. 3 shows that portions of sail panel 26 do not overlap front edge 124 of curtain 118 .

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of a portion of system 10 . System 210 includes tether 236 attached, e.g., sewn, to curtain 218 for maintaining curtain 218 in a desired position if system 10 is deployed ( FIG. 1 ). Sail panel 226 is attached to tether 236 and curtain 218 . A portion of sail panel 226 does not overlap front edge 224 of curtain 218 . Sail panel 226 may be attached to curtain 218 in any desired fashion, e.g., sewn, riveted.

FIG. 5 is schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of a portion of system 10 . System 310 includes tethers 336 , 337 . Sail panel 326 is attached to tethers 336 , 337 , e.g., sewn. Sail panel 326 does not overlap front edge 324 of curtain 318 .

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of a portion of system 10 . Curtain 418 includes front edge 424 and bottom edge 438 . Front edge 424 and bottom 438 form angle 440 .

Sail panel 426 includes overlapping portion 428 and overlapping edge 430 . Sail panel 426 is sewn or riveted to curtain 418 along overlapping edge 430 . Overlapping edge 430 and bottom edge 438 of inflatable curtain 418 form angle 442 . Angle 440 and angle 442 are different.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram, in cross-section, of an environment in which system 10 is installed in vehicle 12 . The environment includes roof structures 44 , roof panel 46 , trim panel 48 , grab handle assembly 50 attached to grab handle bracket 52 , and headliner 54 .

Curtain 18 and sail panel 26 are rolled up as shown. The amount of packaging space available for system 10 in its pre-deployment configuration is limited. The configurations as generally described with reference to FIGS. 2-6 and further as described herein reduce the space taken up by overlapping portion 28 .

While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.