EP2429866A2 - Side curtain airbag with fabric diffuser - Google Patents

Side curtain airbag with fabric diffuser

Info

Publication number
EP2429866A2
EP2429866A2 EP10775606A EP10775606A EP2429866A2 EP 2429866 A2 EP2429866 A2 EP 2429866A2 EP 10775606 A EP10775606 A EP 10775606A EP 10775606 A EP10775606 A EP 10775606A EP 2429866 A2 EP2429866 A2 EP 2429866A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sheet
fabric diffuser
cushion
inflatable
internal passageway
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP10775606A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2429866A4 (en
Inventor
Ryan T. Pinsenschaum
Michael Fink
Douglas S. Weston
Dayne B. Hassett
Brian Abraham
Ever E. Luna
Raul A. Hernandez
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
NxGen Technologies LLC
Original Assignee
Delphi Technologies Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Delphi Technologies Inc filed Critical Delphi Technologies Inc
Publication of EP2429866A2 publication Critical patent/EP2429866A2/en
Publication of EP2429866A4 publication Critical patent/EP2429866A4/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
    • B60R21/23—Inflatable members
    • B60R21/231—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
    • B60R21/232—Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
    • B60R21/23—Inflatable members
    • B60R21/231—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
    • B60R21/2334—Expansion control features
    • B60R21/2346—Soft diffusers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
    • B60R21/23—Inflatable members
    • B60R21/235—Inflatable members characterised by their material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
    • B60R21/23—Inflatable members
    • B60R21/235—Inflatable members characterised by their material
    • B60R2021/23533—Inflatable members characterised by their material characterised by the manufacturing process
    • B60R2021/23538—Sewing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
    • B60R21/23—Inflatable members
    • B60R21/235—Inflatable members characterised by their material
    • B60R2021/23571—Inflatable members characterised by their material characterised by connections between panels
    • B60R2021/23576—Sewing

Definitions

  • Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a side impact or rollover inflatable curtain airbag and more specifically to apparatus and methods for deploying the same.
  • Various side impact or rollover airbags provide a cushion between a side of a vehicle and the occupant.
  • Side curtain airbags generally deploy downward from a stowed position within the roofline of vehicle and inflate between the occupant and the vehicle interior side structure, such as the side windows and the A, B and/or C pillars.
  • a side curtain airbag generally consists of two fabric panels either sewn or interwoven together to create a plurality of inflatable cells. These cells are inflated during a predetermined activation event wherein a signal is provided to inflate the side curtain airbag.
  • a side curtain may have a plurality of cells in various arrangements and/or configurations.
  • Typical airbag curtain designs have an "open flow" between chamber cells. Open flow as described herein is characterized by the gas or DP-318511
  • FIG. 2 An example of an open flow conventional airbag is disclosed in FIG. 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,481,743 to Tobe et al., the entire disclosure of which is herein fully incorporated by reference.
  • an inflatable cushion for a side of a vehicle.
  • an inflatable cushion for a side of a vehicle having: a first cushion section formed from a first sheet of material secured to a second sheet of material, the first cushion section having a plurality of separate inflatable cells each of which having an inlet opening for receipt of an inflation gas; an internal passageway formed in the first cushion section, the internal passageway linking and fluidly coupling to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells via the inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells, the internal passageway being formed by an upper portion of the first sheet of material and an upper portion of the second sheet of material; a fabric diffuser member secured in the internal passageway, the fabric diffuser member being configured to supply the inflation gas to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells; and means for restricting fluid flow between the plurality of inflatable cells by limiting fluid flow between an exterior portion of the fabric diffuser member and an interior surface of the internal passageway proximate to an edge of the inlet openings of the plurality of inflatable cells.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle with an inflated side curtain airbag
  • FIG. 2 is a view of an inflatable cushion in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a view of a fabric plenum in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 are view of partially assembly inflatable cushions in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG 6 is a view illustrating securement of the fabric plenum to an inflatable cushion
  • FIGS. 7 and 8 are views of illustrating an inflatable cushion with a fabric plenum in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates views of alternative configurations of exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
  • Vehicle 10 includes an A-pillar 12, a B-pillar 14, and a C-pillar 16.
  • a side curtain airbag or inflatable cushion 18 in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated and extends between A-pillar 12 and C-pillar 16.
  • airbag 18 is shown in an inflated state.
  • an inflator 20 provides a gas necessary to inflate airbag 18.
  • Inflators 20, 21 and 23 are shown in dashed lines to display alternative locations for the inflator.
  • the inflator may be located in the B-pillar, in the C-pillar, in the roof, or in another suitable location within vehicle 10.
  • tethers 24 and 26 may be used to restrain airbag 18.
  • tethers 24 and 26 attach at one end to airbag 18 and at the other end to the body of the vehicle.
  • Airbag 18 includes a plurality of substantially isolated cells 42.
  • Cells 42 can be configured to a rear bank of cells between B-pillar 14 and C-pillar 16, while other cells 42 make up a front bank of cells between A-pillar 12 and B-pillar 14.
  • An area 43 is not inflated because an occupant is less likely to come into contact with that area. In some embodiments, however, area 43 may be a cell, or may inflate at a time later than the other cells.
  • tabs 44 are provided in this embodiment to attach airbag 18 to roof rail 22.
  • any suitable method of attachment may be used. DP-318511
  • FIG. 3 shows one non-limiting embodiment of a fabric diffuser or fabric plenum 50.
  • fabric plenums have been shown to be a viable technique to take gas from an inflator, segment the gas from the inflator and distribute to all parts of the cushion, and reduce mass.
  • the fabric plenum(s) are used to replace other types of diffuser tubes such as plastic or metal diffuser tubes.
  • the fabric plenum is a sewn plenum made from flat fabric and can be integrated into the cushion or free to float. Each cell of the cushion is segmented from the others with relatively very little gas passing from one cell to the next.
  • the fabric plenum is configured to supply the inflation gas from the inflator to the cells of the inflatable cushion, wherein only a limited amount of inflation gas is transferred from cell to cell.
  • first side or first portion 52 of the plenum or diffuser to a first sheet of material 54 of the cushion and a second portion or side 56 of the plenum to second sheet of material 58 of the cushion.
  • the gas can be essentially shut off from adjacent cells by sewing the diode circles or semi-circular patterns 60 to the first and second sheet of the inflatable cushion as well as plenum diode sews wherein the first portion of the plenum is stitched directly to the first sheet by vertical stitches 62 and the second portion of the plenum is stitched directly to the second sheet by vertical stitches 64 or this approach can be used to just partially close off the communication between cells by not sewing the diode circles and half moon closeouts into the plenum.
  • the plenum is closed by securing the first portion 52 to the second portion 54 by stitches 68 that only secure the first portion of the plenum to the second portion of the plenum and then the upper portion of the DP-318511
  • first sheet of material are secured to the upper portion of the second sheet of material via stitches 70.
  • the flexible fabric plenum will also have air flow holes 72 with a specified amount of holes and diameter for each cell and a certain height of diode, which is shown in FIG. 7.
  • the height of diode, number of vent holes 72 and diameter of holes would depend on air flow distribution feeding time and inflation volume area.
  • Other holes 74 are illustrated in the attached FIGS, although holes 74 are solely provided as locating features for placement of the vertical sew lines 62 and 64 as inflation gas is not intended to pass through holes or openings 74.
  • the flexible fabric plenum is sewn into the two sides with straight vertical or substantially vertical sew lines 62 and 64 (the amount of sew lines will depend on the numbers of cushion cells).
  • FIG. 9 shows alternative plenum configurations, hi some embodiments the plenum sewing will increase the time that the cushion will remain inflated since there will be at least four separate piles or stitches sewn together at the top of the inflatable cushion.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Air Bags (AREA)

Abstract

An inflatable cushion for a side of a vehicle, the inflatable cushion having: a first cushion section formed from a first sheet of material secured to a second sheet of material, the first cushion section having a plurality of separate inflatable cells each of which having an inlet opening for receipt of an inflation gas; an internal passageway formed in the first cushion section, the internal passageway linking and fluidly coupling to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells via the inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells, the internal passageway being formed by an upper portion of the first sheet of material and an upper portion of the second sheet of material; a fabric diffuser member secured in the internal passageway, the fabric diffuser member being configured to supply the inflation gas to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells; and means for restricting fluid flow between the plurality of inflatable cells by limiting fluid flow between an exterior portion of the fabric diffuser member and an interior surface of the internal passageway proximate to an edge of the inlet openings of the plurality of inflatable cells.

Description

DP-318511
SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG WITH FABRIC DIFFUSER
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61/178,755 filed May 15, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
This application is also a continuation-in-part of United States
Non-Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 11/190,499 filed July 26, 2005 and United States Non-Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 12/256,224 filed October 22, 2008 the contents each of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
BACKGROUND
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a side impact or rollover inflatable curtain airbag and more specifically to apparatus and methods for deploying the same.
Various side impact or rollover airbags (also referred to as side curtains or curtain airbags) provide a cushion between a side of a vehicle and the occupant. Side curtain airbags generally deploy downward from a stowed position within the roofline of vehicle and inflate between the occupant and the vehicle interior side structure, such as the side windows and the A, B and/or C pillars.
A side curtain airbag generally consists of two fabric panels either sewn or interwoven together to create a plurality of inflatable cells. These cells are inflated during a predetermined activation event wherein a signal is provided to inflate the side curtain airbag. A side curtain may have a plurality of cells in various arrangements and/or configurations.
Typical airbag curtain designs have an "open flow" between chamber cells. Open flow as described herein is characterized by the gas or DP-318511
fluid within a cell having open fluid communication with adjacent cells via a diffuser tube and/or fluid paths disposed about the diffuser tube proximate to adjacent cells. This configuration allows the gas to uniformly fill the entire airbag because the gas distributes among all or most of the airbag cells or inflated regions. An example of an open flow conventional airbag is disclosed in FIG. 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,481,743 to Tobe et al., the entire disclosure of which is herein fully incorporated by reference.
In some applications, it is desirable to provide a side impact or rollover restraint system having an inflatable curtain airbag that does not have "open flow" between chamber cells.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention there is provided an inflatable cushion for a side of a vehicle.
In one exemplary embodiment, an inflatable cushion for a side of a vehicle is provided, the inflatable cushion having: a first cushion section formed from a first sheet of material secured to a second sheet of material, the first cushion section having a plurality of separate inflatable cells each of which having an inlet opening for receipt of an inflation gas; an internal passageway formed in the first cushion section, the internal passageway linking and fluidly coupling to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells via the inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells, the internal passageway being formed by an upper portion of the first sheet of material and an upper portion of the second sheet of material; a fabric diffuser member secured in the internal passageway, the fabric diffuser member being configured to supply the inflation gas to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells; and means for restricting fluid flow between the plurality of inflatable cells by limiting fluid flow between an exterior portion of the fabric diffuser member and an interior surface of the internal passageway proximate to an edge of the inlet openings of the plurality of inflatable cells. DP-318511 3
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle with an inflated side curtain airbag;
FIG. 2 is a view of an inflatable cushion in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a view of a fabric plenum in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 4 and 5 are view of partially assembly inflatable cushions in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG 6 is a view illustrating securement of the fabric plenum to an inflatable cushion;
FIGS. 7 and 8 are views of illustrating an inflatable cushion with a fabric plenum in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 9 illustrates views of alternative configurations of exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended DP-318511
that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, a vehicle 10 is shown. Vehicle 10 includes an A-pillar 12, a B-pillar 14, and a C-pillar 16. A side curtain airbag or inflatable cushion 18 in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated and extends between A-pillar 12 and C-pillar 16. In FIG. 1, airbag 18 is shown in an inflated state. In this regard, an inflator 20 provides a gas necessary to inflate airbag 18. Inflators 20, 21 and 23 are shown in dashed lines to display alternative locations for the inflator. Thus, the inflator may be located in the B-pillar, in the C-pillar, in the roof, or in another suitable location within vehicle 10.
Before airbag 18 is deployed, it may be stored within roof rail 22 of vehicle 10. Optionally, tethers 24 and 26 may be used to restrain airbag 18. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, tethers 24 and 26 attach at one end to airbag 18 and at the other end to the body of the vehicle.
Referring now to FIG. 2, further details of side curtain airbag or inflatable cushion 18 can be most easily explained. Airbag 18 includes a plurality of substantially isolated cells 42. Cells 42 can be configured to a rear bank of cells between B-pillar 14 and C-pillar 16, while other cells 42 make up a front bank of cells between A-pillar 12 and B-pillar 14. An area 43 is not inflated because an occupant is less likely to come into contact with that area. In some embodiments, however, area 43 may be a cell, or may inflate at a time later than the other cells.
Continuing to refer to FIG. 2, another configuration of an inflatable cushion or airbag 18 is illustrated here tabs 44 are provided in this embodiment to attach airbag 18 to roof rail 22. Instead of tabs 44, any suitable method of attachment may be used. DP-318511
In order to provide gas from the inflator to the cells of the inflatable cushion a fabric diffuser or fabric plenum 50 is provided. FIG. 3 shows one non-limiting embodiment of a fabric diffuser or fabric plenum 50.
In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, fabric plenums have been shown to be a viable technique to take gas from an inflator, segment the gas from the inflator and distribute to all parts of the cushion, and reduce mass. In an exemplary embodiment, the fabric plenum(s) are used to replace other types of diffuser tubes such as plastic or metal diffuser tubes.
Referring now to FIGS. 1-9, the fabric plenum is a sewn plenum made from flat fabric and can be integrated into the cushion or free to float. Each cell of the cushion is segmented from the others with relatively very little gas passing from one cell to the next. The fabric plenum is configured to supply the inflation gas from the inflator to the cells of the inflatable cushion, wherein only a limited amount of inflation gas is transferred from cell to cell.
This is accomplished by sewing a first side or first portion 52 of the plenum or diffuser to a first sheet of material 54 of the cushion and a second portion or side 56 of the plenum to second sheet of material 58 of the cushion. The gas can be essentially shut off from adjacent cells by sewing the diode circles or semi-circular patterns 60 to the first and second sheet of the inflatable cushion as well as plenum diode sews wherein the first portion of the plenum is stitched directly to the first sheet by vertical stitches 62 and the second portion of the plenum is stitched directly to the second sheet by vertical stitches 64 or this approach can be used to just partially close off the communication between cells by not sewing the diode circles and half moon closeouts into the plenum.
Thereafter the plenum is closed by securing the first portion 52 to the second portion 54 by stitches 68 that only secure the first portion of the plenum to the second portion of the plenum and then the upper portion of the DP-318511
first sheet of material are secured to the upper portion of the second sheet of material via stitches 70.
The flexible fabric plenum will also have air flow holes 72 with a specified amount of holes and diameter for each cell and a certain height of diode, which is shown in FIG. 7.
The height of diode, number of vent holes 72 and diameter of holes would depend on air flow distribution feeding time and inflation volume area. Other holes 74 are illustrated in the attached FIGS, although holes 74 are solely provided as locating features for placement of the vertical sew lines 62 and 64 as inflation gas is not intended to pass through holes or openings 74.
The flexible fabric plenum is sewn into the two sides with straight vertical or substantially vertical sew lines 62 and 64 (the amount of sew lines will depend on the numbers of cushion cells).
FIG. 9 shows alternative plenum configurations, hi some embodiments the plenum sewing will increase the time that the cushion will remain inflated since there will be at least four separate piles or stitches sewn together at the top of the inflatable cushion.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention, hi addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the present application.

Claims

DP-318511What is claimed is:
1. An inflatable cushion for a side of a vehicle, the inflatable cushion, comprising: a first cushion section formed from a first sheet of material secured to a second sheet of material, the first cushion section having a plurality of separate inflatable cells each of which having an inlet opening for receipt of an inflation gas; an internal passageway formed in the first cushion section, the internal passageway linking and fluidly coupling to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells via the inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells, the internal passageway being formed by an upper portion of the first sheet of material and an upper portion of the second sheet of material; a fabric diffuser member secured in the internal passageway, the fabric diffuser member being configured to supply the inflation gas to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells; and means for restricting fluid flow between the plurality of inflatable cells by limiting fluid flow between an exterior portion of the fabric diffuser member and an interior surface of the internal passageway proximate to an edge of the inlet openings of the plurality of inflatable cells.
2. The inflatable cushion as in claim 1, wherein the means for restricting fluid flow between an exterior portion of the fabric diffuser member and an interior surface of the internal passageway proximate to an edge of the inlet opening of the plurality of inflatable cells is a plurality of stitches through the first sheet of material and the second sheet of material below the fabric diffuser; another plurality of stitches securing only the first sheet of material to a first portion of the fabric diffuser; and another plurality of stitches securing only the second sheet of material to a second portion of the fabric diffuser. DP-318511
3. The inflatable cushion as in claim 2, wherein the means for restricting fluid flow between an exterior portion of the fabric diffuser member and the interior surface of the internal passageway is a plurality of stitches only securing the first portion of the fabric diffuser to the second portion of the fabric diffuser.
4. The inflatable cushion as in claim 3, wherein the another plurality of stitches securing only the first sheet of material to the first portion of the fabric diffuser; and the another plurality of stitches securing only the second sheet of material to the second portion of the fabric diffuser are applied prior to the plurality of stitches only securing the first portion of the fabric diffuser to the second portion of the fabric diffuser.
5. The inflatable cushion as in claim 4, wherein an upper edge portion of the first sheet of material is secured to an upper edge portion of the second sheet of material after the first portion and second portion of the fabric diffuser member are secured to each other.
6. The inflatable cushion as in claim 5, wherein the fabric diffuser has a plurality of outlet openings, wherein at least one of the plurality of outlet opening are aligned with a respective one of the inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells.
7. An airbag module for a vehicle, comprising: a side curtain inflatable cushion comprising: a first cushion section formed from a first sheet of material secured to a second sheet of material, the first cushion section having a plurality of separate inflatable cells each of which having an inlet opening for receipt of an inflation gas; an internal passageway formed in the first cushion section, the internal passageway linking and fluidly coupling to each of DP-318511
the plurality of separate inflatable cells via the inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells, the internal passageway being formed by an upper portion of the first sheet of material and an upper portion of the second sheet of material; a fabric diffuser member secured in the internal passageway, the fabric diffuser member being configured to supply the inflation gas to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells; and means for restricting fluid flow between the plurality of inflatable cells by limiting fluid flow between an exterior portion of the fabric diffuser member and an interior surface of the internal passageway proximate to an edge of the inlet openings of the plurality of inflatable cells; and an inflator for providing the inflation gas, the inflator being fluidly coupled to the fabric diffuser member.
8. A method of securing a fabric diffuser to an inflatable cushion, the method comprising: securing a first sheet of material only to a first portion of the fabric diffuser; securing a second sheet of material only to a second portion of the fabric diffuser; securing the first portion of the fabric diffuser only to the second portion of the fabric diffuser; and securing the first sheet of material to the second sheet of material to define portions of the inflatable cushion.
EP10775606.6A 2009-05-15 2010-05-14 Side curtain airbag with fabric diffuser Withdrawn EP2429866A4 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US17875509P 2009-05-15 2009-05-15
PCT/US2010/034925 WO2010132786A2 (en) 2009-05-15 2010-05-14 Side curtain airbag with fabric diffuser

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2429866A2 true EP2429866A2 (en) 2012-03-21
EP2429866A4 EP2429866A4 (en) 2013-10-02

Family

ID=43085602

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP10775606.6A Withdrawn EP2429866A4 (en) 2009-05-15 2010-05-14 Side curtain airbag with fabric diffuser

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2429866A4 (en)
WO (1) WO2010132786A2 (en)

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2324068B (en) * 1997-04-11 2001-01-10 Autoliv Dev Improvements in or relating to an air-bag arrangement
US7404572B2 (en) * 2003-03-24 2008-07-29 Key Safety Systems, Inc Curtain air bag
WO2005039938A1 (en) * 2003-10-27 2005-05-06 Autoliv Development Ab Side curtain air bag
US7784822B2 (en) * 2004-07-26 2010-08-31 Nxgen Technologies, Inc. Inflatable airbag
DE102005001598A1 (en) * 2005-01-12 2006-07-20 Autoliv Development Ab Airbag and method for producing an airbag
US7708308B2 (en) * 2006-10-09 2010-05-04 Delphi Technologies, Inc. Side airbag cushion and method of manufacture
DE102006059311B4 (en) * 2006-12-15 2009-10-22 Autoliv Development Ab Side airbag with ventilation chamber that can be filled by ventilation

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2010132786A2 (en) 2010-11-18
WO2010132786A3 (en) 2011-03-10
EP2429866A4 (en) 2013-10-02

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