Inflatable curtain restrictor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016280177-A1
Application number	US-201514868684-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 29, 2015
Priority date	Mar 24, 2015
Publication date	Sep 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus ( 10 ) for helping to protect an occupant ( 28 ) of a vehicle ( 12 ) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( 14 ) configured to be inflated and deployed between a side structure ( 16 ) of the vehicle and the vehicle occupant. A deployment sleeve ( 50 ) encircles a portion of the protection device. The deployment sleeve ( 50 ) includes a rupturable tear seam ( 54 ) that absorbs the initial break-out forces of the protection device ( 14 ) during the initial stages of inflation and deployment. The tear seam ( 54 ) is adapted to rupture after the deployment sleeve ( 50 ) absorbs the break-out forces and release the protection device ( 14 ) to inflate and deploy to a fully inflated and deployed condition.

First claim

1 . An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, comprising:
an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device configured to be inflated and deployed between a side structure of the vehicle and the vehicle occupant; and a deployment sleeve for encircling a portion of the protection device, the deployment sleeve comprising a rupturable tear seam.

2 . The apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein the deployment sleeve absorbs the initial break-out forces of the protection device during the initial stages of inflation end deployment.

3 . The apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein the tear seam is adapted to rupture after the deployment sleeve absorbs the break-out forces and release the protection device to inflate and deploy to a fully inflated and deployed condition.

4 . The apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein the deployment sleeve is configured and arranged to extend along and cover an axial portion of the protection device that coincides with the likely position of the occupant's head.

5 . The apparatus recited in claim 4 , wherein the deployment sleeve is configured and arranged to leave axial portions of the protection device that do not coincide with the likely position of the occupant's head free to inflate and deploy without restriction.

8 . The apparatus recited in claim 4 , wherein the axial portions of the protection device not covered by the deployment sleeve are permitted to inflate and deploy ahead of the portions covered by the deployment sleeve.

7 . The apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein the deployment sleeve is constructed and arranged so that the tear seam is maintained for a duration sufficient to absorb break-out forces and thereby help protect an out of position vehicle occupant and also to rupture in time to permit the inflatable curtain to reach the fully inflated and deployed condition in time to help protect a normally positioned vehicle occupant.

8 . The apparatus recited in claim 1 , further comprising an inflator and a fill tuba having a portion disposed inside the protection device to deliver inflation fluid from the inflator to the protection device, wherein the inflator, fill tube, protection device, and deployment sleeve are assembled as a module that is configured for installation in the vehicle as a unit.

9 . The apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein the protection device comprises a roof rail mounted curtain air bag.

10 . The apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein the protection device comprises a seat mounted side protection device.

11 . The apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein the deployment sleeve comprises a fabric panel that is folded over and has overlying portions interconnected to form a loop.

12 . The apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein the tear seam comprises one or more perforations in the fabric panel.

Assignees

• Trw Vehicle Safety Systems

Inventors

• Young Kim S
• Fischer Kurt F
• Bertossi Rico S

Classifications

• B60R2021/23192

  Roof bags, i.e. protecting the occupant in a roll-over situation · CPC title

• B60R2021/23146

  seat mounted · CPC title

• B60R2021/161

  characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory · CPC title

• B60R21/235

  characterised by their material · CPC title

• B60R21/2342

  Tear seams · CPC title