Compact tethering system and method for an inflatable curtain
AssigneeAutoliv ASP, Inc.
InventorDavid Dominissini
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a system and method for tethering that may be used to keep a cushion properly positioned for side impact protection, particularly in vehicles in which space rearward of the cushion is limited. A tether attachment assembly according to the invention may include a tether attached to the cushion and to an anchoring point within the vehicle. An intermediate portion of the tether may pass within a tether restraint assembly that includes a tether restraint member attached to a vehicle surface. The tether restraint member may be a flexible strap, rigid bar, or the like. When the cushion deploys, the tether slides along the tether restraint member such that the tension exerted by the tether on the cushion is in the longitudinal direction.
Claims39
An inflatable curtain module configured to provide side impact protection for an occupant of a vehicle, the vehicle having an abrupt rear surface, the inflatable curtain module comprising:
- a cushion configured to inflate in an inflation direction inward of a lateral surface of the vehicle;
- a front tether attachable to the cushion and to a front tether anchoring point positioned forward of the cushion, within the vehicle;
- a rear tether attachable to the cushion and to a rear tether anchoring point positioned proximate the abrupt rear surface;
- and
- a tether restraint member extensible along the inflation direction, wherein the tether restraint member is configured to intersect the rear tether to redirect tension from the rear tether to exert tension on the cushion in a rearward direction.
An inflatable curtain module having a stowed configuration in which the module is stored comparatively compactly in a vehicle, and a deployed configuration in which the module is operable to provide lateral impact protection, the module comprising:
- a cushion configured to be disposed along a portion of a protection plane in the deployed configuration;
- a tether anchor positioned within the vehicle, offset from the protection plane;
- and
- a tether configured to transmit tension tending to restrict motion of the cushion in either direction perpendicular to the protection plane in the deployed configuration, the tether having a first end attached to the cushion and a second end attached to the tether anchor.
An inflatable curtain module having a stowed configuration in which the module is stored comparatively compactly in a vehicle, and a deployed configuration in which the module is operable to provide lateral impact protection, the module comprising:
- a cushion configured to be disposed longitudinally along a lateral surface of the vehicle in the deployed configuration;
- a tether extensible along a tether path between a tether anchoring point within the vehicle and the cushion to transmit tension between the tether anchoring point and the cushion;
- and
- a tether restraint member positionable to abut an intermediate portion of the tether to bend the tether path such that a substantial portion of the tension transmitted by the tether to the cushion is in the longitudinal direction.
A tether attachment assembly configured to restrain a deployed cushion for an airbag system of a vehicle, the tether attachment assembly comprising:
- a tether anchor;
- a tether having a first end affixed to the cushion and a second end affixed to the tether anchor, the tether having an intermediate portion between the first and second ends;
- a first restraint anchor;
- a second restraint anchor;
- and
- a tether restraint member attachable to the vehicle by the first and second restraint anchors, the tether restraint member having a length between the first and second anchors along which the intermediate portion of the tether is slidable to accommodate motion of the first end of the tether in response to deployment of the cushion.
A tether restraint assembly configured to restrain a tether attached to a cushion for an airbag system of a vehicle, wherein the cushion is configured to deploy along a deployment direction, the tether restraint assembly comprising:
- a vehicle surface having first and second restraint anchoring points arrayed along the deployment direction;
- and
- a tether restraint member having a first end attached to the first restraint anchoring point and a second end attached to the second restraint anchoring point such that a length of the tether restraint member between the restraint anchoring points is oriented along the deployment direction.
A method for restraining motion of an occupant of a vehicle through a protection plane, the method comprising:
- providing a cushion configured to deploy along the protection plane;
- providing a tether having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first and second ends, wherein the second end is configured to be attached to a tether anchoring point within the vehicle;
- affixing the first end of the tether to the cushion;
- and
- providing a tether restraint member having a length selected to permit sliding of the intermediate portion of the tether against the tether restraint member as the cushion deploys to direct tension exerted by the tether against the cushion to a direction selected to maintain the cushion substantially within the protection plane.
A method for restraining a deployed cushion for an airbag system of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing a tether having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion;
- attaching the first end of the tether to the cushion;
- attaching the second end of the tether to a tether anchoring point within the vehicle;
- providing a tether restraint member;
- positioning the tether restraint member such that the intermediate portion of the tether is sandwiched between the tether restraint member and an interior surface of the vehicle;
- and
- affixing the tether restraint member to first and second restraint anchoring points of the interior surface, wherein the first and second restraint anchoring points are disposed on opposite sides of the tether.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.