Apparatus and method for airbag cushion modularization

A cushion for an inflatable curtain module for protecting one or more occupants of a vehicle from lateral impact, the cushion comprising:

• a top edge configured to be attached to the vehicle;
• a bottom edge configured to be drawn toward the top edge by a compaction process selected from the group consisting of rolling and accordion style folding;
• a protection zone between the top edge and the bottom edge, the protection zone being configured to contain a pressurized gas;
• an interior longitudinal edge extending between the top edge and the bottom edge;
• and
• a first tab attached to the interior longitudinal edge to protrude away from the protection zone such that the first tab will be exposed after compaction of the cushion, wherein the first tab comprises an attachment structure for connecting the first tab to a complimentary attachment structure associated with a tension coupling disposed between the cushion and an adjacent cushion to transmit tension to the protection zone from the adjacent cushion and from the protection zone to the adjacent cushion.

A cushion for an inflatable curtain module for protecting one or more occupants of a vehicle from lateral impact, the cushion comprising:

• a top edge configured to be attached to the vehicle;
• a bottom edge configured to be drawn toward the top edge by a compaction process selected from the group consisting of rolling and accordion style folding;
• a protection zone between the top edge and the bottom edge, the protection zone being configured to contain a pressurized gas;
• and
• a longitudinal edge extending between the top edge and the bottom edge, the longitudinal edge having a plurality of cushion holes arrayed along a length of the longitudinal edge, wherein the holes are spaced apart to align with a plurality of coupling holes of a tension coupling such that an attachment mechanism can be inserted through the holes of the cushion and the tension coupling.

A tension coupling having a first end configured to be attached to a longitudinal edge of a first cushion and a second end configured to be attached to a longitudinal edge of a second cushion to transmit tension between the first and second cushions, the tension coupling comprising:

• a first expanse extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the first expanse is configured to be attached to a first position in relation to the longitudinal edge of the first cushion and to a second position in relation to the longitudinal edge of the second cushion;
• a second expanse offset from the first expanse, the second expanse extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the second expanse is configured to be attached to a third position in relation to the longitudinal edge of the first cushion and to a fourth position in relation to the longitudinal edge of the second cushion;
• and
• a flexible central portion connecting the first and second expanses to permit the first and second expanses to move compactly toward each other so that the tension coupling can be connected to the first and second cushions after the first and second cushions are compacted.

An inflatable curtain module for protecting one or more occupants of a vehicle from lateral impact, the inflatable curtain module comprising:

• a first cushion having a protection zone;
• a second cushion having a protection zone;
• and
• a tension coupling having a first end attachable to the first cushion by a first attachment mechanism and a second end attachable to the second cushion by a second attachment mechanism, wherein the tension coupling is configures to transmit tension between the first cushion and the second cushion to keep the protection zones of the first and second cushions in a position suitable for protecting one or more occupants of the vehicle;
• wherein the first cushion comprises a first tab extending outward from the protection zone of the first cushion, the second cushion comprising a second tab extending outward from the protection zone of the second cushion, wherein the first and second tabs are configured to receive the first and second attachment mechanisms, respectively.