Patent ID: 9156427
Filing Date: 2015-10-13
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. An airbag assembly for use in a vehicle having a roof, an A-pillar, a window extending below the A-pillar, and a lateral surface positioned below the window, the airbag assembly for disposition proximate the roof of the vehicle to shield a vehicle occupant from impacting the window and the lateral surface of the vehicle, the airbag assembly comprising: an inflatable curtain airbag having a stowed configuration proximate the roof of the vehicle and a deployed configuration into which the inflatable curtain airbag deploys downward between the vehicle occupant and the lateral surface of the vehicle, the inflatable curtain airbag comprising a peripheral juncture that defines, interior to the peripheral juncture, a first protection zone and a second protection zone, and, exterior to the peripheral juncture, a non-inflating peripheral region; wherein, to move the inflatable curtain airbag from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration, the first protection zone inflates and the second protection zone inflates forward of the first protection zone; wherein, in the deployed configuration, the peripheral juncture comprises a top portion comprising a rearward section defining an upper boundary of the first protection zone, and a forward section defining an upper boundary of the second protection zone; wherein, in the deployed configuration, the forward section is vertically offset from the rearward section such that the forward section is higher than a portion of the rearward section adjacent to the forward section; and wherein, in the deployed configuration, the second protection zone extends below the A-pillar to a depth sufficient to traverse the window and position a bottom portion of the second protection zone alongside the lateral surface.