Patent ID: 6454298
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An inflatable curtain structure for deployment within the interior of a transportation vehicle so as to cover an area adjacent to an occupant within the vehicle during a collision event, the inflatable curtain structure comprising:an impact surface facing towards the occupant upon inflation of the inflatable curtain structure and a rear surface facing away from the occupant upon inflation of the inflatable curtain structure, the impact surface being secured relative to the rear surface such that inflation gas entering the inflatable curtain structure is substantially confined between the impact surface and the rear surface, the inflatable curtain structure including impact absorbing inflatable regions, the inflatable curtain structure including a lower edge including segments of substantially noninflatable character disposed along the lower edge and a plurality of elongate gas receiving elements in fluid communication with the impact absorbing inflatable regions within the inflatable curtain structure and extending below the impact absorbing inflatable regions within the inflatable curtain structure such that upon inflation of the inflatable curtain structure, a portion of the inflation gas entering the inflatable curtain structure is conveyed into the elongate gas receiving elements thereby increasing the stiffness of the inflatable curtain structure adjacent to the lower edge, wherein the elongate gas receiving elements are disposed in substantially normal relation to the lower edge of the inflatable curtain structure at discrete locations along tile length of the lower edge such that the elongate gas receiving elements collectively occupy no more than about 50 percent of the total length along the lower edge when the inflatable curtain structure is in a noninflated condition.