Abstract:
A restraint apparatus for protecting a vehicle occupant in a side impact or rollover event. The restraint apparatus includes a deployment guide that includes a housing having a channel with a substantially smoothed interior and longitudinal slot. A guide member is slidably retained in the channel and has an extension protruding from the slotted side of the channel. The extension is attachable to a restraint device deployable laterally of a vehicle occupant. An actuator is provided and is operable to drive the guide member from a first end of the channel toward a second end. A driving of the guide member facilitates deployment of the restraint device and supplies at least a longitudinal tensioning force to the restraint device to provide lateral support thereto.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates generally to side impact restraint devices, and more particularly to such a device having a cushion tethered to an actuatable slide device. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Supplemental restraint devices have become commonplace in vehicles in recent years and engineering and design efforts have increasingly focused on such devices deployable along vehicles&#39; interior sides. In the event of a side impact or vehicle rollover event, a curtain or inflatable cushion is rapidly positioned between the vehicle passenger and the window/door of the vehicle. Due to the limited vehicle structure that separates an occupant from a rapidly moving body impacting the side of the vehicle, occupants may sustain much greater injuries in side-impact events than front or rear impacts. The energy absorbed by the vehicle structure tends to be substantially less than the energy which may be absorbed in front-end or rear-end collisions. Moreover, the forces generated in side-impact or vehicle rollover events may actually cause the occupant to be ejected from the side of the vehicle. Some vehicles, due to their structure as well as a possible increased rollover risk, present particular problems in this area. 
   Various mounting methods and restraint apparatus configurations have been developed to assist in protecting occupants during such events. One approach has been to position a deflated or folded restraint cushion or curtain behind a trim panel located along the vehicle roof rail. When deployment is desired, the deploying restraint is actuated to burst through or push aside the trim panel, ultimately being positioned adjacent the occupant, where it absorbs impact from the occupant&#39;s head and torso. Where inflatable cushions are used, however, the necessarily rapid rate of inflation, coupled with the consequences of an occupant&#39;s head striking the deployed cushion, presents a challenge to maintaining a side cushion in its optimum deployed position. As always, there are continual efforts to improve the stability of the deployed airbag. 
   In addition to the concerns of maintaining the cushion in an optimum position throughout an accident sequence, the impact of an occupant&#39;s body on the cushion may actually displace the cushion from a position of maximum effectiveness. In response to this problem and those discussed above, a variety of tethering and mounting schemes have been designed to better support the cushion during deployment. U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,938 to Boxey is exemplary. Boxey provides a vehicle occupant protection device tethered to a slidable element retained in a guide track. In Boxey, inflation of the protection device drives it away from the roof rail, between the occupant and vehicle window. As the device inflates, the slidable element is drawn along its track by the tether, apparently reducing movement of the bottom edge of the cushion in a direction perpendicular to the inflation direction. Boxey presents one known approach, however, it is limited in a number of ways. Most importantly, lateral support from the slide apparatus is limited by the inflation/deployment of the cushion. Only when inflation of the cushion has drawn the slider to the bottom of its track, which angles away from the cushion&#39;s deployment direction, is the cushion maximally supported. Further, tensioning of the cushion is limited by the cushion&#39;s inflation pressurization. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In one aspect, a deployment guide for a vehicle occupant protection device is provided. The deployment guide has a housing with a channel having a substantially smooth interior and a slotted side. A guide member is also provided, is slidably retained in the channel, and includes an extension protruding from the slotted side of the channel. The extension is attachable to a restraint device deployable laterally of a vehicle occupant. An actuator is also provided, and is operable to drive the guide member from a first end of the channel toward a second end. A driving of the guide member facilitates deployment of the restraint device, and supplies at least a longitudinal tensioning force to the restraint device to provide lateral support thereto. 
   In another aspect, a side impact restraint apparatus for cushioning a vehicle occupant during a collision is provided. The apparatus includes an inflatable restraint cushion mounted inside the vehicle adjacent a side door, and deployable in a direction away from the roof rail of the vehicle. A guide member is movably mounted in a partially closed guide track fixed to an upright vehicle pillar. The guide member includes a portion extending through a slot in the guide track and connected to the inflatable restraint cushion. A gas generator is provided and is in fluid communication with an interior of the guide track. The gas generator is operable to supply pressurized gas to an interior of the guide track, and the pressurized gas drives the guide member through the guide track, thereby applying a tensioning force to the connected cushion and assists in positioning and maintaining the cushion in a deployed position. 
   In still another aspect, a side impact restraint apparatus for cushioning a vehicle occupant during a collision is provided. The apparatus includes an inflatable restraint cushion mounted inside the vehicle adjacent a side door, and a guide member movably mounted in a partially closed guide track fixed to a vehicle pillar. The guide member includes a body portion and a link portion, the link portion extending through a slot in the guide track and being connected to the inflatable restraint cushion. A spring actuator is fixed in a biased state and connected to the guide member, the spring actuator being releasable to drive the guide member through the guide track, thereby tensioning the cushion connected therewith, and assisting in positioning and maintaining the cushion in a deployed position. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a restraint apparatus with a deployment guide according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a partial close up view of the deployment guide of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of a second embodiment of a restraint apparatus with a deployment guide according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a partial view of the apparatus of  FIG. 3 , illustrating the deployment guide after deployment of the restraint apparatus; 
       FIG. 5  is a partial longitudinal cross-section of channel and guide member components common to described embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the deployment of FIG  1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a side view of an occupant protection apparatus  10  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Apparatus  10  is directed to assisting in the deployment and lateral support of a side impact restraint device. Apparatus  10  actively assists the restraint device in rapidly and accurately deploying in a direction away from a vehicle roof rail. Once deployed, the apparatus provides lateral support to the restraint, lessening the likelihood that it will be displaced or forced out through the vehicle window during a crash or rollover event, and likewise reducing the risk of occupant ejection and/or injury. Apparatus  10  includes a restraint device  12 , which is preferably a conventional inflatable airbag or cushion, shown in its folded/stored condition, as it would appear in a de-activated state prior to a crash. It should be appreciated that embodiments are contemplated in which a non-inflatable curtain is utilized rather than an airbag. In a preferred embodiment, apparatus  10  is stored in the vehicle within the trim panels, and the cushion “bursts” through, tears, or otherwise displaces the trim when it is deployed, in a manner well known in the art. An inflator  11  is also preferably provided, and may be any suitable pyrotechnic inflator or compressed gas inflator, though a pyrotechnic type is preferred. An inflator tube  14  preferably connects inflator  11  to an inlet of cushion  12  and supplies gas for its inflation in a conventional manner. In a preferred embodiment, a crash sensor (not shown) is also provided, and sends an activation signal to inflator  11  in the event of a crash or other appropriate circumstances. All the component parts of apparatus  10 , and the alternative embodiments described herein, are constructed from known materials and by known processes. 
   Referring in addition to  FIG. 2 , apparatus  10  also includes an active assist device  16 , which has a biasing member  18  affixed to a guide member or slider  21 , and a connector bar  20 , connected via a tether  22  to cushion  12 . Biasing member  18  is preferably a conventional helical spring. Tether  22  may be any suitable preferably flexible cord, such as a conventional loop of rope. It should be appreciated, however, that tether  22  is not indispensable and connector bar  20  could be attached directly to the cushion or curtain without departing from the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, a tether might be used in place of connector bar  20 , connecting the cushion  12  directly to slider  21 . Slider  21  and biasing member  18  are slidably positioned in a partially closed guide channel  30 . Guide channel  30  and slider  21  are preferably substantially rectangular in cross section, as shown in  FIG. 5 ; however, alternative configurations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. Channel  30  has at least a first linear wall  33  that preferably traverses a relatively straight line along the length of the channel. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that first linear wall  33  might be located on any side of channel  30 . Slider  21  is preferably metallic, and may have dimensions different from those illustrated in the drawing figures. Further, slider  21  may be fitted with rollers, reduced-friction surfaces, or some other means for facilitating travel through channel  30 . Biasing member  18  is preferably attached at a bottom end  15  of channel  30 , and stretched or expanded in an upward direction to an energized state, in turn biasing slider  21  downward toward bottom end  15 . In a preferred embodiment, biasing member  18  is expanded to span the entire distance between bottom end  15  and the energized position of slider  21 , proximate top end  17 . Biasing member  18  might be shortened, however, and a cable used to connect with slider  21  or bottom end  15 . It is merely necessary that biasing member  18  be capable of relatively rapidly drawing slider  21  toward the bottom of channel  30 . Slider  21 , or alternatively bar  20 , engages a retainer  34 , which is preferably a hinged trigger but might also be a reciprocable pin or some other suitable trigger device, and is thereby securable in a downwardly biased state preferably proximate upper end  17  of channel  30 . Guide channel  30  has a longitudinal slot  32  that is substantially coextensive with its length, through which connector bar  20  extends, allowing slider  21  to travel downward uninhibited. 
   In the event of a crash or vehicle rollover, an onboard crash sensor preferably generates a signal that initiates actuation of retainer  34 , causing it to disengage slider  21 /bar  20 , and allowing slider  21  to begin to travel down channel  30  under the influence of biasing member  18 . A variety of disengagement means are contemplated. For instance, an electromagnetic actuator might be employed to pull retainer  34  out of position. Alternatively, retainer  34  might be designed with a pressure surface  36  extending upward into the path of inflation gas from inflator  11 , e.g. penetrating the wall of tube  14 . In this embodiment, independent actuating means for retainer  34  might be unnecessary, and the force of the inflation gas for the vehicle airbag could be used to disengage retainer  34 . Similarly, the timing of actuation would be linked to the timing of inflator activation, simplifying the system. In any event, retainer  34  should be disengaged from apparatus  16  approximately contemporaneous with initiation of inflation of cushion  12 . Because biasing member  18  is fixed at the bottom end  15  of channel  30 , and extended from its unbiased condition toward the top end  17  of channel  30 , immediately upon release of retainer  34 , slider  21  is pulled relatively rapidly down channel  30 . Because bar  20  connects slider  21  to cushion  12  via tether  22 , the downward movement of slider  21  begins to pull cushion  12  downward, away from the vehicle roof rail. The preferably flexible nature of tether  22  allows a degree of “play,” such that the fabric of cushion  12  is not torn by the force from device  16 . Slot  32  accommodates bar  20  as the apparatus travels downward. Meanwhile, cushion  12  is inflating with high pressure gas from inflator  11 . The effect of the gas inflating cushion  12 , coupled with the downward pull on cushion  12  from apparatus  16 , results in a generally longitudinal and/or diagonal tensioning of cushion  12  along the length of the vehicle compartment. Consequently, speed and predictability of deployment of cushion  12  away from the vehicle roof rail is enhanced. Moreover, once the cushion is fully deployed, the tension at its lower corner assists the cushion in remaining between the occupant and the door/window, even upon multiple impacts from an occupant. The added support to the cushion further reduces the risk of an occupant being ejected through the vehicle side window during crash and rollover events. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown an alternative embodiment  110  of the present invention. Apparatus  110  is similar to apparatus  10 , yet has a number of significant differences. Rather than a biased spring actuator to drive the slider, apparatus  110  utilizes a pressurized gas actuator  116 . When activation of the assist mechanism is desired, a high pressure gas is supplied to drive a slider  121  down a channel  130 , tensioning the associated cushion  112  in a manner similar to that described with regard to the first embodiment. An embodiment is contemplated in which a single inflator is used to both inflate cushion  112  and to drive slider  121 , as well as another embodiment in which separate inflators are used. Further still, rather than conventional pyrotechnic inflators, pressurized gas canisters might be used to supply the actuation gas. Referring now in particular to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a close-up view of apparatus  116  after deployment of cushion  112 .  FIG. 4  illustrates a catch mechanism  120 , which prevents slider  121  from retracting from the bottom end of channel  130  after deployment. In a preferred embodiment, slider  121  is formed with an outwardly flared boss  122  that snap-fits into a substantially complementary receptacle  123  when slider  121  is driven to the bottom end of channel  130 , thereby preventing slider  121  from “bouncing back,” or being pulled from the bottom end by the impact of an occupant against cushion  112 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the dimensions and configuration of catch mechanism  120  might be varied from the embodiment depicted in FIG.  4 .  FIG. 5  is a longitudinal cross-section of channel  30 ,  130 , illustrating the preferred close-clearance fit between the slider  21 ,  121 , and the interior of the channel  30 ,  130 . In the second embodiment, the top surface  27  of the slider serves as a pressure surface responsive to pressurized gas. Bar  20  preferably extends from channel  30  via slot  32  to engage tether  22 . 
   It should be appreciated that the present description is for illustrative purposes only, and should not be construed to limit the breadth of the present invention in any way. Thus, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications might be made to the presently disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent upon an examination of the drawing figures and appended claims.