Side-impact restraint system

A restraint system includes a side curtain airbag and a tether. The side curtain airbag includes an outboard side and an inboard side, and the inboard side including a protrusion. The tether includes a central seam, a first extension attached at the outboard side, a second extension attached at the inboard side above the protrusion, and a third extension attached at the inboard side below the protrusion. The extensions are attached to each other at the central seam.

BACKGROUND

Vehicles are equipped with airbags. In the event of an impact, an inflator activates and provides inflation medium to the airbags, and the airbags pressurize and act as cushions for occupants during the impact. The airbags are located at various fixed positions in passenger cabins of vehicles. Vehicles typically include a driver airbag mounted in the steering wheel, a passenger airbag mounted in the dashboard in a vehicle-forward direction from the front passenger seat, and side curtain airbags mounted in the roof rails.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A restraint system includes a side curtain airbag and a tether. The side curtain airbag includes an outboard side and an inboard side, and the inboard side includes a protrusion. The tether includes a central seam, a first extension attached at the outboard side, a second extension attached at the inboard side above the protrusion, and a third extension attached at the inboard side below the protrusion. The extensions are attached to each other at the central seam.

The side curtain airbag may be inflatable to an inflated position, and the tether may extend longitudinally along a full length of the protrusion when the side curtain airbag is in the inflated position.

The side curtain airbag may be inflatable to an inflated position, and the protrusion may be elongated along the inboard side when the side curtain airbag is in the inflated position. The protrusion may be elongated in a rearward, upward-sloping direction when the side curtain airbag is in the inflated position.

The protrusion may be elongated at an angle between 0° and 45° relative to horizontal when the side curtain airbag is in the inflated position.

The first extension may include a cutout. The first extension may include a plurality of cutouts including the cutout.

The second extension may include a cutout. The second extension may include a plurality of cutouts including the cutout.

The third extension may include a cutout. The third extension may include a plurality of cutouts including the cutout.

The restraint system may further include a second tether including a central seam, a first extension attached at the outboard side, a second extension attached at the inboard side above the protrusion, and a third extension attached at the inboard side below the protrusion, and the extensions of the second tether may be attached to each other at the central seam of the second tether.

The restraint system may further include a seat, and the side curtain airbag may be inflatable to an inflated position, and when the side curtain airbag is in the inflated position, the protrusion may be positioned laterally relative to the seat from a position at which a neck of an occupant of 50th-percentile stature sitting in the seat would be located.

The side curtain airbag may be inflatable to an inflated position, the side curtain airbag may include a top edge and a bottom edge, and the protrusion may be spaced from the top edge and the bottom edge when the side curtain airbag is in the inflated position. The restraint system may further include a roof rail, and the top edge may be attached at the roof rail.

The restraint system may further include a roof rail from which the side curtain airbag is inflatable, and the outboard side may face outboard relative to the roof rail and the inboard side may face inboard relative to the roof rail when the side curtain airbag is in the inflated position. The side curtain airbag may be a first side curtain airbag, and the restraint system may further include a second side curtain airbag inflatable from the roof rail and disposed rearward of the first side curtain airbag.

The first extension, the second extension, and the third extension may define a Y-shaped cross-section of the tether.

With reference to the Figures, a restraint system32for a vehicle30includes a first side curtain airbag34and a tether36. The first side curtain airbag34includes an outboard side38and an inboard side40, and the inboard side40including a protrusion42. The tether36includes a central seam44, a first extension46attached at the outboard side38, a second extension48attached at the inboard side40above the protrusion42, and a third extension50attached at the inboard side40below the protrusion42. The extensions46,48,50are attached to each other at the central seam44.

The restraint system32can provide cushioning in the event of a side impact. The side curtain airbag can reduce a likelihood of an occupant moving through the window62during the impact. The protrusion42can reduce head injury criterion (HIC) and/or a brain injury criterion (BrIC) by cushioning a neck of the occupant and/or by reducing a roll of the head of the occupant.

With reference toFIG. 1, the vehicle30may be any passenger or commercial automobile such as a car, a truck, a sport utility vehicle, a crossover, a van, a minivan, a taxi, a bus, etc. The vehicle30includes a body52. The vehicle may be of a unibody construction, in which a frame and the body52of the vehicle are a single component. The vehicle may, alternatively, be of a body-on-frame construction, in which the frame supports the body52that is a separate component from the frame. The frame and the body52may be formed of any suitable material, for example, steel, aluminum, etc.

The body52of the vehicle may include A pillars54, B pillars56, C pillars58, and roof rails. The A pillars54may extend between a windshield and windows. The B pillars56may extend between windows of adjacent doors. The C pillars58may extend between the windows and a backlite. The body52may also include D pillars (not shown) if the vehicle is, e.g., an SUV, crossover, minivan, or station wagon, in which case the C pillars58extend between the windows of rear doors and rear left and right windows, and the D pillars extend between the rear right and left windows and the backlite. The roof rails extend along the windows from the A pillar54to the B pillar56to the C pillar58.

With reference toFIG. 2, the vehicle30includes a passenger cabin68to house occupants, if any, of the vehicle30. The passenger cabin68includes one or more front seats70disposed at a front of the passenger cabin68and one or more back seats70disposed behind the front seats70. The passenger cabin68may also include third-row seats70(not shown) at a rear of the passenger cabin68. InFIG. 1, the front seat70is shown to be a bucket seat, but the seats70may be other types. The position and orientation of the seats70and components thereof may be adjustable by an occupant.

Each seat70may include a seat back72, a seat bottom74, and a head restraint76. The head restraint76may be supported by the seat back72and may be stationary or movable relative to the seat back72. The seat back72may be supported by the seat bottom74and may be stationary or movable relative to the seat bottom74. The seat back72, the seat bottom74, and/or the head restraint76may be adjustable in multiple degrees of freedom. Specifically, the seat back72, the seat bottom74, and/or the head restraint76may themselves be adjustable, in other words, adjustable components within the seat back72, the seat bottom74, and/or the head restraint76, and/or may be adjustable relative to each other.

The vehicle30includes the doors64openable for occupants to enter and exit the passenger cabin68. Each door64includes the respective window62, which may be positioned in an upper half of the door64. The roof rails60contact a top edge of the doors64. The vehicle30may include two roof rails60each elongated along a right edge and left edge respectively of a ceiling of the passenger cabin68.

With reference toFIG. 3, the first side curtain airbag34is inflatable from an uninflated position to an inflated position. The figures depict the restraint system32located in the left side of the vehicle30, but the restraint system32may additionally or alternatively be located in the right side of the vehicle30, and all the description below applies to the right side and left side equally. The first side curtain airbag34is attached to the roof rail60. The first side curtain airbag34in the uninflated position is folded inside the roof rail60. The first side curtain airbag34in the inflated position extends adjacent at least one of the doors64. The first side curtain airbag34in the inflated position may cover one of the windows62. The first side curtain airbag34in the inflated position may extend from the roof rail60to the door64below the window62and may extend from the A pillar54to the B pillar56.

A second side curtain airbag78is inflatable from the uninflated position to the inflated position. The second side curtain airbag78may be attached to the same roof rail60as the first side curtain airbag34. The second side curtain airbag78may be disposed rearward of the first side curtain airbag34. The first side curtain airbag34may be inflatable adjacent a front door64, and the second side curtain airbag78may be inflatable adjacent a rear door64. The second side curtain airbag78in the inflated position may cover one of the windows62. The second side curtain airbag78in the inflated position may extend from the roof rail60to the door64below the window62and may extend from the B pillar56to the C pillar58. The description below of the first side curtain airbag34may also apply to the second side curtain airbag78.

With reference toFIG. 4, the first side curtain airbag34includes the outboard side38and the inboard side40. When the first side curtain airbag34is in the inflated position, the outboard side38faces outboard relative to the roof rail60, and the inboard side40faces inboard relative to the roof rail60. The outboard side38faces toward the doors64, and the inboard side40faces toward a centerline of the vehicle30. The inboard side40is inboard of the outboard side38relative to the roof rail60. In a lateral direction relative to the passenger cabin68, the inboard side40and the outboard side38may be approximately six inches apart at the widest point. The first side curtain airbag34includes a front end80and a rear end82. The front end80is forward of the rear end82relative to the passenger cabin68. The outboard side38and the inboard side40meet at the front end80and at the rear end82. The first side curtain airbag34includes a top edge84and a bottom edge86. The top edge84is attached at the roof rail60. The bottom edge86is opposite the top edge84. The outboard side38and the inboard side40meet at the bottom edge86and the top edge84.

The first side curtain airbag34may be formed of any suitable airbag material, for example, a woven polymer. For example, the first side curtain airbag34may be formed of woven nylon yarn, for example, nylon 6-6. Other suitable examples include polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), polyester, or any other suitable polymer. The woven polymer may include a coating, such as silicone, neoprene, urethane, and so on. For example, the coating may be polyorgano siloxane.

The inboard side40includes the protrusion42. When the first side curtain airbag34is in the inflated position, the protrusion42is elongated along the inboard side40and is spaced from the top edge84and from the bottom edge86. The protrusion42extends inboard from the inboard side40, e.g., approximately 2 to 4 inches. When the first side curtain airbag34is in the inflated position, the protrusion42is positioned laterally relative to the seat70from a position at which a neck of an occupant of 50th-percentile stature sitting in the seat70would be located, as shown inFIG. 3.

When the first side curtain airbag34is in the inflated position, the protrusion42is elongated in a rearward, upward-sloping direction. For example, the protrusion42may be elongated at an angle between 0° and 45°, e.g., approximately 15° as shown in the Figures, relative to horizontal. The protrusion42is thus lower for shorter occupants who position the seat70farther forward and higher for taller occupants who position the seat70farther rearward.

With reference toFIGS. 5-8, the tether36includes the central seam44, the first extension46attached at the outboard side38, the second extension48attached at the inboard side40above the protrusion42, and the third extension50attached at the inboard side40below the protrusion42. The extensions46,48,50are attached to each other at the central seam44. Lines of attachment between the extensions46,48,50and the outboard side38or inboard side40may be straight, as shown in the Figures, or may have curvature. The first extension46, the second extension48, and the third extension50define a Y-shaped cross-section of the tether36, as best seen inFIG. 5. In other words, the central seam44and the extensions46,48,50may have a hub-and-spoke arrangement. The extensions46,48,50may be the same material as the first side curtain airbag34. The extensions46,48,50may or may not correspond to panels of fabric. For example, the first extension46and the second extension48may be a single panel of fabric, and the third extension50may be separate panel of fabric sewn to the single panel of fabric at the central seam44.

FIGS. 6 and 7show a first embodiment of the tether36. The tether36extends longitudinally along a full length of the protrusion42when the first side curtain airbag34is in the inflated position. The first extension46, second extension48, and third extension50each include a plurality of cutouts88. The cutouts88permit inflation medium to pass through the tether36while the first side curtain airbag34inflates from the uninflated position to the inflated position. The protrusion42thus begins inflating before the portion of the first side curtain airbag34above the tether36is fully inflated. For example, the cutouts88may be circular in shape and have a diameter of at least ¾ inch, e.g., approximately 1 inch.

FIG. 8shows a second embodiment of the tether36. The tether36extends longitudinally for less than a full length of the protrusion42when the first side curtain airbag34is in the inflated position. The tether36may be a first tether36of a plurality of tethers36,90,92,94including, e.g., a second tether90, a third tether92, a fourth tether94, etc. The second tether90, third tether92, fourth tether94, etc. each include the central seam44, the first extension46attached at the outboard side38, the second extension48attached at the inboard side40above the protrusion42, and the third extension50attached at the inboard side40below the protrusion42. The extensions46,48,50of the respective tethers36,90,92,94are attached to each other at the central seams44of the respective tethers36,90,92,94. When the first side curtain airbag34is in the inflated position, the tethers36,90,92,94may be spaced at least ¾ inch, e.g., approximately 1 inch, from each other. This spacing permits inflation medium to pass through the tethers36,90,92,94while the first side curtain airbag34inflates from the uninflated position to the inflated position. The protrusion42thus begins inflating before the portion of the first side curtain airbag34above the tethers36,90,92,94is fully inflated.

With reference toFIG. 9, an inflator96may be connected to the first side curtain airbag34. Upon receiving a signal from, e.g., a controller98, the inflator96may inflate the first side curtain airbag34with an inflatable medium, such as a gas. The inflator96may be, for example, a pyrotechnic inflator that uses a chemical reaction to drive inflation medium to the first side curtain airbag34. The inflator96may be of any suitable type, for example, a cold-gas inflator.

An impact sensor100is adapted to detect an impact to the vehicle30. The impact sensor100may be of any suitable type, for example, post-contact sensors such as linear or angular accelerometers, gyroscopes, pressure sensors, and contact switches; and pre-impact sensors such as radar, lidar, and vision-sensing systems. The vision systems may include one or more cameras, CCD image sensors, CMOS image sensors, etc. The impact sensor100may be located at numerous points in or on the vehicle30.

The controller98is a microprocessor-based controller. The controller98includes a processor, a memory, etc. The memory of the controller98includes media for storing instructions executable by the processor as well as for electronically storing data and/or databases.

The controller98may transmit and receive data through a communications network102such as a controller area network (CAN) bus, Ethernet, WiFi, Local Interconnect Network (LIN), onboard diagnostics connector (OBD-II), and/or by any other wired or wireless communications network. The controller98may be communicatively coupled to the inflator96, the impact sensor100, and other components via the communications network102.

In the event of a side impact, the impact sensor100may detect the impact and transmit a signal through the communications network102to the controller98. The controller98may transmit a signal through the communications network102to the inflator96. The inflator96may discharge and inflate the first side curtain airbag34. The cutouts88of the tether36(in the case of the first embodiment) or the space between the tethers36,90,92,94(in the cases of the second embodiment) permits the inflator96to inflate at once all the volume of the airbag, i.e., the volume above the tether36, below the tether36, and in the protrusion42. The first side curtain airbag34may cushion a head and shoulder of an occupant sitting in the seat70, and the protrusion42may cushion a neck of the occupant and may reduce a sideways tilt, i.e., roll, of the head of the occupant.

The disclosure has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. The adjectives “first,” “second,” “third,” and “fourth” are used throughout this document as identifiers and are not intended to signify importance or order. Many modifications and variations of the present disclosure are possible in light of the above teachings, and the disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.