Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Marcus John Scott Ward

Barry Grindle

Michal Jan Swiniarski

Timothy Scott

Paul Mark Marable

Gregor Whelan

Joseph Edward Abramczyk

Sean Timothy Ryan

Abdelmonaam Sassi

Jeffrey Charles Paddock

Jay Douglas Blackson

Afrin Zohura

Joseph Giaimo

Ian Derbyshire

Alexander Charles Spencer

An airbag assembly for a motor vehicle is provided. The airbag assembly comprises an airbag and a deployable ramp configured to unfurl with the airbag when the airbag is deployed. The deployable ramp is configured to transition from a stowed configuration, in which the deployable ramp is stowed with the airbag before deployment, into a ramped configuration when deployed. The deployable ramp comprises a movable element configured to move in response to the deployment of the airbag from a first position in the stowed configuration, to a second position in the ramped configuration. The movable element is arranged such that a thickness of the deployable ramp increases when the movable element is in the second position and the deployable ramp is positioned and shaped in the ramped configuration to assist the airbag in riding over a component of the vehicle as the airbag is deployed.

Side air curtain bag

A curtain airbag for a motor vehicle includes an inflatable cushion and a protective sheet having an attachment edge attached to the airbag and a free-length extending from the attachment edge. The cushion formed into a folded condition from which it is deployable in a deployment direction, and the free-length of the sheet is positioned adjacent to the deployment direction of the cushion. The airbag is installed in the vehicle to deploy adjacent to a daylight opening of the vehicle. Deployment of the cushion during inflation causes the protective sheet to be drawn along with the cushion in the deployment direction so that the sheet overlays the outboard-facing side of the cushion (between the cushion and the daylight opening) and thereby provides a degree of protection against damage to the cushion that may be caused by, for example, broken window glass.

Curtain airbag with protective sheet

A curtain airbag assembly for a vehicle has an airbag with a receiving portion shaped to clamp onto or around a portion of a seat of the vehicle when the airbag is deployed to assist in securing the airbag in place. The receiving portion is formed by supplementary material adjacent to a seam between inner and outer panels of the airbag, the supplementary material forming a clamping pocket which grips an outboard portion of the seat upon inflation of the airbag. Alternatively, the receiving portion is formed by first and second overlapping portions of the airbag which overlap one another when the airbag is deflated, the overlapping portions forming a clamping pocket configured to grip the outboard portion of the seat upon inflation of the airbag.

Curtain airbag with seat engaging feature

An inflatable curtain airbag is secured along an upper edge to a body structure of the motor vehicle and deploys downwardly when inflated. Prior to deployment, the lower edge of the curtain is not tethered to the vehicle body. When nearly or fully deployed, the lower edge of the curtain engages an adjacent part of the motor vehicle so as to form a virtual tether therebetween resisting relative movement between the curtain and the adjacent part.

Curtain airbag for a motor vehicle

A curtain airbag assembly is provided having a number of airbagsandarranged in a side by side relationship. Lower ends of the airbagsandare linked to the adjacent airbag by an airbag tether connector assembly. Each of the tether connector assemblies includes first and second connectorsthat engage with one another and snap together to fasten together two tethers. In the event that the first and second connectorsare not correctly coupled together an indication of this fact is providing in one of a number of manners thereby reducing the risk that a vehiclefitted with such a curtain airbag assembly can enter service with one or more tethersnot connected.

Curtain airbag assembly

A steering column assembly for a motor vehicle is disclosed having lower and upper steering column members that are slidingly interengaged. The upper column member is attached to a structural part of the motor vehicle by a ride down mechanism that allows the upper steering column to move in the event of a collision. A load transfer means is provided to bypass the ride down mechanism when an adjustment lever is moved to a position allowing the position of the upper steering column member to be adjusted thereby preventing accidental damage occurring to the ride down mechanism due to operator abuse.

Growing community of inventors

Billericay, United Kingdom

Marcus John Scott Ward