Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Zf Passive Safety Systems US Inc.

Rico Scott Bertossi

Ali Emam Bakhsh

Ayad G Nayef

Al A Saberan

Ayad E Nayef

Kurt F Fischer

Dylan Moran

Russell E Stein

Manuel Schaefer

Ali Emambakhsh

Kim S Young

Suk J Ham

Courtney Jaworowicz

A deployment ramp helps to direct a side airbag to deploy along a desired deployment trajectory from a vehicle seatback to a deployed position adjacent a side structure of the vehicle. The deployment ramp includes a mounting wall configured to be connected to a seat frame of the seatback. The deployment ramp also includes a deployment wall configured to deflect outboard of the vehicle seatback in response to airbag deployment and at least partially cover padding and/or a cover of the seatback. The deployment ramp further includes a bottom wall that extends between the mounting wall and the deployment wall, the bottom wall forming a reaction surface for side airbag deployment in the deployment trajectory.

Side airbag deployment ramp

An apparatus, system, and method for helping to protect occupants of a vehicle seat in the event of a collision. The vehicle seat includes a base with a bottom cushion, a backrest with a back cushion, and a side rest having a side cushion that extends upward from the bottom cushion and forward from the back cushion. The apparatus comprises a deployable restraint stored in a pre-deployment condition in the side rest. The deployable restraint comprising an airbag and an inflator for inflating and deploying the airbag. When inflated to a deployed condition the restrain cushions the occupant against impacts with the side rest.

Side airbag packaged in side of seat

In one aspect, an apparatus for protecting an occupant of a vehicle includes an airbag having a stored condition in which the airbag is deflated, flattened, and rolled and/or folded. A packaging wrap is formed from a fabric sheet. The packaging wrap includes a cover and an elongated tail that extends from the cover. The cover is configured to be wrapped or folded about the rolled and/or folded airbag to envelope and package the airbag in the stored condition. The tail is configured to be wrapped around the cover and the airbag packaged therein to secure the airbag packaged in the cover.

Airbag packaging wrap

A restraint system for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a side structure and a cabin with a seat for the occupant includes an airbag having a stored condition outboard of the occupant. The airbag is inflatable to a deployed condition positioned between the occupant and the vehicle side structure. The airbag extends in a forward-rearward direction from a first end positioned in front of the occupant to a second end positioned behind the occupant such that a torso and head of the occupant are laterally aligned with the second end when the seat is placed in a reclined position.

Occupant restraint system

An apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant () of a vehicle () includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () configured to be inflated and deployed between a side structure () of the vehicle and the vehicle occupant. A deployment sleeve () encircles a portion of the protection device. The deployment sleeve () includes a rupturable tear seam () that absorbs the initial break-out forces of the protection device () during the initial stages of inflation and deployment. The tear seam () is adapted to rupture after the deployment sleeve () absorbs the break-out forces and release the protection device () to inflate and deploy to a fully inflated and deployed condition.

Inflatable curtain restrictor

An apparatus () helps to protect an occupant of a vehicle () that has a roof (), a side structure (), and a trim piece () overlying the side structure. The apparatus () includes an inflatable curtain () inflatable away from the vehicle roof () to a position adjacent the side structure (). The apparatus () also includes a deployment ramp () having a deployment position in which the deployment ramp directs the inflatable curtain () to deploy inboard of the trim piece (). The deployment ramp () is configured and arranged to deflect away from the deployment position in order to absorb forces from occupant impacts with the deployment ramp. Preferably, the deployment ramp () is also configured and arranged to return to the deployment position after absorbing forces from occupant impacts with the deployment ramp when the inflatable curtain () is not inflated.

Resiliently compressible deployment ramp for inflatable curtain

Apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle () includes an inflatable windshield curtain () inflatable away from the vehicle roof () to a position between the windshield () and a vehicle occupant. The windshield curtain () includes overlying panels (and) interconnected to define an inflatable volume () of the windshield curtain. The windshield curtain () includes a pleated portion in which at least one of the panels (and) has portions folded over to form at least one pleat () in the panel. In one embodiment, the windshield curtain () includes connections (and) that interconnect overlying folded portions of the at least one panel (and) along the at least one pleat (). Portions of the at least one pleat between the connections (and) are unfoldable to allow expansion of the pleated portion upon inflation of the windshield curtain ().

Inflatable windshield curtain

Apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle () includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () and an inflator (). The protection device () is inflatable from a stored position along a forward edge () of a vehicle roof () to a deployed position overlying the windshield (). The protection device () while in the deployed position covers the windshield () from an A pillar () on a driver side () of the vehicle () to an A pillar of a passenger side () of the vehicle and from an upper edge () of the windshield to a position near a lower edge () of the windshield. The protection device () while deployed also covers the driver and passenger side A pillars ().

Apparatus () includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () inflatable from a stored condition to a deployed position between a side structure () of the vehicle () and a vehicle occupant. The protection device () includes an upper edge (), an opposite lower edge (), and inflatable front and rear portions (and) and an inflatable main portion () positioned between the front and rear portions. The main portion () is rolled up into a rolled condition extending along the intersection of the side structure () and the roof () when in the stored condition. The front portion () is folded into a folded condition extending along the A pillar () when in the stored condition. The rear portion () is folded into a folded condition extending along the C pillar () when in the stored condition.

Inflatable curtain

Apparatus ( ) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) inflatable away from a vehicle roof ( ) into a position between the side structure ( ) of the vehicle ( ) and a vehicle occupant. An anchor device ( ) is connected to the side structure ( ). A flexible elongated member ( ) has a first end ( ) connected to a first location ( ) spaced from a rear edge ( ) of the protection device ( ) and an opposite second end ( ) connected to the anchor device ( ). The protection device ( ) prior to inflation is folded along a first fold line ( ) spaced from the rear edge ( ) and extending proximate the first location ( ) in a direction transverse to a lower edge ( ) of the protection device ( ). The protection device ( ) is folded along at least one fold line ( ) located forward of the first fold line ( ) such that the first fold line extends vertically in the vehicle ( ), adjacent to and entirely forward of the anchor device ( ).

Folded inflatable curtain

An inflatable protection device ( ) includes a triangular front portion ( ) and a main portion ( ). The front portion ( ) includes a forward edge ( ), a rear edge ( ), and a bottom edge ( ). The front portion ( ) is connected to the main portion ( ) via a first inflation fluid passage ( ) positioned adjacent the bottom edge ( ). The front portion ( ) includes a plurality of inflatable chambers ( ) that have a tapered configuration with a narrow end ( ) and an opposite wide end ( ) positioned near the bottom edge ( ). Inflation fluid is directed into the main portion ( ), and the fluid enters the front portion ( ) through the first inflation fluid passage ( ). The chambers ( ) of the front portion ( ) when inflated contract in a direction transverse to the length of the chambers and help to tension the device ( ) along the length of the device.

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Richmond, MI, United States of America

Rico Scott Bertossi