Side curtain airbag

Abstract

An inflatable cushion for a side of a vehicle is provided, the inflatable cushion, having at least one inflatable cell, the least one inflatable cell being defined by a first layer of cushion fabric secured to a second layer of cushion fabric; a support member secured to either the first layer or second layer of cushion fabric defining the at least one inflatable cell, the support member defining a non-inflatable portion of the inflatable cushion and wherein a portion of the support member traverses the at least one inflatable cell and is tangent to a face of the at least one inflatable cell when it is inflated such that upon inflation of the at least one inflatable cell tension is created in the support member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An inflatable cushion for a side of a vehicle, the inflatable cushion, comprising:
 at least one inflatable cell, the least one inflatable cell being defined by a first layer of cushion fabric secured to a second layer of cushion fabric;   a support member secured to the inflatable cushion, wherein the support member does not define any portion of the at least one inflatable cell, and a portion of the support member traverses the at least one inflatable cell and is tangent to a face of the at least one inflatable cell when the inflatable cushion is inflated such that upon inflation of the at least one inflatable cell tension is created in the support member.   
     
     
         2 . The inflatable cushion as in  claim 1 , wherein the face of the at least one inflatable cell is an inboard face of the inflatable cell. 
     
     
         3 . The inflatable cushion as in  claim 1 , wherein the support member is secured to a portion of the inflatable cushion where the first layer of cushion fabric is secured to the second layer of cushion fabric to define a seam disposed between the at least one inflatable cell and another inflatable cell of the inflatable cushion. 
     
     
         4 . The inflatable cushion as in  claim 1 , further comprising a vertical tether, wherein the support member is secured to the vertical tether. 
     
     
         5 . The inflatable cushion as in  claim 4 , wherein the vertical tether is secured to an additional sheet of fabric sewn to the support member by a plurality of stitches to provide a larger surface area for securement of the vertical tether to the support member. 
     
     
         6 . The inflatable cushion as in  claim 1 , wherein the face of the at least one inflatable cell is an outboard face of the inflatable cell. 
     
     
         7 . The inflatable cushion as in  claim 1 , wherein the face of the at least one inflatable cell is an inboard face of the inflatable cell and the inflatable cushion further comprises a second support member secured to either the first layer or second layer of cushion fabric defining the at least one inflatable cell, the second support member defining another non-inflatable portion of the inflatable cushion and wherein a substantial portion of the second support member traverses the at least one inflatable cell and is tangent to an outboard face of the at least one inflatable cell when it is inflated such that upon inflation of the at least one inflatable cell that tension is created in the second support member. 
     
     
         8 . The inflatable cushion as in  claim 7 , wherein the support member and the second support member extend from a forward end of the inflatable cushion. 
     
     
         9 . The inflatable cushion as in  claim 8 , further comprising another support member secured to another portion of the inflatable cushion wherein the first layer of cushion fabric is secured to the second layer of cushion fabric to define a seam disposed between a pair of inflatable cells disposed towards a rearward end of the inflatable cushion, wherein a portion of the another support member traverses and is tangent to a face of one of the pair of inflatable cells when they are inflated such that upon inflation of the pair of inflatable cells tension is created in the another support member. 
     
     
         10 . The inflatable cushion as in  claim 9 , wherein the another support member is secured to an inboard side of the inflatable cushion. 
     
     
         11 . The inflatable cushion as in  claim 9 , wherein the another support member is secured to an un-inflatable portion of the inflatable cushion disposed between the pair of inflatable cells and the at least one inflatable cell. 
     
     
         12 . The inflatable cushion as in  claim 7 , wherein the support member is secured to a portion of the inflatable cushion wherein the first layer of cushion fabric is secured to the second layer of cushion fabric to define a seam disposed between the at least one inflatable cell and another inflatable cell of the inflatable cushion. 
     
     
         13 . The inflatable cushion as in  claim 7 , wherein the second support member is secured to a portion of the inflatable cushion wherein the first layer of cushion fabric is secured to the second layer of cushion fabric to define a seam disposed between the at least one inflatable cell and another inflatable cell of the inflatable cushion. 
     
     
         14 . The inflatable cushion as in  claim 7 , further comprising a vertical tether, wherein the support member is secured to the vertical tether. 
     
     
         15 . The inflatable cushion as in  claim 14 , wherein the vertical tether is secured to an additional sheet of fabric sewn to the support member by a plurality of stitches to provide a larger surface area for securement of the vertical tether to the support member. 
     
     
         16 . An airbag module for a vehicle, comprising:
 an inflatable cushion, the inflatable cushion, comprising:
 at least one inflatable cell of an inflatable portion of the inflatable cushion, the least one inflatable cell being defined by a first layer of cushion fabric secured to a second layer of cushion fabric; a support member secured to either the first layer or second layer of cushion fabric defining the at least one inflatable cell, the support member defining a non-inflatable portion of the inflatable cushion and wherein a portion of the support member traverses the at least one inflatable cell and is tangent to a face of the at least one inflatable cell when it is inflated such that upon inflation of the at least one inflatable cell tension is created in the support member; and 
   an inflator for inflating the inflatable cushion.   
     
     
         17 . The airbag module as in  claim 16 , wherein the face of the at least one inflatable cell is an inboard face of the inflatable cell. 
     
     
         18 . The airbag module as in  claim 16 , wherein the face of the at least one inflatable cell is an inboard face of the inflatable cell and the inflatable cushion further comprises a second support member secured to either the first layer or second layer of cushion fabric defining the at least one inflatable cell, the second support member defining another non-inflatable portion of the inflatable cushion and wherein a portion of the second support member traverses the at least one inflatable cell and is tangent to an outboard face of the at least one inflatable cell when it is inflated such that upon inflation of the at least one inflatable cell tension is created in the second support member and wherein the support member and the second support member extend from a forward end of the inflatable cushion. 
     
     
         19 . The airbag module as in  claim 18 , further comprising another support member secured to another portion of the inflatable cushion wherein the first layer of cushion fabric is secured to the second layer of cushion fabric to define a seam disposed between the first layer of cushion fabric and the second layer of cushion fabric proximate to an inflatable cell located at a rearward end of the inflatable cushion, wherein a portion of the another support member traverses the inflatable cell proximate to the rearward end of the inflatable cushion and is tangent to a face of the inflatable cell proximate to the rearward end of the inflatable cushion when it is inflated such that upon inflation of the inflatable cell tension is created in the another support member. 
     
     
         20 . A method for providing tension to a non-inflatable portion of an inflatable cushion, comprising:
 securing a first portion of cushion fabric to a second portion of cushion fabric to define at least one inflatable cell of the inflatable cushion; and   securing a support member to either the first portion or second portion of cushion fabric defining the at least one inflatable cell, the support member defining the non-inflatable portion of the inflatable cushion and wherein a portion of the support member traverses the at least one inflatable cell and is tangent to a face of the at least one inflatable cell when it is inflated such that upon inflation of the at least one inflatable cell tension is created in the support member.