IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,962,364
Granted Patent B2
US 6,962,364 · App. 10/439,580 · Granted Nov 8, 2005

Curtain air bag assembly

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,962,364
App. No.
10/439,580
Granted
Nov 8, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A side curtain air bag assembly is provided, which has an inlet configured to receive inflation gas, a plurality of inflatable chambers; and a distribution tube in fluid communication with the inlet of the air bag. The inlet and the distribution tube are configured to cause inflation gas to flow along the air bag in a predetermined direction, and the distribution tube has a conical portion configured to reduce the pressure of the inflation gas pressure that is communicated from the inlet, and to distribute the inflation gas to the inflatable compartments of the air bag. The air bag is stored with the distribution tube wrapped about an inboard side of the air bag and in a manner such that the distribution tube unwraps from the air bag and is positioned between the inboard side of the air bag and the adjacent side structure of the vehicle as inflation gas is being initially communicated to the distribution tube, thereby enabling the air bag to deploy without interference with gaps that may exist (or may form) at the adjacent side structure of the vehicle.

Claims (13)

1. A curtain air bag assembly comprising:

an inflatable air bag in a stored condition having a fluid inlet configured to communicate with a source of inflation gas and a plurality of inflatable compartments, the fluid inlet configured to direct inflation gas into the air bag in a predetermined direction, the air bag having an inboard side that faces a vehicle occupant and an outboard side that faces adjacent side structure of a vehicle when the air bag is inflated; and

a distribution tube disposed in the air bag, the distribution tube having a conical portion in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, the conical portion configured to reduce the pressure of inflation gas communicated from the fluid inlet and direct the distribution of inflation gas along the air bag in the predetermined direction, the distribution tube further configured to distribute inflation gas to the inflatable compartments of the air bag, the distribution tube being wrapped about the inboard side of the air bag when the air bag is in the stored condition, and in a manner such that the distribution tube unwraps from the inboard side of the air bag and is positioned between the inboard side of the air bag and the adjacent side structure of the vehicle as inflation gas is being initially communicated to the distribution tube.

2. The curtain air bag assembly of claim 1 wherein the fluid inlet comprises an inlet tube integrally connected with the distribution tube.

3. The curtain air bag assembly of claim 1 wherein the fluid inlet comprises an inlet tube formed in one piece with the distribution tube.

4. The curtain air bag assembly of claim 1 wherein the conical portion of the distribution tube has a relatively wide section adjacent to and in fluid communication with the inlet tube, the flow-area of the inlet tube being smaller than the flow area of the relatively wide section of the conical portion of the distribution tube.

5. The curtain air bag assembly of claim 1 , wherein the distribution tube comprises a separate component that is coupled to the inflatable air bag.

6. An air bag assembly comprising:

an inflatable air bag having an inlet configured to receive inflation gas,

a distribution tube disposed in the air bag and in fluid communication with the inlet and with the inflatable air bag,

the air bag having an inboard side that faces a vehicle occupant and an outboard side that faces adjacent side structure of a vehicle when the air bag is inflated,

the air bag being in a stored condition and being inflatable by inflation gas communicated to the air bag through the distribution tube, and

the distribution tube being wrapped about the inboard side of the air bag when the air bag is in the stored condition, and in a manner such that the distribution tube unwraps from the inboard side of the air bag and is positioned between the inboard side of the air bag and the adjacent side structure of the vehicle as inflation gas is being initially communicated to the distribution tube.

Assignments (11)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2021
From: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS SECURITY AGENT FOR THE SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 057828/0461 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2021
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS SECURITY AGENT FOR THE SECURED PARTIES
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 057775/0771 →
RELEASE OF INTEREST IN PATENTS- RELEASE OF REEL/FRAME 033673/0524 Recorded Apr 12, 2018
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.; KSS HOLDINGS, INC.; KSS ACQUISITION COMPANY; BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; KEY ASIAN HOLDINGS, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORIES, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE OF FLORIDA, LLC; KEY CAYMAN GP LLC; KEY INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; KEY SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC.; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS FOREIGN HOLDCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 045933/0563 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2018
From: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 045927/0330 →
RELEASE OF INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Sep 2, 2014
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.; KSS HOLDINGS, INC.; KSS ACQUISITION COMPANY; BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; HAMLIN INCORPORATED; KEY ASIAN HOLDINGS, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORIES, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE WEST, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE, LP; KEY CAYMAN GP LLC; KEY ELECTRONICS OF NEVADA, INC.; KEY INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; KEY SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC.; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS FOREIGN HOLDCO, LLC; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS OF TEXAS, INC.
Reel/Frame 033666/0605 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 2, 2014
From: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
Reel/Frame 033673/0524 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NATURE OF CONVEYANCE TO RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL AND THE RECEIVING PARTY NAMES PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 031327 FRAME 676. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL. SEE ALSO THE ATTACHED DECLARATION. Recorded Aug 12, 2014
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.; KSS HOLDINGS, INC.; KSS ACQUISITION COMPANY; BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; HAMLIN INCORPORATED; KEY ASIAN HOLDINGS, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORIES, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE, LP; KEY CAYMAN GP LLC; KEY ELECTRONICS OF NEVADA, INC.; KEY INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; KEY SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC.; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS FOREIGN HOLDCO, LLC; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS OF TEXAS, INC.
Reel/Frame 033521/0223 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 5, 2013
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 031327/0676 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 4, 2013
From: KEY SAFETY SYSTEM, INC.; BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
Reel/Frame 029565/0193 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 1, 2004
From: BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 015022/0745 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2003
From: JU, CHANG-HWAN; SALMO, SHAKIR M.; MONIACI, KENNETH D.; COON, JEFFERY S.; WIPASURAMONTON, PONGDET P.; OLSON, MARK O.; BEDEKAR, KAUSTAUBH; WEBER, PAUL R.
To: BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 014092/0534 →