Fabric molded roof rail airbag shell
Systems and methods are presented herein for an airbag shell. The airbag shell comprises a u-shaped channel formed of moldable fabric. The moldable fabric is configured to become malleable when exposed to temperatures exceeding a melting point of the moldable fabric. An external surface of the u-shaped channel is configured to interface with a roof rail. An inner surface of the u-shaped channel is configured to receive an airbag.
1. An airbag shell comprising:
a u-shaped channel comprising a woven moldable fabric, wherein:
the woven moldable fabric is configured to become malleable when exposed to a melting temperature of the woven moldable fabric;
an external surface of the u-shaped channel is configured to interface with a roof rail;
an inner surface of the u-shaped channel is configured to receive an airbag; and
the u-shaped channel retains its shape after deployment of the airbag.
2. The airbag shell of claim 1 , wherein the roof rail comprises a metallic vehicle roof rail.
3. The airbag shell of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface comprises a first material having a first abrasion resistance, and the external surface comprises a second material having a second higher abrasion resistance.
4. The airbag shell of claim 1 , wherein the u-shaped channel extends along a length of an opening in the roof rail.
5. The airbag shell of claim 1 , wherein the u-shaped channel comprises at least one fold of the woven moldable fabric configured to reinforce at least a portion of the u-shaped channel.
6. The airbag shell of claim 1 , wherein extensions comprised of the woven moldable fabric are fixedly attached to the external surface of the u-shaped channel to reinforce a material stiffness of at least a portion of the u-shaped channel.
7. The airbag shell of claim 1 , wherein the u-shaped channel comprises a profile that is configured to prevent twisting of an airbag apparatus arranged within the u-shaped channel.
8. An airbag assembly comprising:
an airbag; and
an airbag shell comprising:
a woven moldable fabric comprising a u-shaped channel, wherein the u-shaped channel retains its shape after deployment of the airbag; and
an external surface of the u-shaped channel configured to interface with an opening in a roof rail.
9. The airbag assembly of claim 8 , further comprising an inflation canister.
10. The airbag assembly of claim 8 , wherein the airbag comprises an elongated folded shape configured to extend along a length of the opening in the roof rail.
11. The airbag assembly of claim 8 , wherein a folded outer surface of the airbag is configured to interface with an inner surface of the u-shaped channel.
12. The airbag assembly of claim 11 , wherein the inner surface of the u-shaped channel comprises a second material different from the woven moldable fabric.
13. The airbag assembly of claim 8 , wherein the external surface of the u-shaped channel comprises at least one securing feature configured to interface with an inner surface of the roof rail.
14. The airbag assembly of claim 8 , wherein an external surface of the airbag comprises at least one securing feature configured to interface with an inner surface of the u-shaped channel.
15. The airbag assembly of claim 8 , wherein the external surface of the u-shaped channel comprises a second material having a higher abrasion resistance than an abrasion resistance of the woven moldable fabric.
16. The airbag assembly of claim 8 , wherein the u-shaped channel comprises at least one fold configured to reinforce at least a portion of the u-shaped channel.
17. The airbag assembly of claim 8 , wherein extensions comprised of the woven moldable fabric are fixedly attached to the external surface of the u-shaped channel to reinforce a material stiffness of at least a portion of the u-shaped channel.
18. A vehicle assembly comprising:
a vehicle frame comprised of a roof rail; and
an airbag assembly comprising:
an inflation canister;
an airbag; and
an airbag shell configured to be arranged within the roof rail, the airbag shell comprising a woven moldable fabric comprising a u-shaped channel configured to receive the airbag, wherein u-shaped channel retains its shape after deployment of the airbag.
19. The vehicle assembly of claim 18 , wherein a profile of the u-shaped channel is configured to prevent twisting of the airbag.
20. The vehicle assembly of claim 18 , wherein the woven moldable fabric comprises an external surface configured to be abrasion resistant.