1. A window regulator assembly comprising:
a motor including a motor housing and a driving output for moving a window between open and closed positions;
a cursor mounted for movement along a window track, said cursor including a window mount portion adapted to receive the window and a motor mount portion wherein said motor housing is fixed to said motor mount portion for movement with said cursor; and
a cable in driving engagement with said driving output to move said motor, said cursor and the window together as a unit along the window track.
2. The window regulator assembly according to claim 1 wherein said cursor includes a window track mount portion cooperating with the window track to move said cursor along the window track.
3. The window regulator assembly according to claim 2 wherein said window track mount portion comprises first and second vertically extending guide grooves, and wherein said cable extends in a vertical direction and is laterally positioned between said first and said second vertically extending guide grooves.
4. The window regulator assembly according to claim 2 wherein said window mount portion, said motor mount portion, and said window track mount portion are integrally formed with said cursor such that said cursor comprises a single piece component.
5. The window regulator assembly according to claim 1 including a gear drive driven by said driving output of said motor, said gear drive in driving engagement with a toothed portion of said cable.
6. The window regulator assembly according to claim 1 wherein said window mount portion comprises a snap type window connection comprising first and second gripping members separated by a slot for receiving an edge of the window wherein one of said first and said second gripping members includes a transversely extending snap tang that cooperates with the window to secure the window to said cursor.
7. A window regulator assembly comprising:
a window track formed within a door module;
a motor including a motor housing and a driving output for moving a window along said window track between open and closed positions;
a cursor including a window track mount portion cooperating with said window track to move said cursor along said window track, a window mount portion adapted to receive the window, and a motor mount portion wherein said motor housing is fixed to said motor mount portion for movement with said cursor; and
a cable in driving engagement with said driving output to move said motor, said cursor and the window together as a unit along said window track.
8. The window regulator assembly according to claim 7 wherein said window track is integrally formed as a single piece with said door module.
9. The window regulator assembly according to claim 8 wherein said door module is formed from a plastic material such that said door module and said window track form a single piece plastic component.
10. The window regulator assembly according to claim 8 wherein said door module is formed from a steel material with said window track comprising a roll formed steel section.
11. The window regulator assembly according to claim 7 wherein said cursor comprises a single piece component.
12. The window regulator assembly according to claim 7 wherein said motor housing is rigidly mounted to said motor mount portion such that said motor housing does not move relative to said cursor.
13. The window regulator assembly according to claim 7 wherein said cable comprises a toothed element mounted to said door module to extend in the same direction as said window track.
14. The window regulator assembly according to claim 13 wherein said window track mount portion comprises first and second guide grooves that slidably receive outward edges of said window track.
15. The window regulator assembly of claim 14 wherein said cable is positioned laterally between said first guide groove and said second guide groove.
16. The window regulator assembly according to claim 7 wherein said window mount portion comprises a snap type window connection comprising first and second gripping members separated by a slot for receiving an edge of the window wherein one of said first and said second gripping members includes a transversely extending snap tang that cooperates with the window to secure the window to said cursor.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An airbag assembly for disposition proximate a roof of a vehicle to shield a vehicle occupant from impacting at least one lateral surface of the vehicle or a portion of an instrument panel during a rollover or during side impact, small overlap and oblique collisions, the airbag assembly comprising:
an inflatable curtain airbag having a stowed configuration proximate the roof of the vehicle and a deployed configuration into which the inflatable curtain airbag deploys, the inflatable curtain airbag deploys downward between the vehicle occupant and the at least one lateral surface of the vehicle and angled inboard between the portion of the instrument panel and the vehicle occupant, the inflatable curtain airbag comprising:
a first protection zone comprising a first interior chamber; and
a second protection zone comprising a second interior chamber in fluid communication with the first interior chamber;
a divider that defines the first interior chamber as distinct from the second interior chamber, the divider forming a fold line and restricting inflation gas flow from the first protection zone into the second protection zone during deployment;
a forward tether comprising a first end secured to the inflatable curtain airbag and a second end securable to an A-pillar of the vehicle;
wherein, in the stowed configuration, the inflatable curtain airbag is folded at the fold line such that the second protection zone lies alongside a portion of the first protection zone;
wherein, during deployment, the inflatable curtain airbag unfolds at the fold line such that the second protection zone pivots forward about the divider to be positioned both forward of the first protection zone and angled inboard between the vehicle occupant and the at least one lateral surface of the vehicle and the portion of the instrument panel in the deployed configuration, the forward tether applying some level of tension to the second protection zone tending to facilitate the pivoting of the second protection zone forward and to control the angled inboard disposition of the second protection zone to the first protection zone; and
wherein, in the deployed configuration, the second protection zone extends to a height proximate the roof of the vehicle.
2. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the second protection zone comprises a top edge, wherein, in the deployed configuration, the top edge is substantially parallel to the roof of the vehicle.
3. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein, in the stowed configuration, the first and second protection zones are rolled together after folding of the inflatable curtain airbag at the fold line.
4. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein, in the stowed configuration, the fold line defines a forward edge of the inflatable curtain airbag; and
wherein, in the deployed configuration, the second protection zone is positioned between an occupant zone that would ordinarily be occupied by the vehicle occupant’s head and at least one of an A-pillar of the vehicle and the instrument panel portion of the vehicle.
5. The airbag assembly of claim 4, wherein in the deployed configuration, the second protection zone at the fold line defines an angle falling within the range of about 110\xb0 to about 160\xb0 relative to the first protection zone.
6. The airbag assembly of claim 4, wherein in the deployed configuration, the second protection zone at the fold line defines an angle falling within the range of about 120\xb0 to about 150\xb0 relative to the first protection zone.
7. The airbag assembly of claim 4, wherein the second end of the forward tether is secured to an anchoring location on the A-pillar that is likely to move rearward in response to deflection of the A-pillar during small overlap or oblique collisions to release tension in the forward tether, thereby facilitating inboard positioning of the second protection zone.
8. The airbag assembly of claim 7, wherein the first end of the forward tether is secured to the second protection zone proximate the fold line at or forward of the fold line so that tension in the forward tether facilitates inboard pivoting of the second protection zone.
9. The airbag assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
a plurality of mounting assemblies distributed along a length of the inflatable curtain airbag to facilitate attachment of the inflatable curtain airbag to the vehicle; and
wherein in the stowed configuration, all of the plurality of mounting assemblies are positioned rearward of the A-pillar so that the second end of the forward tether is the only feature of the airbag assembly that is secured to the A-pillar.
10. The airbag assembly of claim 9, further comprising:
an inflator that produces gas in response to detection of impact to trigger deployment of the inflatable curtain airbag;
a rearward tether comprising a first end secured to the inflatable curtain airbag and a second end securable to the vehicle rearward of the inflatable curtain airbag; and
wherein, in the deployed configuration, the rearward tether and the forward tether cooperate to keep the first protection zone under tension in a longitudinal direction.
11. A method for stowing and deploying an airbag assembly, the airbag assembly deploying between a lateral surface of a vehicle having a roof and a vehicle occupant and deploying between the vehicle occupant and a portion of a vehicle instrument panel, the method comprising:
providing an inflatable curtain airbag comprising a first protection zone comprising a first interior chamber and a second protection zone comprising a second interior chamber in fluid communication with the first interior chamber;
securing a first end of a forward tether to the inflatable curtain airbag;
securing a second end of the forward tether to an A-pillar of the vehicle;
folding the inflatable curtain airbag at a fold line defined by a divider such that the second protection zone overlies at least a portion of the first protection zone, the divider defines the first interior chamber as distinct from the second interior chamber and restricts flow of inflation gas from the first interior chamber into the second interior chamber;
compacting the inflatable curtain airbag into a generally elongated shape; and
securing the inflatable curtain airbag proximate the roof of the vehicle such that, in response to introduction of inflation gas into the inflatable curtain airbag, the first protection zone expands downward to be positioned between the vehicle occupant and the lateral surface of the vehicle and the second protection zone pivots about the divider forward of the first protection zone; and
pivoting the second protection zone about the divider forward of the first protection zone to an angled inboard disposition relative to the first protection zone, wherein the forward tether applies some level of tension to the second protection zone tending to facilitate the pivoting of the second protection zone forward and to control the angled inboard disposition of the second protection zone to the first protection zone.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second protection zone comprises a top edge, wherein pivoting the second protection zone forward of the first protection zone comprises positioning the top edge of the second protection zone substantially parallel to the roof of the vehicle.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein securing the inflatable curtain airbag proximate the roof of the vehicle comprises positioning the inflatable curtain airbag such that, prior to deployment, the fold line defines a forward edge of the inflatable curtain airbag; and
wherein pivoting the second protection zone forward of the first protection zone comprises positioning the second protection zone between an occupant zone that would ordinarily be occupied by the vehicle occupant’s head and at least one of an A-pillar of the vehicle and the portion of the instrument panel of the vehicle.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein securing the first end of the forward tether to the inflatable curtain airbag comprises securing the first end proximate the fold line at or forward of the fold line so that release of tension in the tether facilitates inboard pivoting of the second protection zone.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein securing the second end of the forward tether to the A-pillar comprises securing the second end of the forward tether to an anchoring location on the A-pillar that is likely to move rearward in response to deflection of the A-pillar during a small overlap or oblique collision to release tension in the forward tether, thereby facilitating inboard positioning of the second protection zone.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein securing the inflatable curtain airbag proximate the roof of the vehicle comprises attaching a plurality of mounting assemblies distributed along a length of the inflatable curtain airbag to the vehicle rearward of the A-pillar so that the second end of the forward tether is the only feature of the airbag assembly that is secured to the A-pillar.
17. An airbag assembly, comprising:
an inflatable curtain airbag stowed proximate a roof of a vehicle, the inflatable curtain airbag comprising a first protection zone and a second protection zone folded against the first protection zone such that the second protection zone overlies at least a portion of the first protection zone;
an inflator in fluid communication with a first chamber within the first protection zone and a second chamber within the second protection zone;
a divider defines the first chamber as distinct from the second chamber and restricts fluid flow from the first chamber into the second chamber;
a plurality of mounting assemblies that secure the first protection zone to the vehicle; and
a forward tether comprising a first end secured to the inflatable curtain airbag at or forward of the divider and a second end secured to an A-pillar of the vehicle;
wherein, in response to production of fluid by the inflator, the inflatable curtain airbag expands downward such that the first protection zone is positioned between an occupant zone that would ordinarily be occupied by a vehicle occupant’s head and a lateral surface of the vehicle;
wherein, in response to production of the fluid by the inflator, the second protection zone pivots forward of the first protection zone such that the second protection zone pivots forward about the divider to an angled inboard disposition relative to the first protection zone and between an occupant zone that would ordinarily be occupied by the vehicle occupant’s head and at least one of an A-pillar of the vehicle and a portion of an instrument panel of the vehicle; and
wherein all of the plurality of mounting assemblies are positioned rearward of the A-pillar so that the second end of the forward tether is the only feature of the airbag assembly that is secured to the A-pillar.
18. The airbag assembly of claim 17, wherein, after deployment of the inflatable curtain airbag, the second protection zone extends to a height proximate the roof of the vehicle;
wherein the second protection zone comprises a top edge; and
wherein, after deployment of the inflatable curtain airbag, the top edge is substantially parallel to the roof of the vehicle.
19. The airbag assembly of claim 17, wherein the divider forms a fold line;
wherein, after deployment, the angled inboard disposition of the second protection zone at the fold line defines an angle falling within the range of about 110\xb0 to about 160\xb0 relative to the first protection zone; and
wherein the second end of the forward tether is secured to an anchoring location on the A-pillar that is likely to move rearward in response to deflection of the A-pillar during a small overlap or oblique collision to release tension in the forward tether, thereby facilitating inboard positioning of the second protection zone.