Vehicular passenger protecting apparatus

• US 20030178822A1
• Filed: 01/06/2003
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Yamamura, Daisuke, Nagayama, Noritaka, Yamafuji, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 6,848,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

A vehicular passenger protecting apparatus preferably used in an air bag to be spread at a side portion in a vehicular compartment of an automobile. The apparatus includes an air bag main body to be expanded to spread from an upper side of a side portion of a vehicle to an inside of a vehicular compartment, a pillar portion of the vehicle, a trim member for covering an inner side of the pillar portion of the vehicle and forming a gap between the trim member and the pillar portion, a strap for connecting the air bag main body and the pillar portion arranged at an inside of a space surrounded by the pillar portion and the trim member, and a strap holding member arranged at the inside of the space. The strap holding member holds the strap releasably in a predetermined direction. The strap holding member is disposed to direct in the predetermined direction towards the gap.

Claims

1. A vehicular passenger protecting apparatus, comprising:

an air bag main body to be expanded to spread from an upper side of a side portion of a vehicle to an inside of a vehicular compartment;

a pillar portion of the vehicle;

a trim member for covering a vehicular compartment inner side of the pillar portion of the vehicle and forming a gap between the trim member and the pillar portion;

a strap arranged at an inside of a space surrounded by the pillar portion and the trim member, the strap connecting the air bag main body and the pillar portion; and

a strap holding member arranged at the inside of the space, the strap holding member holding the strap releasably in a predetermined direction;

wherein the strap holding member is disposed to direct in the predetermined direction towards the gap.

2. The vehicular passenger protecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a seal member having a tongue piece for covering the gap.

3. The vehicular passenger protecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the seal member includes a weather strap attached to an edge portion of the pillar portion;

and

the tongue piece is molded integrally with the weather strap.

4. The vehicular passenger protecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a head lining disposed on an inner side of a ceil portion of the vehicular compartment;

wherein the strap holding member is disposed in the vicinity of a potion where the trim member and the head lining overlap each other.

5. The vehicular passenger protecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the strap holding member includes a clip attached to an edge portion of the pillar portion.

6. The vehicular passenger protecting apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein

the edge portion of the pillar portion is formed by overlapping a plurality of panels;

and

an end portion of the clip is inserted between the panels.

7. The vehicular passenger protecting apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein

a recessed portion or a projected portion is provided at the edge portion of the pillar portion;

and

an end portion of the clip is formed with a projected portion or a recessed portion to be respectively engaged with the recessed portion or the projected portion of the edge portion of the pillar portion.

8. The vehicular passenger protecting apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein

the clip comprises a base portion for being engaged with a base portion of the pillar portion, and a holding portion for holding the strap;

and

the base portion and the holding portion are formed to constitute an S-like shape.

9. The vehicular passenger protecting apparatus according to claim 8,

wherein

the holding portion comprises a base portion, a fold back portion extended from the base portion, and a front end portion formed to direct to the gap.

10. The vehicular passenger protecting apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the strap holding member includes a harness holding member for holding a harness arranged at the inside of the space.

11. A vehicular passenger protecting apparatus, comprising:

an air bag main body to be expanded to spread from an upper side of a side portion of a vehicle to an inside of a vehicular compartment;

a pillar portion of the vehicle;

a trim member for covering a vehicular compartment inner side of the pillar portion of the vehicle and forming a gap between the trim member and the pillar portion;

a seal member having a tongue piece for covering the gap;

a strap arranged at an inside of a space surrounded by the pillar portion and the trim member, the strap connecting the air bag main body and the pillar portion; and

a strap holding member arranged at the inside of the space and attached to an edge portion of the pillar portion;

wherein

the strap holding member includes a holding portion for holding the strap releasably, the holding portion directing towards the gap;

the edge portion of the pillar portion is extended in the same direction as the holding portion; and

the seal member is attached to the edge portion of the pillar portion to cover a portion where the strap holding member is attached.

12. The vehicular passenger protecting apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

a head lining disposed on an inner side of a ceil portion of the vehicular compartment;

wherein the strap holding member is disposed in the vicinity of a potion where the trim member and the head lining overlap each other.

13. The vehicular passenger protecting apparatus according to claim 11,

wherein

the edge portion of the pillar portion is formed by overlapping a plurality of panels;

and

an end portion of the clip is inserted between the panels.

14. A vehicular passenger protecting apparatus, comprising:

an air bag main body to be expanded to spread from an upper side of a side portion of a vehicle to an inside of a vehicular compartment;

a pillar portion of the vehicle;

a trim member for covering a vehicular compartment inner side of the pillar portion of the vehicle and forming a gap between the trim member and the pillar portion;

a seal member having a tongue piece for covering the gap;

a strap arranged at an inside of a space surrounded by the pillar portion and the trim member, the strap connecting the air bag main body and the pillar portion; and

a strap holding member arranged at the inside of the space and attached to the pillar portion;

wherein

the strap holding member includes a strap holding portion for holding the strap releasably and a harness holding portion for holding a harness arranged in the space, the holding portion directing towards the gap;

the edge portion of the pillar portion is extended in the same direction as the strap holding portion; and

the seal member is attached to the edge of the pillar portion.

15. The vehicular passenger protecting apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising:

a head lining disposed on an inner side of a ceil portion of a vehicular compartment;

wherein the strap holding member is disposed in the vicinity of a potion where the trim member and the head lining overlap each other.