Head protecting airbag device

• US 20040075257A1
• Filed: 09/08/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ogawa, Hiroshi, Kino, Masao, Nakamura, Eishichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,077,425 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23576 Sewing
• 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 head protecting airbag device according to the present invention includes a gas admissive portion and a non-admissive portion. The gas admissive portion includes a gas feed passage disposed along the upper edge of the airbag, and an inflatable shielding portion located below the gas feed passage for covering the inner side of the windows upon deployment. The inflatable shielding portion includes a plurality of protection portions and a plurality of vertical passages vertically disposed in the front and rear of each of the protection portions. The protection portions are juxtaposed along the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The vertical passages are communicated at upper ends with the gas feed passage. Each of the protection portions admits inflation gas via the vertical passages.

Claims

1. A head protecting airbag device comprising an airbag folded in the upper edge of windows inside a vehicle in undeployed condition, and deployable upon inflow of inflation gas to cover the vehicle'"'"'s inner side of the windows,

the airbag comprising:

a gas admissive portion inflatable by admitting inflation gas while separating an inner side wall and an outer sidewall respectively thereof; and

anon-admissive portion admitting no inflation gas,

the gas admissive portion comprising a gas feed passage and an inflatable shielding portion,

the gas feed passage being disposed along the upper edge of the airbag extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle,

the inflatable shielding portion being located below the gas feed passage for covering the inner side of the windows upon deployment,

the inflatable shielding portion comprising;

a plurality of protection portions juxtaposed along the front-rear direction of the vehicle; and

a plurality of vertical passages vertically disposed in the front and rear of each of the protection portions, the vertical passages being communicated at upper ends with the gas feed passage, and

each of the protection portions admitting inflation gas via the vertical passages, whereby protecting heads of occupants upon deployment of the airbag.

2. The head protecting airbag device according to claim 1, wherein:

the inflatable shielding portion further comprises each one communication passage below each of the protection portions and along the lower edge of the airbag extending in the front-rear direction, each of the communication passages being communicated with the vertical passages, and

each of the protection portions admits inflation gas via the vertical passages and then via the communication passage.

3. The head protecting airbag device according to claim 1, wherein:

out of the protection portions, at least a foremost protection portion for covering a window at the side of front seat comprises a plurality of vertical inflatable portions juxtaposed along the front-rear direction of the vehicle, each of the vertical inflatable portions being disposed vertically and being communicated at lower end thereof with the communication passage.

4. The head protecting airbag device according to claim 1, wherein:

the protection portion comprises a plurality of transverse inflatable portions juxtaposed in the vertical direction, each of the transverse inflatable portions being disposed along the front-rear direction of the vehicle and being communicated with the vertical passages, and

the inflatable shielding portion further comprises vertical inflatable portions vertically disposed next to the vertical passages in the front and rear of the vertical passages.

5. The head protecting airbag device according to claim 1, wherein:

the protection portion comprises a plurality of non-admissive portions disposed spottedly, thereby forming trifurcated inflation tops in the middle of the non-admissive portions; and

the inflatable shielding portion further comprises vertical inflatable portions vertically disposed next to the vertical passages in the front and rear of the vertical passages.

6. A head protecting airbag device comprising:

an airbag folded in the upper edge of windows inside a vehicle in undeployed condition, and deployable upon inflow of inflation gas; and

an inflator for supplying inflation gas to the airbag, the airbag comprising a gas admissive portion inflatable upon inflow of inflation gas,

the gas admissive portion comprising;

a window-ward shielding portion for covering the vehicle'"'"'s inner side of the windows; and

a roof-ward shielding portion for covering the vehicle'"'"'s inner side of a body-ward member in a roof side rail located above the windows, respectively upon deployment, and

the window-ward shielding portion being positioned upstream than the roof-ward shielding portion in the flow of inflation gas.

7. The head protecting airbag device according to claim 6, wherein:

the airbag further comprises a plurality of mounting portions at the upper edge of the window-ward shielding portion for securing the airbag to the body-ward member in the upper edge of the windows;

the mounting portions are disposed in the area of the roof-ward shielding portion, and have slits in the upper periphery thereof.

8. The head protecting airbag device according to claim 6, wherein:

the inflator is located in the upper edge of the windows;

the airbag comprises a joint port disposed in the upper edge of the windows so as to be connected to the inflator; and

the roof-ward shielding portion comprises a cover portion for covering the vehicle'"'"'s inner side of the inflator upon deployment of the airbag.