Head-protection airbag device

• US 20040108694A1
• Filed: 12/05/2003
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Hiroyuki
• Granted Patent: US 6,913,281 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 2021/2617 Curtain bag nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

The head-protection airbag device comprises an airbag stored along a roof side rail and including a gas-introducing path at its upper edge. A gas is supplied from a gas supplier into an inflation chamber through a gas distribution pipe provided within the gas-introducing path, whereby the airbag is inflated and deployed like a curtain along a sidewall of a vehicle compartment so as to protect a head of an occupant. Gas outlets of the gas distribution pipe are oriented in different directions in a region corresponding to a door glass portion and in a region corresponding to a pillar garnish portion.

Claims

1. A head-protection airbag device, comprising:

an airbag stored along a roof side rail, and including a gas-introducing path provided at its upper edge and an inflation chamber;

a gas distribution pipe provided within the gas-introducing path, for introducing into the inflation chamber a gas supplied from a gas supplier; and

a plurality of gas outlets provided in the gas distribution pipe and opened in different directions depending on a region of the airbag,

wherein with the gas supplied from the gas supplier into the inflation chamber, the airbag is inflated and deployed like a curtain along a sidewall of a vehicle compartment so as to protect a head of an occupant.

2. The head-protection airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the gas outlets are opened in different directions according to a resistance of an interior member against deployment of the airbag.

3. The head-protection airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the gas outlets are opened in different directions in a region corresponding to a door glass portion and in a region corresponding to a pillar garnish portion.

4. The head-protection airbag device according to claim 3, wherein the gas outlet in the region corresponding to the door glass portion is opened in a direction that crosses a door glass plane, and the gas outlet in the region corresponding to the pillar garnish portion is opened in a direction over a pillar garnish.

5. The head-protection airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag protects a head of an occupant seated in a front seat and a head of an occupant seated in a rear seat.

6. The head-protection airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the gas supplier is provided at a rear end of the gas distribution pipe.

7. The head-protection airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the gas supplier is provided at an intermediate position of the gas distribution pipe.