Occupant protection system

• US 20050023806A1
• Filed: 06/29/2004
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Higuchi, Masahiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,195,276 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

An occupant protection system for protecting an occupant includes a deployable body for deploying downwardly from above in a vehicle cabin into a vertically and laterally deployed state. A bag is provided to the deployable body to be inflated to a predetermined size for receiving the occupant after the deployable body deploys downwardly by a predetermined length. A gas generator is attached to the bag for inflating the bag.

Claims

1. An occupant protection system for protecting an occupant, comprising:

a deployable body for deploying downwardly from above in a vehicle cabin into a vertically and laterally deployed state,

a bag provided to the deployable body to be inflated to a predetermined size for receiving the occupant after the deployable body deploys downwardly by a predetermined length, and

a gas generator attached to the bag for inflating the bag.

2. An occupant protection system according to claim 1, further comprising deploying means for deploying the deployable body, said gas generator being actuated after the deploying means starts to operate.

3. An occupant protection system according to claim 1, further comprising a deploying inflatable chamber to be inflated for deploying the deployable body, said deploying inflatable chamber being inflated before the bag is inflated.

4. An occupant protection system according to claim 3, wherein said gas generator supplies gas to the deploying inflatable chamber, said occupant protection system further comprising gas communicating means for introducing gas in the deploying inflatable chamber into the bag after the gas generator supplies gas to the deploying inflatable chamber.

5. An occupant protection system according to claim 4, wherein said gas communicating means includes valve means for opening and introducing gas from the deploying inflatable chamber into the bag when a gas pressure in the deploying inflatable chamber exceeds a specified value.

6. An occupant protection system according to claim 4, wherein said deploying inflatable chamber includes a lower part communicating with a lower part of the bag at a lower part of the deployable body.

7. An occupant protection system according to claim 1, further comprising inflation-thickness limitation means for limiting a thickness of the bag when the bag is inflated.

8. An occupant protection system according to claim 1, wherein said deployable body deploys when the bag is inflated, said occupant protection system further comprising inflation-thickness limitation means for limiting a thickness of the bag to a predetermined thickness and for releasing the bag after the gas pressure reaches the predetermined value.

9. An occupant protection system according to claim 1, wherein said deployable body deploys downwardly from a cabin ceiling.

10. An occupant protection system according to claim 9, further comprising a joint for joining left and right sides of the deployable body with left and right side rims of the cabin ceiling extending toward a rear of the vehicle relative to the deployable body or portions connected to the left and right side rims.

11. An occupant protection system according to claim 9, further comprising engaging means for engaging an upper part of the bag with the cabin ceiling.

12. An occupant protection system according to claim 11, wherein said engaging means includes a guide member extending in a direction that the bag is inflated and a movable body capable of moving along the guide member and connected to the upper part of the bag adjacent to the occupant.

13. An occupant protection system according to claim 12, wherein said guide member and said movable body include one-way means so that the movable body moves in a direction that the bag is inflated and does not move in an opposite direction.

14. An occupant protection system according to claim 13, wherein said one-way means is arranged such that the movable body moves in the opposite direction when the movable body receives a force greater than a predetermined level in the opposite direction.

15. An occupant protection system according to claim 1, wherein said bag includes a vent hole for discharging gas from the bag.