Head-protecting airbag device

• US 20050029780A1
• Filed: 07/27/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanase, Toshinori
• Granted Patent: US 7,246,817 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0225 self supporting head liners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0275 comprising removable or hinged parts for accessing storage compartments B60R7/04; for airbag deployment B60R21/215
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0293 Connection or positioning of adjacent panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/215 characterised by the covers for the inflatable member B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
• 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 an airbag, a roof rail garnish formed into a single plate shape for covering the interior of the folded airbag, and being provided in its lower edge with a door portion to be pushed by the inflating airbag, and an inflator. These members are assembled into an airbag module and mounted on a vehicle as a single part. The airbag module includes a cover portion located in a back side of the roof rail garnish over the generally entire length of the folded airbag. The cover portion includes a bottom wall extending from an exterior side of the door portion for covering a lower side of the folded airbag, and a side wall for covering an exterior side of the airbag. An upper part of the side wall of the cover portion is joined to an exterior portion of the garnish above the folded airbag. The head-protecting airbag device of the present invention is able to protect the airbag until it is mounted on the vehicle, and is also able to suppress a protruding amount of the roof rail garnish toward the interior when in service.

Claims

1. A head-protecting airbag device mountable on a vehicle, the device comprising:

an airbag folded and arranged in upper edges of side windows inside a vehicle along front-rear direction;

a roof rail garnish having a single plate shape located in an area extending in front-rear direction between a roof head lining of vehicle and side windows for covering an interior side of the folded airbag, the garnish being provided in a lower edge thereof with a door portion to be pushed by the airbag and open when an airbag deploys to cover the interior of side windows;

an inflator for supplying inflation gas to the airbag; and

a cover portion located in a back side of the roof rail garnish over the generally entire length of the folded airbag, the cover portion comprising;

a bottom wall for covering a lower side of the airbag from an exterior side of the door portion of the roof rail garnish up to the exterior of the folded airbag; and

a side wall extending upward from an exterior end of the bottom wall for covering an exterior side of the airbag,

an upper part of the side wall being joined to an upper and exterior portion of the roof rail garnish apart from the door portion and above the folded airbag, wherein

the airbag, the roof rail garnish, the inflator and the cover portion are assembled into an airbag module to be mounted on a vehicle as a single part.

2. The head-protecting airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the cover portion is provided in a position corresponding to a location of a pillar of vehicle with a rib, the rib being protruded toward the exterior of vehicle and supported by vehicle body.

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

the airbag is provided along an upper edge thereof with a plurality of mounting portions;

in a process of assembling the airbag module, each of the mounting portions is attached to the roof rail garnish together with the side wall of the cover portion when the upper part of the side wall is joined to the roof rail garnish.

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

the folded airbag is joined only to the roof rail garnish by having the mounting portions attached to the roof rail garnish together with the upper part of the side wall of the cover portion.

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

the airbag is provided along an upper edge thereof with a plurality of mounting portions;

in a process of assembling the airbag module, the mounting portions of the folded airbag are attached temporarily to the roof rail garnish; and

when the airbag module is mounted on the vehicle, the mounting portions of the airbag are secured to vehicle body together with the roof rail garnish.

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

an interior end of the bottom wall of the cover portion is joined to an exterior side of the door portion of the roof rail garnish in a separable manner upon airbag deployment; and

the upper part of the side wall of the cover portion is joined to the roof rail garnish inseparably upon airbag deployment.

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

the cover portion is integrally molded with the roof rail garnish; and

the interior end of the bottom wall and the door portion are joined by a thinned breakable portion.

8. The head-protecting airbag device according to claim 6, wherein the cover portion is formed separately from the roof rail garnish.

9. The head-protecting airbag device according to claim 8, wherein the cover portion is provided in a position corresponding to a location of a pillar of vehicle with a rib, the rib being protruded toward the exterior of vehicle and supported by vehicle body.

10. The head-protecting airbag device according to claim 8, wherein the interior end of the bottom wall and the door portion are joined by engaging portions to be engaged with each other.

11. The head-protecting airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the cover portion is arranged intermittently over the entire length of the roof rail garnish.

12. The head-protecting airbag device according to claim 11, wherein a cover-free portion between the intermittent cover portions is located in the vicinity of a longitudinal center of a side window above the side window.

13. The head-protecting airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the roof rail garnish is provided in a front end thereof with a portion serving as a front pillar garnish for covering the interior of a front pillar.

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

the inflator is held by a mounting bracket; and

the mounting bracket is attached to the roof rail garnish.

15. The head-protecting airbag device according to claim 14, wherein the mounting bracket is also fixed to vehicle body.