Airbag system

• US 20050104345A1
• Filed: 10/15/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Noguchi, Atsushi
• Granted Patent: US 7,234,728 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

An airbag system includes a vehicle airbag, which is mounted to an upper part of a sidewall of a vehicle, and an inflator for supplying inflating gas to the vehicle airbag. The vehicle airbag includes a rolled portion wound in a roll, a folded portion inside the roll, and bellows portions provided to ends of the rolled portion adjacent to a base end of the airbag and adjacent to a distal end of the airbag. The bellows portions being folded like a bellows. The airbag is configured to be inflated downward into an occupant protection region between an occupant and a sidewall of the vehicle to protect the occupant in the event of a car accident. The rolled portion is wound such that the projection of the folded portion faces the vehicle sidewall when the airbag is inflated.

Claims

1. An airbag system comprising:

a vehicle airbag mounted to the upper part of the sidewall of a vehicle, the vehicle airbag comprising;

a rolled portion wound in a roll;

a folded portion inside the roll having an end projection; and

bellows portions provided to ends of the rolled portion adjacent to a base end of the airbag and adjacent to a distal end of the airbag, the bellows portions being folded like a bellows; and

wherein the airbag is configured to be inflated downward into an occupant protection region between an occupant and a sidewall of the vehicle to protect the occupant in the event of a car accident, and wherein the rolled portion is wound such that the projection of the folded portion faces the vehicle sidewall when the airbag is inflated.

2. The airbag system according to claim 1, wherein the rolled portion of the vehicle airbag is configured to inflate while deploying in a portion of the occupant protection region corresponding to a head of the occupant.

3. The airbag system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a guide configured to guide at least a portion of the airbag provided adjacent a rear of the vehicle from the upper part of the vehicle toward a lower part along a rear pillar.

4. The airbag system according to claim 3, further comprising:

a connecting strap wound around the guide,

wherein the strap is configured to inhibit the likelihood of a head of the occupant from exiting the vehicle during a car accident.

5. An airbag system comprising:

an airbag mounted to the upper part of the sidewall of a vehicle, the airbag comprising;

a rolled portion;

a folded portion inside the rolled portion having an end projection;

a first bellows portion proved adjacent a base end of the rolled portion; and

a second bellows portions provided adjacent a distal end of the rolled portion; and

an inflator for supplying inflating gas to the airbag,

wherein the bellows portions are folded like a bellows, wherein the airbag is configured to be inflated downward into an occupant protection region between an occupant and a sidewall of the vehicle to protect the occupant in the event of a car accident, and wherein the rolled portion is wound such that the projection of the folded portion faces the vehicle sidewall when the airbag is inflated.

6. The airbag system according to claim 5, wherein the rolled portion of the vehicle airbag is configured to inflate in a portion of the occupant protection region corresponding to a head of the occupant.

7. The airbag system according to claim 5, further comprising:

a. guide configured to guide at least a portion of the airbag provided adjacent a rear of the vehicle from the upper part of the vehicle toward a lower part along a rear pillar.

8. The airbag system according to claim 7, further comprising:

a connecting strap wound around the guide,

wherein the strap is configured to inhibit the likelihood of a head of the occupant from exiting the vehicle during a car accident.