ROOF AIRBAG APPARATUS FOR VEHICLES

• US 20100327567A1
• Filed: 11/05/2009
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Choi, Hyeong Ho, CHOI, Jun Yeol
• Application Number:
  US12/613,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20100327567A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/214 in roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2176 the air bag components being completely enclosed in a soft or semi-rigid housing or cover

Abstract

A roof airbag apparatus may include an inflator, a containing pouch, an airbag cushion and an airbag door. The inflator supplies gas pressure to the airbag cushion. The containing pouch is installed inside a headlining of a vehicle roof The containing pouch has a receiving space therein. The airbag cushion is disposed in the receiving space of the containing pouch. The airbag cushion is deployed downwards by gas pressure supplied from the inflator. The airbag door allows an opening to be formed in the headlining by an opening motion of the airbag door when the airbag cushion is deployed.

Claims

1. A roof airbag apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

an inflator supplying gas pressure;

a containing pouch installed inside a headlining of a vehicle roof, wherein the containing pouch includes a receiving space therein;

an airbag cushion disposed in the receiving space of the containing pouch, wherein the airbag cushion is deployed downwards by the gas pressure supplied from the inflator; and

an airbag door formed at the headlining and opened by the airbag cushion.

2. The roof airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the containing pouch is torn by the airbag cushion when a predetermined pressure is applied to the containing pouch by deployment of the airbag cushion.

3. The roof airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein holding blades protrude from first and second ends of the containing pouch, each of the holding blades having a plurality of fastening holes therein.

4. The roof airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 3, further comprising locking members fastening the holding blades to the vehicle roof through the fastening holes.

5. The roof airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 3, further comprising:

a holder in close contact with each of the holding blades, the holder having insert holes corresponding to the fastening holes; and

locking members fastening the holder to the vehicle roof through the fastening holes and the insert holes.

6. The roof airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the airbag door has:

a bent hinged portion hinged to the headlining of the vehicle roof; and

a tear line formed along a boundary between the airbag door and the headlining by forming a tear groove such that when the airbag cushion is deployed, an opening is formed in the headlining by the airbag cushion.

7. The roof airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the containing pouch is fastened to an inside of the headlining through a mounting unit installed in the vehicle roof, and wherein the mounting unit comprises a front center rail provided in a front side of the vehicle roof, and a rear center rail provided in a rear side of the vehicle roof such that the containing pouch is disposed between the front center rail and the rear center rail and first and second ends of the containing pouch are connected to the front and rear center rails respectively.

8. The roof airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the containing pouch is made of flexible material to absorb impact.

9. The roof airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein the receiving space of the containing pouch is maintained in a vacuum by exhausting air therefrom to reduce a volume of the containing pouch.

10. The roof airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inflator is disposed in the receiving space of the containing pouch.

11. The roof airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein the inflator is installed to the front center rail.

12. A roof airbag apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

an inflator supplying gas pressure;

an airbag cushion installed inside a headlining of a vehicle roof, wherein the airbag cushion is deployed downwards by the gas pressure supplied from the inflator; and

an airbag door formed at the headlining, wherein the airbag door is opened by the airbag cushion.

13. The roof airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein the inflator is installed inside the airbag cushion.

14. The roof airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein the airbag cushion is fastened to an inside of the headlining through a mounting unit installed in the vehicle roof, wherein the mounting unit comprises a front center rail provided in a front side of the vehicle roof, and a rear center rail provided in a rear side of the vehicle roof such that the airbag cushion is disposed between the front center rail and the rear center rail and first and second ends of the airbag cushion are connected to the front and rear center rails respectively.

15. The roof airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein holding blades are formed at the first and second ends of the airbag cushion, each of the holding blades having a plurality of fastening holes therein and locking members fasten the holding blades to the vehicle roof through the fastening holes.

16. The roof airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 14, further comprising:

a holder in close contact with each of the holding blades, the holder having insert holes corresponding to the fastening holes; and

the locking members fastening the holder to the vehicle roof through the fastening holes and the insert holes.

17. The roof airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein the inflator is installed to the front center rail.