CURTAIN AIRBAG SYSTEM

• US 20120256402A1
• Filed: 04/10/2012
• Published: 10/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kato, Hideki, Shimizu, Yosuke
• Application Number:
  US13/443,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20120256402A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0018 Roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• 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

A curtain airbag of a curtain airbag system includes a main chamber stored in a folded condition in a roof side portion that extends rearward from a front pillar, and a front auxiliary chamber formed integrally with the main chamber and stored in a folded condition in a roof header portion. The main chamber is inflated with gas supplied thereto in the event of a side impact of a vehicle and rollover of the vehicle, to be deployed like a curtain downwardly of the vehicle. The front auxiliary chamber is inflated with gas supplied thereto at least in the event of rollover of the vehicle, to be deployed in front of the main chamber such that a lower portion of the front auxiliary chamber as seen in a side view of the vehicle overlaps a front side door.

Claims

1. A curtain airbag system for a vehicle, comprising

a curtain airbag including a first deployment portion stored in a folded condition in a roof side portion that extends rearward from a front pillar of the vehicle, and a second deployment portion that is formed integrally with the first deployment portion, and is stored in a folded condition between a roof panel and a ceiling material, wherein:

the first deployment portion is adapted to be inflated with gas supplied thereto in the event of a side impact of the vehicle and rollover of the vehicle, to be deployed like a curtain downwardly of the vehicle; and

the second deployment portion is adapted to be inflated with gas supplied thereto at least in the event of rollover of the vehicle, to be deployed in front of the first deployment portion such that a lower portion of the second deployment portion as seen in a side view of the vehicle overlaps a side door.

2. The curtain airbag system according to claim 1, wherein the second deployment portion is rolled or accordion-folded in a vertical direction together with the first deployment portion, and is bent inward as viewed in a vehicle width direction along a roof header portion, so as to be stored along the roof header portion.

3. The curtain airbag system according to claim 1, wherein the second deployment portion is stored in the roof header portion located anterior to a location of an occupant seated in a front seat of the vehicle.

4. The curtain airbag system according to claim 1, wherein the second deployment portion is adapted to be deployed in a cylindrical shape having a center axis that extends in a vertical direction of the vehicle.

5. The curtain airbag system according to claim 1, wherein the second deployment portion is adapted to be deployed such that an upper portion of the second deployment portion as seen in the side view of the vehicle overlaps the front pillar.

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

a thickness restricting portion that is provided between the first deployment portion and the second deployment portion, so as to restrict the thickness of the first deployment portion and the second deployment portion when deployed; and

a strap having a front end engaged with the front pillar and a rear end connected to the thickness restricting portion, the strap being adapted to extend through an outer side, as viewed in a vehicle width direction, of the second deployment portion when deployed.

7. The curtain airbag system according to claim 6, wherein the front end of the strap is engaged with the front pillar while the rear end thereof is connected to the thickness restricting portion, such that the strap extends through an outer side, as viewed in the vehicle width direction, of an impactor striking point of a rollover test in the second deployment portion.

8. The curtain airbag system according to claim 7, wherein the strap is arranged to extend through the center of an impactor striking point as seen in the side view.

9. The curtain airbag system according to claim 1, wherein the first deployment portion is provided with a mounting tab that fixes the curtain airbag to a vehicle body framework, and the second deployment portion is provided with no mounting tab.

10. The curtain airbag system according to claim 1, wherein the first deployment portion is the front main chamber that serves to protect the head of a front-seat occupant, and the second deployment portion is the front auxiliary chamber that communicates with the front main chamber.

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

a rear main chamber that serves to protect the head of a rear-seat occupant; and

a rear auxiliary chamber that communicates with the rear main chamber, wherein the rear auxiliary chamber is deployed so that a lower portion of the rear auxiliary chamber overlaps the side door as seen in the side view of the vehicle.