HEAD-PROTECTING AIRBAG APPARATUS

• US 20120299276A1
• Filed: 05/24/2012
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: HAYASHI, Takeki, SUEMITSU, Taizo
• Granted Patent: US 8,573,638 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/214 in roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 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

In a head-protecting airbag apparatus, an airbag is folded up and housed in a case that is made from synthetic resin and has an inverse U-shaped sectional contour opening downward. The airbag includes a plurality of mounting portions, and the mounting portions are taken out to an outer circumference of the case to be fastened to the vehicle body structure. The case includes a retaining projection that is inserted through a retaining hole formed on the upper rim of the airbag for retaining the upper rim of the airbag, and a retaining tongue that has a cantilever structure so as to be flexible toward an inner side of the case. A section of the airbag in a vicinity of the retaining hole is placed over an outer circumferential surface of the retaining tongue such that the retaining projection is inserted through the retaining hole.

Claims

1. A head-protecting airbag apparatus adapted to be mounted on a vehicle body structure, along an upper rim of and along a front and rear direction of a window of the vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

an airbag for deployment over the window, the airbag being folded up in such a manner that a lower rim thereof is brought close to an upper rim thereof, and including a main body, a plurality of mounting portions that are located along an upper rim of the main body and serve for attachment to the vehicle body structure, and a retaining hole that pierces the upper rim of the main body and is located between at least one pair of adjoining mounting portions; and

a case that is made from synthetic resin and has an inverse U-shaped sectional contour opening downward, and houses the airbag with the mounting portions of the airbag taken out to an outer circumference of the case such that the case is mounted on the vehicle together with the airbag by fastening of the mounting portions to the vehicle body structure, the case including;

a retaining projection that protrudes from the outer circumference of the case at a location corresponding to the retaining hole of the airbag and is inserted through the retaining hole for retaining the upper rim of the airbag;

a pair of openings that are formed in front of and at the rear of the retaining projection in such a manner as to extend toward an outboard direction from an inboard side edge of the case; and

a retaining tongue that is formed between the openings and has a cantilever structure so as to be flexible toward an inner side of the case, wherein a section of the airbag in a vicinity of the retaining hole is placed over an outer circumferential surface of the retaining tongue via the openings in order that the retaining projection is inserted through the retaining hole.

2. The head-protecting airbag apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the main body of the airbag has a hollow-weave construction and includes a gas admissive region that is inflatable with an inflation gas in such a manner as to separate an inboard side wall and an outboard side wall, and a peripheral portion that is located around the gas admissive region and is so formed that the inboard side wall and the outboard side wall are connected to each other;

the main body is one of a plurality of main bodies that are arranged in parallel and hollow woven at a time and then is subjected to cutting; and

the retaining hole is comprised of a positioning hole that is used for the cutting of the main bodies and is located on the peripheral portion, in the upper rim of the main body.

3. The head-protecting airbag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retaining projection is formed into a bent hook extending upward.

4. The head-protecting airbag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retaining projection includes a leading end that bulges in a spherical shape.