COVER AND AIRBAG DEVICE

• US 20130292926A1
• Filed: 01/17/2012
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Yamada, Atsushi, Kim, Minhun, Piao, Jinhua
• Granted Patent: US 8,955,874 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

A cover used for an airbag device capable of accurately and easily adjusting a deployment direction of an airbag during a side collision according to a deployment position. The cover includes a protecting portion formed along a rolled airbag, and a plurality of attachment portions formed so as to be attached to a body of a vehicle. The protecting portion includes a slit capable of controlling the deployment direction of the airbag by changing a position through which the tab passes toward the body of the vehicle in a rolling direction of the airbag.

Claims

1. A cover for positioning between an airbag, which is rolled from one end to the other end and be deployed upon receiving gas, and a body of a vehicle, to which the airbag is attached, comprising:

a protecting portion provided along the airbag rolled from one end to the other end; and

a plurality of attachment portions that extend from the protecting portion and are configured to be attached to the body of the vehicle, wherein

the airbag further having a plurality of tabs configured to be attached to the body of the vehicle and which are formed on the other end of the airbag provided along the protecting portion.

2. The cover according to claim 1, wherein

a deployment direction control structure formed in the protecting portion, the deployment direction control structure being configured to control a deployment direction of the airbag by changing a position by which the tab passes toward the body of the vehicle in a rolling direction of the airbag.

3. The cover according to claim 2, wherein

the deployment direction control structure includes a slit that is formed in the protecting portion, the slit being configured to allow the tab to pass therethrough, and

the slit being formed in the protecting portion along an arrangement axis that is formed by a roll center of the airbag when the airbag is provided along the protecting portion.

4. The cover according to claim 3, wherein

the tab includes a first tab and a second tab that are formed along the arrangement axis so as to be axially spaced from each other,

the slit includes a first slit configured to allow the first tab to pass therethrough toward the body of the vehicle, and the slit includes a second slit configured to allow the second tab to pass therethrough toward the body of the vehicle, and

the first and second slits are formed at such positions that the slits are in a radially spaced relation around the arrangement axis.

5. The cover according to claim 1, further comprising:

a slit configured to allow the tab to pass toward the body of the vehicle, the slit being formed in a portion of the protecting portion generally adjacent to the attachment portion, and

a deformation restricting structure formed on a side of the protecting portion opposite to the attachment portion and on a rear surface of the protecting portion that is opposite to a surface of the protecting portion making contact with the airbag so as to restrict deformation of the protecting portion when the airbag is deployed.

6. The cover according to claim 5, wherein

the deformation restricting structure includes a projecting portion that protrudes from the rear surface, and

the projecting portion restricts deformation of the protecting portion whereby the projecting portion is configured to contact a weather strip of the vehicle when the airbag is deployed.

7. The cover according to claim 1, wherein

a slit is formed in a portion of the protecting portion generally adjacent to the attachment portion and is configured to pass the tab therethrough,

the protecting portion includes a curved wall portion in which a curved surface is formed and provided along a perimeter of the rolled airbag so as to include the slit, the protecting portion also including a pair of straight wall portions that extends from opposite ends of the curved wall portion to an outer extension of the curved surface, and

the curved wall portion is formed along a region having an angular extent smaller than a semi-perimeter of the rolled airbag.

8. The cover according to claim 7, wherein

the straight wall portions are formed substantially along a tangential line of the curved surface at the both ends of the curved wall portion.

9. An airbag device for attachment to a body of a vehicle, the airbag device comprising:

an airbag that is configured to be rolled from one end to the other end and deployed upon receiving gas; and

a cover disposed between the airbag and the body of a vehicle to which the airbag is attached, wherein

the cover including;

a protecting portion that is formed axially along the airbag; and

a plurality of attachment portions extending from the protecting portion and configured to be attached to the body of the vehicle,

a plurality of tabs configured to be attached to the body of the vehicle, the tabs being formed on the other end of the airbag located in the protecting portion, and

a deployment direction control structure formed in the protecting portion and configured to control a deployment direction of the airbag by changing a position by which the tab passes toward the body of the vehicle in a rolling direction of the airbag.

10. The airbag device according to claim 9, wherein

the deployment direction control structure includes a slit formed in the protecting portion and configured to allow the tab to pass therethrough, the slit being formed along an arrangement axis defined by a roll center of the airbag when the airbag is arranged along the protecting portion,

the airbag being rolled so that a first rolled portion rolled from one end to the other end and a second rolled portion rolled in a direction opposite to a rolling direction of the first rolled portion are formed, and

the second rolled portion provided between the slit and the first rolled portion.