CURTAIN AIRBAG DEVICE

• US 20140054879A1
• Filed: 04/05/2012
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Taguchi, Hiroyuki, Nakashima, Atsushi, Nakamura, Yuki
• Granted Patent: US 9,283,917 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• 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 device that can be applied to a small-width pillar. The curtain airbag device is accommodated in a region extending from at least an A-pillar to an upper portion of a window frame, and includes an airbag that is deployed in a curtain form near a side window of a vehicle interior in order to protect an occupant; and a gas generator that supplies inflation gas to the airbag. The accommodated airbag is formed in a rod shape by being folded in a roll form. When the airbag is accommodated, the airbag is partially compressed toward the center of the airbag at a narrow portion where an installation area of the A-pillar is narrow, in order to partially decrease a diameter of the airbag.

Claims

1. A curtain airbag device accommodated in a region extending from at least an A-pillar at a front end of a vehicle to an upper portion of a window frame of the vehicle,

the device comprising:

an airbag having a curtain form in a deployed state near a side window of a vehicle interior in order to protect an occupant; and

a gas generator that supplies inflation gas to the airbag,

the airbag being formed in a rod shape by being provided in a roll form when the airbag is accommodated, and

when the airbag is accommodated, a portion of the airbag being partially compressed toward the center of the airbag to form a narrow portion partially decreasing a diameter of the airbag in the area of the A-pillar.

2. The curtain airbag device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the A-pillar in the area of the narrow portion has a reduced width than in other portions of the A-pillar.

3. The curtain airbag device according to claim 1, wherein an initial inflating portion of the airbag is positioned on a body structure side of the A-pillar.

4. The curtain airbag device according to claim 1, wherein in the narrow portion the airbag is pushed from a lower side so that the airbag has a U-shaped cross-section.

5. The curtain airbag device according to claim 4, wherein the U-shaped cross-section is formed on a side of a connecting structure that connects an A-pillar garnish and a weather strip.

6. The curtain airbag device according to claim 1, wherein when the diameter of the airbag is decreased, the diameter is reduced from upper and lower sides of the airbag.

7. The curtain airbag device according to claim 1, wherein a garnish clip is disposed adjacent to the narrow portion.

8. The curtain airbag device according to claim 2, wherein an initial inflating portion of the airbag is positioned on a body structure side of the A-pillar.

9. In a motor vehicle having an A-pillar at a front end of the vehicle and extending to an upper portion of a window frame of the vehicle, an airbag device comprising:

an airbag having a rolled form in a non-deployed state and a curtain form in a deployed state;

a gas generator coupled to the airbag, the gas generator configured to generate inflation gas and inflate the airbag from the non-deployed state to the deployed state where the airbag is along an interior of a side window of the vehicle; and

in the non-deployed state, at least part of the airbag being installed along at least a portion of the A-pillar, the part of the airbag installed along at least a portion of the A-pillar including at least one narrow portion having a reduced diameter related to other portions of the airbag installed along the A-pillar, the narrow portion having a reduced diameter relative to the other portions.

10. The airbag device of claim 9, wherein the narrow portion is formed by a radially compressed portion of the airbag.

11. The airbag device of claim 9, wherein the narrow portion of the airbag has a U-shaped cross-section.

12. The airbag device of claim 11, wherein the U-shaped cross-section has an open end, the open end being oriented in a downward direction relative to the vehicle.

13. The airbag device of claim 11, wherein the narrow portion of the airbag has a dual U-shaped cross-section.

14. The airbag device of claim 13, wherein the dual U-shaped cross section has opposed open ends, one of the opposed open ends being oriented in a downward direction relative to the vehicle.

15. The airbag device of claim 9, wherein the A-pillar has a reduced width portion along a length thereof and the narrow portion of the airbag is located in the reduced width portion of the A-pillar.

16. The airbag device of claim 9, further comprising a garnish and the narrow portion being provided adjacent to a garnish attachment configured to attach the garnish to the A-pillar.

17. The airbag device of claim 9, wherein the airbag includes an initial inflation portion and the initial inflation portion is located on a body structure side of the A-pillar.