Structure for placement of head protecting air bag body

• US 6,302,434 B2
• Filed: 09/09/1998
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakajima, Hiroki, Watanabe, Toshimitu
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sliteris, Joselynn Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/150,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20010022441A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/730.2
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• 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

Abstract

A structure for the placement of a head protecting air bag body which is provided from a front pillar to along a roof side rail and expands into a curtain-like form, comprising: an opening trim which is fixed to a mounting portion of a vehicle door opening portion at which the opening trim is mounted to the vehicle door opening portion; and an air bag body expansion guide means which guides the expanding of the air bag body such that the air bag body expands without contacting the mounting portion of the vehicle door opening portion.

Claims

1. A head protecting device for a vehicle occupant, the device comprising:

an air bag assembly structured for installation in a vehicle above a vehicle window and beside a vehicle seat, the air bag assembly including an inflatable air bag configured for expansion in a downward direction along the window in curtain-like form when the air bag is inflated;

an inner panel configured for securely positioning the air bag;

an opening trim secured to a bottom portion of the inner panel, the trim being disposed downstream from the air bag and along the downward direction of expansion; and

an air bag expansion guide for directing expansion of the air bag in order to prevent deformation of the opening trim when the air bag is inflated, wherein the air bag expansion guide is a protruding portion formed when a portion of the inner panel bends.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the protruding portion extends in a direction orthogonal to the air bag direction of expansion.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the protruding portion is formed such that a vehicle transverse direction cross-sectional configuration thereof is trapezoidal.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the air bag is folded and installed along a side roof rail portion and a front pillar portion of the vehicle.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the air bag is installed by being folded in a direction substantially orthogonal to a vehicle window pane.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the inner panel includes a front pillar inner panel and a side roof rail inner panel.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the inner panel is secured on a side member of the vehicle.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the inner panel is secured within a side member of the vehicle.

9. A head protecting device for a vehicle occupant, the device comprising:

an air bag assembly structured for installation in a vehicle above a vehicle door and beside a vehicle seat, the air bag assembly including an inflatable air bag configured for expansion in a downward direction along a door surface in curtain-like form when the air bag is inflated;

an inner panel configured for securely positioning the air bag;

an opening trim secured to a bottom portion of the inner panel, the trim being disposed downstream from the air bag and along the downward direction of expansion; and

an air bag expansion guide for directing expansion of the air bag in order to prevent deformation of the opening trim when the air bag is inflated, the air bag expansion guide and the inner panel being different members.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the protruding portion extends in a direction orthogonal to the air bag direction of expansion.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the protruding portion is formed such that a vehicle transverse direction cross-sectional configuration thereof is trapezoidal.

12. The device according to claim 9, wherein the air bag is installed by being folded in a direction substantially orthogonal to a windowpane of the vehicle.

13. The device according to claim 9, wherein the inner panel includes a front pillar inner panel and a side roof rail inner panel.

14. The device according to claim 9, wherein the inner panel is secured on a side member of the vehicle.

15. The device according to claim 9, wherein the inner panel is secured within a side member of the vehicle.

16. The device according to claim 9, wherein said air bag is folded and installed along side a roof side rail portion and a front pillar portion.