Arrangement and construction of crew protective device for automobile

• US 6,333,515 B1
• Filed: 07/31/1998
• Issued: 12/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Tajima, Hiroyuki, Shibata, Minoru, Nagai, Yutaka, Totani, Chiharu, Kubota, Yasushi, Nakajima, Hiroki, Tanaka, Tadao, Takahashi, Goro, Kobayashi, Fumitake, Aono, Masamichi, Noto, Katsunori, Ohtsuka, Takuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Toan C
• Application Number:
  US09/101,716
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/730.1, 280/743.1, 280/728.1, 280/748, 280/736
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0206 Arrangements of fasteners and clips specially adapted for attaching inner vehicle liners or mouldings devices for fastening or securing F16B
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/025 Pillars; Roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/06 Sealing strips sealing arrangements for vehicle windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors, or similar devices B60J10/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0281 made of a plurality of visible parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0293 Connection or positioning of adjacent panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0414 using energy absorbing ribs
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0435 associated with the side or roof pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2163 with energy absorbing or elastic means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/215 characterised by the covers for the inflatable member B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/216 comprising tether means for limitation of cover motion during deployment

Abstract

A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle, which can prevent a pillar garnish from scattering when an air bag installed in a front pillar portion is expanded, is provided. An air bag 16 is housed within a space formed by a front pillar main body 38 and a pillar garnish 40 in a front pillar portion 20. When the air bag 16 expands, the pillar garnish 40 is pressed by an expanding pressure of the air bag 16, so that an opening for expanding the air bag 16 is formed between the front pillar main body 38 and the pillar garnish 40, and the air bag 16 expands into a vehicle cabin through the opening. since a non-expanding portion is formed at the air bag 16 and a hinge portion 46 is formed at the pillar garnish 40, the expanding pressure applied to the pillar garnish 40 when the air bag 16 expand is low, so that the pillar garnish 40 can be easily opened through the hinge portion 46.

Claims

1. An automotive vehicle occupant protection apparatus for an automotive vehicle having an interior compartment, a pillar portion, a vehicle body side portion, and a roof side rail, said apparatus comprising:

an inflator for jetting gas upon an occurrence of a side collision;

a bag operatively connected to said inflator so as to expand during jetting of the gas, said bag being housed in a folded state and constructed and arranged to permit placement thereof between the pillar portion and the roof side rail so that expansion occurs beneath the roof side rail and within the interior compartment;

a pillar garnish including a trim member disposable at an inner side of the pillar portion and extending in a longitudinal direction by a sufficient length to cover at least a portion of said bag in the folded state; and

a deformable member hingedly connected to said pillar garnish and provided in the vicinity of said bag, said deformable member being (i) formed of a portion of said pillar garnish and (ii) configured to form an opening for expansion of said bag without breaking or scattering said pillar garnish;

wherein the deformable member includes an unhinged end portion positioned in the vicinity of the vehicle body side portion, the unhinged end portion moving away from the vehicle body side portion when the bag starts to expand.

2. A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said scatter preventing means is a non-expanding portion of said bag which is positioned at a region corresponding to said pillar garnish at a time when said bag expands.

3. An automotive vehicle occupant protection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said deformable member has an unfolding portion configured to unfold during expansion of said bag in order to form the opening, the unfolding portion including the unhinged end portion.

4. A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the intermediate portion in the widthwise direction of said pillar garnish is a weakened portion.

5. An automotive vehicle occupant protection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the unfolding portion is made thinner than the other portions of said pillar garnish.

6. A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said pillar garnish is formed so as to include a base member, which is positioned at a vehicle cabin outer side, and an outer skin, which is positioned at a vehicle cabin inner side of the base member, and

the base member is formed by a resin which is softer at one widthwise direction side of the pillar garnish widthwise direction intermediate portion than at the other widthwise direction side, the one widthwise direction side is the unfolding portion.

7. A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said pillar garnish is formed so as to include a base member, which is positioned at a vehicle cabin outer side, and an outer skin, which is positioned at a vehicle cabin inner side of the base member, and

the base member is separated into a first portion fixed to a pillar main body of the pillar portion and a second portion forming the opening for expansion of said bag at a time when said bag expands, the first portion and the second portion are connected by a intermediate member interposed between the outer skins or the outer skin and the base member, and the second portion is made the unfolding portion.

8. A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said pillar garnish is formed so as to include a base member,

said pillar garnish is separated into a base portion, which is fixed to a pillar main body of the pillar portion, and a bag housing portion, which houses said bag, and

a front end portion of the bag housing portion is fixed to the pillar main body, a bag unfolding starting point region provided at the bag housing portion is a weakened portion, and a portion between said weakened portion and a widthwise direction end portion of the housing portion in which the opening for expansion of said bag is formed is the unfolding portion.

9. A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said pillar garnish is formed so as to include a base member, which is positioned at a vehicle cabin outer side, and an outer skin, which is positioned at a vehicle cabin inner side of the base member, and

a whole of the base member is formed by a soft material, whereby the unfolding portion is formed.

10. A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said scatter preventing means is mounted to said pillar garnish along the longitudinal direction thereof, and is provided with extending portions respectively extending from both longitudinal direction end portions of said pillar garnish, and the extending portions are formed by a band-like strap fixed to a pillar main body of the pillar portion.

11. A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said scatter preventing means has a predetermined strength, and is mounted to said pillar garnish along a surface thereof, and is provided with extending portions respectively extending from both longitudinal direction end portions of said pillar garnish, and the extending portions are formed by a net fixed to a pillar main body of the pillar portion.

12. A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said scatter preventing means has an extending portion provided at said pillar garnish and extending toward a window shield glass and fixed to a body of a pillar main body of the pillar portion, and said scatter preventing means has a hinge portion provided at said pillar garnish so as to form the opening for expansion of said bag.

13. A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said pillar garnish is disposed so as to be separated from a pillar main body of the pillar portion by a predetermined distance toward a vehicle cabin inner side, and

said scatter preventing means is provided with bridges, which are provided in vicinities of both longitudinal direction end portions at the reverse surface of said pillar garnish, and a strap, which connects said bridges and a predetermined region of said pillar main body and which has a distance longer than a distance between each of said bridges and the predetermined region.

14. A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the strap is wound around the bridge, and a recess portion for centering a wound portion of the strap around the bridge is provided at an end portion of the bridge which is a region from to which a load is directly applied to the bridge from the wound portion of the strap around the bridge when said bag expands.

15. A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the strap is wound around the bridge, and at least one opening for absorbing an energy is provided in a vicinity of an end portion of the bridge which is a region to which a load is directly applied to the bridge from a wound portion of the strap around the bridge when said bag expands.

16. A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to claim 13, wherein in the structure in which the strap is wound around the bridge, the bridge is layered in plural stages, the wound portion of the strap is divided into plural portions in accordance with the number of the plural stages, and the respective divisional portions of the wound portion are wound around the respective stages of the bridge.

17. A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to claim 13, wherein a mounting seat of a temporarily fixing means, for temporarily fixing said pillar garnish to a pillar main body of the pillar portion, is integrally provided at a region of the bridge opposing the opposing pillar main body of the pillar portion.

18. A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to claim 13, wherein an engaging member capable of engaging with the bridge is mounted to an end portion of the strap, and the engaging member is engaged with the bridge so that the one end portion of the strap and said pillar garnish are connected to each other.

19. A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said pillar garnish includes at least a base member, and said scatter preventing means is the base member which is formed by a non-break material, and

said structure of arranging a vehicle occupant protecting apparatus further comprises:

a fixing member for directly fixing the base member to a pillar main body of the pillar portion; and

a cap mounted to a recess portion formed on a design surface of said pillar garnish, and covering a head portion of said fixing member.

20. A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to claim 19 further comprising fall-out preventing means for connecting the cap to said the member.

21. A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said pillar garnish includes at least a base member, and said scatter preventing means is formed by the base member which is formed by a non-break material, engaging means for engaging the base member with a pillar main body of the pillar portion, and an engagement force increasing portion provided at the engaging means and enabling deformation of said pillar garnish in a direction in which engagement between the base member and the pillar main body of the pillar portion strengthened when said bag expand.

22. A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said scatter preventing means comprises:

engaging and attaching means for engaging and attaching said pillar garnish and a pillar main body of the pillar portion in such a manner that said pillar garnish can come out of place from the pillar main body of the pillar portion;

a bridge provided on at a reverse surface of said pillar garnish and having a guide hole extending through in a longitudinal direction of the pillar portion; and

a strap inserted through the guide hole so as to be supported by said pillar garnish, both longitudinal direction end portions of the strap being fixed to the pillar main body of the pillar portion, and the strap being set to a length of forming said bag projecting opening when said bag is expands and the engagement and attachment between the pillar garnish and the pillar main body of the pillar portion is released.

23. A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to claim 22, wherein the bridge is provided in vicinities of both end portions and in a vicinity of a longitudinal direction center portion along the longitudinal direction of said pillar garnish.

24. A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said scatter preventing means is provided with a strap whose longitudinal direction center portion is integrally formed with said pillar garnish along a longitudinal direction of said pillar garnish and whose both longitudinal direction end portions are apart from said pillar garnish and are fixed to a pillar main body of a pillar portion, and

the structure of arranging a vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle further comprises:

an inserting portion formed in a vehicle front side end portion of said pillar garnish;

an opening portion formed in an insert of an instrument panel and into which said inserting portion is inserted; and

an engaging portion formed at said inserting portion, and due to said engaging portion engaging with an edge portion of said opening portion, said pillar garnish can be temporarily placed at a tilted position at which said pillar garnish is tilted at a predetermined angle from a normal assembly position and an extending portion of the strap can be fixed to the pillar main body of the front portion.

25. A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said pillar garnish covers a vehicle front side of said pillar portion and is formed by a vehicle front side support portion, which is disposed at a vehicle front side and is supported by the pillar portion, and an unfolding portion, which is disposed at a vehicle rear side and covers said bag and has one end continuous with said support portion and another end which is a free end, and

a boundary portion between the support portion and the unfolding portion becomes a hinge for the unfolding portion when the bag expends, and the bag expands from a portion between the free end and the pillar portion.

26. A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to claim 25, wherein said bag is disposed in a space substantially defined by the unfolding portion and the pillar portion.

27. A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to claim 25, wherein the support portion is fixed to the pillar portion with a space there between, and the free end of the unfolding portion is adjacent to the pillar portion.

28. A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to claim 25, wherein a rigidity of at least one of the unfolding portion and the boundary portion is set to be lower than a rigidity of the support portion.

29. A structure of arranging an vehicle occupant protecting apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to claim 25, wherein a thin portion having a recessed groove shape is formed in the boundary portion.

30. The automotive vehicle occupant protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pillar garnish includes a fixing portion attached to the vehicle body side portion;

wherein the vehicle body side portion is positioned in the vicinity of a vehicle door opening;

wherein the deformable member includes a hinged end portion, the hinged end portion (i) being connected to the fixing portion and (ii) positioned at a greater distance from the vehicle door opening than the unhinged end portion;

wherein the fixing portion, the vehicle body side portion, and the deformable member form a space; and

wherein the bag is disposed in the space.