Placement structure for head-protecting air bag body

• US 6,530,594 B1
• Filed: 11/07/2000
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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): Zeender, F.
• Application Number:
  US09/706,789
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/728.1, 280/728.2, 280/730.1, 280/743.1, 297/216.1, 297/216.12
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0435 associated with the side or roof pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars

Abstract

A jump-up stand is disposed below a folded air bag body and is also provided over a region from a position near a front side of a center pillar to the center pillar. The jump-up stand is formed from a plate material which is bent to have a substantially L-shaped cross sectional configuration and includes a wall portion extending toward an upper end of a center pillar garnish. Accordingly, when the air bag body expands, the air bag body expands toward the interior of a vehicle along the wall portion of the jump-up stand so as to prevent large load from acting on the upper end of the center pillar garnish.

Claims

1. A placement structure for a head-protecting air bag body in a vehicle including a center pillar and a roof side rail, the placement structure comprising:

a center pillar garnish forming an interior side portion of the center pillar of the vehicle, and having an upper end which is disposed lower than the air bag body when the air bag body is folded and in a direction in which the air bag body is to expand; and

a guide adjacent a lower side of the air bag body when the air bag body is folded, the guide extending from a position adjacent the roof side rail toward the upper end of the center pillar garnish, the guide being adapted for fastening to the vehicle and being constructed and arranged to control a direction in which the air bag body expands toward the interior of the vehicle so as to prevent the air bag body from being caught by the upper end of the center pillar garnish during expansion, the guide further being constructed and arranged to substantially retain its shape and position during expansion.

2. A placement structure for a head-protecting air bag body according to claim 1, wherein the center pillar garnish is a decorative member of the center pillar.

3. A placement structure for a head-protecting air bag body according to claim 1, wherein, in a transverse cross-sectional view at the center pillar, the guide is disposed at the lower side of the folded air bag body in a center pillar longitudinal direction, and in the vicinity of the upper end of the center pillar garnish.

4. A placement structure for a head-protecting air bag body according to claim 1, wherein the guide is disposed so as to prevent the air bag body from entering into a region between a body panel of the vehicle and the upper end of the center pillar garnish during expansion.

5. A placement structure for a head-protecting air bag body according to claim 1, further comprising a member for maintaining the air bag body in a folded state.

6. A placement structure for a head-protecting air bag body according to claim 1, wherein the air bag body is accommodated over a region from a center pillar garnish to an outer side portion of a roof head lining in a transverse direction of the vehicle with the air bag body having a plurality of folds, said plurality of folds being unfolded substantially in a vertical direction of the vehicle when the air bag is inflated.

7. A placement structure for a head-protecting air bag body according to claim 6, wherein the outer side portion of the roof head lining in the transverse direction of the vehicle opens toward an interior of the vehicle due to expansion force of the air bag body.

8. A placement structure for a head-protecting air bag body according to claim 1, wherein the air bag body is folded in a direction substantially perpendicular to an interior-side surface of a door glass.

9. A placement structure for a head-protecting air bag body according to claim 1, wherein the air bag body is accommodated in a case.

10. A placement structure for a head-protecting air bag body according to claim 9, wherein a V-shaped notch is formed at an inner side of a corner portion of the case, the corner portion being provided at a lower end of the case at an inner side of the transverse direction of the vehicle.

11. A placement structure for a head-protecting air bag body according to claim 9, wherein the case is, together with the air bag body, fastened and fixed to a side portion of a front pillar inner panel toward the interior of the vehicle and to a side portion of a rail inner panel toward the interior of the vehicle.

12. A placement structure for a head-protecting air bag body in a vehicle including a center pillar and a roof side rail, the placement structure comprising:

a center pillar garnish forming an interior side portion of the center pillar of the vehicle, and having an upper end which is disposed lower than the air bag body when the air bag body is folded; and

a guide formed integrally with the upper end of the center pillar garnish and being adjacent a lower side of the air bag body when the air bag body is folded, the guide extending from the upper end of the center pillar garnish toward the roof side rail and being constructed and arranged to control a direction in which the air bag body expands toward the interior of the vehicle so as to prevent the air bag body from being caught by the upper end of the center pillar garnish during expansion, the guide further being constructed and arranged to substantially retain its shape and position during expansion and having a wall portion extending toward the roof side rail.

13. A placement structure for a head-protecting air bag body according to claim 12, further comprising a member for maintaining the air bag body in a folded state.

14. A placement structure for a head-protecting air bag body according to claim 12, wherein said guide generally covers the upper end of the center pillar garnish.

15. A placement structure for a head-protecting air bag body according to claim 12, wherein the wall portion of said guide is disposed below an air bag case and substantially parallel to the air bag case.

16. A placement structure for a head-protecting air bag body according to claim 12, wherein a connection holder, constructed and arranged to hold a lower edge of a roof head lining is formed between the wall portion and the upper end of the center pillar garnish.

17. A placement structure for a head-protecting air bag body according to claim 16, wherein said connection holder is a concave portion.

18. A head-protecting air bag assembly for use in a vehicle having a passenger compartment with opposite sides, a top, bottom, front, and rear, a roof side rail along the passenger compartment top on at least one side, a center pillar disposed between the passenger compartment front and rear, the center pillar extending along said at least one side, from the passenger compartment bottom towards the passenger compartment top, and a center pillar garnish disposed between the center pillar and the vehicle compartment interior, the center pillar garnish having a mounting seat connected to the roof side rail, the air bag assembly comprising:

a folded air bag having mounting portions fastenable along the roof side rail for mounting the air bag thereto, and when mounted to the roof side rail, the air bag extending from the front of the passenger compartment past said center pillar towards the rear of the passenger compartment above said center pillar garnish;

a sensor disposed for detecting an impact to the vehicle of at least a predetermined magnitude;

an inflator having a nozzle connected in fluid communication to the air bag, the inflator ejecting a gas through the nozzle and causing the air bag to expand when the sensor detects said impact;

a guide adjacent a lower side of the air bag and extending from a position adjacent the roof side rail toward an upper end of the center pillar garnish and disposed between the folded air bag and the mounting seat of the center pillar garnish when the folded air bag is mounted to the roof side rail, the guide directing air bag expansion towards the interior of the vehicle.

19. A head-protecting air bag assembly according to claim 18, wherein the center pillar garnish is a decorative member of the center pillar.

20. A head-protecting air bag assembly according to claim 18, wherein, in a transverse cross-sectional view at the center pillar, the guide is disposed at the lower side of the folded air bag body in a center pillar longitudinal direction, and in the vicinity of the upper end of the center pillar garnish.

21. A head-protecting air bag assembly according to claim 18, wherein the guide is disposed so as to prevent the air bag from pressing directly against the mounting seat of the center pillar garnish during expansion.

22. A head-protecting air bag assembly according to claim 18, wherein the mounting seat of the center pillar garnish connects the upper end of the center pillar garnish to the roof side rail.

23. A head-protecting air bag assembly for use in a vehicle having a passenger compartment with opposite sides, a top, bottom, front, and rear, a roof side rail along the passenger compartment top on at least one side, and a center pillar disposed between the passenger compartment front and rear, the center pillar extending along said at least one side, from the passenger compartment bottom towards the passenger compartment top, the assembly comprising:

a folded air bag having mounting portions fastenable along the roof side rail for mounting the air bag thereto, and when mounted to the roof side rail, the air bag extending from the front of the passenger compartment past said center pillar towards the rear of the passenger compartment above a center pillar garnish;

a sensor disposed for detecting an impact to the vehicle of at least a predetermined magnitude;

an inflator having a nozzle connected in fluid communication to the air bag, the inflator ejecting a gas through the nozzle and causing the air bag to expand when the sensor detects said impact;

the center pillar garnish mountable between the center pillar and the vehicle compartment interior, the center pillar garnish having a mounting seat which connects to the roof side rail when the center pillar garnish is mounted between the center pillar and the vehicle compartment interior;

a guide integrally formed on the center pillar garnish adjacent a lower side of the folded air bag, the guide extending from the upper end of the center pillar garnish toward the roof side rail, the guide including a wall portion extending toward the roof side rail on the upper end of the center pillar garnish and between the mounting seat of the center pillar garnish and the folded air bag when the air bag and the center pillar garnish are mounted to the roof side rail.

24. A head-protecting air bag assembly according to claim 23, wherein the center pillar garnish is a decorative member of the center pillar.

25. A head-protecting air bag assembly according to claim 23, wherein, in a transverse cross-sectional view at the center pillar, the guide is disposed at the lower side of the folded air bag body in a center pillar longitudinal direction, and in the vicinity of the upper end of the center pillar garnish.

26. A head-protecting air bag assembly according to claim 23, wherein the mounting seat of the center pillar garnish connects the upper end of the center pillar garnish to the roof side rail.

27. A head-protecting air bag assembly according to claim 23, wherein said guide is formed integrally with the garnish.

28. A head-protecting air bag assembly according to claim 23, wherein the wall portion of said guide being disposed below the folded air bag.

29. A head-protecting air bag assembly according to claim 23, wherein the vehicle includes a roof head lining having an edge, and the guide includes a connection holder for holding the edge of roof head lining formed at a base of said guide.

30. A head-protecting air bag assembly for use in a vehicle having a passenger compartment with opposite sides, a top, bottom, front, and rear, a roof side rail along the passenger compartment top on at least one side, and a center pillar disposed between the passenger compartment front and rear, the center pillar extending along said at least one side, from the passenger compartment bottom towards the passenger compartment top, the assembly comprising:

a folded air bag having mounting portions fastenable along the roof side rail for mounting the air bag thereto, and when mounted to the roof side rail, the air bag extending from the front of the passenger compartment past said center pillar towards the rear of the passenger compartment above a center pillar garnish;

a sensor disposed for detecting an impact to the vehicle of at least a predetermined magnitude;

an inflator having a nozzle connected in fluid communication to the air bag, the inflator ejecting a gas through the nozzle and causing the air bag to expand when the sensor detects said impact;

the center pillar garnish mountable between the center pillar and the vehicle compartment interior, the center pillar garnish having a mounting seat which connects to the roof side rail when the center pillar garnish is mounted between the center pillar and the vehicle compartment interior; and

a guide integrally formed on the center pillar garnish, the guide including a wall portion extending toward the roof side rail, and disposed on the upper end of the center pillar garnish and between the mounting seat of the center pillar garnish and the folded air bag when the air bag and the center pillar garnish are mounted to the roof side rail;

wherein the vehicle includes a roof head lining having an edge, and the guide includes a connection holder for holding the edge of the roof head lining formed at a base of said guide; and

wherein said connection holder is a recess for receiving the edge of the roof head lining.

31. A head-protecting air bag assembly for use in a vehicle having a passenger compartment with opposite sides, a top, bottom, front, and rear, a roof side rail along the passenger compartment top on at least one side, and a center pillar disposed between the passenger compartment front and rear, the center pillar extending along said at least one side, from the passenger compartment bottom towards the passenger compartment top, the assembly comprising:

a folded air bag having mounting portions fastenable along the roof side rail for mounting the air bag thereto, and when mounted to the roof side rail, the air bag extending from the front of the passenger compartment past said center pillar towards the rear of the passenger compartment above a center pillar garnish;

a sensor disposed for detecting an impact to the vehicle of at least a predetermined magnitude;

an inflator having a nozzle connected in fluid communication to the air bag, the inflator ejecting a gas through the nozzle and causing the air bag to expand when the sensor detects said impact;

the center pillar garnish mountable between the center pillar and the vehicle compartment interior, the center pillar garnish having a mounting seat which connects to the roof side rail when the center pillar garnish is mounted between the center pillar and the vehicle compartment interior; and

a guide integrally formed on the center pillar garnish, the guide including a wall portion extending toward the roof side rail, and disposed on the upper end of the center pillar garnish and between the mounting seat of the center pillar garnish and the folded air bag when the air bag and the center pillar garnish are mounted to the roof side rail;

wherein the guide has sufficient structural strength to resist air bag expansion without substantial deformation of the guide.