Automobile head protection device for vehicle occupant

• US 6,729,645 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2002
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Amamori, Ichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Swenson, Brian L
• Application Number:
  US10/078,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20020125696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: B60/R 2.122, 280/730.2, 280/730.1, 280/736, 280/741, 280/801.2, 280/808, 280/728.2
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0479 without B-pillar or releasable B-pillar, i.e. the pillar is moving with door
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2612 Gas guiding means, e.g. ducts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

An automobile has a head protection device including a curtain-type airbag, wherein a distribution pipe inside the airbag does not interfere with any of projecting members on a peripheral side portion of a vehicle ceiling so that the airbag can be easily installed. The head protection device further includes an inflator for spouting gas into the pipe along a side rail of a vehicle body. The airbag are positioned not to interfere with a belt anchor stalk and a striker mounting bracket. To correspond this, the pipe inserted in the airbag is provided with a curved portion.

Claims

1. An automobile, comprising:

a body portion including a ceiling with a peripheral side portion, a projection member fixed to the peripheral side portion, and a mounting member fixed to the peripheral side portion to extend along an inner side thereof to have the projection member between the mounting member and the peripheral side portion, said mounting member having a portion adjacent the projection member and a portion away from the projection member, said portion adjacent the projection member having a height to the ceiling less than that of the portion away from the projection member, and

a head protection device formed on the mounting member along the peripheral side portion and including a curtain airbag capable of deploying downwardly and having a chamber therein, a gas source for inflating the airbag, and a pipe arranged inside the airbag for distributing gas from the gas source to the chamber inside the airbag, said pipe being arranged along the mounting member and having a curved portion extending along the portion adjacent the projection member for bypassing said projection member.

2. An automobile according to claim 1, wherein said automobile has pillars except for B-pillars.

3. An automobile according to claim 1, wherein said projection member is at least one member selected from the group consisting of a reinforcing member of a roof, a belt anchor stalk for installing a deflective fitting for a seat belt, and a bracket for mounting strikers for bi-parting doors.

4. An automobile according claim 1, wherein said body portion has an inner-cabin-side, said airbag deploying at the inner-cabin-side relative to the projection member.

5. An automobile according to claim 1, wherein said body portion further includes a bolt for fixing the projection member to the peripheral side portion, said mounting member and said head projection device being located above the bolt at the portion adjacent the projection member.

6. An automobile according to claim 5, wherein said curved portion of the pipe is bent laterally and upwardly relative to the body portion.