Occupant restraint system

• US 6,843,502 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2002
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Saito, Yuichi, Saita, Naohiko, Aoki, Takashi, Ochiai, Fumiharu, Utsumi, Hidetoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Teri P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAYES, BRET C
• Application Number:
  US10/164,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20030006588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/730.1, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• 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 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/04 Padded linings for the vehicle interior ; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings
• 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 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

An occupant restraint system includes a side airbag and an inflator. The airbag includes six cells that are defined by stitching and are adapted to be inflated by a gas generated by the inflator. Among six end parts a to f of these cells, four end parts b to e are positioned on top of or in the vicinity of a center pillar garnish and a rear pillar garnish that include respective impact absorbing ribs. When the airbag is deployed, even if the end parts b to e cannot be inflated sufficiently due to the stitching, thereby exhibiting no impact-absorbing effect, the center pillar garnish and the rear pillar garnish instead exhibit an impact-absorbing effect, thereby protecting an occupant.

Claims

1. An occupant restraint system in a vehicle, said system comprising:

an airbag that is disposed in a folded state along an upper edge of a door opening of a vehicle body;

an inflator in the vehicle comprising a gas generator which generates a gas when the vehicle is involved in a collision, the gas operable to inflate the airbag so that the airbag is deployed in a curtain shape along an inner face of a side of an occupant compartment; and

at least one impact absorbing member;

wherein in the deployed configuration thereof, the airbag comprises a plurality of cells that are defined by a connecting part and are inflated by the gas generated by the inflator, said impact absorbing member comprises a structurally reinforced pillar garnish which is formed with impact absorbing ribs on a face thereof opposite from said occupant compartment, and at least one end parts of the cells is positioned in the vicinity of said impact absorbing member.

2. The occupant restraint system of claim 1, wherein said cells are non-parallel to one another in the deployed configuration of the airbag.

3. The occupant restraint system of claim 1, wherein the airbag further comprises an upper communicating passage in the deployed configuration thereof, said upper communicating passage being in fluid communication with each of said cells.

4. The occupant restraint system of claim 1, wherein the airbag has a reinforced area formed by stitching sewn in the shape of a loop adjacent an end portion of each of said cells.

5. An occupant restraint system in a vehicle, said system comprising:

an airbag that is disposed in a folded state along an upper edge of a door opening of a vehicle body; and

an inflator comprising a gas generator which generates a gas when the vehicle is involved in a collision, the gas inflating the airbag so that the airbag is deployed in a curtain shape along an inner side face of an occupant compartment;

wherein the airbag comprises a plurality of cells that are inflated by the gas generated by the inflator, and wherein end parts of the cells are non-vertically aligned relative to a fold line of the airbag, the fold line corresponding to an upper edge of the airbag and extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle such that timing of the gas generated by the inflator flowing into each of said cells is staggered.

6. The occupant restraint system of claim 5, wherein said cells are non-parallel to one another in the deployed configuration of the airbag.

7. The occupant restraint system of claim 5, wherein the airbag further comprises an upper communicating passage in the deployed configuration thereof, said upper communicating passage being in fluid communication with each of said cells.

8. The occupant restraint system of claim 5, wherein the airbag has a reinforced area formed by stitching sewn in the shape of a loop adjacent an end portion of each of said cells.

17. The occupant restraint system of claim 5, wherein the end parts of said cells are positioned alternately at higher positions and lower positions relative to said fold line of the airbag.

9. An occupant restraint system comprising:

a side airbag for placement in a folded state along an upper edge of a door opening of a vehicle body;

an inflator comprising a gas generator which generates a gas when the vehicle is involved in a collision, the gas inflating the airbag so that the airbag is deployed in a curtain shape along an inner side face of an occupant compartment; and

at least one impact absorbing member for installation in said vehicle adjacent the airbag;

wherein the airbag comprises a plurality of cells that are defined by a connecting part and are inflatable by the gas generated by the inflator, said impact absorbing member comprises a structurally reinforced pillar garnish which is formed with impact absorbing ribs on a face thereof opposite from said occupant compartment, and when the airbag is deployed, at least one end part of the cells is positioned in the vicinity of said impact absorbing member.

10. The occupant restraint system of claim 9, wherein said cells are non-parallel to one another in the deployed configuration of the airbag.

11. The occupant restraint system of claim 9, wherein the airbag further comprises an upper communicating passage in the deployed configuration thereof, said upper communicating passage being in fluid communication with each of said cells.

12. The occupant restraint system of claim 9, wherein the airbag has a reinforced area formed by stitching sewn in the shape of a loop adjacent an end portion of each of said cells.

13. An occupant restraint system comprising:

a side airbag for placement in a folded state along an upper edge of a door opening of a vehicle body; and

an inflator comprising a gas generator which generates a gas when the vehicle is involved in a collision, the gas inflating the airbag so that the airbag is deployed in a curtain shape along an inner side face of an occupant compartment;

wherein the airbag comprises a plurality of cells that are inflatable by the gas generated by the inflator, and upon deployment of the airbag, the cells comprise end parts that are non-vertically aligned relative to a fold line of the airbag, the fold line corresponding to an upper edge of the airbag and extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle such that timing of the gas generated by the inflator flowing into each of said cells is staggered.

14. The occupant restraint system of claim 13, wherein said cells are non-parallel to one another in the deployed configuration of the airbag.

15. The occupant restraint system of claim 13, wherein the airbag further comprises an upper communicating passage in the deployed configuration thereof, said upper communicating passage being in fluid communication with each of said cells.

16. The occupant restraint system of claim 13, wherein the airbag has a reinforced area formed by stitching sewn in the shape of a loop adjacent an end portion of each of said cells.

18. The occupant restraint system of claim 13, wherein the end parts of said cells are positioned alternately at higher positions and lower positions relative to said fold line of the airbag.