Curtain air bag device

• US 7,025,377 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2003
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Ryu, Seung Soo
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US10/608,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20040113401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/728.2
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• 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 21/2176 the air bag components being completely enclosed in a soft or semi-rigid housing or cover

Abstract

A curtain air bag device protects passengers within a car by preventing a front pillar trim from being detached from a front pillar panel upon the deployment of a curtain air bag. The front pillar trim is attached to a flexible curtain air bag back plate in which a curtain air bag is embedded. A space is provided through which the curtain air bag deploys. The front pillar trim is attached to the front pillar by a simple fixing means, such as a screw.

Claims

1. A curtain air bag device, comprising:

a curtain air bag back plate including a first body into which a curtain air bag is provided, the first body having an end which is cut in a direction where the curtain air bag is deployed and one or more flexible first coupling end portions each extended from an edge of a side of the first body and having a first through hole, a cut part, and a first coupling hole;

a front pillar trim including a plurality of detachable mounting support parts formed on one side thereof, coupling pins secured on one end thereof to correspond to the detachable mounting support parts and detachably coupled to a front pillar panel on the other end thereof by passing through the cut part and the first coupling hole corresponding thereto, and a coupling support part protruded on one side adjacent to a second through hole formed on each end of the front pillar trim;

a plurality of mounting support members each including a hollow type of second body having a screw coupling hole formed on one surface thereof and opened on the other surface thereof and a coupling end portion having an end extended from an edge of a side of the second body, the end having a coupling hole formed thereon; and

a plurality of fixing parts each including a first coupling bolt passed through the coupling hole corresponding thereto to be coupled to the coupling support part, and a second coupling bolt passed sequentially through the second through hole, the screw coupling hole, and the first through hole corresponding thereto in such a manner as to be inserted into a corresponding portion of the front pillar panel.

2. The curtain air bag device according to claim 1, wherein the first body of the curtain air bag back plate has a section in the shape of a trapezoid such that the length of one surface on which the cut part is formed is substantially shorter than that of the opposite surface.

3. The curtain air bag device according to claim 1, wherein the first through hole is provided with a metal reinforcing member for enhancing the rigidity of the first through hole, the reinforcing member includes a hollow type of body inserted into the inside of the first through hole and a locking end portion that is placed on the surface of the first coupling end portion in such a manner that the outer peripheral surface of one end of the hollow type of body has an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the first through hole.

4. The curtain air bag device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling end portion of each of the mounting support members is coupled to each of the coupling support parts by means of each of the first coupling bolts, and the second body of each of the mounting support members is disposed in such a manner that the center thereof is on the same line as the center of each of the second through holes.

5. The curtain air bag device according to claim 1, further comprising a stopper adapted to be inserted from the opposite direction of the front pillar trim on which the mounting supporting members are placed such that the second through hole is opened and closed, the stopper having a plurality of locking ends formed on one side thereof in such a manner as to be passed through the second through hole and locked to the one side of the front pillar trim.

6. A curtain air bag device, comprising:

a front pillar trim defining at least one hole therethrough and including at least one detachable mounting support member;

a coupling pin coupled on a first end with said at least one detachable mounting support member and coupling on a second end with a front pillar of a vehicle;

at least one mounting support member coupling the front pillar trim with the front pillar;

a flexible curtain air bag back plate configured to couple between said front pillar trim and the front pillar by said coupling pins and said mounting support member; and

an air bag chamber comprising a flexible substantially box shaped chamber open along one side wherein said air bag chamber is coupled with said flexible air bag back plate.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said air bag chamber is substantially trapezoidal in cross section.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein said flexible curtain air bag back plate further comprises reinforcing members reinforcing the coupling between said mounting support member and said flexible curtain air bag back plate.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said reinforcing member is substantially a metal washer shaped device.