Window air bag system and method of mounting the same

• US 7,059,629 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2002
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Takahara, Isamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US10/478,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20040130129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,463 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/730.1, 280/728.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• 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 2021/23386 External tether 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 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

In a window air bag system in which an air bag (10) designed to be inflated into the shape of a curtain in a lateral region of a passenger compartment by being supplied with gas from an inflator (22) is stored in a folded state along a pillar portion (32) and a roof side rail (31). A hollow energy-absorbing member (51, 52) is disposed along a longitudinal direction of the p portion (32) and the roof side rail (31) in such a manner as to be contiguous to a position where the air bag (10) is stored state between the pillar portion (32) and pillar garnish (42) for covering the pillar portion (32) and between the roof side a side rail garnish (41) for covering the roof side rail (31). The direction of deployment of the air bag (10) can thus be st reducing the amount of the garnish (42, 41) protruding into the passenger compartment, spaciousness of the passenger compartment, good visibility, and considerable ease with which a passenger can get on and off the vehicle can be guaranteed.

Claims

1. A window air bag system, comprising:

an air bag which is stored in a folded state along a pillar portion of a vehicle body and a roof side rail and is designed to be inflated into the shape of a curtain in a lateral region of a passenger compartment by being supplied with gas from an inflator; and

a hollow energy-absorbing member which is disposed along a longitudinal direction of the pillar portion between the pillar portion and a garnish for covering the pillar portion in such a manner as to be contiguous to a position where the air bag is stored in a folded state between the pillar portion and the garnish,

wherein the pillar portion is an A-pillar or a C-pillar and a portion of the air bag stored in a folded state in the pillar portion is made from a base cloth having no inflatable portion, such that said portion is able to pass through a gap between said pillar and a pillar garnish easily and quickly so as to reduce the time required until completion of deployment of the air bag;

wherein a guide surface for guiding the air bag during deployment of the air bag is formed on one lateral surface of the energy-absorbing member; and

wherein said portion of the air bag stored in a folded state in said pillar portion is disposed substantially parallel to the guide surface.

2. The window air bag system according to claim 1, wherein

the portion of the air bag stored in a folded state in said pillar portion is disposed in such a direction as to intersect with the guide surface.

3. The window air bag system according to claim 1, wherein

the portion of the air bag stored in a folded state in said pillar portion is disposed apart from the guide surface.

4. The window air bag system according to claim 1, wherein

the portion of the air bag stored in a folded state in said pillar portion is disposed in contact with the guide surface.

5. The window air bag system according to claim 1, wherein

the guide surface is inclined with respect to a body-side mounting surface of the energy-absorbing member.

6. The window air bag system according to claim 1, wherein

the energy-absorbing member is a hollow member made from an extrudable metal or a hollow member made from paper and metal foil.

8. The window air bag system according to claim 1, wherein:

the hollow energy-absorbing member is disposed on a portion of the roof side rail above an upper end portion of a B-pillar garnish and below the folded air bag;

the energy-absorbing member is provided with a guide surface for ensuring deployment of the air bag into the passenger compartment; and

the guide surface is inclined with respect to a body-side mounting surface of the energy-absorbing member.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein:

fitting the hollow energy-absorbing members along the longitudinal direction of the pillar portion of the vehicle body comprises fitting at least one of the hollow energy-absorbing members on a portion of a roof side rail above an upper end portion of a B-pillar garnish and below the folded air bag; and

the method further comprises;

providing the energy-absorbing member with a guide surface for ensuring deployment of the air bag into the passenger compartment; and

inclining the guide surface with respect to a body-side mounting surface of the energy-absorbing member.

7. A method of mounting a window air bag system in which an air bag designed to be inflated into the shape of a curtain in a lateral region of a passenger compartment by being supplied with gas from an inflator is stored in a folded state along a pillar portion of a vehicle body, comprising the steps of:

fitting hollow energy-absorbing members along a longitudinal direction of the pillar portion of the vehicle body; and

fitting the air bag to the vehicle body after the energy-absorbing members have been fitted to the vehicle body; and

storing a portion of the air bag in a folded state in the pillar portion, said portion of the air bag made from a base cloth having no inflatable portion, such that said portion of the air bag is able to pass through a gap between said pillar portion and a pillar garnish easily and quickly so as to reduce the time required until completion of deployment of the air bag.