Head protecting airbag device

• US 7,077,424 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2003
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Inoue, Michio
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US10/453,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20030230878A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/749, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23576 Sewing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2612 Gas guiding means, e.g. ducts
• 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 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10

Abstract

A head protecting airbag device comprises an airbag and a gas feeder member. The airbag includes a main portion, an inlet port and a plurality of mounting portions. The inlet port is connected above an intermediate pillar portion to a gas feeder so as to admit inflating gas downward into a gas receiving portion of the main portion. The mounting portions are composed of a vicinity mounting portion arranged close to the inlet port, and general mounting portions. A recess is formed between the vicinity mounting portion and the inlet port. This recess substantially enlarges the length of the outer peripheral edge of the vicinity mounting portion facing the inlet port and the outer peripheral edge of the inlet port facing the vicinity mounting portion, thereby increasing the possible separation of the vicinity mounting portion and the inlet port.

Claims

1. A head protecting airbag device in a vechicle comprising:

an airbag folded and housed above an intermediate pillar portion arranged between a front pillar portion and a rear pillar portion of a vehicle, for covering, when inflated, the interior side of said intermediate pillar portion and windows to the front and rear of said intermediate pillar portion; and

a gas feeder member formed in a rigid rod member to be arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and having a gas discharge port formed near one end for discharging airbag inflating gas,

wherein said airbag includes;

a main portion having a gas receiving portion to be inflated by admitting the inflating gas;

an inlet port connected to said gas feeder member; and

a plurality of mounting portions for mounting said airbag to a body of the vechicle,

wherein said main portion can cover, when completely inflated, the interior side of said intermediate pillar portion and said windows,

wherein said inlet port is arranged above said intermediate pillar portion and on the upper edge of said main portion when it is inflated, protruding upward so as to introduce the inflating gas downward into said gas receiving portion,

wherein said mounting portions are arranged by the upper edge of said main portion when it is inflated, protruding upward,

wherein said mounting portions in said airbag include a vicinity mounting portion arranged close to said inlet port, and other general mounting portions,

wherein a downward recess is formed between said vicinity mounting portion and said inlet port, and

wherein said recess substantially can enlarge the length of the outer peripheral edge of said vicinity mounting portion facing said inlet port and the outer peripheral edge of said inlet port facing said vicinity mounting portion, thereby to increase the possible separation of said vicinity mounting portion and said inlet port apart from each other.

2. A head protecting airbag device comprising:

an airbag folded and housed above an intermediate pillar portion arranged between a front pillar portion and a rear pillar portion of a vehicle, for covering, when inflated, the interior side of said intermediate pillar portion and windows to the front and rear of said intermediate pillar portion; and

a gas feeder member formed in a rigid rod member to be arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and having a gas discharge port formed near one end for discharging airbag inflating gas,

wherein said airbag includes;

a main portion having a gas receiving portion to be inflated by admitting the inflating gas;

an inlet port connected to said gas feeder member; and

a plurality of mounting portions for mounting said airbag to a body of the vehicle,

wherein said main portion can cover, when completely inflated, the interior side of said intermediate pillar portion and said windows,

wherein said inlet port is arranged above said intermediate pillar portion and on the upper edge of said main portion inflated, protruding upward so as to introduce the inflating gas downward into said gas receiving portion,

wherein said mounting portions are so arranged on the side of the upper edge of said main portion inflated, as to protrude upward,

wherein said mounting portions in said airbag include a vicinity mounting portion arranged adjacent to said inlet port, and other general mounting portions, and wherein an edge of the vicinity mounting portion nearest to the inlet port and an edge of the inlet port nearest to the vicinity mounting portion are both located in an area that is directly above the intermediate pillar portion, and

wherein said vicinity mounting portion, said inlet port and said gas feeder member are offset from the center of the intermediate pillar portion in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

3. An hollow-woven airbag folded and housed in a vehicle for being inflated by admitting inflating gas from an inflator, comprising:

a gas receiving portion, two wall portions of which are constructed to seperate from each other by admitting the inflating gas; and

a non-inlet portion constructed by joining the two wall portions, allowing no inflating gas to pass,

wherein said non-inlet portion comprises the outer peripheral edge of said airbag arranged on the peripheral edge of said gas receiving portion,

wherein said outer peripheral edge portion includes an inner corner portion having a recessed shape for receiving tension in a expanding direction when said airbag is inflated, and

wherein said inner corner portion is formed of a woven texture by which it is more extendible than the other portions of said outer peripheral edge portion.

4. An airbag according to claim 3,

wherein said gas receiving portion includes an inlet port fixed on a body of the vehicle, and a main portion which is inflated by admitting the inflating gas from said inlet port, and

wherein said inner corner portion is arranged at a boundary portion between said inlet port and said main portion.

5. An airbag according to claim 4,

wherein said inlet port is formed to bend as it protrudes from said main portion, and

wherein said inner corner portion is arranged on the inner peripheral side of the bent portion.

6. An airbag according to claim 3, wherein a generally arc shaped cut-away portion is formed in the recessed outer peripheral edge in said inner corner portion.