Airbag apparatus and related method

• US 7,114,744 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2004
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Sunabashiri, Yukisada
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US10/779,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20040164530A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/730.1, 280/743.1, 280/728.1
• 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 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

An airbag apparatus for a vehicle is provided with an airbag whose upper end portion is fixed to a vehicle body over a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body between an upper portion of the vehicle body and an interior member in a vehicle compartment and which is adapted to develop in a curtain-like shape downwardly, an inflator adapted to generate gas fed to the airbag, a folded portion formed by folding the airbag, and a turned-back portion formed by turning back a portion of the airbag positioned between the upper end portion and the folded portion so as to be provided with a first turned-back portion positioned on the side of the vehicle compartment and a second turned-back portion positioned between the first turned-back portion and the folded portion. At least one of the first turned-back portion and the second turned-back portion is turned in between the folded portion and the vehicle body.

Claims

1. An airbag apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

an airbag whose upper end portion is fixed to a vehicle body over a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body between an upper portion of the vehicle body and an interior member in a vehicle compartment and which is adapted to develop downwardly in a curtain-like shape;

an inflator adapted to generate gas to be fed to the airbag;

a folded portion formed by folding the airbag;

a first turned-back portion extending from an upper end portion of the airbag to a side of the folded portion of the airbag facing the vehicle compartment; and

a second turned-back portion extending from a lower end of the first turned-back portion to a side of the folded portion facing the vehicle body.

2. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second turned-back portion is set to be longer than the first turned-back portion such that an end of the second turned-back portion is positioned between the folded portion and the vehicle body.

3. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the airbag has a plurality of inflating chambers arranged in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and a gas introducing passage which communicates with inlets at upper ends of the inflating chambers, respectively, and which extends along the longitudinal direction, and wherein the second turned-back portion includes the inlets of the inflating chambers.

4. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the folded portion has a rolled shape obtained by winding the airbag from a lower end of the airbag toward a side portion of the vehicle compartment and folding the same.

5. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first turned-back portion and the second turned-back portion press and open the interior member by inflation of the first turned-back portion and the second turned-back portion prior to inflation of the folded portion.

6. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the folded portion inflates so as to be close to a side portion of the vehicle compartment.

7. A winding method of an airbag for a vehicle whose upper end portion is fixed to a vehicle body along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle between an upper portion of the vehicle body and an interior member in a vehicle compartment and which is adapted to develop downward in a curtain shape, the method comprising:

folding the airbag to form a folded portion;

turning back a portion of the airbag between the upper end portion of the airbag and the folded portion to form a first turned-back portion positioned on a side of the vehicle compartment; and

turning back a portion of the airbag between the first turned-back portion and the folded portion to form a second turned-back portion being turned in between the folded portion and the vehicle body.

8. An undeveloped airbag assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

an undeveloped airbag whose upper end portion is adapted to be fixed in a vehicle compartment, the airbag being adapted to develop along a given vector away from a center of mass of the undeveloped airbag in a curtain-like shape, the undeveloped airbag including;

a folded portion formed by folding the airbag;

a first turned-back portion extending from an upper end portion of the airbag to a first side of the folded portion of the airbag; and

a second turned-back portion extending from a lower end of the first turned-back portion to a second side of the folded portion about opposite the first side;

wherein the airbag assembly is adapted to hold the folded portion, the first turned-back portion, and the second turned-back portion in their respective positions at least until airbag development.

9. The undeveloped airbag assembly of claim 8, wherein the second turned-back portion extends around about a majority of an outer circumference of the folded portion.

10. The undeveloped airbag assembly of claim 9, wherein the folded portion is spirally folded.