Occupant restraint system

• US 7,159,896 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2004
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ochiai, Fumiharu, Fukuda, Takeru, Kawajiri, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sliteris; Joselynn Y.
• Application Number:
  US10/802,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20040201207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• 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 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

A belt-like protruding portion 34d extending longitudinally is provided on an air bag cover 34 which covers a folded air bag 21. In the event that the air bag 21 is twisted when the air bag 21 is mounted on a vehicle body, a longitudinal dimension of the air bag 21 is contracted largely, whereby an interval between adjacent mounting portions 21a is decreased, thereby the fixing of the air bag 21 being disabled. As a result, the fixing of the air bag 21 in the twisted state is prevented assuredly, and the smooth deployment of the air bag 21 is enabled. A rod-like twist preventing member may be fixed longitudinally along the folded air bag 21 instead of the belt-like protruding portion 34d.

Claims

1. An occupant restraint system, comprising:

an air bag having a folded state and an unfolded state, said air bag having mounting portions provided longitudinally at a plurality of locations, said mounting portions being fixable to a side portion of a roof;

an air bag cover covering the air bag in the folded state;

a belt formed from a first extending portion extending from said air bag and a second extending portion extending from said air bag cover, said first and second extending portions being fastened together with a sewing so as to form said belt with said first and second extending portions extending away from said sewing; and

an inflator for generating gas during a collision of a vehicle to expand said air bag to the unfolded state;

wherein said air bag is inflatable to be deployed as a curtain along an inner side of a passenger compartment by gas generated from the inflator, and

wherein a twisting of the air bag in the folded state is prevented by said belt which extends longitudinally along an external portion of said air bag.

2. The occupant restraint system as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the width of the belt is equal to or greater than 10 mm.

3. The occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein

the belt is provided with openings such that an upper edge above the openings is connected by bridge portions.

4. The occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein

the belt is broken by a breaking portion, and

a bracket provided on the vehicle couples with the belt on both opposite edges of the breaking portion.

5. The occupant restraint system according to claims 1, wherein brackets are provided on the vehicle,

the mounting portions are directly fixed between both sides of the belt, and

the belt with the mounting portions are fastened to the brackets.