Curtain airbag

• US 7,163,231 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2003
• Issued: 01/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan GK
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kumagai, Masayoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn; David R.
• Application Number:
  US10/248,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20030184057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.3, 280/730.2, 280/728.2, 280/743.1
• 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

Abstract

A curtain airbag includes a curtain airbag body folded to have a long substantially elliptic-cylindrical sectional shape and a cover covering the curtain airbag body. On a side surface of the cover, openings are formed at intervals in the longitudinal direction of a folded formation of the curtain airbag body. Through the openings, the curtain airbag body can be visually observed from outside the cover.

Claims

1. A curtain airbag comprising:

a foldable curtain airbag body extendable along a side wall of a vehicle cabin; and

a cover for covering the folded curtain airbag body, the cover including a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface facing a vehicle occupant and a second side surface opposite the first side surface,

wherein the cover is provided with a plurality of openings formed at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the curtain airbag for observing the folded curtain airbag body within the cover, the openings being located only along the first or second side surface of the cover when the airbag body is in the folded stated, and

wherein the cover is configured to break apart to allow the airbag to deploy.

2. The curtain airbag according to claim 1, wherein the openings are arranged on a surface being visible from the cabin in a state that the curtain airbag is attached to a vehicle body.

3. The curtain airbag according to claim 1, wherein the openings are arranged so as to overlap with at least one streak crease line in the longitudinal direction of the curtain airbag body.

4. The curtain airbag according to claim 1, wherein the openings are longer than are wide in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the curtain airbag body.

5. The curtain airbag according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined intervals between the openings are about 30 mm to about 70 mm.

6. The curtain airbag according to claim 1, wherein the cover further includes a slotted opening only on the top surface of the cover.

7. The curtain airbag according to claim 6, wherein the curtain airbag body includes an auriform affixing portion structured to extend through the slotted opening of the cover.

8. The curtain airbag according to claim 7, wherein the affixing portion is attachable to a portion of the cabin.

9. The curtain airbag according to claim 1, wherein the curtain airbag body is folded to be substantially square in cross section.

10. The curtain airbag according to claim 1, wherein a longitudinal length of each of the plurality of openings is about 20% to about 80% of a height of the folded airbag curtain body.

11. The curtain airbag according to claim 1, wherein a width of each of the plurality of openings is about 50% to about 100% of a height of the folded airbag curtain body.

19. An airbag device comprising:

an airbag according to claim 1; and

an inflator for inflating the airbag.

12. An airbag for a sidewall of a vehicle, comprising:

a folded airbag extending along the side wall of the vehicle; and

a cover for covering the folded airbag, the cover substantially surrounding the airbag and substantially extending about a longitudinal length of the folded airbag, the cover including a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface facing a vehicle occupant and a second side surface opposite the first side surface,

wherein the cover includes a plurality of openings spaced at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the airbag for observing the folded airbag within the cover, the openings being located only along the first or second side surface of the cover when the airbag body is in the folded stated, and

wherein the cover is configured to break apart to allow the airbag to deploy.

13. The airbag according to claim 12, wherein the cover comprises a shaped cloth.

14. The airbag according to claim 13, wherein the cover is cylindrical.

15. The airbag according to claim 12, wherein the openings are spaced apart by about 30 mm to about 70 mm.

16. The airbag according to claim 12, wherein each of the openings comprises an elongated elliptical shape.

17. The airbag according to claim 12, wherein a longitudinal length of each of the plurality of openings is about 20% to about 80% of a height of the folded airbag.

18. The airbag according to claim 12, wherein a width of each of the plurality of openings is about 50% to about 100% of a height of the folded airbag.

20. An airbag device comprising:

an airbag according to claim 12; and

an inflator for inflating the airbag.