Occupant protection system

• US 7,195,276 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2004
• Issued: 03/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Higuchi, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris; Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEBB, TIFFANY LOUISE
• Application Number:
  US10/878,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20050023806A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.1, 280/728.2, 280/730.1, 280/738, 280/729, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• 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

An occupant protection system for protecting an occupant includes a deployable body for deploying downwardly from above in a vehicle cabin into a vertically and laterally deployed state. A bag is provided to the deployable body to be inflated to a predetermined size for receiving the occupant after the deployable body deploys downwardly by a predetermined length. A gas generator is attached to the bag for inflating the bag.

Claims

1. An occupant protection system for protecting an occupant, comprising:

a gas generator for ejecting gas,

a tubular duct connected to the gas generator and extending above a vehicle cabin to cross in a width direction thereof, said tubular duct having a plurality of vent holes oriented downwardly therefrom, and

a deployable body for deploying downwardly from above into the vehicle cabin in a vertically and laterally deployed state, said deployable body comprising a bag to be inflated to a predetermined size for receiving the occupant after the bag deploys downwardly by a predetermined length, said bag including a plurality of ducts connected to and communicating with the respective vent holes of the tubular duct, columnar inflatable portions extending vertically to directly communicate with the respective ducts, and beam-shaped inflatable portions extending laterally to intersect and communicate with the columnar inflatable portions so that the deployed body extends vertically by the columnar inflatable portions immediately when the gas is ejected to the deployed body, and then the bag is inflated.

2. An occupant protection system according to claim 1, further comprising inflation-thickness limitation means for limiting a thickness of the bag when the bag is inflated.

3. An occupant protection system according to claim 1, further comprising a joint for joining left and right sides of the deployable body with left and right side rims of the cabin ceiling extending toward a rear of the vehicle relative to the deployable body or portions connected to the left and right side rims.

4. An occupant protection system according to claim 1, wherein said bag includes a vent hole for discharging gas from the bag.

5. An occupant protection system according to claim 1, wherein said deployable body comprises front and rear panels joined together at peripheries thereof, and connecting portions at middle area thereof.

6. An occupant protection system according to claim 5, wherein said connecting portions connect the front and rear panels, and extend laterally to space apart vertically and laterally to define the columnar inflatable portions and beamshaped inflatable portions.

7. An occupant protection system according to claim 6, wherein each of the connecting portions includes a linear connecting portion and circular connecting portions at two end of the linear connecting portion.