Folding method of airbag for rear-end collision and airbag device for rear-end collision

• US 7,290,798 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2004
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Hiroyuki, Mori, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown; Drew J.
• Application Number:
  US10/844,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20040239084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/743.1, 280/728.2, 280/730.2
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0011 Rear collision or recoiling bounce after frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• 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 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/214 in roof panels
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/33 Arrangements for non-electric triggering of inflation electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01

Abstract

Both end portions in a second direction intersecting a first direction along which an airbag is deployed are folded to a center portion in the intersecting direction (first folding). The airbag is folded so that an upper side portion and a lower side portion are close to each other (second folding). The airbag has a bellows portion which is folded in a bellows shape between a connecting portion and a spiral portion. The airbag folded like this is enhanced in housing performance for the vehicle, and increases in stability of the deployment when the airbag is inflated and deployed.

Claims

1. A method for folding an airbag that is inflated and deployed at a position rearward of a rearmost seat of a vehicle to protect an occupant seated on the rearmost seat, wherein the airbag has a supply port through which gas is supplied and is accommodated in the interior of the vehicle while being folded in a state extending along a width direction of the vehicle, wherein, when gas is supplied through the supply port to the airbag in the folded state, the air bag is deployed in a predetermined first direction, wherein the airbag has a lateral cell and vertical cells, the lateral cell extending in a second direction that intersects the first direction, the lateral cell being connected with the supply port, the vertical cells extending in the first direction and being connected with opposite ends of the lateral cell in the second direction, the method comprising:

first folding in which the airbag is folded such that first end portions of the airbag approach each other with respect to the first direction; and

second folding in which, after the first folding, second end portions of the airbag in the second direction are folded at sections corresponding to the vertical cells toward a center of the airbag with respect to the second direction, wherein in the second folding, the second end portions are folded in a plane that includes the first and second directions.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the airbag includes a first surface and a second surface, wherein, when the airbag is deployed, the first surface faces the seat and the second surface is located at a side opposite from the first side, and wherein, in the first folding, the airbag is folded in a spiral form onto the second surface.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the supply port is located closer to one of the first end portions, and wherein, in the first folding, the airbag is folded in a spiral form such that the other first end portion approaches the supply port, and a portion of the airbag between the supply port and the spirally folded portion is deployed without being folded.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first direction intersects the width direction of the vehicle.

5. An airbag apparatus for an occupant seated in a rearmost seat of a vehicle, comprising:

an airbag that is accommodated in the interior of the vehicle while being folded in a state extending along a width direction of the vehicle, wherein the airbag has a supply port through which gas is supplied; and

an inflator that supplies gas to the airbag through the supply port, thereby inflating and deploying the airbag, wherein, when gas is supplied through the supply port to the airbag in the folded state, the air bag is deployed in a predetermined first direction,

wherein the airbag has lateral cell and vertical cells, the lateral cell extending in a second direction that intersects the first direction and being connected with the supply port, the vertical cells extending in the first direction and being connected with opposite ends of the lateral cell in the second direction,

wherein, in the accommodated state, the airbag is folded such that first end portions of the airbag in the first direction approach each other, and second end portions of the airbag in the second direction are folded at sections corresponding to the vertical cells toward a center of the airbag with respect to the second direction, the second end portions being folded in a plane that includes the first and second directions.