Curtain airbag device

• US 7,325,826 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2003
• 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: Noguchi, Atsushi, Mitsuo, Tetsu
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US11/017,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20050140125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/743.1, 280/749
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23388 having ends which are movable or detachable during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

A curtain airbag device and a guide unit are provided such that a lower rear portion of a curtain airbag can be deployed smoothly. When an inflator is activated, a curtain airbag is deployed in the downward direction. During the deployment, the rear portion of the curtain airbag is guided by a guide rod via a link strap. To fold the curtain airbag, the lower rear portion of the curtain airbag is folded back at an angle along slanted folding lines. Subsequently, the curtain airbag is rolled or folded along lines extending in a horizontal direction of the curtain airbag. This airbag structure allows the lower rear portion of the curtain airbag to be deployed downward and towards the back of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A curtain airbag that is configured to be deployed downward along an inner side surface of a vehicle cabin, the curtain airbag comprising:

a lower rear portion that is folded back at an angle with respect to a horizontal axis of the airbag, along at least two slanted non-intersecting folding lines,

wherein the curtain airbag is subsequently folded such that the folded curtain airbag extends in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle.

2. The curtain airbag according to claim 1, wherein each slanted folding line becomes higher as the line extends towards the back of the vehicle.

3. The curtain airbag according to claim 1,

wherein the curtain airbag comprises a link strap that protrudes from a lower portion of the curtain airbag and is configured to be guided by a guide member attached to a pillar of the vehicle such that the curtain airbag is guided downward during a deployment process.

4. The curtain airbag according to claim 1, wherein a rear portion of the curtain airbag, after a deployment process, is configured to cover an inner side surface of a pillar of the vehicle, wherein the lower rear portion of the curtain airbag is configured to be folded back at an angle towards the interior of the vehicle cabin along each of the at least two slanted non-intersecting folding lines, and wherein the curtain airbag is subsequently folded such that the folded curtain airbag is configured to extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

5. The curtain airbag according to claim 1, wherein a front portion of the curtain airbag is configured to be fixed to at least two sections of a pillar of the vehicle such that the front portion is disposed along a direction in which the pillar extends, wherein the at least two sections comprise a first section disposed closer towards a top end of the pillar, and a second section disposed lower than the first section, wherein a virtual equilateral triangle having a line connecting the first and second sections as one of the sides of the equilateral triangle is formed in the front portion of the curtain airbag, and wherein a region surrounded by the equilateral triangle comprises a portion of a chamber that is configured to be inflated by receiving gas from a gas generator.

6. The curtain airbag according to claim 1, wherein the at least two slanted non-intersecting folding lines comprises two or more slanted folding lines.

7. The curtain airbag according to claim 6, wherein, after the lower rear portion of curtain airbag is folded back two or more times along the slanted folding lines, the curtain airbag is folded such that the folded curtain airbag extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

8. The curtain airbag according to claim 6, wherein the two or more slanted folding lines are at an angle of between about 10°

and about 80°

with respect to the horizontal axis of the curtain airbag.

9. The curtain airbag according to claim 6, wherein the two or more slanted folding lines are at an angle of between about 30°

and about 60°

with respect to the horizontal axis of the curtain airbag.

10. A curtain airbag device comprising:

a curtain airbag that is capable of being deployed downward along an inner side surface of a vehicle cabin; and

a gas generator for supplying gas to the curtain airbag so as to inflate the curtain airbag,

wherein a lower rear portion of the curtain airbag is folded back at an angle with respect to a horizontal axis of the airbag along at least two slanted non-intersecting folding lines, and wherein the curtain airbag is subsequently folded such that the folded curtain airbag extends in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle.

11. The curtain airbag device according to claim 10, wherein each of the at least two slanted non-intersecting folding lines becomes higher as the line extends towards the back of the vehicle.

12. The curtain airbag device according to claim 10, further comprising:

a guide member attached to a pillar of the vehicle,

wherein the guide member extends in the vertical direction so as to guide the curtain airbag downward during a deployment process, and wherein the curtain airbag comprises a link strap that protrudes from a lower portion of the curtain airbag and is guided by the guide member.

13. The curtain airbag device according to claim 10, wherein a rear portion of the curtain airbag, after a deployment process, covers an inner side surface of a pillar of the vehicle, wherein the lower rear portion of the curtain airbag is folded back at an angle towards the interior of the vehicle cabin along the at least two slanted non-intersecting folding lines, and wherein the curtain airbag is subsequently folded such that the folded curtain airbag extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

14. The curtain airbag device according to claim 10, wherein a front portion of the curtain airbag is fixed to at least two sections of a pillar of the vehicle such that the front portion is disposed along a direction in which the pillar extends, wherein the at least two sections comprise a first section disposed closer towards a top end of the pillar, and a second section disposed lower than the first section, wherein a virtual equilateral triangle having a line connecting the first and second sections as one of the sides of the equilateral triangle is formed in the front portion of the curtain airbag, and wherein a region surrounded by the equilateral triangle comprises a portion of a chamber that can be inflated by receiving gas from the gas generator.

15. The curtain airbag device according to claim 10, wherein the at least two slanted non-intersecting folding lines comprises two or more slanted folding lines.

16. The curtain airbag device according to claim 15, wherein, after the lower rear portion of curtain airbag is folded back two or more times along the slanted folding lines, the curtain airbag is folded such that the folded curtain airbag extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

17. The curtain airbag device according to claim 15, wherein the two or more slanted folding lines are at an angle of between about 10°

and about 80°

with respect to the horizontal axis of the curtain airbag.

18. The curtain airbag device according to claim 15, wherein the two or more slanted folding lines are at an angle of between about 30°

and about 60°

with respect to the horizontal axis of the curtain airbag.

19. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle cabin comprising;

at least one inner side surface;

a roof side; and

a curtain airbag positioned along a boundary between the inner side surface and the roof side, the curtain airbag comprising;

a lower rear portion that is folded back at an angle with respect to a horizontal axis of the airbag along at least two slanted non-intersecting folding lines,

wherein the curtain airbag is subsequently folded such that the folded curtain airbag extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and wherein the curtain airbag is configured to be deployed downward along the inner side surface of the vehicle cabin.

20. The vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the at least two slanted folding lines are at an angle of between about 30°

and about 60°

with respect to the horizontal axis of the curtain airbag.