Curtain airbag device

• US 7,434,831 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2005
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Noguchi, Atsushi, Mitsuo, Tetsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan; Ruth
• Application Number:
  US11/149,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20050275200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.1, 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 280/743.2, 280/729
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

A curtain airbag device for holding a vehicle occupant inside a vehicle cabin at a region of the curtain airbag. A front region of the curtain airbag may be provided with non-inflatable portions. Attachment parts may extending from an upper section, a lower section, and an intermediate section of a front edge of the curtain airbag an attach to a front pillar of the vehicle. When the curtain airbag is inflated, high tensions are generated at areas which are rear extensions of the attachment parts, whereby the front region of the curtain airbag forms a hammock-like structure.

Claims

1. A curtain airbag module comprising:

a curtain airbag adapted to extend along a front pillar and a roof side of a vehicle;

an inflator;

wherein a front edge of the curtain airbag is adapted to extend along the front pillar and the airbag is provided with attachment parts that are disposed at multiple sections of a front edge of the airbag with respect to a vertical direction, wherein the attachment parts are adapted to be mounted on the front pillar, and

wherein the attachment parts are adapted to be mounted at a common intermediate position or adjacent intermediate positions of the front pillar with respect to the vertical direction,

wherein the attachment parts are non-inflatable, wherein the attachment parts extend from a non-inflatable portion of the airbag to mounting portions formed in the attachment parts,

wherein the attachment parts are provided in at least three sections of the front edge of the curtain airbag, said at least three sections including an upper section, a lower section, and an intermediate section of the airbag.

2. The curtain airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the attachment parts are adapted to be mounted on the front pillar with a common mounting component.

3. The curtain airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the front pillar has a length of L and the attachment parts are adapted to be mounted on the front pillar at a position within a distance range of (0.5×

L) to (0.9×

L) from a top end of the front pillar.

4. A curtain airbag module, comprising:

an inflator;

a curtain airbag adapted to extend along a side of a vehicle, wherein the airbag includes attachment parts adapted to be mounted to a pillar of the vehicle and at least one non-inflatable portion that is connected to and extends between the attachment parts,

wherein the attachment parts form high tensile areas and each non-inflatable portion creates a low tensile area at an end of the airbag to cause the airbag to restrain an occupant within the vehicle,

wherein the attachment parts each have a separate end with a separate mounting portion from one another,

wherein the attachment parts are provided in at least three sections of a front edge or back edge of the curtain airbag, said at least three sections including an upper section, a lower section, and an intermediate section of the airbag with non-inflatable portions connected to and extending between each of the upper section, the lower section, and the intermediate section.

5. The curtain airbag module according to claim 4, wherein the attachment parts are adapted to be mounted on a front pillar or a rear pillar of the vehicle with a common mounting component.

6. The curtain airbag module according to claim 4, wherein the attachment parts are configured to create high tensile areas at the upper section, the intermediate section, and the lower section, and the non-inflatable portions are configured to create low tensile areas between the upper section and intermediate section and between the lower section and intermediate section.

7. The curtain airbag module according to claim 4, wherein a pillar has a length of L and the attachment parts are adapted to be mounted on a front pillar or a back pillar of the vehicle at a position within a distance range of (0.5×

L) to (0.9×

L) from a top end of the pillar.

8. The curtain airbag according to claim 4, wherein the attachment parts are non-inflatable.

9. The curtain airbag according to claim 4, wherein each non-inflatable portion is located immediately adjacent to an inflatable portion of the airbag.

10. The curtain airbag according to claim 4, wherein each non-inflatable portion extends in an axial direction of the airbag between an inflatable portion of the airbag to a position located rearward of mounting portions formed in the attachment parts.

11. The curtain airbag according to claim 4, wherein each non-inflatable portion is comprised of a sheet of fabric that is connected to and extends between the attachment parts.

12. A curtain airbag, comprising:

a curtain airbag with attachment parts provided at an end of the airbag, wherein the attachment parts are adapted to be mounted on a pillar or a vehicle, wherein the curtain airbag includes at least one non-inflatable portion that is connected to and extends between the attachment parts;

wherein the attachment parts create high tensile areas and each non-inflatable portion creates a low tensile area at an end of the airbag to cause the airbag to restrain an occupant within the vehicle;

wherein the attachment parts each have a separate end with a separate mounting portion from one another,

wherein the attachment parts are provided in at least three sections of a front edge of the curtain airbag, said at least three sections including an upper section, a lower section, and an intermediate section of the airbag with non-inflatable portions connected to and extending between each of the upper section, the lower section, and the intermediate section.

13. The curtain airbag according to claim 12, wherein the attachment parts are adapted to be mounted on a front pillar of the vehicle with a common mounting component.

14. The curtain airbag according to claim 12, wherein the attachment parts create high tensile areas at the upper section, the intermediate section, and the lower section, and the non-inflatable portions are configured to create low tensile areas between the upper section and intermediate section and between the lower section and intermediate section.

15. The curtain airbag according to claim 12, wherein a front pillar of the vehicle has a length of L and the attachment parts are adapted to be mounted on the front pillar of the vehicle at a position within a distance range of (0.5×

L) to (0.9×

L) from a top end of the front pillar.

16. A curtain airbag device, comprising:

a curtain airbag configured to extend along a front pillar and a roof side of a vehicle,

a gas generator configured to inflate the curtain airbag,

wherein a front edge of the curtain airbag extends along the front pillar and is provided with attachment parts disposed at multiple sections of the front edge with respect to a vertical direction of the curtain airbag, the attachment parts being mounted on the front pillar, and

wherein the attachment parts are mounted at a common intermediate position or adjacent intermediate positions of the front pillar with respect to the vertical direction,

wherein a non-inflatable portion is provided at a front portion of the curtain airbag between two adjacent attachment parts,

wherein the attachment parts are provided in at least three sections of the front edge of the curtain airbag, said at least three sections including an upper section, a lower section, and an intermediate section.

17. The curtain airbag device of claim 16, wherein the attachment parts are mounted on the front pillar with a common mounting component.

18. A curtain airbag device, comprising:

a curtain airbag configured to extend along a front pillar and a roof side of a vehicle,

a gas generator configured to inflate the curtain airbag,

wherein a front edge of the curtain airbag extends along the front pillar and is provided with attachment parts disposed at multiple sections of the front edge with respect to a vertical direction of the curtain airbag, the attachment parts being mounted on the front pillar, and

wherein the attachment parts are mounted at a common intermediate position or adjacent intermediate positions of the front pillar with respect to the vertical direction,

wherein a non-inflatable portion is provided at a front portion of the curtain airbag between two adjacent attachment parts,

wherein the non-inflatable portion is surrounded by a U-shaped linear connected portion between the two adjacent attachment parts.