Curtain airbag device

• US 7,758,068 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2007
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• 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): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US12/000,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20090026742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 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 includes a gas generator and a curtain airbag configured to be deployed downward along an inner side surface of a vehicle cabin. The curtain airbag includes a front portion configured to be fixed to at least two sections of a pillar of a vehicle such that the front portion is disposed along a direction in which the pillar extends. A virtual equilateral triangle having a line connecting the first and second sections as a first side of the equilateral triangle is formed in the front portion of the curtain airbag. A region surrounded by the sides of the equilateral triangle includes a portion of an inflatable chamber that is configured to be inflated by receiving gas from the gas generator.

Claims

1. A curtain airbag device, comprising:

a gas generator; and

a curtain airbag configured to be deployed downward along an inner side surface of a vehicle cabin, wherein the curtain airbag comprises a front portion configured to be fixed to at least two sections of a pillar of a 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 a first side of the equilateral triangle is formed in the front portion of the curtain airbag,

wherein the first side of the equilateral triangle is substantially parallel to one edge of the curtain airbag, and a second side of the equilateral triangle is substantially parallel to another edge of the curtain airbag,

wherein a region surrounded by the sides of the equilateral triangle includes a portion of an inflatable chamber that is configured to be inflated by receiving gas from the gas generator, and

wherein the portion of the inflatable chamber extends forward in a direction substantially perpendicular to the line connecting the first and second sections.

2. The curtain airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the region surrounded by the sides of the equilateral triangle includes a non-inflatable portion, and wherein a portion of the inflatable chamber passes through one vertex of the equilateral triangle and extends into the non-inflatable portion such that the non-inflatable portion is located on opposite sides of the portion of the inflatable chamber within the equilateral triangle.

3. The curtain airbag device according to claim 1, further comprising 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 another pillar of the vehicle such that the curtain airbag is guided downward during a deployment process.

4. The curtain airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the curtain airbag further comprises a lower rear portion that is folded back at an angle with respect to a horizontal axis of the airbag, along at least one slanted folding line, and

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

5. The curtain airbag device according to claim 4, wherein the at least one slanted folding line becomes higher as the line extends towards the back of the vehicle.

6. The curtain airbag device according to claim 4, wherein the at least one slanted folding line comprises two or more slanted folding lines.

7. The curtain airbag device according to claim 6, wherein, after the lower rear portion of the 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 device 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.

9. A curtain airbag device comprising:

a gas generator; and

a curtain airbag configured to be deployed downward along an inner side surface of a vehicle cabin, wherein the curtain airbag comprises a front portion configured to be fixed to at least two sections of a pillar of a 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 a first side of the equilateral triangle is formed in the front portion of the curtain airbag,

wherein a region surrounded by the sides of the equilateral triangle includes a non-inflatable portion and a portion of an inflatable chamber that is configured to be inflated by receiving gas from the gas generator,

wherein the portion of the inflatable chamber extends forward in a direction substantially perpendicular to the line connecting the first and second sections, and

wherein the portion of the inflatable chamber passes through one vertex of the equilateral triangle and extends into the non-inflatable portion such that the non-inflatable portion is located on opposite sides of the portion of the inflatable chamber within the equilateral triangle.

10. The curtain airbag device according to claim 9, further comprising 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 another pillar of the vehicle such that the curtain airbag is guided downward during a deployment process.

11. The curtain airbag device according to claim 9, wherein the curtain airbag further comprises a lower rear portion that is folded back at an angle with respect to a horizontal axis of the airbag, along at least one slanted folding line, and

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

12. The curtain airbag device according to claim 11, wherein the at least one slanted folding line becomes higher as the line extends towards the back of the vehicle.

13. The curtain airbag device according to claim 11, wherein the at least one slanted folding line comprises two or more slanted folding lines.

14. The curtain airbag device according to claim 13, 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.

15. The curtain airbag device according to claim 13, 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.

16. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle cabin comprising;

at least one inner side surface;

a pillar; and

a roof side;

a gas generator; and

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

a front portion fixed to at least two sections of the pillar 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 a first side of the equilateral triangle is formed in the front portion of the curtain airbag,

wherein a region surrounded by the sides of the equilateral triangle includes a non-inflatable portion and a portion of an inflatable chamber that is configured to be inflated by receiving gas from the gas generator,

wherein the portion of the inflatable chamber extends forward in a direction substantially perpendicular to the line connecting the first and second sections, and

wherein the portion of the inflatable chamber passes through one vertex of the equilateral triangle and extends into the non-inflatable portion such that the non-inflatable portion is located on opposite sides of the portion of the inflatable chamber within the equilateral triangle.

17. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein tabs are used for fixing the front portion to the at least two sections of the pillar of the vehicle.

18. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the first side of the equilateral triangle is substantially parallel to one edge of the curtain airbag, and a second side of the equilateral triangle is substantially parallel to another edge of the curtain airbag.