Side curtain airbag directional deployment apparatus

• US 7,784,818 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Elliott-Rumberger, Kristi, Osterhout, Neal, Downey, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth; Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): BECK, KAREN JANE AMORES
• Application Number:
  US11/694,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20080238053A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/728.36, 280/728.2, 280/728.3
• US Class Current: 280/728.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

At least one guide member extends longitudally along at least a portion of a stowed side curtain airbag. At least one guide ramp directs deployment of the side curtain airbag toward the openable passage defined at least in part by one or more trim pieces. The guide member surrounds the side curtain airbag on three sides to define an airbag deployment opening facing a rear surface of the one or more trim pieces adjacent the openable passage. The interior trim stucture covers the stowed side curtain airbag and allows deployment of the side curtain airbag through an interface joint to a position along a sidewall of a passenger compartment adjacent a rear seat location of a two-door coupe style vehicle. The interface joint defines an openable passage along the first and second abutting edges allowing deployment of a side curtain airbag through the interface joint.

Claims

1. A curtain airbag deployment apparatus for a side wall of a vehicle, comprising:

a first trim panel;

a second trim panel;

a headliner;

an openable passage including a first interface joint defined by the first trim panel and the second trim panel, and a second interface joint defined by the first trim panel and the headliner; and

an airbag guide configured to direct deployment of the airbag toward the openable passage and to direct deployment of the airbag such that the airbag extends over the first trim panel when deployed;

wherein the airbag guide is positioned along at least a portion of the first interface joint and along at least a portion of the second interface joint.

2. The curtain airbag deployment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first interface joint is positioned rearward of the second interface joint.

3. The curtain airbag deployment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the airbag guide extends from a rearward end that is positioned along the first interface joint to a forward end that is positioned forward of the first interface joint.

4. The curtain airbag deployment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first trim panel is configured and arranged to conceal at least a portion of a center pillar of the side wall of the vehicle.

5. The curtain airbag deployment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second trim panel is configured and arranged to conceal at least a portion of a rear pillar of the side wall of the vehicle.

6. The curtain airbag deployment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first trim panel includes a first peripheral edge and the second trim panel includes a second peripheral edge, and wherein the first interface joint is defined by the first peripheral edge of the first trim panel and the second peripheral of the second trim panel.

7. The curtain airbag deployment apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first peripheral edge and the second peripheral edge are adjacent when the openable passage is closed, and the first peripheral edge and the second peripheral edge are spaced apart when. the openable passage is open.

8. The curtain airbag deployment apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second peripheral edge is positioned above the first peripheral edge.

9. The curtain airbag deployment apparatus of claim 6, wherein the airbag guide is configured and arranged to direct deployment of the airbag toward the second trim panel to force the second peripheral edge apart from the first peripheral edge.

10. The curtain airbag deployment apparatus of claim 6, wherein the headliner includes a third peripheral edge, and wherein the second interface joint is defined by the first peripheral edge of the first trim panel and the third peripheral edge of the headliner.

11. The curtain airbag deployment apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first peripheral edge and the third peripheral edge are adjacent when the openable passage is closed, and the first peripheral edge and the third peripheral edge are spaced apart when the openable passage is open.

12. The curtain airbag deployment apparatus of claim 11, wherein the airbag guide is configured and arranged to direct deployment of the airbag toward the headliner to force the third peripheral edge apart from the first peripheral edge.

13. The curtain airbag deployment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the airbag guide is configured and arranged to direct deployment of the airbag between the first trim panel and the second trim panel, and between the first trim panel and the headliner.

14. The curtain airbag deployment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the airbag guide includes at least one guide ramp for directing deployment of the airbag, toward the openable passage.

15. The curtain airbag deployment apparatus of claim 14, wherein the airbag guide has a generally U-shaped cross-section that includes a rear wall portion that is spaced apart from the openable passage, a lower wall extending from the rear wall toward the first trim panel, and an upper wall extending from the rear wall toward the second trim panel and the headliner.

16. The curtain airbag deployment apparatus of claim 15, wherein each of the upper wall and the lower wall define an obtuse angle with respect to the rear wall.

17. The curtain airbag deployment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the airbag guide is free from contact with the first trim panel and the second trim panel.

18. The curtain airbag deployment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the airbag guide is free from contact with the first trim panel and the headliner.

19. A side wall structure of a vehicle, comprising:

a center pillar;

a center pillar trim panel having a first peripheral edge, the center pillar trim panel configured and arranged to conceal the center pillar;

a rear pillar;

a rear pillar trim panel having a second peripheral edge, the rear pillar trim panel configured and arranged to conceal the rear pillar;

a headliner having a third peripheral edge;

an openable passage including a first interface joint defined by the first peripheral edge and the second peripheral edge, and a second interface joint defined by the first peripheral edge and the third peripheral edge; and

an airbag guide configured to direct deployment of the airbag toward the openable passage, the airbag guide being positioned along at least a portion of the openable passage and extending from a portion of the first interface joint to a portion of the second interface joint;

wherein the airbag guide is configured and arranged to direct deployment of the airbag through the first interface joint and the second interface joint and to direct deployment of the airbag such that the airbag extends over the first peripheral edge when deployed.