Airbag device

• US 7,922,193 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2010
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Germany GmbH (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata - Petri AG (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Weyrich, Christian, Breuninger, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coker; Robert A
• Application Number:
  US12/834,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20100276915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 274 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728, 280/730.2, 280/743.1, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23192 Roof bags, i.e. protecting the occupant in a roll-over situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/08 automatically movable from an inoperative to an operative position, e.g. in a collision electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2342 Tear seams
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/36 using airbags

Abstract

An airbag comprises a bag which is bent in the shape of an arrow ′<′ in a deployed state, and a connection member which is arranged on a side of the bag, facing a vehicle body, and connects the upper and lower ends of the bag with each other. A longitudinal intermediate portion of the bag projects toward a vehicle occupant. A space is defined between the projecting intermediate portion and the connection member. The head of the vehicle occupant initially comes into contact with the intermediate portion and then presses the bag toward the vehicle body. Upper and lower parts of the bag which extend upward and downward from the intermediate portion cooperate with the connection member to define a triangular space.

Claims

1. An airbag device comprising:

a side airbag having first and second side surfaces, upper and lower ends and an intermediate portion, the side airbag being configured to deploy downwardly toward a vehicle occupant; and

a member connecting the upper and lower ends of the side airbag,

wherein the side airbag is configured to inflate into a position wherein an enveloped space is defined by the first side surface and a plane containing the member,

wherein, after inflation of the side airbag, the member is configured to increase in length if a predetermined level of force is applied to the member, and

wherein the member comprises a loop part adjacent a tearable portion of the member configured to rupture when the predetermined level of force is applied to the member.

2. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined level of force is a tensile force applied to the member.

3. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the tearable portion is held by a tear seam.

4. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the loop part is located at a longitudinal intermediate portion of the member.

5. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein a ratio of volume of the enveloped space over volume of the inflated airbag is greater than approximately 1.2.

6. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal length of the member is smaller than a longitudinal length of the airbag.

7. An airbag device comprising:

a side airbag having first and second side surfaces, upper and lower ends and an intermediate portion, the side airbag being configured to deploy downwardly toward a vehicle occupant; and

a member connecting the upper and lower ends of the side airbag,

wherein the side airbag is configured to inflate into a position wherein an enveloped space is defined by the first side surface and a plane containing the member,

wherein, after inflation of the side airbag, the member is configured to increase in length if a predetermined level of force is applied to the member,

wherein the member has a slit configured to open to a larger area when the predetermined level of force is applied to the member, and

wherein the slit is initially closed by a tear seam upon inflation of the airbag before application of the predetermined level of force.

8. An airbag device comprising:

a side airbag having first and second side surfaces, upper and lower ends and an intermediate portion, the side airbag being configured to deploy downwardly toward a vehicle occupant; and

a member connecting the upper and lower ends of the side airbag,

wherein the side airbag is configured to inflate into a position wherein an enveloped space is defined by the first side surface and a plane containing the member,

wherein the airbag comprises a first panel and a second panel connected along connecting lines to form a plurality of chambers therebetween, and

wherein one chamber of the plurality of chambers has an area of decreased width such that the one chamber bends at the area of decreased width upon inflation.

9. The airbag device of claim 8, wherein, after inflation of the side airbag, the member is configured to increase in length if a predetermined level of force is applied to the member, and wherein the member has a slit configured to open to a larger area when the predetermined level of force is applied to the member.

10. The airbag device of claim 8, wherein, after inflation of the side airbag, the member is configured to increase in length if a predetermined level of force is applied to the member, and wherein the member has a plurality of slits configured to open to larger areas when the predetermined level of force is applied to the member.

11. An airbag device comprising:

a side airbag having first and second side surfaces, upper and lower ends and an intermediate portion, the side airbag being configured to deploy downwardly toward a vehicle occupant; and

a member connecting the upper and lower ends of the side airbag,

wherein the side airbag is configured to inflate into a position wherein an enveloped space is defined by the first side surface and a plane containing the member,

wherein the airbag comprises a first panel and a second panel connected along connecting lines to form a plurality of chambers therebetween, and

wherein a portion of the chambers have areas of decreased width such that the portion of chambers bends at the areas of decreased width upon inflation along a bending line.

12. The airbag device of claim 11, wherein the connecting lines are sewing seams, and wherein the areas of decreased width are caused by curves in the sewing seams dividing the chambers in the portion of the chambers.

13. The airbag device of claim 11, wherein the bending line has a first end at a front side vertically lower than a second end at a rear side.

14. The airbag device of claim 11, wherein the areas of decreased width are caused by a plurality of circular or semi-circular sewing line portions located at points where the bending line intersects at the connecting lines dividing the chambers in the portion of the chambers.

15. The airbag device of claim 14, wherein the plurality of circular or semi-circular sewing line portions decrease in vertical height as the bending line approaches a front side.

16. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body; and

an airbag device comprising;

a side airbag having first and second side surfaces, upper and lower ends and an intermediate portion, the side airbag being configured to deploy downwardly toward a vehicle occupant; and

a member connecting the upper and lower ends of the side airbag,

wherein the side airbag is configured to inflate into a position wherein an enveloped space is defined by the first side surface and a plane containing the member,

wherein, after inflation of the side airbag, the member is configured to increase in length if a predetermined level of force is applied to the member, and

wherein the member comprises a loop part adjacent a tearable portion of the member configured to rupture when the predetermined level of force is applied to the member.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the airbag device is positioned in a roof of the vehicle.

18. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body; and

an airbag device comprising;

a side airbag having first and second side surfaces, upper and lower ends and an intermediate portion, the side airbag being configured to deploy downwardly toward a vehicle occupant; and

a member connecting the upper and lower ends of the side airbag,

wherein the side airbag is configured to inflate into a position wherein an enveloped space is defined by the first side surface and a plane containing the member,

wherein the airbag comprises a first panel and a second panel connected along connecting lines to form a plurality of chambers therebetween, and

wherein a portion of the chambers have areas of decreased width such that the portion of chambers bends at the areas of decreased width upon inflation along a bending line.

19. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein, after inflation of the side airbag, the member is configured to increase in length if a predetermined level of force is applied to the member, and

wherein the member has a slit configured to open to a larger area when the predetermined level of force is applied to the member.

20. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the connecting lines are sewing seams, and wherein the areas of decreased width are caused by curves in the sewing seams dividing the chambers in the portion of the chambers.

21. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the areas of decreased width are caused by a plurality of circular or semi-circular sewing line portions located at points where the bending line intersects at the connecting lines dividing the chambers in the portion of the chambers.

22. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein the plurality of circular or semi-circular sewing line portions decrease in vertical height as the bending line approaches a front side.

23. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body; and

an airbag device comprising;

a side airbag having first and second side surfaces, upper and lower ends and an intermediate portion, the side airbag being configured to deploy downwardly toward a vehicle occupant; and

a member connecting the upper and lower ends of the side airbag,

wherein the side airbag is configured to inflate into a position wherein an enveloped space is defined by the first side surface and a plane containing the member, and

wherein, upon deployment, the airbag inflates into a position such that the member faces the vehicle body and contact between the member and the vehicle occupant is prevented.