Attachment structure of curtain-shaped cover member of vehicle

• US 7,946,615 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2009
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Kanda, Kazunori, Takahashi, Kunio
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US12/473,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20100066065A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/728.2, 280/749
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/2011 Blinds; curtains or screens reducing heat or light intensity means against intense light blinding the driver or passengers B60J3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/2091 Foldable sunscreens B60J1/2088 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

An attachment structure comprises a top ceiling, a cover member to cover a window glass from the inside of a vehicle compartment, an airbag which is stored along an upper edge portion of the window glass in its non-operation state and inflates downward through a gap which is formed between the window glass and the side end portion of the top ceiling which is pressed down by the airbag receiving a gas pressure from an inflator; and support members to support the cover member longitudinally at a position which is on an outside of the inflating airbag. Accordingly, the proper inflation of the airbag can be provided despite of the cover member at the window.

Claims

1. An attachment structure of a curtain-shaped cover member of a vehicle, comprising:

a soft top ceiling covering a roof panel from an inside of a vehicle compartment, a side end portion of which points to near an upper edge portion of a window glass of a window which is formed at a vehicle body;

a curtain-shaped cover member for shading provided on the inside of the widow glass of the window;

a curtain airbag device provided near an upper portion of the window, the curtain airbag device including an airbag which is stored along the upper edge portion of the window glass in a non-operation state of the curtain airbag device and inflates downward through a gap which is formed between the window glass and the side end portion of the top ceiling which is pressed down by the airbag receiving a gas pressure from an inflator; and

a rail member to support the cover member for shading so that the cover member for shading moves in a vehicle longitudinal direction to cover at least an upper portion of the window glass from the inside of the vehicle compartment, the rail member being attached to the window glass and extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction at an upper portion of the window,

wherein said rail member is positioned on a vehicle outside, in a vehicle width direction, relative to the side end portion of said top ceiling when said curtain airbag device is not operated.

2. The attachment structure of a curtain-shaped cover member of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein said support member supports said cover member so that the cover member can move in a vertical direction.

3. The attachment structure of a curtain-shaped cover member of a vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a rear pillar which is positioned behind the window and covered with a rear pillar trim, which is made from hard resin, from the inside of the vehicle compartment, wherein said curtain airbag device is fixed to the vehicle body along a specified portion of the rear pillar, said airbag inflates out of a space between the window and an outside end portion of the rear pillar trim so as to cover the window from the inside of the vehicle compartment, and there is provided a holding member to hold a rear end portion of the cover member at a position which is on an outside of the inflating airbag.

4. The attachment structure of a curtain-shaped cover member of a vehicle of claim 3, wherein said rear pillar comprises an inner panel and an outer panel, a holding bracket which extends forward is provided at the inner panel, and said holding member is provided at the holding bracket.

5. The attachment structure of a curtain-shaped cover member of a vehicle of claim 3, wherein said holding member is attached to the window.

6. The attachment structure of a curtain-shaped cover member of a vehicle of claim 3, wherein said cover member is biased forward, and engagement of said holding member with the cover member is released according to an inflation of the airbag.

7. The attachment structure of a curtain-shaped cover member of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein a trim is provided below the window, and said cover member is stored inside the trim in an open state thereof.

8. The attachment structure of a curtain-shaped cover member of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein said support member is positioned on an outside of the side end portion of the top ceiling when said curtain airbag device is in the non-operation state.

9. The attachment structure of a curtain-shaped cover member of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein a support position of said cover member is located on an outside of a moving locus of the side end portion of said top ceiling which is pressed down according to an inflation of the airbag.

10. The attachment structure of a curtain-shaped cover member of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein there is provided an interference preventing member to prevent interference of said support member with the inflating airbag at an upper portion of said support member.

11. The attachment structure of a curtain-shaped cover member of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein a middle pillar is provided in front of said window with the window glass and a rear pillar is provided in back of the window with the window glass.

12. The attachment structure of a curtain-shaped cover member of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein another rail member is attached to the window glass so as to extend in the vehicle longitudinal direction at a lower portion of the window, and said cover member for shading is supported by both the rail members so that the cover member for shading moves in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

13. The attachment structure of a curtain-shaped cover member of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein a middle pillar is provided in front of said window with the window glass and a rear pillar is provided in back of the window with the window glass, and said rail member has a fixing portion at least one of a front end and a rear end thereof, the fixing portion being fixed to the middle pillar and/or the rear pillar.

14. The attachment structure of a curtain-shaped cover member of a vehicle of claim 2, wherein a middle pillar is provided in front of said window with the window glass and a rear pillar is provided in back of the window with the window glass, and said support member is a pair of rail members which is attached to the pillars.

15. The attachment structure of a curtain-shaped cover member of a vehicle of claim 2, wherein a holding portion to hold said cover member is provided at an upper portion of said support member, and holding of the cover member by the holding portion is released when the airbag inflates and contacts an upper portion of the cover member.

16. The attachment structure of a curtain-shaped cover member of a vehicle of claim 2, wherein said cover member is biased downward.

17. The attachment structure of a curtain-shaped cover member of a vehicle of claim 10, wherein a treatment to prevent exposure of the support member to a vehicle outside is applied to a specified potion of the window glass where the support member is attached.

18. The attachment structure of a curtain-shaped cover member of a vehicle of claim 7, wherein a slant member which extends obliquely downward and inward is provided at an upper portion of said cover member.

19. The attachment structure of a curtain-shaped cover member of a vehicle of claim 7, wherein said cover member is a roll type of curtain member.

20. The attachment structure of a curtain-shaped cover member of a vehicle of claim 7, wherein said cover member includes a resilient member which is expandable in a vehicle longitudinal direction so that a longitudinal length thereof is adjustable.