Side airbag apparatus for vehicles

• US 7,971,900 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2009
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated), Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated), Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Kwak, Dae Young, Kwon, Tae Ik, Lee, Soon Bok, Lim, Chang Hyun, Palo, Anders
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Faye M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROCCA, JOSEPH M
• Application Number:
  US12/622,026
• Publication Number:
  US 20110025034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/743.1, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21525 the lid being fixed on the bag, or forming part of the bag wall, or the bag itself being used as wall liner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23161 specially adapted for protecting at least two passengers, e.g. preventing them from hitting each other
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2176 the air bag components being completely enclosed in a soft or semi-rigid housing or cover
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence

Abstract

A side airbag apparatus provided with an airbag cushion installed in an armrest side portion of a seat frame of a vehicle, may include an airbag module having the airbag cushion therein; and a strap fastened at a first end portion thereof to a portion of the airbag cushion and fastened at a second end portion thereof to the seat frame or a bolster support wire frame, the strap surrounding a front portion of the seat frame.

Claims

1. A side airbag apparatus provided with an airbag cushion installed in an armrest side portion of a seat frame of a vehicle, the side airbag apparatus comprising:

an airbag module having the airbag cushion therein and disposed adjacent to an outer surface of the seat frame; and

a strap fastened at a first end portion thereof to an end portion of the airbag cushion and fastened at a second end portion thereof to an inner surface of a front portion of the seat frame, the strap surrounding the front portion of the seat frame.

2. The side airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein when the airbag cushion is deployed, the first end portion of the strap moves forwards while the end portion of the airbag cushion is deployed by an inflator and guided toward an armrest by the strap, and the strap is stretched ahead of the seat frame.

3. The side airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the airbag module comprises:

the airbag cushion;

a housing disposed in the airbag cushion wherein the housing is mounted to the seat frame;

the inflator mounted to the housing; and

a cover that covers the airbag cushion and the first end portion of the strap.

4. The side airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the strap covers a front portion of the airbag and the first end portion of the strap is fastened to the portion of the airbag cushion which faces a flank of a passenger when the airbag cushion is deployed.

5. The side airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein a locking member is provided on the second end portion of the strap and comprises a hook having a “

J”

shape, the locking member being locked to the seat frame or the bolster support wire frame.

6. The side airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein a mounting bracket is provided on the second end portion of the strap, the mounting bracket being locked to the seat frame.