Airbag apparatus for vehicle

• US 8,393,637 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2010
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2010
• 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: Choi, Jun Yeol, Yoo, Wan Dong, Go, Jae Man
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Freedman, Laura
• Application Number:
  US12/956,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20120049492A1
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/740, 280/742, 280/743.1, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/214 in roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

An airbag apparatus for a vehicle may include an inflator, and an airbag cushion having a depressed head support portion formed in a rear portion of the airbag cushion so that when the airbag cushion may be deployed by gas supplied from the inflator, the head support portion receives a head of a passenger, and shoulder support portions protruding from lateral sides of the head support portion in a rearward direction and forming a space between the shoulder support portions to have the head support portion therebetween when the airbag cushion may be deployed, and a support tether provided in the airbag cushion and extending in a transverse direction across the shoulder support portions such that a gas path may be defined in a front portion of the airbag cushion below the support tether, the gas path guiding the gas downwards.

Claims

1. An airbag apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

an inflator; and

an airbag cushion having;

a depressed head support portion formed in a rear portion of the airbag cushion so that when the airbag cushion is deployed by gas supplied from the inflator, head support portion configured to receive a head of a passenger;

shoulder support portions protruding from lateral sides of the head support portion in a rearward direction and forming a space between the shoulder support portions to have the head support portion therebetween when the airbag cushion is deployed; and

a support tether provided in the airbag cushion and extending in a transverse direction across the shoulder support portions such that a gas is defined in a front portion of the airbag cushion below the support tether, the gas path guiding the gas downwards,

wherein rear and side edges of the support tether are respectively connected to a rear surface of the head support portion and sidewalls of the airbag cushion by sewing so that the support tether encloses the head support portion, and

wherein a front edge of the support tether is not connected to an inner surface of the airbag cushion and has a round shape.

2. The airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein an airbag screen is attached to the shoulder support portions, the airbag screen covering the head support portion.

3. The airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the support tether connects the head support portion and inner surface of the airbag cushion.

4. The airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the support tether comprises an upper support tether and a lower support tether spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in a vertical direction of the airbag cushion.

5. The airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the front edge of the support tether has a convex shape protruding along the gas path defined by the gas supplied from the inflator.

6. The airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a housing provided in a space between a roof panel and a headliner of the vehicle, the housing containing the airbag cushion.

7. The airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the airbag cushion comprises:

a roof support panel supported by the headliner and receiving the gas through a gas inlet formed thereon;

a vertical support panel perpendicularly connected at an upper end line thereof to a rear end line of the roof support panel;

a ramp support panel connecting a front end line of the roof support panel to a lower end line of the vertical support panel at an inclined angle; and

side support panels connecting side edge lines of the roof support panel, the vertical support panel, the ramp support panel, and the support tether.