Airbag device

• US 8,414,020 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2009
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Hidenori, Narui, Akihiko, Nakamura, Tsubana, Beppu, Yoshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRISBY, KEITH J
• Application Number:
  US13/054,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20110127755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,372 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/728.2, 280/730.1, 280/743.2, 280/728.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• 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 21/2334 Expansion control features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to ensure smooth deployment of an airbag having a turned-back end portion. The present invention is an airbag device that expands and deploys in a curtain shape on a side portion of a vehicle interior in order to protect an occupant of the vehicle interior, where the airbag includes a gas generator for generating an expansion gas and an airbag that deploys when it is expanded by the gas supplied from the gas generator. The airbag is compressed into an elongated shape when stowed and an end portion of the elongated airbag is turned back in a lengthwise direction, thereby forming an airbag main portion that is not turned back and the turned-back end portion. A restricting member is also provided to restrict deployment of the turned-back end portion of the airbag toward a vehicle outer side when the device is activated.

Claims

1. An airbag device that deploys in a curtain shape on a side portion of a vehicle interior in order to protect an occupant of the vehicle interior, the device comprising:

a gas generator that generates an expansion gas;

an airbag that deploys when expanded by the expansion gas from the gas generator is supplied into an interior of the airbag, wherein the airbag has a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration, wherein, in the stowed configuration, the airbag is compressed into an elongated shape and an end portion of the compressed elongated airbag is folded back in a lengthwise direction toward a center of the airbag, the airbag thereby forming an airbag main portion that is not turned back and a turned-back end portion, the turned-back end portion of the airbag is folded back along a lower side of the airbag main portion; and

a restricting member restricting the turned-back end portion of the airbag against deployment in a direction toward a vehicle outer side when the device is activated, the restricting member has an S-shaped cross-section, a portion of the restricting member extending between the airbag main portion and the turned-back end portion from a vehicle inner side surface of the airbag main portion, the restricting member covering a vehicle outer side surface of the end portion.

2. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the restricting member is formed into a strip shape that extends in a substantially orthogonal direction with respect to the lengthwise direction of the airbag.

3. The airbag device according to claim 1, further comprising a protective member that covers a periphery of the airbag in the compressed state, wherein the restricting member is formed as a part of the protective member.

4. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein a lower side end portion of the restricting member extends to a vehicle inner side from a bottom portion of the turned-back end portion.

5. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the restricting member is connected to the airbag near an upper surface of the airbag main portion.

6. The airbag device according to claim 5, wherein a slit is provided in a part of the restricting member, and the restricting member is connected to the airbag by passing a tab provided on the airbag main portion through the slit.

7. An airbag device that deploys in a curtain shape on a side portion of a vehicle interior in order to protect an occupant of the vehicle interior, the device comprising:

a gas generator that generates an expansion gas;

an airbag that deploys when expanded by the expansion gas from the gas generator is supplied into an interior of the airbag, wherein the airbag has a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration, wherein, in the stowed configuration, the airbag is compressed into an elongated shape and an end portion of the compressed elongated airbag is folded back in a lengthwise direction toward a center of the airbag, the airbag thereby forming an airbag main portion that is not turned back and a turned-back end portion; and

a restricting member restricting the turned-back end portion of the airbag against deployment in a direction toward a vehicle outer side when the device is activated, the restricting member includes a stretching region that stretches more easily than other regions of the restricting member when the airbag moves from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration.

8. The airbag device according to claim 7, wherein the stretching region comprises a slit provided in the restricting member.

9. The airbag device according to claim 7, wherein the stretching region comprises a thin region having a thickness that is thinner than other portions of the restricting member.