Air bag device for rear-end collision

• US 8,419,051 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2010
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Yoshihiro, Igawa, Tadahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): TO, TOAN C
• Application Number:
  US13/574,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20120292894A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/743.1, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0011 Rear collision or recoiling bounce after frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0048 Head
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21 in vehicle side panels, e.g. doors pillar mounted arrangements B60R21/213
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/214 in roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23184 Tubular air bags connected to the vehicle at their two extremities
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

Both ends of a sack-like body are fixed to fastening sections provided in a pillar-like frame in the rearmost part of a vehicle, and the sack-like body is housed along an air bag housing space in a portion of a roof. The sack-like body is composed of a fabric-made article that shrinks longitudinally when extended widthwise. At the time of a rear-end collision, the air bag is inflated by gas supplied from an inflator, and turns into an inflated body, starting from a housed state in the air bag housing space, in such a way that both ends of the air bag are supported by the fastening sections, the inflated shape of the inflated body being restricted by the sack-like body. This inflated body constrains the head sections of vehicle cabin occupants who move rearward due to the rear-end collision.

Claims

1. An air bag device for rear-end collision, comprising:

a rear-end collision detector that detects a rear-end collision of a vehicle;

an inflator that in response to detection of a collision by the rear-end collision detector, supplies gas to an air bag;

an air bag that is connected to the inflator, and inflates by gas that is supplied from the inflator;

a sack-like body that houses the air bag and that extends widthwise and shrinks longitudinally;

fastening sections that are provided on side frame of the vehicle, and that fasten the end sections in the longitudinal direction of the sack-like body; and

a housing section that is provided at a top section or a bottom section of the vehicle along the side frame, and houses the sack-like body that is fastened to the fastening sections;

wherein

the sack-like body that is housed in the housing section extends widthwise and shrinks longitudinally as the air bag inflates, and maintains a tensed state and is positioned between the fastening sections.

2. The air bag device for rear-end collision according to claim 1, wherein the side frame is a pillar-like frame at the rearmost part of the vehicle.

3. The air bag device for rear-end collision according to claim 1, wherein the side frame is a door frame at the rearmost part of the vehicle.

4. The air bag device for rear-end collision according to claim 1, wherein the length in the width direction of the sack-like body extends, and the length in the longitudinal direction shrinks as the air bag inflates, such that the inflated sack-like body is regulated to a specified and inflated shape so as to be positioned along a straight line connecting between the fastening sections.