Curtain airbag device and method of manufacturing the same

• US 8,562,016 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2008
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Higano, Makoto, Saegusa, Takayoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): TO, TOAN C
• Application Number:
  US12/600,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20110215556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,987 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/743.1, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, an airbag capable of maintaining a stable attachment to a vehicle for a long period and a method of manufacturing the airbag are provided. The curtain airbag device comprises an airbag body accommodated to a window upper edge of a vehicle for expanding and inflating toward inside of the vehicle in a compressed state when it is deployed. A plurality of strip-shaped coupling members are coupled with the airbag body. A plurality of brackets are coupled with the airbag body for fixing the airbag body to the vehicle. Each bracket has a coupling hole through which each strip-shaped coupling member is inserted and a fixing hole into which a tightening member is inserted. The airbag body is coupled with the brackets by the strip-shaped coupling members as well as the airbag body is fixed to the vehicle through the brackets by the tightening members.

Claims

1. A curtain airbag device for a vehicle comprising:

an airbag body disposed adjacent to a window upper edge of the vehicle in a compressed state for expanding and inflating toward an inside of the vehicle when deployed;

a plurality of strip-shaped coupling members coupled with the airbag body; and

a plurality of brackets coupled with the airbag body for fixing the airbag body to the vehicle,

wherein each of the brackets has a coupling hole through which one of the strip-shaped coupling members is inserted and a fixing hole into which one of a plurality of tightening members is to be inserted,

the airbag body is coupled with the brackets by the strip-shaped coupling members, and

the airbag body is fixed to the vehicle by the tightening members through the brackets.

2. The curtain airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the strip-shaped coupling members have ends that are fixed to the airbag body.

3. The curtain airbag device according to claim 2, wherein the ends of the strip-shaped coupling members are coupled with the airbag body by sewing.

4. The curtain airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the strip-shaped coupling members are tabs integrally formed with and of the same material as the airbag body.

5. The curtain airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the strip-shaped coupling members are arranged as members different from the airbag body.

6. A method of manufacturing a curtain airbag device for a vehicle, the method comprising:

coupling an airbag body with brackets by inserting one of two ends of strip-shaped coupling members through coupling holes formed in the brackets and then coupling both the ends with the airbag body; and

folding and compressing the airbag body which has the brackets.

7. The method of manufacturing the curtain airbag device according to claim 6, wherein the ends of the strip-shaped coupling members are coupled with the airbag body by sewing.

8. The method of manufacturing the curtain airbag device according to claim 6, wherein the strip-shaped coupling members are tabs formed with and of the same material as the airbag body.

9. The method of manufacturing the curtain airbag device according to claim 6, wherein the strip-shaped coupling members are arranged as members different from the airbag body.

10. A curtain airbag device, for a vehicle comprising:

an airbag body configured to be disposed adjacent to a window upper edge of the vehicle in a compressed state for expanding and inflating toward an inside of the vehicle when deployed;

a plurality of strip-shaped coupling members coupled with the airbag body; and

a plurality of brackets coupled with the airbag body for fixing the airbag body to the vehicle,

wherein each of the plurality of brackets includes;

a coupling hole through which one of the strip-shaped coupling members is inserted; and

a fixing hole through which a tightening member for fixing the airbag body to the vehicle is inserted through the brackets, and

the airbag body is coupled with the brackets by the strip-shaped coupling members.

11. The curtain airbag device according to claim 10, wherein the strip-shaped coupling members have ends that are fixed to the airbag body.

12. The curtain airbag device according to claim 11, wherein the ends of the strip-shaped coupling members are coupled with the airbag body by sewing.

13. The curtain airbag device according to claim 10, wherein the strip-shaped coupling members are tabs integrally formed with and of the same material as the airbag body.

14. The curtain airbag device according to claim 10, wherein the strip-shaped coupling members are arranged as members different from the airbag body.