Roof airbag apparatus of vehicle

• US 8,579,321 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2011
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Lee, Chang Hyun, Choi, Jun Yeol, Lee, Un Koo
• Primary Examiner(s): ROCCA, JOSEPH M
• Application Number:
  US13/323,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20130087995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 280/729, 280/730.1, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/729
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• 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 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence

Abstract

A relatively small capacity of airbag apparatus can be used by relatively shortening the distance between locations on which a passenger and the airbag apparatus are mounted to more effectively prevent a head and a neck of the passenger from being damaged through a discriminated supporting action of an upper body and a head part of the passenger while reducing a weight and a price of the airbag apparatus and the airbag apparatus can be easily standardized by configuration the airbag apparatus regardless of the shapes of a crash pad and a wind shield glass.

Claims

1. A roof airbag apparatus of a vehicle comprising:

a housing mounted on a roof of the vehicle;

an outer cushion incorporated in the housing and inflated toward the front of a passenger shoulder position and downward;

an inner cushion incorporated in the housing, inflated toward the front of a passenger head position and downward, and positioned inside the outer cushion and

an inflator configured to supply inflation gas to be supplied to the outer cushion and the inner cushion;

wherein while the outer cushion is inflated, a U-shaped cross section of the outer cushion opened toward a rear passenger from the front is extended vertically, the outer cushion is connected to receive inflation gas from the inflator, and the outer cushion includes a supply vent hole transferring the inflation gas to the inner cushion, and the inner cushion which is coupled to an inner portion of the outer cushion which is opened in a U shape includes a receiving vent hole for receiving the inflation gas from the outer cushion and a discharging vent hole for discharging the inflation gas to the outside; and

wherein the outer cushion includes a left wing portion forming an opened left piece of the U-shaped cross section, a right wing portion forming a right piece, and an outer front portion connecting front sides of the left wing portion and the right wing portion with each other, such that the left wing portion and the right wing portion support a passenger shoulder to move forward, and

the inner cushion includes an inner top portion connecting top portions of the left wing portion and the right wing portion horizontally, an inner bottom portion connecting bottom portions of the left wing portion and the right wing portion horizontally, an inner front portion connecting the inner top portion and the inner bottom portion vertically while being adjacent to the outer front portion, and an inner middle portion protruding toward the inner top portion from the inner bottom portion at the rear side of the inner front portion, such that the inner middle portion is configured to support a passenger head to move forward.

2. The roof airbag apparatus of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the inner middle portion of the inner cushion is divided into a left inner middle portion adjacent to the left wing portion of the outer cushion and a right inner middle portion adjacent to the right wing portion.

3. The roof airbag apparatus of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the inner front portion of the inner cushion has a structure of forming an S-shaped curved portion which is depressed to be concave toward the front together with the inner top portion and the inner bottom portion.

4. The roof airbag apparatus of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the supply vent hole is formed on inner lower surfaces of the left wing portion and the right wing portion of the outer cushion,

the receiving vent holes are formed at positions corresponding to the supply vent hole of both sides of the inner bottom portion of the inner cushion, and

the discharging vent hole is formed on a lower surface of the inner bottom portion.

5. The roof airbag apparatus of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the inflator is connected to supply inflation gas supplied form one inflator to each of the top portions of the left wing portion and the right wing portion of the outer cushion.