External airbag module for vehicle and back beam for mounting external airbag module

• US 8,672,078 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2011
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Lee, Seoung Hoon, Kim, Yong Sun, Lee, Un Koo
• Primary Examiner(s): Brwon, Drew
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODEN JR, BARRY J
• Application Number:
  US13/292,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20120298438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 180/271, 180/274, 280/736
• US Class Current: 180/271
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/205 inflatable in the direction of an obstacle upon impending impact, e.g. using air bags

Abstract

An external airbag module for a vehicle, installed to be located in a space formed between a back beam and a front bumper may include an inflator secured to a front of the back beam and accommodated in the back beam, and an airbag cushion surrounding the inflator and secured to the back beam together with the inflator between the back beam and the front bumper.

Claims

1. An external airbag module for a vehicle, installed to be located in a space between a back beam and a front bumper, the external airbag module comprising:

an airbag bracket secured to a front of the back beam and accommodated in the back beam;

an inflator secured to the airbag bracket and accommodated in the back beam;

an airbag cushion surrounding the airbag bracket and the inflator, and secured to the back beam together with the airbag bracket;

a heat shielding member fitted between the airbag bracket and the airbag cushion, shaped into an arc that is open at a front thereof and surrounds the inflator to prevent the airbag cushion from being damaged by explosion heat of the inflator; and

a gas guider fitted between the airbag cushion and the heat shielding member and installed to surround the inflator, with a plurality of gas discharge holes being formed on a front of the gas guider to guide a flow of airbag gas forwards.

2. The external airbag module as set forth in claim 1, wherein the airbag bracket is provided with a plurality of band-shaped retainers, and

the inflator is coupled to a front of the airbag bracket and surrounded by the retainers.

3. The external airbag module as set forth in claim 1, wherein the heat shielding member is formed of aluminum foil.

4. The external airbag module as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the airbag bracket is provided with a plurality of stud bolts,

wherein the heat shielding member, the gas guider, and the airbag cushion are sequentially fitted over the plurality of stud bolts, and

wherein each of the plurality of stud bolts is fastened to a nut after passing through the back beam.

5. The external airbag module as set forth in claim 1, wherein the airbag cushion is installed to be accommodated on the back beam together with the inflator.

6. The external airbag module as set forth in claim 5, wherein a back beam recess is formed in the front of the back beam to accommodate the inflator together with the airbag bracket or simultaneously accommodate the inflator and the airbag cushion together with the airbag bracket, and is formed in a longitudinal direction of the back beam that is a transverse direction of a vehicle body.

7. The external airbag module as set forth in claim 1, wherein the airbag cushion is installed to protrude forwards from the back beam.

8. The external airbag module as set forth in claim 7, wherein, when the airbag cushion is installed to protrude forwards from the back beam, the airbag cushion is mounted to be supported by an upper bracket that is secured to an upper end of the back beam.