Center airbag for vehicle

• US 8,851,509 B1
• Filed: 10/29/2013
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Choi, Jun Yeol
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Freedman, Laura
• Application Number:
  US14/066,513
• Time in Patent Office: 343 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/736, 280/740, 280/742, 280/743.1, 493/405, 493/411, 493/413, 493/451
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/214 in roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid

Abstract

A center airbag apparatus for a vehicle may include an inflator ejecting gas in an event of a vehicle collision, an airbag housing provided on a roof panel between a front seat and a rear seat, and an airbag cushion coupled at an upper end thereof to the airbag housing and fluid-connected to the inflator, wherein the airbag cushion may be folded in a vertical direction and then folded at both sides thereof towards a middle portion, thus allowing the both sides to be first unfolded and then the airbag cushion to be deployed downwards, when the gas may be ejected from the inflator into the airbag cushion.

Claims

1. A center airbag apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

an inflator ejecting gas in an event of a vehicle collision;

an airbag housing provided on a roof panel between a front seat and a rear seat; and

an airbag cushion coupled at an upper end thereof to the airbag housing and fluid-connected to the inflator,

wherein the airbag cushion is folded in a vertical direction and then folded at both sides thereof towards a middle portion, thus allowing the both sides to be first unfolded and then the airbag cushion to be deployed downwards, when the gas is ejected from the inflator into the airbag cushion.

2. The center airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further including:

a diffuser provided on the upper end of the airbag cushion along with the inflator, and including at least one vent hole to allow the gas ejected from the inflator to move towards the airbag cushion.

3. The center airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 2,

wherein the inflator includes a gas jet hole positioned at a central portion on the upper end of the airbag cushion, and

wherein the diffuser includes on both side ends thereof vent holes, respectively, to allow the gas ejected from the inflator to move towards the both sides of the airbag cushion.

4. The center airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 2,

wherein the inflator includes a first inflator and a second inflator, gas jet holes of the first inflator and the second inflator being disposed to be directed in opposite directions from each other, and

wherein the diffuser includes a first diffuser and a second diffuser disposed at gas-jet-hole sides of the first inflator and the second inflator, thus allowing the gas ejected from the first inflator and the second inflator to move towards the both sides of the airbag cushion.

5. The center airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 4,

wherein a vent hole of the first diffuser includes a side vent hole that is open to a first side of the airbag cushion, and a downward vent hole that is open towards a lower portion of the airbag cushion, and

wherein a vent hole of the second diffuser includes a side vent hole that is open to a second side of the airbag cushion, and a downward vent hole that is open towards the lower portion of the airbag cushion.

6. The center airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein a width of the side vent hole formed in each of the first and second diffusers is larger than a width of the downward vent hole formed in each of the first and second diffusers.

7. The center airbag apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the airbag cushion is provided in the airbag housing by rolling the airbag cushion in a state where the both sides thereof folded in a zigzag fashion in the vertical direction are folded towards the middle portion.