Disposition structure for curtain airbag system

• US 8,936,270 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2013
• Issued: 01/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Original Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: Kurahashi, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): ENGLISH, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US13/968,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20140070522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence

Abstract

A disposition structure for a curtain airbag system in which the airbag, when deployed, deforms an end of a roof trim toward the inside of a passenger compartment. An airbag guide support retains an airbag guide in a normal position in which an end of the airbag guide is kept away from an upper end of a pillar trim and a top surface of the airbag guide faces the under surface of the folded airbag. When the airbag is inflated and deployed, the airbag guide receives a downward pressing force from the inflating airbag on the top surface of the airbag guide and moves to a position of action in which the airbag guide covers the upper end of the pillar trim from above.

Claims

1. A disposition structure for a curtain airbag system, the disposition structure comprising:

an airbag in a folded state disposed along a roof side rail;

a roof trim that forms a ceiling and covers a folded airbag with an end thereof;

a pillar trim that covers a passenger compartment side of a pillar;

an airbag guide that includes a top surface facing an under surface of the folded airbag, an end of the airbag guide being directed toward an inside of a passenger compartment; and

an airbag guide support that is configured to control a movement of the airbag guide, and is formed to bend toward the passenger compartment so as to separate from the pillar, the airbag guide support being bent upward so as to approach and face the end of the airbag guide,

wherein the airbag guide support retains the airbag guide in a normal position,

wherein the end of the airbag guide is kept away from an upper end of the pillar trim and the top surface of the airbag guide faces the under surface of the folded airbag,

wherein, when the airbag is inflated and deployed, the airbag guide receives a downward pressing force from an inflating airbag on the top surface of the airbag guide and moves to a position of action in which the airbag guide guides the inflating airbag to a non-contact state in which the airbag is kept away from the upper end of the pillar trim, and

wherein, when the airbag is inflated and deployed, the airbag presses and deforms the end of the roof trim toward the inside of the passenger compartment and thereby produces a gap between the end of the roof trim and the upper end of the pillar trim through which the airbag is deployed in a vertical direction.

2. The disposition structure for the curtain airbag system according to claim 1, wherein the airbag guide in the position of action is configured to cover the upper end of the pillar trim from above.

3. The disposition structure for the curtain airbag system according to claim 1, wherein the airbag guide in the position of action has the end thereof located in a position outside of the upper end of the pillar trim and has the top surface thereof located at a level equal to or above an upper edge of the upper end of the pillar trim.

4. The disposition structure for the curtain airbag system according to claim 1, wherein the airbag guide support includes an end guide unit including a support extending toward an outside of the passenger compartment from the pillar trim and another end guide unit that extends upward toward the inside of the passenger compartment via a hinge at an end of the support and is connected at an end thereof with the end of the airbag guide via the hinge, and an underside guide unit that is connected at its proximal end with the pillar and includes a contact at an end thereof which is able to be in sliding contact with the under surface of the airbag guide.

5. The disposition structure for the curtain airbag system according to claim 2, wherein the airbag guide support includes an end guide unit including a support extending toward an outside of the passenger compartment from the pillar trim and another end guide unit that extends upward toward the inside of the passenger compartment via a hinge at an end of the support and is connected at an end thereof with the end of the airbag guide via the hinge, and an underside guide unit that is connected at its proximal end with the pillar and includes a contact at an end thereof which is able to be in sliding contact with the under surface of the airbag guide.

6. The disposition structure for the curtain airbag system according to claim 3, wherein the airbag guide support includes an end guide unit including a support extending toward an outside of the passenger compartment from the pillar trim and another end guide unit that extends upward toward the inside of the passenger compartment via a hinge at an end of the support and is connected at an end thereof with the end of the airbag guide via the hinge, and an underside guide unit that is connected at its proximal end with the pillar and includes a contact at an end thereof which is able to be in sliding contact with the under surface of the airbag guide.

7. The disposition structure for the curtain airbag system according to claim 4, wherein the end guide unit and the airbag guide are formed integrally with the pillar trim.

8. The disposition structure for the curtain airbag system according to claim 5, wherein the end guide unit and the airbag guide are formed integrally with the pillar trim.

9. The disposition structure for the curtain airbag system according to claim 6, wherein the end guide unit and the airbag guide are formed integrally with the pillar trim.

10. The disposition structure for the curtain airbag system according to claim 1, wherein the airbag guide support includes an end guide unit including a support extending toward an outside of the passenger compartment from the pillar trim.

11. The disposition structure for the curtain airbag system according to claim 10, wherein the airbag guide support further includes another end guide unit that extends upward toward the inside of the passenger compartment via a hinge at an end of the support.

12. The disposition structure for the curtain airbag system according to claim 11, wherein an end of said another end guide unit is connected with the end of the airbag guide via the hinge.

13. The disposition structure for the curtain airbag system according to claim 12, wherein the airbag guide support further includes an underside guide unit that is connected at its proximal end with the pillar.

14. The disposition structure for the curtain airbag system according to claim 13, wherein the underside guide unit includes a contact at an end thereof which is able to be in sliding contact with the under surface of the airbag guide.

15. The disposition structure for the curtain airbag system according to claim 10, wherein the end guide unit and the airbag guide are formed integrally with the pillar trim.

16. The disposition structure for the curtain airbag system according to claim 10, wherein the airbag guide support further includes another end guide unit that extends upward toward the inside of the passenger compartment.

17. The disposition structure for the curtain airbag system according to claim 16, wherein the airbag guide support further includes an underside guide unit that is connected at its proximal end with the pillar.