Airbag device

• US 9,027,954 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2012
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ashimori Industry Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ashimori Industry Company Limited
• Inventors: Konishi, Shuhei, Hashizume, Tomoki, Minami, Yuta
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, DREW J
• Application Number:
  US14/342,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20140217707A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/728.2, 280/743.3
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

An airbag device (1), having an airbag (10), is installed in a side wall (91) inside a vehicle cabin. The airbag (10) includes an inflatable section (30) configured to be inflated with gas and is disposed in an upper portion of the side wall (91). An inflator (2) supplies gas to the inflatable section (30), inflating and deploying the airbag (10) downward. A connecting member (50) connects the airbag (10) and the vehicle body (99) and is pulled between the vehicle body (99) and the airbag (10) that is being inflated and deployed. When the airbag (10) is inflated and deployed, a support portion (51) of the connecting member (50) supports the inflatable section (30) from the side wall (91) side of the airbag and pushes it toward the inner side of the vehicle cabin.

Claims

1. An airbag device installed in a side wall inside a vehicle cabin, the airbag device comprising:

an airbag that is disposed in an upper portion of the side wall and has an inflatable section configured to be inflated with gas;

an inflator that supplies gas to the inflatable section to inflate and deploy the airbag downward; and

a connecting member that connects the airbag and a vehicle body and is pulled between the vehicle body and the airbag that is being inflated and deployed,

wherein the airbag includes fabric pieces facing each other, forming the inflatable section therebetween, and an inner joining portion, which is a joining portion dividing the inflatable section and forming air chambers, at which the opposing fabric pieces are joined within the inflatable section and to which a support portion of the connecting member is attached, and has a non-inflatable section at an end on the vehicle body side, and an insertion portion being provided in the non-inflatable section of the airbag to retain the connecting member inserted therein so as to be movable, and

wherein the connecting member includes the support portion that is disposed along a side wall side of the inflatable section located between the vehicle body connected by the connecting member and the inner joining portion, and supports the inflatable section from the side wall side of the airbag and pushes the inflatable section toward the inner side of the vehicle cabin when the airbag is inflated and deployed.

2. The airbag device according to claim 1,

wherein the inflatable section includes a lower inflatable section that overlaps a door trim provided on a door of the vehicle when the airbag is inflated and deployed.

3. The airbag device according to claim 2,

wherein the inflatable section includes an upper inflatable section that overlaps a front pillar of the vehicle when the airbag is inflated and deployed, and

wherein the door trim overlapped by the lower inflatable section is provided on a front door of the vehicle.

4. The airbag device according to claim 1,

wherein the connecting member includes a vehicle-body attachment portion that is provided between the support portion and the vehicle body and is attached to the vehicle body.

5. The airbag device according to claim 4,

wherein the vehicle-body attachment portion of the connecting member is a low expansion portion that has lower expansibility than the support portion.

6. The airbag device according to claim 4,

wherein the support portion of the connecting member has a wide portion that has a larger width than the vehicle-body attachment portion.

7. The airbag device according to claim 1,

wherein the insertion portion includes a loop portion provided on an outer surface of the airbag, through which the connecting member passes.

8. The airbag device according to claim 1,

wherein the insertion portion is an opening provided in the non-inflatable section of the airbag.