Curtain airbag device and occupant protecting device

• US 9,114,777 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2013
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Fukawatase, Osamu, Taguchi, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Rocca, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sliteris, Joselynn Y
• Application Number:
  US14/100,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20140239619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/743.2, 280/729
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• 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 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

A curtain airbag device comprising: a main deploying portion that, at a time when at least one of a small overlap impact or an oblique impact arises, receives a supply of gas and expands, and is deployed in a shape of a curtain along a side window glass; an auxiliary deploying portion that is provided at a front side with respect to the main deploying portion, and that, at a time of at least one of a small overlap impact or an oblique impact, receives a supply of gas and is expanded and deployed; and a tension structure that connects a front end side portion of a front pillar and a rear end side portion of the front pillar, and that is deployed while receiving tension such that an intermediate portion of the tension structure passes by a vehicle width direction outer side of the auxiliary deploying portion.

Claims

1. A curtain airbag device comprising:

a main deploying portion that, at a time when a side impact arises, and at a time when at least one of a small overlap impact or an oblique impact arises, receives a supply of gas and expands, and the main deploying portion is deployed in a shape of a curtain along a side window glass;

an auxiliary deploying portion that is provided at a front side, in a vehicle front-rear direction, with respect to the main deploying portion, the auxiliary deploying portion is at least partially partitioned from the main deploying portion by an elongated seam that extends generally vertically, and the auxiliary deploying portion, at a time of at least one of a small overlap impact or an oblique impact, receives a supply of gas and is expanded and deployed; and

a tension structure that connects a front end side portion, in the vehicle front-rear direction, of a front pillar and a rear end side portion, in the vehicle front-rear direction, of the front pillar above and in line with the elongated seam, and the tension structure is deployed while receiving tension such that an intermediate portion of the tension structure in the vehicle front-rear direction passes by a vehicle width direction outer side of the auxiliary deploying portion.

2. The curtain airbag device of claim 1, wherein the tension structure is connected respectively to the front end side portion in the vehicle front-rear direction of the front pillar, and the rear end side portion in the vehicle front-rear direction of the front pillar, and a front end side portion in the vehicle front-rear direction of the main deploying portion, and is structured to include a portion that is deployed in a triangular shape as seen in side view.

3. The curtain airbag device of claim 2, wherein the auxiliary deploying portion is structured by a plurality of chambers, that are deployed so as to be adjacent in the vehicle front-rear direction, being connected to one another by a connecting body at a vehicle width direction outer side.

4. The curtain airbag device of claim 3, further comprising a gas passage that is deployed further downward than a door belt line in a vehicle up-down direction, and through which gas, that is supplied from the main deploying portion to the auxiliary deploying portion, passes.

5. An occupant protecting device comprising:

an airbag device for a front seat that, at a time when a frontal impact arises, and at a time when, among a small overlap impact and an oblique impact, an impact of a form in which the main deploying portion is deployed arises, causes an airbag for a frontal impact to expand and deploy by a supply of gas; and

the curtain airbag device of claim 4, which is structured such that the auxiliary deploying portion is expanded and deployed at a front side, in the vehicle front-rear direction, with respect to the airbag for a frontal impact as seen in side view.

6. An occupant protecting device comprising:

an airbag device for a front seat that, at a time when a frontal impact arises, and at a time when, among a small overlap impact and an oblique impact, an impact of a form in which the main deploying portion is deployed arises, causes an airbag for a frontal impact to expand and deploy by a supply of gas; and

the curtain airbag device of claim 3, which is structured such that the auxiliary deploying portion is expanded and deployed at a front side, in the vehicle front-rear direction, with respect to the airbag for a frontal impact as seen in side view.

7. The curtain airbag device of claim 2, further comprising a gas passage that is deployed further downward than a door belt line in a vehicle up-down direction, and through which gas, that is supplied from the main deploying portion to the auxiliary deploying portion, passes.

8. An occupant protecting device comprising:

an airbag device for a front seat that, at a time when a frontal impact arises, and at a time when, among a small overlap impact and an oblique impact, an impact of a form in which the main deploying portion is deployed arises, causes an airbag for a frontal impact to expand and deploy by a supply of gas; and

the curtain airbag device of claim 7, which is structured such that the auxiliary deploying portion is expanded and deployed at a front side, in the vehicle front-rear direction, with respect to the airbag for a frontal impact as seen in side view.

9. An occupant protecting device comprising:

an airbag device for a front seat that, at a time when a frontal impact arises, and at a time when, among a small overlap impact and an oblique impact, an impact of a form in which the main deploying portion is deployed arises, causes an airbag for a frontal impact to expand and deploy by a supply of gas; and

the curtain airbag device of claim 2, which is structured such that the auxiliary deploying portion is expanded and deployed at a front side, in the vehicle front-rear direction, with respect to the airbag for a frontal impact as seen in side view.

10. The curtain airbag device of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary deploying portion is structured by a plurality of chambers, that are deployed so as to be adjacent in the vehicle front-rear direction, being connected to one another by a connecting body at a vehicle width direction outer side.

11. The curtain airbag device of claim 10, further comprising a gas passage that is deployed further downward than a door belt line in a vehicle up-down direction, and through which gas, that is supplied from the main deploying portion to the auxiliary deploying portion, passes.

12. An occupant protecting device comprising:

an airbag device for a front seat that, at a time when a frontal impact arises, and at a time when, among a small overlap impact and an oblique impact, an impact of a form in which the main deploying portion is deployed arises, causes an airbag for a frontal impact to expand and deploy by a supply of gas; and

the curtain airbag device of claim 11, which is structured such that the auxiliary deploying portion is expanded and deployed at a front side, in the vehicle front-rear direction, with respect to the airbag for a frontal impact as seen in side view.

13. An occupant protecting device comprising:

an airbag device for a front seat that, at a time when a frontal impact arises, and at a time when, among a small overlap impact and an oblique impact, an impact of a form in which the main deploying portion is deployed arises, causes an airbag for a frontal impact to expand and deploy by a supply of gas; and

the curtain airbag device of claim 10, which is structured such that the auxiliary deploying portion is expanded and deployed at a front side, in the vehicle front-rear direction, with respect to the airbag for a frontal impact as seen in side view.

14. The curtain airbag device of claim 1, further comprising a gas passage that is deployed further downward than a door belt line in a vehicle up-down direction, and through which gas, that is supplied from the main deploying portion to the auxiliary deploying portion, passes.

15. An occupant protecting device comprising:

an airbag device for a front seat that, at a time when a frontal impact arises, and at a time when, among a small overlap impact and an oblique impact, an impact of a form in which the main deploying portion is deployed arises, causes an airbag for a frontal impact to expand and deploy by a supply of gas; and

the curtain airbag device of claim 14, which is structured such that the auxiliary deploying portion is expanded and deployed at a front side, in the vehicle front-rear direction, with respect to the airbag for a frontal impact as seen in side view.

16. An occupant protecting device comprising:

an airbag device for a front seat that, at a time when a frontal impact arises, and at a time when, among a small overlap impact and an oblique impact, an impact of a form in which the main deploying portion is deployed arises, causes an airbag for a frontal impact to expand and deploy by a supply of gas; and

the curtain airbag device of claim 1, which is structured such that the auxiliary deploying portion is expanded and deployed at a front side, in the vehicle front-rear direction, with respect to the airbag for a frontal impact as seen in side view.