VEHICLE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY

• US 20150115575A1
• Filed: 10/29/2013
• Published: 04/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: JOVICEVIC, Niko
• Granted Patent: US 9,278,661 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars

Abstract

A vehicle airbag assembly includes an attachment bracket, an elongated support member and an airbag. The attachment bracket attaches to a vehicle body member and includes a hinge portion. The elongated support member is pivotally connected to the attachment bracket for pivoting movement about a pivot axis defined by the hinge portion of the attachment bracket. The airbag is attached to the support member and defines a lengthwise direction. The pivot axis is non-parallel to the lengthwise direction. The airbag and the support member are movable together about the pivot axis. The hinge portion is configured to direct movement of the airbag and the support member from a stowed orientation to a deployed orientation upon inflation of the airbag.

Claims

1. A vehicle airbag assembly comprising:

an attachment bracket configured to attach to a vehicle body member and including a hinge portion;

an elongated support member pivotally connected to the attachment bracket for pivoting movement about a pivot axis defined by the hinge portion of the attachment bracket; and

an airbag attached to the support member that defines a lengthwise direction, the pivot axis being non-parallel to the lengthwise direction, the airbag and the support member being movable together about the pivot axis, the hinge portion directing movement of the airbag and the support member from a stowed orientation to a deployed orientation upon inflation of the airbag.

2. The vehicle airbag assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the airbag and support member extend in a first direction from the hinge portion while in the stowed orientation and in a second direction from the hinge portion in the deployed orientation with the second direction and the first direction defining an angle therebetween that is greater than 135 degrees.

3. The vehicle airbag assembly according to claim 2, wherein

the angle defined between the first direction and the second direction is equal to or less than 180 degrees.

4. The vehicle airbag assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the airbag is pneumatically connected to a main airbag that is supported by the attachment bracket and spaced apart from the support member.

5. The vehicle airbag assembly according to claim 1, further comprising

a pyrotechnic device that moves the support member from the stowed orientation to the deployed orientation.

6. The vehicle airbag assembly according to claim 5, wherein

the pyrotechnic device applies force to the support member causing the support member and the airbag to move from the stowed orientation to the deployed orientation.

7. The vehicle airbag assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the hinge portion is biased to move to the deployed orientation.

8. The vehicle airbag assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the vehicle body member is a roof rail.

9. A vehicle body structure comprising:

a first pillar structure;

a roof rail extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, a portion of the roof rail being fixedly attached to an upper end of the first pillar structure, a first section of the roof rail extending in a first direction away from the first pillar structure and a second section of the roof rail extending in a second direction away from the first pillar structure opposite the first direction, the first section of the roof rail and the first pillar structure at least partially defining a first opening in the vehicle body structure, and the second section of the roof rail and the first pillar structure at least partially defining a second opening in the vehicle body structure;

a trim element coupled to the roof rail covering the roof rail; and

an airbag assembly including an attachment bracket attached to the first section of the roof rail, a support member pivotally connected to the attachment bracket and an inflatable cushion extension attached to the support member, with the inflatable cushion extension and the support member located above the first opening between the trim element and the first section of the roof rail while in a stowed orientation, and the inflatable cushion extension being configured and arranged to pivot with the support member relative to the attachment bracket upon deployment and extend across an interior surface of the first pillar structure to cover the second opening while in a deployed orientation.

10. The vehicle body structure according to claim 9, wherein

the attachment bracket includes a hinge portion, and the support member is configured and arranged for pivoting movement about the hinge portion of the attachment bracket upon deployment.

11. The vehicle body structure according to claim 10, wherein

the hinge portion is configured and oriented to direct movement of the cushion extension and the support member from the stowed orientation to the deployed orientation upon inflation of the cushion extension.

12. The vehicle body structure according to claim 11, wherein

the cushion extension and the support member extend in a first direction from the hinge portion while in the stowed orientation and extend in a second direction from the hinge portion while in the deployed orientation, with the second direction and the first direction defining an angle therebetween that is greater than 135 degrees.

13. The vehicle body structure according to claim 12, wherein

the angle defined between the first direction and the second direction is equal to or less than 180 degrees.

14. The vehicle body structure according to claim 9, wherein

the airbag assembly further includes a pyrotechnic device that moves the cushion extension and the support member from the stowed orientation to the deployed orientation.

15. The vehicle body structure according to claim 14, wherein

the pyrotechnic device applies force to the support member causing the support member and the cushion extension to move from the stowed orientation to the deployed orientation.

16. The vehicle body structure according to claim 14, wherein

the pyrotechnic device provides pneumatic force to the airbag upon deployment of the airbag causing both the airbag and the support member to move from the stowed orientation to the deployed orientation.

17. The vehicle body structure according to claim 9, wherein

the cushion extension is pneumatically connected to an inflatable main section that is supported by the attachment bracket and spaced apart from the support member, the main section covering the first opening while in the deployed orientation.

18. The vehicle body structure according to claim 9, wherein

trim element is a headliner component.

19. The vehicle body structure according to claim 9, further comprising:

a second pillar structure having an upper end fixedly attached to an area of the first section of the roof rail spaced apart from the first pillar structure; and

a door assembly pivotally connected to the second pillar structure for movement between an open position and a closed position, the door assembly including a window panel that covers at least a portion of the first opening when the door assembly is in the closed position.

20. The vehicle body structure according to claim 9, further comprising

a window panel coupled to the first pillar structure and the roof rail that covers the second opening.