CURTAIN AIRBAG FOR VEHICLE

• US 20170253211A1
• Filed: 07/29/2016
• Published: 09/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: CHOI, Jae Ho
• Granted Patent: US 10,023,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0009 Oblique collision
• 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 21/16 Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags protective garments with automatically inflatable shock-absorbing means A41D13/018; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23 Inflatable members B60R21/18 takes precedence; connection to inflation fluid source retainers B60R21/217
• 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 21/2334 Expansion control features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

A curtain airbag for a vehicle may include a curtain airbag cushion, a first folding portion formed from an indoor side to a window side of the curtain airbag cushion, at a predetermined distance rearward from a front end of the curtain airbag cushion, a second folding portion formed from the indoor side to the window side of the cushion airbag at a predetermined distance rearward from the first folding portion, a panel tether connecting the first folding portion and the second folding portion to each other on the window side of the curtain airbag cushion, the panel tether being shorter than a length of the window side of the curtain airbag cushion between the first folding portion and the second folding portion, and a protruding portion protruding inward between the first folding portion and the second folding portion of the curtain airbag cushion by tension of the panel tether.

Claims

1. A curtain airbag for a vehicle, comprising:

a curtain airbag cushion;

a first folding portion formed from an indoor side to a window side of the curtain airbag cushion, and at a predetermined distance rearward from a front end of the curtain airbag cushion;

a second folding portion formed from the indoor side to the window side of the cushion airbag at a predetermined distance rearward from the first folding portion;

a panel tether connecting the first folding portion and the second folding portion on the window side of the curtain airbag cushion, the panel tether being shorter than a length of the window side of the curtain airbag cushion between the first folding portion and the second folding portion; and

a protruding portion protruding inward between the first folding portion and the second folding portion of the curtain airbag cushion by tension of the panel tether, when the curtain airbag cushion is deployed.

2. The curtain airbag of claim 1, wherein the first folding portion and the second folding portion are inclinedly oriented with upper ends thereof inclined rearward.

3. The curtain airbag of claim 1, wherein the second folding portion is inclinedly oriented further rearward than the first folding portion.

4. The curtain airbag of claim 1, wherein the first folding portion is inclinedly oriented with an upper end inclined forward and the second folding portion is inclinedly oriented with an upper end inclined rearward.

5. The curtain airbag of claim 1, wherein

the panel tether comprises a first panel tether and a second panel tether;

the first panel tether connects upper ends of the first folding portion and the second folding portion on the window side of the curtain airbag cushion; and

the second panel tether connects lower ends of the first folding portion and the second folding portion on the window side of the curtain airbag cushion.

6. The curtain airbag of claim 5, wherein the second panel tether is shorter than the first panel tether.

7. The curtain airbag of claim 1, wherein the panel tether comprises a first panel tether and a second panel tether, and

the first panel tether and the second panel tether connect upper ends and lower ends of the first folding portion and the second folding portion, crossing each other.

8. The curtain airbag of claim 1, wherein when the curtain airbag is fully inflated, the protruding portion protrudes behind a front airbag and supported by the front airbag.

9. The curtain airbag of claim 1, wherein when the curtain airbag is fully inflated, the protruding portion blocks a space between the curtain airbag and the front airbag, with an indoor end of the protruding portion in contact with a door-side end of the front airbag.

10. The curtain airbag of claim 1, wherein a third folding portion of the curtain airbag is provided between the first folding portion and the second folding portion, and

the protruding portion is bent to protrude inside at the third folding portion when the curtain airbag is inflated.

11. The curtain airbag of claim 3, wherein a plurality of longitudinal seams is formed on the protruding portion such that the upper ends at the second folding portion are inclined further rearward than the first folding portion to make an arc shape.

12. The curtain airbag of claim 10, wherein a plurality of longitudinal seams is formed on the protruding portion, and

a number of the seams between the first folding portion and the second folding portion and a number of the seams between the second folding portion and the third folding portion are different.