Occupant restraint system

• US 6,719,321 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2002
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ikeda, Koji, Yasuhara, Fumitoshi, Miyamoto, Kazuaki, Kawajiri, Naoki, Otsuka, Takeru
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Son T.
• Application Number:
  US10/167,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20030006591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/728.1, 280/728.2
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0414 using energy absorbing ribs
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0435 associated with the side or roof pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/04 Padded linings for the vehicle interior ; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/46 Reels with means to tension the belt in an emergency by forced winding upelectrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01 ; tensioners using reels only guiding the belt during normal use, e.g. splitted reels B60R22/195

Abstract

A vehicular occupant restraint system is provided with an airbag and an inflator. A front end of the folded airbag is housed within a front pillar garnish covering a side face on the occupant compartment side of a front pillar, and impact absorbing ribs are formed on the inner face of the front pillar garnish only in a section(s) that receives little deformation when the airbag is deployed. Since the front pillar garnish can be easily flexed when the air bag is deployed, there is neither inhibition to the smooth deployment of the airbag nor splitting and scattering of a part of the front pillar garnish. Moreover, since the impact absorbing ribs are formed on the front pillar garnish in the section(s) that receives little deformation, the impact of a secondary collision to an occupant can be absorbed effectively by the impact absorbing ribs.

Claims

1. An occupant restraint system for a vehicle comprising:

an airbag disposed in a folded state along an upper edge of a door opening of a vehicle body;

an inflator that generates gas when the vehicle is involved in a collision to inflate the airbag so that it is deployed in a curtain shape along an inner face of a side of an occupant compartment;

a part of the folded airbag being housed within a front pillar garnish covering a side face, on the occupant compartment side, of a front pillar such that the garnish is deformed when the airbag is deployed; and

an impact absorbing rib being formed on an inner face of a section of the front pillar garnish that is little deformed by deployment of the airbag;

wherein said section of the front pillar garnish on which said impact absorbing rib is formed does not house the airbag.

2. The occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said impact absorbing ribs are formed on said front pillar garnish, and said impact absorbing ribs are provided only on said section of the front pillar garnish that is little deformed by deployment of the airbag.

3. The occupant restraint system for a vehicle comprising:

an airbag disposed in a folded state alone an upper edge of a door opening of a vehicle body;

an inflator that generates gas when the vehicle is involved in a collision to inflate the airbag so that it is deployed in a curtain shape along an inner face of a side of an occupant compartment

a part of the folded airbag being housed within a front pillar garnish covering a side face, on the occupant compartment side, of a front pillar such that the garnish is deformed when the airbag is deployed; and

a plurality of impact absorbing rib being formed on an inner face of a section of the front pillar garnish that is little deformed by deployment of the airbag;

wherein said impact absorbing ribs are provided only on a lower section of the front pillar garnish, and the part of said airbag is housed within an upper section of said front pillar garnish.