Head-protection airbag device

• US 6,913,282 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2003
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US10/727,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20040080145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/729, 280/740, 280/742
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2617 Curtain bag nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

The head-protection airbag device comprises an airbag stored along a roof side rail and including a gas-introducing path at its upper edge. A gas is supplied from a gas supplier into an inflation chamber through a gas distribution pipe provided within the gas-introducing path, whereby the airbag is inflated and deployed like a curtain along a sidewall of a vehicle compartment so as to protect a head of an occupant. Gas outlets of the gas distribution pipe are oriented in different directions in a region corresponding to a door glass portion and in a region corresponding to a pillar garnish portion.

Claims

1. A head-protection airbag device, comprising:

an airbag stored along a roof side rail, and including a gas-introducing path provided at its upper edge and a plurality of inflation chambers, the plurality of inflation chambers comprising direct inflation chambers and indirect inflation chambers;

a gas distribution pipe provided within the gas-introducing path, for introducing into the plurality of inflation chambers a gas supplied from a gas supplier; and

a plurality of gas outlets provided in the gas distribution pipe, each gas outlet disposed corresponding to at least one direct inflation chamber;

wherein;

gas is supplied from the gas supplier into the plurality of inflation chambers through the plurality of gas outlets of the gas distribution pipe;

the airbag is inflated and deployed like a curtain along a sidewall of a vehicle compartment so as to protect a head of a seated occupant;

each direct inflation chamber has a smaller volume than each indirect chamber; and

each direct inflation chamber is disposed at a location away from a head-rest of an adjacent seat in a fore-and-aft direction of a vehicle.

2. The head-protection airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag protects a head of an occupant seated in a front seat and a head of an occupant seated in a rear seat.

3. The head-protection airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the gas supplier is provided at a rear end of the gas distribution pipe.

4. The head-protection airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the gas supplier is provided at an intermediate position of the gas distribution pipe.