Head protective airbag and device

• US 6,971,665 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2003
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan GK
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Tadashi
• Primary Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US10/387,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20030222437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 280/729, 280/730.2, 280/743.1, 280/743.2, 280/730.1, 280/749
• US Class Current: 280/729
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• 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

Abstract

A head protective airbag which is adapted to not be inflated or to be scarcely inflated when dragged out of a pillar cover is provided. The airbag can be extremely smoothly pulled or dragged out of the pillar cover. The head protective airbag is provided with a triangular first cell in a front portion of the airbag. The first cell is in communication with a gas inlet through first and second gas passages. As an inflator is actuated, gas flows first mainly into the first gas passage through the gas inlet so that the airbag pushes and opens a roof trim above a B-pillar and thus starts to deploy into a vehicle cabin. The first cell is pulled by the first gas passage and an area around the first gas passage so as to tear a trim of an A-pillar and come out of the trim. After that, the first cell is inflated.

Claims

1. A head protective airbag to be disposed to extend along a pillar and a roof side rail of a vehicle, comprising:

a first cell having a first side extending along the pillar;

a second cell extending away from the roof side rail; and

a gas passage positioned to carry gas from a top to a bottom of the airbag for introducing gas only into the first cell;

wherein the passage is connected to the first cell only at a second side opposite to the first side of the first cell.

2. The head protective airbag of claim 1,

wherein the gas passage includes a first portion extending substantially vertically from an upper portion to a lower portion of the head protective airbag, and a second portion extending along a lower side of the head protective airbag and connecting the first portion of the gas passage to the first cell.

3. A head protective airbag as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second cell is positioned to extend along the first portion of the gas passage.

4. The head protective airbag of claim 1, wherein the first cell is configured so that when inflated the first cell has a substantially triangular profile;

and wherein the gas passage is connected adjacent to a corner of the triangular profile opposite to the first side of the first cell.

5. The head protective airbag of claim 1, further comprising a gas supply means for supplying gas into the head protective airbag.

6. An airbag for the side of a vehicle comprising:

a plurality of inflatable cells positioned along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, wherein each of the inflatable cells is configured so that gas is introduced into the cell adjacent only a top or a bottom of the airbag;

a gas inlet having a first end adapted to be connected to an inflator and a second end fluidly connected to the plurality of inflatable cells, wherein the gas inlet is configured so that gas from the inflator enters the airbag only through the second end of the gas inlet; and

a first gas passage extending in a vertical direction and located between at least two of the inflatable cells;

wherein one end of the gas passage is positioned opposite the second end of the gas inlet so that the gas passage inflates downwardly prior to any substantial inflation of any of the plurality of cells.

7. The airbag of claim 6, wherein a second gas passage is fluidly connected to the bottom of the gas passage and extends generally horizontally to supply inflation gas to a first one of the plurality of inflatable cells.

8. The airbag of claim 7, wherein the first one of the plurality of cells is triangular in shape.

9. The airbag of claim 7, wherein the first one of the plurality of cells is positioned to extend along a pillar of the vehicle.

10. The airbag of claim 7, wherein a third gas passage is fluidly connected to the bottom of the first gas passage and extends generally horizontally towards the rear of the vehicle to supply inflation gas to a second one of the plurality of inflatable cells.

11. The airbag of claim 7, wherein a second inflatable cell is positioned rearward from said first inflatable cell and above the second gas passage, wherein gas for inflating the second inflatable cell does not pass through the first gas passage.

12. The airbag of claim 11, wherein the second inflatable cell is located forward of the first gas passage.

13. The airbag of claim 11, further comprising a third inflatable cell positioned rearward from the first gas passage, wherein gas for inflating the third inflatable cell does not pass through the first gas passage.

14. The airbag of claim 6,

wherein the gas passage is located in a midsection of the airbag relative to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle;

and

wherein the airbag is configured so that the gas passage inflates prior to the inflatable cells so that as the gas passage inflates, the inflatable cells are pulled out of a storage position prior to inflating.

15. The airbag of claim 14, wherein the gas passage is positioned so that inflation gas for at least one of the inflatable cells must pass through the gas passage.

16. The airbag of claim 15, wherein the gas passage supplies inflation gas to a triangular shaped first inflatable cell located at a forward most part of the airbag.

17. The airbag of claim 14, wherein one end of the gas passage is positioned adjacent a position wherein the airbag is configured to receive inflation gas from an inflator.