WO2016035999A1

WO2016035999A1 - Side curtain airbag for vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2016035999A1
Application number: PCT/KR2015/007451
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seung Man Kim; Eun Hwan Oh; Dae Won Bae
Original assignee: Autoliv Development Ab
Priority date: 2014-09-04
Filing date: 2015-07-17
Publication date: 2016-03-10
Also published as: KR20160028862A

Abstract

Disclosed is a side curtain airbag for a vehicle, which is folded and mounted in a vehicle body. The side curtain airbag includes a gas introduction member provided at one end portion of the side curtain airbag and including a gas introduction part and a neck part extending by a predetermined length from the one end portion of the side curtain airbag to allow the gas introduction part to communicate with the side curtain airbag. The side curtain airbag is folded in a structure in which a rolling part is formed by rolling an opposite end portion of the side curtain airbag facing the one end portion of the side curtain airbag toward the one end portion of the side curtain airbag, and a furrow part is formed by folding an upper portion of the rolling part, such that the rolling part faces the neck part about the furrow part.

Description

SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG FOR VEHICLE

The present invention relates to a side curtain airbag for a vehicle, which is configured to be infalted and deployed along an internal lateral side of the vehicle upon side impact or roll-over.

A safety restriction device or an airbag, which is inflatable, must be obligatorily mounted in a vehicle. The safety restriction device or the airbag includes a side airbag inflated and deployed between an occupant and an internal lateral side of the vehicle.

A side curtain airbag is designed to prevent a head of the occupant from being sprung out of an opening of a window or from colliding with the internal lateral side of the vehicle.

The side curtain airbag extends transversely along an upper end portion of an interior of a vehicle. The side curtain airbag has an effect of providing high safety for the occupant upon the side impact of the vehicle as well as the roll-over of the vehicle. When an inflator is actuated by a collision signal, exploded gas is introduced from the inflator into the side curtain airbag to expand the side curtain airbag, and the inflated curtain airbag is deployed in the vehicle to protect the occupant from vehicle crash.

The side curtain airbag is mounted in a folded sate in a space between a roof side rail and a headliner of the vehicle. A pillar is mounted under the headliner.

Upon the vehicle crash, the side curtain airbag is inflated, and the headliner is pressed toward an inner part of the vehicle by the expansion force of the side curtain airbag. Accordingly, a gap is made between the headliner and the pillar, and the airbag inflated through the gap is deployed downward and toward the inner part of the vehicle.

There have been suggested various technologies of effectively expanding the side curtain airbag and preventing the side curtain airbag from being caught by an internal structure of the vehicle, for example an upper end of a pillar.

An object of the present invention is to provide a side curtain airbag for a vehicle, which is not caught by a pillar of a vehicle when the side curtain airbag is deployed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a side curtain airbag for a vehicle, which is not caught by a pillar of the vehicle as the side curtain airbag is guided to be inflated upward and toward the inner part of the vehicle in the initial deployment of the side curtain airbag.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a side curtain airbag for a vehicle, which is mounted in a vehicle body in a folded state. The side curtain airbag includes a gas introduction member provided at one end portion of the side curtain airbag and including a gas introduction part, into which gas is introduced, and a neck part extending by a predetermined length from the one end portion of the side curtain airbag to allow the gas introduction part to communicate with the side curtain airbag. The side curtain airbag is folded in a structure in which a rolling part is formed by rolling an opposite end portion of the side curtain airbag facing the one end portion of the side curtain airbag toward the one end portion of the side curtain airbag, and a furrow part is formed by folding an upper portion of the rolling part, such that the rolling part faces the neck part about the furrow part.

The rolling part may be positioned at an outer portion of the side curtain airbag when the rolling part is rolled, and the opposite end portion of the side curtain airbag may be rolled until the rolling part is positioned closely to the one end portion of the side curtain airbag.

A length of the neck part may correspond to a length of the rolling part that is rolled.

The gas introduction member may be positioned adjacent to at least one pillar to support a roof structure of the vehicle.

The gas introduction member may be positioned adjacent to a center pillar of the vehicle.

The side curtain airbag further may include a wrapping member to wrap the side curtain airbag in the folded state. The wrapping member may be provided at an upper portion thereof with a tear line in a state that the wrapping member wrpas the side curtain airbag in the folded state.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, as the neck part of the gas introduction member coupled to the inflator extends, and the lower portion of the neck part is folded, the airbag is provided in the folded structure in which the rolling part of the airbag faces the neck part. Accordingly, when gas is introduced into the airbag, the rolling part is guided to be inflated and deployed upward and toward the inner part of the vehicle, thereby preventing the airbag from being caught by the upper end portion of the pillar.

Meanwhile, according to the embodiment of the present invention, a remaining part other than a part of the airbag having the gas introduction member is inflated more closely to the internal lateral side of the vehicle than the part of the airbag having the gas introduction member, thereby preventing the head of the occupant from secondarily being damaged due to the expansion force of the airbag.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the structure of a side curtain airbag device for a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an initial inflated state of the airbag of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the folded side curtain airbag for the vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the airbag of FIG. 4, which is in a rolled state.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing the state that the neck part of the gas introduction member of FIG. 5 is folded,

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a side curtain airbag for a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing the airbag of FIG. 10 which is an initial expansion state.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed below, but variously realized. The present embodiments are provided to make the disclosure perfect and to make those skilled in the art completely understand the scope of the invention.

Hereinafter, the term “transverse direction” refers to “front-rear direction of a vehicle in which an airbag according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted, the term “inner direction of a vehicle” refers to “toward an inner part of the vehicle”, and the term “outside direction of a vehicle” refers to “toward an outer part of the vehicle”.

Hereinafter, description will be made regarding a side curtain airbag for a vehicle according to various embodiments of the present invention, which is stretched along a side portion of a roof panel substantially, for example from a front pillar to a rear pillar of a vehicle in a folded state, and inflated and deployed in the form of a curtain along an internal lateral side of the vehicle upon the side impact or the roll-over of the vehicle.

A vehicle includes at least two pillars to support a roof of the vehicle. A sedan-type vehicle includes three pillars, which are called pillars A, B, and C. Meanwhile, a wagon-type vehicle additionally includes a pillar D adjacent to a rear door of the vehicle. Hereinafter, the sedan-type vehicle including the three pillars will be described for an illustrative purpose.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the structure of a side curtain airbag device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a side curtain airbag device 1 is mounted in a folded state in a roof side rail 17 while extending in a transverse direction along an edge above a window of a vehicle body 10.

The vehicle 10 includes a front pillar 11, a center pillar 13, a rear pillar 15, and the roof side rail 17 coupled to upper end portions of the front pillar 11, the center pillar 13, and the rear pillar 15. The roof side rail 17 is a member that extends in a front-rear direction of the vehicle body 10 to support a roof 19. The roof side rail 17 is installed along an edge of the roof 19.

The vehicle 10 includes a front side door 21 mounted between the front pillar 11 and the center pillar 13, and a rear side door 22 installed between the center pillar 13 and the rear pillar 15. A front window 13 is provided at an upper portion of the front side door 21, and a rear window 24 is provided at an upper portion of the rear side door 22.

The side curtain airbag device 1 is mounted at the roof side rail 17 provided at a rear of a headliner 14. The side curtain airbag device 1 includes a side curtain airbag 100 (hereinafter, referred to as “airbag”) mounted in a folded state at the roof side rail 17 along the edge above the front and

rear windows

23 and 24 of the vehicle body 10, and an inflator 3 to generate gas upon vehicle crash.

The inflator 3 is coupled to an upper central portion of the airbag 100. According to another embodiment, the inflator 3 may be coupled to an upper rear end portion or an upper front end portion of the airbag 100.

The inflator 3 communicates with the airbag 100 through a gas introduction member 200. The gas generated from the inflator 3 is distributed to front and rear portions of the airbag 100 through the gas introduction member 200.

When more than a predetermined degree of impact is applied to a side portion of the vehicle body 10, gas is generated from the inflator 3 and supplied to the airbag 100. The airbag 100 is inflated and deployed downward along the front and

rear windows

23 and 24.

A front portion of the airbag 100 is supported to the vehicle body 10, for example the front pillar 11 by a front strap 101.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the airbag 100 in the folded state is mounted at the roof side rail 17 provided at the rear of the headliner 14.

A pillar (center pillar 13), which supports the headliner 14, is provided under the headliner 14.

The airbag 100 is mounted in a folded state in the space (for example, the roof side rail 17) between the headliner 14 and the vehicle body 10.

The airbag 100 in the folded state includes a rolling part 105 formed by rolling one end portion (lower end portion 101) of the airbag 100 toward an opposite end portion (upper end portion 103) of the airbag 100. The rolling part 105 faces a neck part 201 of the gas introduction member 200 about a furrow part C. The furrow part C is formed by substantially folding a part in which a lower portion of the neck part 201 of the gas introduction member 200 is connected with the upper end portion 103 of the airbag 100.

The furrow part C is positioned corresponding to a lower portion of the rolling part 105 to serve as a support to direct the airbag 100 substantially upward while pressing the airbag toward the inner part of the vehicle while the airbag 100 is inflated.

The rolling part 105 is positioned at an inside of the furrow part C, and the neck part 201 is positioned at an outside of the furrow part C.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an initial inflated state of the airbag of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, a sensor (not shown) provided in the vehicle senses impact upon the side impact or the roll-over of the vehicle, and an ignition signal is transmitted to the inflator 3. Accordingly, a gas generator provided in the inflator 3 is ignited, and the generated gas is supplied to the airbag 100 through the gas introduction member 200.

The gas generated from the inflator 3 is instantly supplied to the neck part 201 of the gas introduction member 200. In this case, the furrow part C formed by folding the lower portion of the neck part 201 serves as a support for the rolling part 105.

Accordingly, the rolling part 105 is rotated about the furrow part C and guided in a direction of an arrow A so that the rolling part 105 is inflated and deployed upward and toward the inner part of the vehicle.

Therefore, as the headliner 14 is pushed toward the inner part of the vehicle by the expansion force of the airbag 100, a gap G is formed between the upper end portion of the center pillar 13 and the headliner 14, and the airbag 100 is inflated and deployed toward the inner part of the vehicle through the gap G.

As described above, the rolling part 105 of the airbag 100 is guided in the direction of the arrow A by the furrow part C formed at the lower portion of the neck part 201 of the gas introduction member 200 in the initial deployment of the airbag 100, and inflated upward and toward the inner part of the vehicle while pressing the headliner 14, thereby preventing the airbag 100 from being caught by the upper end portion of the center pillar 13.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, as soon as the gas is supplied to the airbag 100 through the gas introduction member 200, the airbag 100 is guided to be inflated upward and toward the inner part of the vehicle, thereby preventing the airbag 100 from being caught by the upper end portions of the pillars in the initial deployment of the airbag 100.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, in the initial deployment of the airbag 100 in which gas is introduced through the gas introduction member 200, the airbag 100 is guided to be inflated upward and toward the inner part of the vehicle, thereby preventing the airbag 100 from being caught by the upper end portions of the pillars of the vehicle.

The gas introduced into the gas introduction member 200 is instantly supplied to the neck part 201, and internal gas pressure of the neck part 200 having a smaller passage is relatively maintained at high pressure. In this state, the support force of the furrow part C serving as the support at the lower portion of the neck part 201 is relatively increased.

The rolling part 105 of the airbag 100 is rotated about the furrow part C and inflated and deployed upward and toward the inner part of the vehicle.

In this case, the gas introduction member 200 is provided adjacent to the center pillar 13 and the rolling part 105 adjacent to the center pillar 13 is rapidly inflated and inflated upward and toward the inner part of the vehicle in the initial expansion stage, thereby preventing the airbag 100 from being caught by the center pillar 13.

Meanwhile, both sides of the airbag 100 provided around the gas introduction member 200 are deployed more closely to the internal lateral side of the vehicle than the central portion of the airbag 100 having the gas introduction member 200. As the both sides of the airbag 100 are deployed along the internal lateral side of the vehicle, the head of the occupant can be prevented from being secondarily damaged due to the expansion force of the airbag 100. In other words, according to one embodiment of the present invention, in the initial deployment of the airbag 100, the central portion of the airbag 100 is deployed upward and toward the inner part of the vehicle due to the gas introduction member 200, thereby preventing the central portion of the airbag 100 from being caught by the center pillar 13. In addition, the both sides of the airbag 100 are deployed more closely to the internal lateral side of the vehicle than the central portion of the airbag 100, thereby preventing the head of the occupant from secondarily being damaged.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the gas introduction member 200 may be provided at the front portion or the rear portion of the airbag 100. The gas introduction member 200 is provided not only at the side of the center pillar 13, but also at the side of the front or rear pillar, so that the airbag 100 is guided to be inflated upward and toward the inner part of the vehicle in the initial deployment of the airbag 100, thereby preventing the airbag 100 from being caught by the upper end portions of the center pillar 13, and the front and

rear pillars

11 and 15.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the side curtain airbag for the vehicle, which is in the folded state, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the gas introduction member 200 is provided at the upper central portion of the airbag 100.

The gas introduction member 200 includes a gas introduction part 203 coupled to the inflator 3 and the neck part 201 extending from the upper end portion 103 of the airbag 100 by a predetermined length L so that the gas introduction part 203 communicates with the airbag 100.

The gas introduction part 203 is formed in a substantially tube shape, so that one end portion of the inflator 3 is inserted into the gas introduction part 203.

The gas introduction member 200 may include a material having air tightness and flexibility similarly to that of the airbag 100.

The airbag 100 is provided at the upper end portion thereof with a plurality of mounting tabs 104 used to mount the airbag 100 in the vehicle body 10.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the airbag of FIG. 4, which is in a rolled state, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 5.

Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, the rolling part 105 is formed by rolling one end portion (lower end portion 101) of the airbag 100 toward the opposite end portion (upper end portion 103) of the airbag 100.

The rolling part 105 is positioned at an outer portion of the side curtain airbag 100 when the rolling part 105 is rolled, and the rolling part 105 is rolled until the rolling part 105 is closely to the upper end portion 103 of the airbag 100

In this case, a length L of the neck part 201 is approximately equal to a height H of the rolling part 105.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing the state that the neck part of the gas introduction member of FIG. 5 is folded, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX of FIG. 8.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the lower end portion 101 of the airbag 100 is rolled toward the upper end portion 103 of the airbag 100 so that the rolling part 105 is positioned at an outer portion of the airbag 100. In this state, the upper portion of the rolling part 105 is folded to form the furrow part C.

The rolling part 105 faces a neck part 201 of the gas introduction member 200 about the furrow part C. The rolling part 105 is provided toward an inner part of the vehicle about the furrow part C, and the neck part 101 is provided toward an outside of the vehicle about the furrow part C.

The furrow part C is substantially formed at the lower portion of the neck part 201. The height H of the rolling part 105 is approximately equal to the length L of the neck part 201.

Through the above structure, the furrow part C may serve as a support to guide the rolling part 105 to be inflated and deployed upward and toward the inner part of the vehicle when the airbag 100 is inflated.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a side curtain airbag for a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing the airbag of FIG. 10 which is an initial expansion state.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, a wrapping member 300 is wrapped around the airbag 100 in the folded state.

The wrapping member 300 maintains the airbag 100 in the folded state and covers the upper end portion of the pillar, for example the center pillar 13 when the airbag 100 is inflated and deployed, thereby preventing the airbag 100 from being caught by the center pillar 13.

The wrapping member 300 is configured to have a tear line 301 provided on the wrapping member 300 in the state that the wrapping member 300 wraps the airbag 100 in the folded state. Through the above structure, the tear line 301 is torn by the expansion force of the airbag 100, and a lower area of the wrapping member 300 based on the tear line 301 covers the upper end portion of the center pillar 13. The wrapping member 300 guides the initial deployment direction of the airbag 100 to prevent the airbag 100 from being caught by the upper end portion of the center pillar 13.

In the above description, as one exemplarty embodiment, the gas introduction member 200 is positioned adjacent to the center pillar 13. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and the gas introduction member 200 may be positioned adjacent to the front pillar 11 and/or the rear pillar 15.

The vehicle may include additional pillars besides the front pillar 11, the center pillar 13 and the rear pillar 15. The above described gas introduction member 200 may be positioned adjacent to any pillars which support a roof structure of the vehicle.

Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is understood that the present invention should not be limited to these exemplary embodiments but various changes and modifications can be made by one ordinary skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

A side curtain airbag for a vehicle, which is mounted in a folded state in a vehicle body, the side curtain airbag comprising:

a gas introduction member provided at one end portion of the side curtain airbag and including a gas introduction part, into which gas is introduced, and a neck part extending by a predetermined length from the one end portion of the side curtain airbag to allow the gas introduction part to communicate with the side curtain airbag,

wherein the side curtain airbag is folded in a structure in which a rolling part is formed by rolling an opposite end portion of the side curtain airbag facing the one end portion of the side curtain airbag toward the one end portion of the side curtain airbag, and a furrow part is formed by folding an upper portion of the rolling part, such that the rolling part faces the neck part about the furrow part.
The side curtain airbag of claim 1, wherein the rolling part is positioned at an outer portion of the side curtain airbag when the rolling part is rolled, and the opposite end portion of the side curtain airbag is rolled until the rolling part is positioned closely to the one end portion of the side curtain airbag.
The side curtain airbag of claim 1, wherein the neck part has a length corresponding to a length of the rolling part that is rolled.
The side curtain airbag of claim 1, wherein the gas introduction member is positioned adjacent to at least one pillar to support a roof structure of the vehicle.
The side curtain airbag of claim 4, wherein the gas introduction member is positioned adjacent to a center pillar of the vehicle.
The side curtain airbag of claim 1, further comprising a wrapping member to wrap the side curtain airbag in the folded state, wherein the wrapping member is provided at an upper portion thereof with a tear line in a state that the wrapping member wraps the side curtain airbag in the folded state.