JP-2026076125-A - Curtain airbag assembly including rigid bars for mounting inflatable curtain airbags and vehicle equipped therewith

Abstract

[Problem] To provide an improved curtain airbag assembly that enables faster installation inside a vehicle while simultaneously reducing the manufacturing cost and time of the airbag itself. [Solution] The curtain airbag assembly includes an inflator, an inflatable curtain airbag, and a rigid bar. The inflatable curtain airbag includes a pocket portion and a body portion extending from the pocket portion. The pocket portion defines one or more pockets and a plurality of notches spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle of the pocket portion. The body portion inflates when it receives gas from the inflator during activation. The rigid bar extends through one or more pockets and is received in a plurality of receiving members attached to the vehicle body members, thereby securing the curtain airbag assembly to the vehicle body members. [Selection Diagram] Figure 2

Inventors

• ロイ デューチュマン
• ダニエル ブジャイダー
• ローランド フルタド

Assignees

• 豊田合成株式会社

Dates

Publication Date

20260511

Application Date

20251015

Priority Date

20241023

Claims (20)

1. Curtain airbag assembly, Inflator and It is an inflatable curtain airbag, A pocket portion comprising one or more pockets and a plurality of notches spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, A main body portion extending from the aforementioned pocket portion, which receives gas from the inflator and inflates when in operation, Including inflatable curtain airbags, A rigid bar extending through one or more of the aforementioned pockets, A curtain airbag assembly equipped with a curtain airbag.
2. The curtain airbag assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of notches is defined by a lower notch edge and a pair of lateral notch edges, and each of the plurality of notches opens to the upper edge of the pocket portion.
3. The curtain airbag assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a restricting woven line formed in the pocket portion above the lower woven line defining the lower edge of the pocket portion and the upper edge of the main body portion, wherein the restricting woven line restricts the vertical movement of the rigid bar in the vehicle vertical direction within one or more pockets.
4. The curtain airbag assembly according to claim 1, wherein a gap is provided between the rigid bar and the lower notched edge.
5. The curtain airbag assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pocket portion defines a plurality of tabs spaced apart from each other, and each tab of the plurality of tabs defines each of the pockets of one or more of the pockets.
6. The curtain airbag assembly according to claim 5, wherein the free end of each of the plurality of tabs is fixed to the main body portion or the pocket portion.
7. The curtain airbag assembly according to claim 6, wherein the free end of each of the plurality of tabs is fixed to the main body portion.
8. The curtain airbag assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of notches is completely surrounded by the material forming the inflatable curtain airbag.
9. The curtain airbag assembly according to claim 8, wherein each notch has a length extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle that is greater than the height of the notch extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle.
10. The curtain airbag assembly according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable curtain airbag is formed by integral weaving so that the inflatable curtain airbag has a monolithic structure.
11. Curtain airbag assembly, Inflator and It is an inflatable curtain airbag, A mounting portion comprising a mounting portion having a plurality of mounting holes spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, A main body portion extending from the aforementioned mounting portion, which receives gas from the inflator and expands during operation, Including inflatable curtain airbags, A rigid bar defines a plurality of receiving holes spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle at positions corresponding to the plurality of mounting holes, A curtain airbag assembly equipped with a curtain airbag.
12. The curtain airbag assembly according to claim 11, wherein the inner surface of the rigid bar in which the plurality of receiving holes are formed is flat.
13. The curtain airbag assembly according to claim 11, wherein the inflatable curtain airbag is formed by integral weaving so that the inflatable curtain airbag has a monolithic structure.
14. The curtain airbag assembly according to claim 11, further comprising a lower woven line defining the lower edge of the mounting portion and the upper edge of the main body portion.
15. The curtain airbag assembly according to claim 14, further comprising an upper woven wire provided below the upper edge of the mounting portion and above the lower woven wire.
16. It is a vehicle, Body components and, Multiple receiving members attached to the vehicle body member at intervals from each other, Curtain airbag assembly, Inflator and It is an inflatable curtain airbag, A pocket portion comprising one or more pockets and a plurality of notches spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, A main body portion extending from the aforementioned pocket portion, which receives gas from the inflator and inflates when in operation, Including inflatable curtain airbags, A rigid bar extending through one or more of the aforementioned pockets, Curtain airbag assembly, Equipped with, Each of the plurality of receiving members engages with the rigid bar to fix the inflatable curtain airbag to the vehicle body member. vehicle.
17. The vehicle according to claim 16, Each of the plurality of receiving members is received within each of the plurality of notches. Each of the plurality of receiving members includes an outer wall, an inner wall opposite the outer wall, and a connecting wall extending between the lower end of the outer wall and the lower end of the inner wall. The rigid bar is received within the space defined by the outer wall, the inner wall, and the connecting wall. vehicle.
18. The vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the inner wall has a meandering shape for accommodating the rigid bar having a circular cross-sectional shape.
19. The vehicle according to claim 16, A lower woven line defining the lower edge of the pocket portion and the upper edge of the main body portion, A restricting weave wire formed in the pocket portion above the lower weave wire, which restricts the vertical movement of the rigid bar in the vehicle vertical direction within one or more pockets, A vehicle equipped with even more features.
20. The vehicle according to claim 16, Each of the aforementioned multiple notches is completely surrounded by the material forming the inflatable curtain airbag. Each notch has a length extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle that is greater than the height of the notch extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle. vehicle.

Description

This specification relates, in general terms, to curtain airbags for vehicles, and more specifically, to vehicles including curtain airbags that facilitate faster and simpler installation in vehicles. Curtain airbags, also known as side curtain airbags, are designed to protect occupants' heads during side collisions or rollovers. The curtain airbag assembly, including the folded airbag and inflator, is typically mounted inside the vehicle's roof structure, along the edge of the roof frame above the doors and windows. During a side collision or rollover, the airbag deploys downward to cover the side window, protecting the occupant from impact by the window, side structure, or external object. During the installation of the curtain airbag assembly, the inflator is positioned along the roof frame based on positioning features or markers and secured to the roof frame. Then, multiple fastening members (mounting members) extending from the airbag are individually fastened to the vehicle's roof frame, pillars, and other body components, for example, using bolts or screws. This can be a time-consuming process, as each individual fastening member must be secured to the vehicle separately. Furthermore, because each fastening member must be installed individually, this can increase the manufacturing cost and time of the airbag. Therefore, an improved curtain airbag assembly is needed that allows for faster installation inside vehicles while simultaneously reducing the manufacturing cost and time of the airbag itself. In one embodiment, the curtain airbag assembly includes an inflator, an inflatable curtain airbag comprising a pocket portion defining one or more pockets and a plurality of spaced-apart notches along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle of the pocket portion, a body portion extending from the pocket portion which receives gas from the inflator and inflates when activated, and a rigid bar extending through one or more pockets. In another embodiment, the curtain airbag assembly includes an inflator; an inflatable curtain airbag comprising a mounting portion defining a plurality of mounting holes spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle of the mounting portion; a body portion extending from the mounting portion, which receives gas from the inflator and inflates when activated; and a rigid bar defining a plurality of receiving holes spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle at positions corresponding to the plurality of mounting holes. In yet another embodiment, the vehicle includes a body member, a plurality of receiving members attached to the frame at intervals from each other, and a curtain airbag assembly comprising an inflator, an inflatable curtain airbag comprising a pocket portion defining one or more pockets and a plurality of notches spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a body portion extending from the pocket portion which receives gas from the inflator and inflates when activated, and a rigid bar extending through one or more pockets, wherein each of the plurality of receiving members engages with the rigid bar to secure the inflatable curtain airbag to the frame. These and additional features provided by the embodiments described herein will be better understood in conjunction with the drawings and the following detailed description. The embodiments shown in the drawings are illustrative and exemplary in nature and are not intended to limit the subject matter defined by the claims. The following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments can be understood in conjunction with the following drawings, which show similar structures with similar reference numerals. A schematic partial cross-sectional side view of a vehicle is shown, including an embodiment of a curtain airbag assembly attached to a vehicle body member, according to one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein. A schematic partial side view of the curtain airbag assembly of Figure 1, which defines a plurality of notches and engages with a receiving member, according to one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein. A schematic cross-sectional view of the curtain airbag assembly of Figure 1, engaged with a receiving member, along line 3-3 in Figure 2, is shown, according to one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein. A schematic partial front view shows another embodiment of a curtain airbag assembly, including a pre-assembled folding tab, according to one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein. A schematic partial front view of the curtain airbag assembly of Figure 4, which has a folded tab in an assembled state, according to one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein. A schematic partial front view of another embodiment of a curtain airbag assembly defining multiple slots, according to one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein,