阅读说明：本技术 车辆的帘式安全气囊系统 (Curtain airbag system for vehicle ) 是由 崔埈烈 于 2020-04-10 设计创作，主要内容包括：本公开提供了一种车辆的帘式安全气囊系统,该车辆的帘式安全气囊系统使车顶/侧框架的前柱区域或后柱区域省略了用于容纳安全气囊垫的空间。通过连接绳引导安全气囊垫的展开方向以使安全气囊垫展开到乘客的保护区域。此外,安全气囊垫以之字形形式折叠以使引导室暴露,从而引导安全气囊垫的展开方向并确保展开速度。(The present disclosure provides a curtain airbag system of a vehicle that omits a space for accommodating an airbag cushion from a front pillar region or a rear pillar region of a roof/side frame. The deployment direction of the airbag cushion is guided by the connecting tether to deploy the airbag cushion to the protection area of the passenger. Further, the airbag cushion is folded in a zigzag form to expose the guide chamber, thereby guiding the deployment direction of the airbag cushion and securing the deployment speed.)

1. A curtain airbag system for a vehicle, comprising:

an airbag cushion configured to be deployed from a side frame of a vehicle body toward a side of a passenger, and to expand in a forward or rearward direction after being deployed in a downward direction from the side frame to extend when a collision occurs; and

a connection cord, a first end of which is in front or rear of the airbag cushion and is spaced apart from and fastened to the airbag cushion, and a second end of which is connected to the airbag cushion to guide the airbag cushion to be expanded in the forward or rearward direction.

2. Curtain airbag system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein,

when the airbag cushion is configured to inflate in the forward direction, a first end of the connecting cord is spaced apart from the airbag cushion in front of the airbag cushion and fastened to the side frame, and a second end of the connecting cord is connected to a rear end of the airbag cushion through a front end of the airbag cushion.

3. Curtain airbag system for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein,

the airbag cushion is fastened to the side frame by a fastener formed at an upper end, the fastener being disposed on an opposite side of the expansion direction of the airbag cushion in the forward or rearward direction.

4. Curtain airbag system for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein,

the fastener is disposed at an upper end of the airbag cushion in a region other than the front end portion and is fastened to the side frame when the airbag cushion is configured to inflate in the forward direction.

5. Curtain airbag system for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein,

the front end portion of the airbag cushion includes a guide chamber through which the connection cord passes.

6. Curtain airbag system for a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein,

the front end portion of the airbag cushion is folded in a zigzag form in the rearward direction so that the guide chamber is exposed, and the lower end is rolled in an upward direction in the zigzag folded state.

7. Curtain airbag system for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein,

the front end portion of the airbag cushion is folded in the zigzag form while avoiding a portion to which the second end of the connecting tether is connected, and is stapled at an overlapped portion of the zigzag folded state.

8. Curtain airbag system for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein,

the airbag cushion has a first blind area extending in the longitudinal direction on the upper side of the front end portion.

9. Curtain airbag system for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein,

the airbag cushion has a second blind area at a point where the second end of the connecting tether is connected.

10. Curtain airbag system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein,

the airbag cushion is accommodated in a center pillar region of the side frame and expands toward a front pillar or a rear pillar when deployed, and a first end of the connection cord is fastened to the front pillar or the rear pillar and a second end of the connection cord is fastened to the airbag cushion.

11. Curtain airbag system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein,

when the side frame includes a pillar a, a pillar B, and a pillar C, the airbag cushion is mounted in the pillar B region and not in the pillar a region or the pillar C region.

12. Curtain airbag system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein,

when the side frames include the pillar a, the pillar B, the pillar C, and the pillar D, the airbag cushion is mounted only in the pillar B area and the pillar C area and is not mounted in the pillar a area or the pillar D area.

13. Curtain airbag system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein,

when the side frames include the pillar a, the pillar B, the pillar C, and the pillar D, the airbag cushion is mounted in the pillar B area and the pillar C area but not in the pillar a area or the pillar D area.

14. Curtain airbag system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein,

the airbag cushion is installed using a device for rolling or folding the airbag cushion.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a curtain airbag system of a vehicle that protects an occupant from a side collision, and more particularly, to a curtain airbag system that deploys an airbag more precisely to a protection region of an occupant and ensures a deployment speed.

Background

Vehicles are provided with various airbags to protect passengers from collision. Among these airbags, a curtain airbag system that protects an occupant from a side collision of a vehicle is installed in a front-rear direction along the side of a roof panel to absorb an impact transmitted to the occupant when a collision occurs and also fixes the occupant in place to prevent the occupant from being thrown out of the vehicle.

Recently, a vehicle body having a thinner pillar trim (pillar trim) has been developed. Therefore, a space for installing the curtain airbag system is insufficient. In other words, the curtain airbag system needs to secure a protection area up to the front of the vehicle interior at the time of deployment, and a space for installing the curtain airbag system in the front-rear direction of the roof frame needs to be secured. However, when the pillar trim is long and thin, the space for installing the curtain airbag system is insufficient, resulting in a problem that the curtain airbag system cannot cover the front of the vehicle interior even when deployed.

Therefore, it is required to develop a curtain airbag system that can reduce an installation space of the curtain airbag system, secure a protection area, and secure a deployment speed. The contents described as the related art are provided only to aid in understanding the background of the present disclosure and should not be construed as corresponding to the prior art known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a curtain airbag system of a vehicle that can reduce a space for accommodating the curtain airbag system, accurately deploy the curtain airbag system to a passenger's protection area, and secure a deployment speed.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a curtain airbag system of a vehicle may include: an airbag cushion configured to be deployed from a side frame of a vehicle body toward a side of a passenger, and to expand in a forward or rearward direction after being deployed in a downward direction from the side frame to extend when a collision occurs; and a connection cord, a first end of which is spaced apart from and fastened to the airbag cushion in front of or behind the airbag cushion, and a second end of which is connected to the airbag cushion to guide the airbag cushion to expand in a forward or rearward direction.

When the airbag cushion is configured to inflate in the forward direction, the first end of the connecting tether may be spaced apart from the airbag cushion in front of the airbag cushion and fastened to the side frame, and the second end of the connecting tether may be connected to the rear end of the airbag cushion through the front end of the airbag cushion. The airbag cushion may be fastened to the side frame by a fastener formed at an upper end, and the fastener may be disposed at an opposite side of an expansion direction of the airbag cushion in a forward direction or a rearward direction. When the airbag cushion is configured to inflate in the forward direction, the fastener may be disposed at an upper end of the airbag cushion in a region other than the front end portion, and fastened to the side frame.

The front end portion of the airbag cushion may include a guide chamber through which the connection cord passes. Further, the front end portion of the airbag cushion may be folded in a zigzag form in the rearward direction so that the guide chamber is exposed, and the lower end is rolled in the upward direction in the zigzag folded state. The front end portion of the airbag cushion may be folded in a zigzag form while avoiding a portion to which the second ends of the connection tether are connected, and may be stapled at an overlapping portion of the zigzag folded state.

The airbag cushion may have a first blind area extending in the longitudinal direction on the upper side of the front end portion. The airbag cushion may also have a second blind area at the point of attachment at the second end of the attachment tether. The airbag cushion may be received in a center pillar region of the side frame and expanded toward the front pillar or the rear pillar when deployed, and a first end of the connection cord may be fastened to the front pillar or the rear pillar and a second end of the connection cord may be fastened to the airbag cushion.

Drawings

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 and 2 are views illustrating a curtain airbag system of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 3 to 5 are views illustrating a curtain airbag system of the vehicle shown in fig. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and

fig. 6 and 7 are views illustrating the deployment of a curtain airbag system of the vehicle shown in fig. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

It is understood that the term "vehicle" or "vehicular" or other similar terms as used herein generally includes motor vehicles, such as passenger vehicles including Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including various boats and ships, aircraft, and the like, and includes hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, combustion-plug-in hybrid vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles, and other alternative fuel (e.g., derived fuel from resources other than petroleum) vehicles.

While exemplary embodiments are described as using multiple units to perform exemplary processes, it is understood that exemplary processes may also be performed by one or more modules. Furthermore, it is understood that the term "controller"/"control unit" refers to a hardware device comprising a memory and a processor. The memory is configured to store modules that the processor is specifically configured to execute to perform one or more processes described further below.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Unless otherwise indicated or apparent from the context, the term "about" as used herein is understood to be within the normal tolerance of the art, e.g., within 2 standard deviations of the mean. "about" can be understood as being within 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%, 0.05% or 0.01% of the stated value. All numerical values provided herein are modified by the term "about," unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Hereinafter, a curtain airbag system of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 and 2 are views illustrating a curtain airbag system of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, fig. 3 to 5 are views for explaining the curtain airbag system of the vehicle shown in fig. 1, and fig. 6 and 7 are views for explaining the deployment of the curtain airbag system of the vehicle shown in fig. 1.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, a curtain airbag system of a vehicle according to the present disclosure may include: an airbag cushion 20 that is provided to be deployed from the side frame 10 of the vehicle body toward the side of a passenger, and that, when a collision occurs, inflates to extend in a forward or rearward direction after being deployed from the side frame 10 in a downward direction; and a connection tether 30, a first end 30a of the connection tether 30 being spaced apart from and fastened (e.g., spaced apart while fastened) to the airbag cushion 20 in front of or behind the airbag cushion 20, and a second end 30b of the connection tether 30 being connected to the airbag cushion 20 to guide the airbag cushion 20 to inflate in the forward or rearward direction.

In particular, the side frame 10 may be formed as a roof frame of a roof side of a vehicle body. When the side frame 10 includes the pillar a, the pillar B, and the pillar C, the airbag cushion 20 may be installed in the pillar B region. For example, the airbag cushion 20 of a curtain airbag system according to the present disclosure may be installed using a device for rolling and/or folding the airbag cushion. When the side frame 10 includes the pillar a, the pillar B, and the pillar C, the airbag cushion 20 may be installed only in the pillar B area, not in the pillar a area or the pillar C area.

Further, even in a vehicle having three or more rows of seats, the airbag cushion 20 mounted in the center pillar region excluding the leftmost and rightmost pillars of the side frames 10 extends in the forward or rearward direction, thereby safely protecting a passenger seated in the front or rear row. Therefore, when the side frame 10 includes the pillar a, the pillar B, the pillar C, and the pillar D, the airbag cushion 20 can be mounted in the pillar B region and the pillar C region. For example, when the side frame 10 includes the pillar a, the pillar B, the pillar C, and the pillar D, the airbag cushion 20 may be installed only in the pillar B region and the pillar C region, and not in the pillar a region or the pillar D region.

The airbag cushion 20 of the present disclosure may be provided in the side frame 10, and when a collision occurs, the airbag cushion 20 is deployed toward the side of the passenger to protect the passenger from the side collision. The collision of the vehicle may be sensed by a controller collecting sensor information to determine the time to deploy the airbag cushion 20, and the airbag cushion 20 may be inflated by supplying gas from an inflator triggered (expansion) and controlled by the controller. Further, the airbag cushion 20 may include a delay chamber D for effectively absorbing the impact of the passenger.

In particular, the airbag cushion 20 may be accommodated in the center pillar 11 area of the side frame 10, and when deployed, the airbag cushion 20 may inflate toward the front or rear pillar 12. Conventionally, an airbag cushion is accommodated in a side frame in a length direction of the side frame. In the present disclosure, the airbag cushion 20 may be accommodated in the center pillar 11 region of the side frame 10 so that the accommodation space may be reduced, and the airbag cushion 20 may be deployed in a downward direction and then expanded in a forward or rearward direction toward the front or rear pillar 12 so that the airbag cushion 20 is deployed to the side of the passenger.

Further, it is possible to fasten the airbag cushion 20 and guide the expansion direction of the airbag cushion 20 by the connection string 30. The first end 30a of the connecting tether 30 is spaced apart from the airbag cushion 20 and fastened to the front or rear pillar 12 in front of or behind the airbag cushion 20, and the second end 30b of the connecting tether 30 is fastened to the airbag cushion 20 to guide the expansion direction of the airbag cushion 20. In particular, when the airbag cushion 20 is not deployed, the first end 30a of the connection tether 30 may be fastened to the front or rear pillar 12, and the second end 30b of the connection tether 30 may be fastened to the airbag cushion 20 through the roof frame. Thus, although the airbag cushion 20 is not installed in the region of the front or rear pillar 12, the airbag cushion 20 may be inflated along the connecting tether 30 to cover the side of the passenger. The connecting cord 30 may be temporarily fastened by fasteners in the region of the front or rear pillars 12. Since the fastener is released when the airbag cushion 20 is deployed, the connecting string 30 can be moved to a position to guide the airbag cushion 20.

According to the present disclosure, the airbag cushion 20 may be accommodated in the center pillar 11 region of the side frame 10, and when the airbag cushion 20 is deployed, the expansion direction of the airbag cushion 20 may be guided by the connection cord 30, and thus, the airbag cushion 20 may expand to cover the side of the passenger. Therefore, the space for accommodating the airbag cushion 20 can be reduced, and the airbag cushion 20 can be deployed to a position for protecting the passenger through the connection tether 30.

The present disclosure described above will be described in more detail. As shown in fig. 2, when the airbag cushion 20 is configured to inflate in the forward direction, the first end 30a of the connecting tether 30 may be spaced apart from the airbag cushion 20 in front of the airbag cushion 20 and fastened to the side frame 10, and the second end 30b of the connecting tether 30 may be connected to the rear end 20b of the airbag cushion 20 through the front end 20a of the airbag cushion 20.

In particular, the direction in which the airbag cushion 20 inflates in the forward or rearward direction may be changed according to the protection position of the occupant according to the vehicle design. To assist in understanding the present disclosure, the airbag cushion 20 is described as being configured to inflate in a forward direction. Therefore, the airbag cushion 20 can be configured to inflate from the roof frame constituting the side frame 10 toward the pillar a as the front pillar.

When the airbag cushion 20 inflates in the forward direction, the first end 30a of the connection tether 30 may be spaced apart from the airbag cushion 20 in front of the airbag cushion 20 while being fastened to the side frame 10, and the second end 30b of the connection tether 30 may be connected to the rear end 20b of the airbag cushion 20 through the front end 20a of the airbag cushion 20, and thus, when the airbag cushion 20 inflates, may be guided in the extending direction of the connection tether 30 to inflate the airbag cushion 20 in the forward direction. In other words, in the present disclosure, since the airbag cushion 20 should be expanded in the forward direction after being deployed in the downward direction, the first end 30a of the connection tether 30 may be fastened in front of the airbag cushion 20, and the second end 30b of the connection tether 30 may be connected to the rear end 20b of the airbag cushion 20, and thus, the front end 20a of the airbag cushion 20 may be guided along the connection tether 30 to be expanded in the forward direction.

Meanwhile, as shown in fig. 2, the airbag cushion 20 may be fastened to the side frame 10 by a fastener 21 formed at an upper end. The fastener 21 may be provided on the opposite side of the expansion direction of the airbag cushion 20 in the forward direction or the rearward direction. The airbag cushion 20 may be fastened to an airbag housing in which an inflator is embedded, and the fastener 21 may be fastened to the side frame 10 through the airbag housing. Since the airbag housing is universal, it is not shown in the drawings.

Since the fastener 21 of the airbag cushion 20 can be disposed on the opposite side of the expansion direction, the space for accommodating the folded airbag cushion 20 can be reduced. When the fasteners 21 are all formed in the longitudinal direction, i.e., the expansion direction of the airbag cushion 20, the accommodation space should be secured based on the number of the formed fasteners 21. Therefore, the fastener 21 should be formed only in some portions of the airbag cushion 20 on the opposite side of the expansion direction.

In other words, when the airbag cushion 20 is configured to inflate in the forward direction, the fastener 21 may be disposed at the upper end of the airbag cushion 20 in a region other than the front end portion 20a, and fastened to the side frame 10. Therefore, the front end portion 20a of the airbag cushion 20 is not restrained to the side frame 10 by the fastener 21 and thus can be folded to the rear end portion 20b, thereby reducing the space for accommodating the airbag cushion 20. Further, since the airbag cushion 20 can be fastened to the side frame 10 by the fasteners 21, the position of the airbag cushion 20 can be maintained after the airbag cushion 20 is deployed.

Meanwhile, as shown in fig. 2 and 3, the front end portion 20a of the airbag cushion 20 may include a guide chamber 22, and the connection string 30 passes through the guide chamber 22. In other words, the guide chamber 22 may be fastened to the airbag cushion 20 by sewing (e.g., stitching or otherwise attaching) to allow the connecting tether 30 to pass through the guide chamber 22 in the forward or rearward direction, thereby moving the front end portion 20a of the airbag cushion 20 along the connecting tether 30 together with the guide chamber 22. As shown in fig. 3, when both ends 22a of the guide chamber 22 are fastened to the airbag cushion 20, an open hole 22b may be formed such that the connection string 30 passes through the open hole 22 b. Both ends 22a of the guide chamber 22 may be sewn or otherwise fastened to the airbag cushion 20 in a double-folded state, thereby enhancing the bonding strength between the guide chamber 22 and the airbag cushion 20.

When the airbag cushion 20 is connected to the connecting tether 30 through the guide chamber 22, the front end portion 20a of the airbag cushion 20 may be guided and moved along the connecting tether 30. Meanwhile, the airbag cushion 20 of the present disclosure should be inflated in a forward or rearward direction to extend after being deployed in a downward direction. Accordingly, the front end portion 20a of the airbag cushion 20 can be folded in a zigzag form in the rearward direction so that the guide chamber 22 is exposed, and the lower end is rolled up in the upward direction in the zigzag folded state.

In other words, as shown in fig. 4 and 5, since the front end portion 20a provided with the guide chamber 22 can be folded in a zigzag form in the rearward direction, when the airbag cushion 20 is deployed, the airbag cushion 20 can be deployed and inflated in the forward direction. In particular, the airbag cushion 20 may be folded in a zigzag form to expose the guide chamber 22, thereby preventing the connection string 30 from being folded or twisted. Accordingly, when the airbag cushion 20 is deployed, the guide chamber 22 may be guided along the connection tether 30 to inflate the airbag cushion 20 in the forward direction. As such, the front end portion 20a folded in the zigzag form and the rear end portion 20b not folded in the zigzag form can be rolled together in the upward direction, thereby accommodating the airbag cushion 20 in the side frame 10 in a rolled shape.

In particular, the front end portion 20a of the airbag cushion 20 may be folded in a zigzag form while avoiding a portion to which the second end 30b of the connecting tether 30 is connected. In the zigzag folded state, the overlapping portions can be nailed 23. Therefore, when the airbag cushion 20 is deployed, the connecting tether 30 can be prevented from twisting, and the guide chamber 22 can be more smoothly guided along the connecting tether 30 to inflate the airbag cushion 20 in the forward direction. Further, since the overlapping portion 23 is tacked in the state where the airbag cushion 20 is folded in the zigzag form, the airbag cushion 20 can maintain the zigzag folded state, thereby facilitating the folding work for accommodation. When the airbag cushion 20 is deployed, the portion of the tack 23 can be released, thereby smoothly deploying.

The airbag cushion 20 may be folded in a zigzag form to expose the guide chamber 22, and the airbag cushion 20 may be deployed in a downward direction when deployed, and then the exposed guide chamber 22 may be moved along the connection tether 30, thereby guiding the expansion direction of the airbag cushion 20. Therefore, the airbag cushion 20 can be accommodated in the center pillar 11 region of the side frame 10, and the airbag cushion 20 does not need to be installed in the front pillar 12 region, so that the space for installing the airbag cushion 20 can be reduced.

Meanwhile, as shown in fig. 2, the airbag cushion 20 may have a first blind area 24 extending in the longitudinal direction on the upper side of the front end portion 20 a. The first blind area 24 is provided outside the protection area in the overlapping portion between the inflated airbag cushion 20 and the region of the front pillar 12, and the first blind area 24 may be formed by sewing to prevent air from entering the first blind area 24 from the airbag cushion 20. However, the present disclosure is not limited to sewing, as fastening mechanisms and other known fastening techniques may be used. Further, the first blind area 24 may be formed in an unnecessary portion that the passenger does not contact in the inflated state, thereby enabling the inflator to prevent the waste of gas for inflating the airbag cushion 20 and to secure the deployment speed of the airbag cushion 20. Further, the airbag cushion 20 can be bent by the portion forming the first blind area 24, thereby avoiding damage to the pillar due to deployment of the airbag cushion 20.

The airbag cushion 20 may include a second blind area 25 at the point where the second end 30b of the connecting tether 30 is connected. The second blind area 25 is provided to fasten the second end 30b of the connecting tether 30 to the airbag cushion 20, and the second blind area 25 may be formed by sewing (or other fastening technique) to prevent air from entering the second blind area 25 from the airbag cushion 20. Since the second blind area 25 is formed in the airbag cushion 20 and the connecting tether 30 is fastened by sewing the second blind area 25, the second end 30b of the connecting tether 30 can be securely fastened to the airbag cushion 20.

In the curtain airbag system of the vehicle according to the present disclosure as described above, the airbag cushion 20 may be deployed in a downward direction from the center pillar 11 of the side frame 10 as shown in fig. 6, and the zigzag-folded portion of the airbag cushion 20 may be deployed while the guide chamber 22 may be guided along the connection tether 30 to inflate the airbag cushion 20 in a forward direction as shown in fig. 7. Therefore, the airbag cushion 20 can be accommodated in the side frame 10, requiring a minimum space. In addition, the airbag cushion 20 can be deployed to cover the side of the passenger, thereby safely protecting the passenger.

In the curtain airbag system of the vehicle having the configuration as described above, the front pillar or rear pillar 12 region of the roof/side frame 10 does not require a space for accommodating the airbag cushion 20, so that the space for accommodating the airbag cushion 20 can be reduced; the deployment direction of the airbag cushion 20 can be guided by the connection tether 30, thereby more precisely deploying the airbag cushion 20 to the protection area of the passenger; and the airbag cushion 20 may be folded in a zigzag form to expose the guide chamber 22, thereby guiding the deployment direction of the airbag cushion 20 and securing the deployment speed.

While the present disclosure has been shown and described with respect to certain exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes may be made to the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined in the appended claims.