US 8,550,493 B2 · Airbag device

Abstract

An airbag (18) made of metal is disposed between an edge portion (12a) of a windshield (12) of a vehicle and an outer panel (16), projecting toward an outside of a vehicle body beyond the edge portion (12a), of a front pillar (15). Thus, it is possible to install the airbag device without making large design changes to the existing structure of the vehicle body, and to prevent the external appearance from being deteriorated by the installation of the airbag device. Further, once the airbag (18) made of metal is deployed, the airbag does not shrink. Thus, it is possible not only to reduce the weight and costs by employing an inflator (19) with a smaller volume, but also to cause the airbag to exert a stable shock absorbing capability irrespective of the difference in the timing of the collision of a pedestrian. Further, a part of the airbag (18) is a garnish part (18a) forming an outer surface of the vehicle body in cooperation with the outer panel (16). Thus, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and costs by making the garnish part (18a) exert the garnish function.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An airbag device in which an airbag made of metal is disposed between an edge portion of a windshield and a front door of a vehicle, and which protects a pedestrian by deploying the airbag into the shape of a tube along the edge portion of the windshield by use of gas produced by an inflator, wherein

the airbag includes:
a garnish part forming an outer surface of a vehicle body in cooperation with an outer panel;
a folded part provided continuous to the garnish part, and folded;
two closing parts for closing, respectively, opposite end portions of each of the garnish part and the folded part in a longitudinal direction;
and a vent hole formed in a portion of the folded part that is adjacent to at least one of the two closing parts,
the folded part is folded in the shape of an accordion,
the vent hole is formed in a radial inner bent portion of the folded part, and
the garnish part includes an outer panel-side lip for sealing an interstice between the garnish part and the outer panel, and
the folded part includes a windshield-side lip for sealing an interstice between the folded part and the windshield.

6 more elements

the airbag includes:
a garnish part forming an outer surface of a vehicle body in cooperation with an outer panel;
a folded part provided continuous to the garnish part, and folded;
two closing parts for closing, respectively, opposite end portions of each of the garnish part and the folded part in a longitudinal direction;
and vent holes formed in portions of the folded part that are adjacent to at least one of the two closing parts,
the folded part is folded in the shape of an accordion,
the vent holes are formed in flat parts of the folded part,
the vent holes, respectively, in two flat parts, which are opposed to each other in a folded state, of the folded part are formed to be alternately displaced,
the folded part includes a windshield-side folded part situated closer to the windshield, and an outer panel-side folded part situated closer to the outer panel, and
an amount of expansion of the outer panel-side folded part is set larger than an amount of expansion of the windshield-side folded part.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Airbag device

Life of this patent

Airbag device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10