Passenger protection apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10875488-B2
Application number	US-201816202744-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 28, 2018
Priority date	Mar 28, 2018
Publication date	Dec 29, 2020
Grant date	Dec 29, 2020

Abstract

A passenger protection apparatus includes an inflator and an airbag. The inflator is configured to supply gas. The airbag is configured to deploy to surround a sitting position of a passenger by the gas supplied from the inflator. One end of the airbag is supported on an upper portion of a vehicle, and the other end of the airbag contacts an in-vehicle member and is supported by the in-vehicle member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A passenger protection apparatus comprising:
an inflator configured to supply gas; and
an airbag configured to deploy to surround a sitting position of a passenger by the gas supplied from the inflator, the airbag including a main body portion and an in-vehicle contact portion extending from the main body portion, and wherein one end of the airbag is supported on an upper portion of a vehicle and the other end of the airbag is defined by an end of the in-vehicle contact portion, which in-vehicle contact portion angles away from the main body portion into a contacting and airbag position support arrangement with an in-vehicle member.

2. The passenger protection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein after the main body portion deploys, the in-vehicle contact portion of the airbag expands inward while angling away from the main body portion into contact with the in-vehicle member.

3. The passenger protection apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a tether configured to couple the other end to an upper portion of the airbag,
wherein after the main body portion deploys, the other end of the airbag contacts the in-vehicle member by a tensile force of the tether.

4. The passenger protection apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the tether extends in a vertical direction along an inner surface of the airbag and is attached to the inner surface of the airbag.

5. The passenger protection apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising a reeler configured to adjust a length of the tether.

6. The passenger protection apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising a passenger detector configured to detect a position of the passenger,
wherein the reeler adjusts the length of the tether on a basis of the detected position of the passenger.

7. The passenger protection apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:
a tether is annularly provided on the other end of the airbag; and
an inner diameter of the other end of the airbag is reduced as the airbag deploys, and the other end of the airbag contacts the in-vehicle member.

8. The passenger protection apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the tether extends in a vertical direction along an inner surface of the airbag and is attached to the inner surface of the airbag.

9. The passenger protection apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising a reeler configured to adjust a length of the tether.

10. The passenger protection apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising a passenger detector configured to detect a position of the passenger,
wherein the reeler adjusts the length of the tether on a basis of the detected position of the passenger.

11. The passenger protection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the in-vehicle contact portion of the airbag is configured as to expand away from a lower end of the main body portion so as to catch an undersurface of the in-vehicle member such that there is achieved, in conjunction with the one end of the airbag supported on the upper portion of the vehicle, the contacting and airbag position support arrangement of the in-vehicle contact portion of the airbag with the in-vehicle member.

12. The passenger protection apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the in-vehicle contact portion of the airbag is configured to catch the underside of a vehicle seat that represents the in-vehicle member.

13. A passenger protection apparatus comprising:
an inflator configured to supply gas;
an airbag configured to deploy to surround a sitting position of a passenger by the gas supplied from the inflator, one end of the airbag being supported on an upper portion of a vehicle and the other end of the airbag contacting an in-vehicle member and being supported by the in-vehicle member; and
a tether configured to couple the other end to an upper portion of the airbag,
wherein the other end of the airbag contacts the in-vehicle member by a tensile force of the tether.

14. The passenger protection apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the tether extends in a vertical direction along an inner surface of the airbag and is attached to the inner surface of the airbag.

15. The passenger protection apparatus according to claim 13 , further comprising a reeler configured to adjust a length of the tether.

16. The passenger protection apparatus according to claim 15 , further comprising a passenger detector configured to detect a position of the passenger,
wherein the reeler adjusts the length of the tether on a basis of the detected position of the passenger.

17. A passenger protection apparatus comprising:
an inflator configured to supply gas;
an airbag configured to deploy to surround a sitting position of a passenger by the gas supplied from the inflator, one end of the airbag being supported on an upper portion of a vehicle and the other end of the airbag contacting an in-vehicle member and being supported by the in- vehicle member; and
a tether that is annularly provided on the other end of the airbag; and
an inner diameter of the other end of the airbag is reduced as the airbag deploys, and the other end of the airbag contacts the in-vehicle member.

18. The passenger protection apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the tether extends in a vertical direction along an inner surface of the airbag and is attached to the inner surface of the airbag.

19. The passenger protection apparatus according to claim 17 , further comprising a reeler configured to adjust a length of the tether.

20. The passenger protection apparatus according to claim 19 , further comprising a passenger detector configured to detect a position of the passenger,
wherein the reeler adjusts the length of the tether on a basis of the detected position of the passenger.

Assignees

• Subaru Corp

Inventors

• Kanegae Shota

Classifications

• B60R21/231

  characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration · CPC title

• B60R2021/23107

  the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system · CPC title

• B60R21/2338 Primary

  Tethers · CPC title

• B60R2021/23192

  Roof bags, i.e. protecting the occupant in a roll-over situation · CPC title

• B60R2021/23161

  specially adapted for protecting at least two passengers, e.g. preventing them from hitting each other · CPC title