Vehicle front structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9434335-B2
Application number	US-201414512744-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 13, 2014
Priority date	Oct 15, 2013
Publication date	Sep 6, 2016
Grant date	Sep 6, 2016

Abstract

A dash panel is provided with an air bag of an air bag device in a part facing a space between a front wheel and a front side member. The air bag is configured such that, when gas flows into the air bag from an inflator via a gas passage pipe at the time of a front end collision, the air bag is expanded and deployed between a rear part of the front wheel and the front side member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle front structure comprising:
a front side member provided in a side part of a vehicle-body front portion, the front side member extending along a vehicle front-rear direction, the front side member being placed on an inner side relative to a front wheel in a vehicle width direction; and
an air bag device including an air bag provided in a part directly facing a space between the front wheel and the front side member, the air bag being expanded and deployed to enter the space between the front wheel and the front side member, when gas flows into the air bag, to restrain movement of the front wheel towards the inner side in the vehicle width direction,
wherein the air bag is provided in a dash panel, the dash panel dividing the vehicle-body front portion from a cabin.

2. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1 , wherein:
a suspension arm is placed on the inner side relative to the front wheel in the vehicle width direction and on an outer side relative to the front side member in the vehicle width direction, the suspension arm being part of a suspension; and
the air bag is provided on a vehicle rear side relative to the suspension arm, the air bag being expanded and deployed toward the suspension arm when gas flows in the air bag.

3. A vehicle front structure comprising:
a front side member provided in a side part of a vehicle-body front portion, the front side member extending along a vehicle front-rear direction, the front side member being placed on an inner side relative to a front wheel in a vehicle width direction; and
an air bag device including an air bag provided in a part facing a space between the front wheel and the front side member, the air bag being expanded and deployed between the front wheel and the front side member, when gas flows into the air bag, to contact an inner surface of the front wheel, in the vehicle width direction, and an outer surface of the front side member, in the vehicle width direction.

4. The vehicle front structure according to claim 3 , wherein:
the air bag is provided in a dash panel, the dash panel dividing the vehicle-body front portion from a cabin.

5. The vehicle front structure according to claim 3 , wherein:
a suspension arm is placed on the inner side relative to the front wheel in the vehicle width direction and on an outer side relative to the front side member in the vehicle width direction, the suspension arm being part of a suspension; and
the air bag is provided on a vehicle rear side relative to the suspension arm, the air bag being expanded and deployed toward the suspension arm when gas flows in the air bag.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ohmura Yukito

Classifications

• B60R2021/0009

  Oblique collision · CPC title

• B60R21/206

  in the lower part of dashboards, e.g. for protecting the knees · CPC title

• B60R21/00 Primary

  Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks (safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles B60R22/00; seats constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats, B60N2/42; energy-absorbing arrangements for hand wheels for steering vehicles B62D1/11; energy-absorbing arrangements for vehicle steering columns B62D1/19) · CPC title