Patent ID: 7121579
Filing Date: 2006-10-17
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. An occupant restraint system for a vehicle comprising: an airbag that is disposed in a folded state along an upper edge of a door opening of a vehicle body; an inflator for generating a gas when the vehicle is involved in a side collision to inflate the airbag so that it is deployed into a curtain shape along an inner face of a side of an occupant compartment; a seat belt system for restraining an occupant seated in a seat, the seat belt system comprising a shoulder belt provided below said airbag and a pre-tensioner which is operable to apply tension to the shoulder belt when the vehicle is involved in a front collision; a side collision sensor and a controller which controls the pre-tensioner to apply the tension to the shoulder belt when said sensor detects that the vehicle is involved in a side collision; and a gas supply pipe for routing gas from the inflator into the interior of the airbag in the event of a collision; wherein, prior to the airbag deploying into the occupant compartment when the vehicle is involved in a side collision, the pre-tensioner applies a tension to the shoulder belt in order to maintain a proper positional relationship between the shoulder belt and an occupant, and then the airbag is deployed; and wherein the airbag comprises a gas communication passage and a pipe support formed from stitching on the airbag, the gas communication passage formed from a part of said stitching so as to extend along the upper edge of the airbag, the gas communication passage having a diameter significantly larger than that of the gas supply pipe and an inlet portion receiving said gas supply pipe therethrough, the pipe support being spaced apart from said inlet portion of said gas communication passage and comprising an upper pipe support portion extending downward from an upper side of the part of the stitching forming the gas communication passage and a lower pipe support portion extending upward from the part of the stitching forming the wall of the gas communication passage so as to clamp the gas supply pipe therebetween, wherein a portion of the gas supply pipe is supported by the pipe support, the airbag includes a plurality of separate inflatable cells, and each of said cells includes an opening in communication with said gas supply pipe in said folded state of the airbag.