Abstract:
A structure for securing a curtain airbag to a vehicle including an airbag cushion disposed along a roof side rail of a vehicle having a side pillar, and adapted to be inflated in a curtain-like manner during a side-impact vehicle collision. The structure includes an airbag bracket for attaching the airbag to the vehicle body, and a support member having a first end secured to the vehicle side pillar and a second end receiving the airbag bracket.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present exemplary embodiment relates to an automotive vehicle airbag. It finds particular application in conjunction with a curtain airbag and more specifically with a mounting structure for a curtain airbag, and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that the present exemplary embodiment is also amenable to other similar applications. 
         [0002]    Modern vehicles are designed to provide a substantial degree of safety to passengers. One way in which this is accomplished is by including air bags to cushion the passengers during collisions. Air bags were first employed in front of either the driver, front seat passenger or both. Side curtain air bags have also been introduced and protect the vehicle occupants from injury during a side impact collision, rollover collision, or other accident where the passengers are more likely to move laterally. 
         [0003]    Because a side curtain airbag must cover more area that a typical dashboard air bag, the side curtain air bag is larger in size. However, such an air bag must be inflated at a speed that is comparable to a dashboard-configured air bag. As a result, the inflator size and gas output velocity used for the side curtain air bag is typically much larger than that of a dashboard-configured inflator and must be strategically placed. Also, because the side curtain air bag is larger than dashboard-configured airbags, the direction of the deployment must be controlled to optimize its effectiveness during a collision. Controlling placement and deployment direction is rendered more difficult due to limited space along a vehicle&#39;s roofline, where the air bag is stored. 
         [0004]    Unlike dashboard mounted air bags that deploy directly toward a vehicle occupant, it is desirable for a side curtain air bag to deploy downward, and as close to the side of the vehicle interior wall as possible. This path avoids an inadvertent collision with the vehicle occupant while the airbag is in the process of deploying and also ensures the most significant coverage. 
         [0005]    One exemplary side curtain airbag assembly is shown in  FIG. 1 . Particularly, the airbag system includes an airbag module  10  that principally consists of an airbag  11  (illustrated in a deployed condition), a tension cloth  12  attached to a front end portion of the airbag  11 , a diffuser pipe  13  and an inflator  14 . The airbag  11  is adapted to inflate and deploy into a curtain-like shape along a side wall of the passenger compartment when it is supplied with gas. 
         [0006]    A curtain airbag is typically attached to a vehicle roof rail along a vehicle interior side portion above a door opening of the vehicle body. In a normal state (when the curtain airbag is not deployed), the lower side of the curtain airbag is covered with a terminal portion of roof lining on a vehicle interior side. When an impact caused by collision or the like is experienced, the curtain airbag is unfolded downward from the roof side portion by the high-pressure gas (inflating gas), to form a passenger protective wall between the passenger and the vehicle body side portion. However, during a side impact, it is feasible for the vehicle side pillar (e.g. the vehicle b-pillar) or the pillar garnish to deform, wherein the side curtain airbag deployment could be effected by the displaced pillar or pillar garnish. 
         [0007]    It would be desirable to provide a curtain air bag mounting arrangement wherein the air bag can be deployed within the passenger compartment with minimal likelihood of the airbag being undesirably impacted by a vehicle pillar or pillar garnish in the event the vehicle frame is distorted by the impact. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    Various details of the present disclosure are hereinafter summarized to provide a basic understanding. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and is neither intended to identify certain elements of the disclosure, nor to delineate scope thereof. Rather, the primary purpose of this summary is to present some concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form prior to the more detailed description that is presented hereinafter. 
         [0009]    According to a first embodiment, an arrangement structure for a curtain airbag, which includes an airbag cushion disposed along a roof side rail of a vehicle having a side pillar, and adapted to be inflated in a curtain-like manner during a side-impact vehicle collision is provided. The arrangement structure includes an airbag bracket for attaching the airbag to the vehicle body, and a support member having a first end secured to the vehicle side pillar and a second end receiving the airbag bracket. 
         [0010]    According to a second embodiment, an automotive vehicle including a passenger restraint assembly having a side pillar, a roof rail, and a side curtain airbag assembly adapted to be inflated in a curtain-like manner during a side-impact vehicle collision is provided. A bracket secures the side curtain airbag assembly directly to the side pillar of the vehicle. The side curtain airbag assembly includes a mounting frame having a region joined to the bracket and a chamber configured to receive the folded side curtain. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a side view showing a passenger car equipped with a prior art side cushion airbag; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an automotive vehicle side pillar and inner roof rail in the area in which a side curtain airbag is positioned; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side cross-section view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the vehicle side pillar and inner roof rail of  FIG. 2  wherein the side pillar garnish and the roof lining have been removed; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of how the side curtain airbag mounting assembly of the present disclosure helps to maintain proper alignment of the side curtain airbag for unimpeded deployment; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration of a seat belt attachment plate modified to include a side curtain airbag support bracket. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Current technology may not maintain a desirable relationship between a side curtain airbag, the vehicle side pillar, and the side pillar garnish during a crash. The result is that current side curtain airbags are being designed to deploy more inboard to clear the garnish during a crash. A more inboard trajectory can deploy in the direction of an occupants head and/or become hung up on a vehicle head rest. The present disclosure sets forth a mechanism of attaching a side curtain airbag to a vehicle which maintains its preferred placement adjacent the roof rail and minimizes the likelihood that a displace side pillar garnish will influence proper deployment. 
         [0018]    A first exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 2-4 . Turning first to  FIG. 2 , a vehicle interior side wall  2  is depicted. The vehicle side wall  2  is adjacent to a passenger seat  4 . Vehicle side wall  2  includes a garnish  6  overlying a vehicle side pillar (not visible), and a roof lining  8  overlying an inner roof rail (not visible). Also visible is a seat belt slider garnish  9 , behind which can be disposed a D-ring attachment assembly (not visible) that is secured to the vehicle side pillar. 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , an airbag module  10  containing a curtain style airbag is secured to a vehicle by a support member  12  and an airbag bracket  14 . The support member  12  in combination with the airbag bracket  14  position the airbag module  10  between the roof lining  8 , a roof arch stiffener  16  and a roof rail  18 . 
         [0020]    Since the airbag module  10  is similar to what is conventional art, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Similarly, although a particular airbag bracket configuration is depicted herein, the intent of the disclosure is not believed to be limited to that specific design. Rather, it is anticipated that a variety of airbag bracket shapes can benefit from the present disclosure. 
         [0021]    The support member  12  includes a first end  20  fixed to a side pillar  22  of the vehicle and a second end  24  disposed between the roof arch stiffener  16 , roof rail  18 , and roof lining  8 . The side pillar can be, for example, either or both of what are typically referred to as the vehicle B and/or C pillar. 
         [0022]    Support member  12  can be formed of any suitable material, of which steel, aluminum or fiber reinforced plastic are examples. In addition, although one specific airbag bracket and one specific airbag module is depicted, it is envisioned that the support member  12  of the present disclosure is functional with most if not all traditional airbag modules and their associated airbag bracket(s). 
         [0023]    The first end  20  of support member  12  can be attached to the side pillar  22  by any means known in the art, including for example spot welding or bolting. In the event bolting is utilized, it may be desirable to perform the attachment using existing through holes, such as those used for attachment of a seat belt assembly. In fact, it is envisioned that the present support bracket can form a further element of a seat belt D-ring adjustment bracket (see  FIG. 6 ; described herein below). 
         [0024]    The support member  12  can have a first generally vertical and substantially planar region  30  that is mated to the side pillar  22 . In this regard, the side pillar  22  can have a generally vertical orientation and a generally elongated shape with a generally planar inner surface  32  receiving planar region  30  of the support member  12 . At least a portion of planar region  30  of support member  12  and at least a portion of the planar inner surface  32  of side pillar  22  can reside in at least substantially parallel planes. As used herein, the term planar is intended to encompass a planar region  30  having edges  31  which are at least substantially coplanar. Moreover, it is envisioned that the support member  12  could include a protrusion  33  that is received within a channel  35  formed in side pillar  22 . This configuration can provide increased torsional strength in each of the side pillar  22  and the support member  12 . 
         [0025]    Alternatively, the surfaces of the side pillar and support member which are in contact in the region of the bolted or welded connection may not be generally planar but can include complimentary surfaces which facilitate the formation of a desirable interface. For example, it is envisioned that the support member can be in the form of a tube received within a correspondingly shaped channel in the side pillar. 
         [0026]    Support member  12  also includes an angled intermediate wall  34  which joins planar region  30  to a head region  36 . Head region  36  can be shaped to cooperatively mate with a portion of airbag bracket  14 . Angled intermediate wall  34  can be tangential to region  30  of the support member or may have an angle departing from 90 degrees. Head region  36  which receives airbag bracket  14  can similarly be angled relative to intermediate wall  34 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the included angle “A” between region  30  and wall  34  can be at least substantially the same as the included angle “A” between head region  36  and wall  34 . In this manner, region  30  and head region  36  can lie in at least substantially parallel planes. 
         [0027]    The airbag bracket  14  can include a generally vertical area  40  contacting the first planar region  30  of the support member  12 . The airbag bracket  14  can be bolted  42  (or otherwise secured via welding for example) at this point of contact. The airbag bracket  14  can further include generally horizontally extending shelves  44  and  45  defining a receptacle  46  that receives and retains airbag module  10 . Head region  36  of the support member  12  can include at least several points of contact (see  50  and  52 ) with a rear side  54  airbag bracket  14  adjacent to the area in which the receptacle  46  is formed to provide mechanical support thereto. In this manner airbag module  10  can best retain its alignment with the longitudinal axis of the side pillar during displacement thereof. 
         [0028]    With particular reference to  FIG. 5 , the benefit of maintaining alignment between the side pillar of the vehicle and the airbag module is visually depicted. Particularly, an original position of side pillar  122 , roof rail  118 , roof arch stiffener  116 , side pillar garnish  106 , and a side curtain airbag containing bracket  114  are depicted in dashed lines. What is shown in dashed lines is a traditional approach to attachment of a side curtain airbag device where the airbag bracket  114  is bolted (see bolt  125 ) to the roof rail  118 . 
         [0029]    As demonstrated by arrow A, in an original position, release of the airbag from module  110  travels to the vehicle inboard side of side pillar garnish  106  to provide effective lateral passenger protection. However, if the vehicle were to experience a side impact force in a direction depicted by arrow I, the side pillar  122 ′ and the side pillar garnish  106 ′ can be forced inwardly (shifted components are depicted in solid line). Since the airbag bracket  114  is affixed to the roof rail  118 , and the roof rail  118  can be prevented from significant inward deformation by roof arch stiffener  116 , the airbag bracket  114  does not shift inward to the same extent as the side pillar  122  and side pillar garnish  106 . As demonstrated by arrow A, the shifted side pillar garnish  106 ′ can prove to be an impediment to proper airbag deployment. More particularly, the roof arch stiffener can prevent the inner roof rail from deforming to the same extent as the side pillar and side pillar garnish, causing miss-alignment of the side curtain airbag bracket and the pillar garnish. 
         [0030]    However, by utilizing support bracket  112  to join side curtain airbag bracket  114 ′ directly to the side pillar  122 ′, the airbag bracket  114 ′ travels inboard in conjunction with the force I. Accordingly, the proper deployment relationship between the airbag and the side pillar garnish  106 ′ can be maintained and the side curtain airbag will still properly deploy within the passenger compartment. This relationship between airbag deployment and the inwardly shifted position of the side pillar garnish  106 ′ can be discerned from the direction of arrow “A′”. As a result, the airbag can be rapidly and stably deployed into the automobile to cover the entire inner side part of the automobile, thereby protecting a driver/passenger from injury. 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure is provided. Particularly, a common seat belt assembly includes a seat belt anchor affixed to a side pillar of a vehicle. A typical arrangement may provide for an adjustable D-ring and may include a button assembly, a rail, a base, a slider and a plate. According to the present disclosure, it is contemplated that a seat belt assembly may include an elongated rail  200  that is affixed to the vehicle side pillar by a pair of bolts  201 . The rail  200  can include a series of openings  202  that are adapted to selectively receive the components of the seat belt assembly such as the pin of the button assembly. In accord with the present disclosure, the elongated rail  200  of the seat belt assembly can be manufactured to include a support bracket  212  constructed in a similar manner as the earlier describe support bracket(s). Particularly, support bracket  212  can include a projection  214  configured to be received within a recess in the side pillar and through holes and/or integral nuts  216  situated to receive bolts from an associated airbag bracket. A first bend  218  and a second bed  220  can lead to a first planar segment  222  suitable for receiving a rear surface of an airbag bracket. A rounded terminal portion  224  can similarly provide points of contact in support of the horizontal wall of the airbag bracket (see  44  of  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0032]    Advantageously, the present disclosure provides a side curtain airbag attachment that helps to maintain the relative relationship of the airbag, side pillar, and the pillar garnish during a vehicle side impact. The present support bracket helps to maintain a desired spacial relationship between the side pillar, side pillar garnish, and airbag allowing the side curtain airbag to deploy correctly. 
         [0033]    The exemplary embodiment has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the exemplary embodiment be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.