Abstract:
A bag for protecting a head of an automobile passenger is formed of a main path having a gas inlet, and a cushion connected to the main path and having chambers communicating with the main path to be expand as a result of gas entering into the cushion from the main path. The chambers includes an upper chamber extending along a top side in a direction of a line extending from the main path and having one end connected to the main path; a side chamber connected to the other end of the upper chamber and extending downwardly from the top side; a lower chamber extending along the bottom side of the bag and having one end connected to the side chamber; and an intermediate chamber communicating with and disposed between the lower chamber and the upper chamber, and separated from the side chamber. The bag can expand smoothly and the required strength is reduced as a result of preventing localized excess stress.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND THE RELATED ART STATEMENT 
     The present invention relates to a bag for protecting a head of an automobile passenger, and, more particularly, to a bag which expands along, for example, a side door window and a B pillar when the automobile crashes at its side surface or turns over and lies on its side. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a bag for protecting a head of an automobile passenger of a type in which gas enters a main gas path from a gas inlet, and then enters a plurality of small chambers from the main gas path. In addition, the present invention relates to a device for protecting a head of an automobile passenger which includes the bag, and an automobile which includes the device for protecting the head of an automobile passenger. 
     This type of bag for protecting a head of an automobile passenger is disclosed in WO96/26087. The bag is illustrated particularly in FIGS. 1 and 9 of the patent. The inside of this publicly known bag includes a duct, i.e. main gas path, and a plurality of cells, i.e. small chambers. The duct extends along a top edge of the bag from a front end of the bag, i.e. end of the bag located at a front side of an automobile, to a back end of the bag, i.e. end of the bag located at a back side of the automobile. The cells are connected to the duct, extend downward from the duct, and are arranged from the front end to the back end of the bag. 
     In the bag disclosed in WO96/26087, a gas flows into the duct from the side of the duct located at the back side of the automobile, and then into each of the plurality of cells. Therefore, it takes time to fill up all of the cells with the gas. In other words, it takes time to finish inflation of the bag. In order to reduce the amount of time required to finish inflation of the bag, it is necessary to increase the gas-generating capacity of the inflator. However, when the gas-generating capacity of the inflator is increased, excess stress is exerted onto the stitches of the bag. 
     GB2327066A discloses a curtain air bag whose inflation completion time is made shorter by providing X-shaped small chambers in the bag. However, since a large part of the structure of the bag is occupied by the small cells, it is inferred that the actual time required to finish inflation of the bag is not made so short. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bag for protecting a head of an automobile passenger which makes it possible to sufficiently reduce the time required to finish inflation of the bag without increasing the output of an inflator, and to a protecting device and an automobile which includes the bag. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bag for protecting a head of an automobile passenger which is disposed near a corner of an automobile where a side surface and a ceiling inside the automobile intersect and which expands downward along the side surface of the automobile as a result of gas entering the bag from a gas inlet. The bag comprises a top side disposed along the ceiling of the automobile, a main air path which is connected to the gas inlet, and a cushion including chambers which expand as a result of gas entering into the cushion from the main air path. The cushion includes a small upper chamber which extends along the top side in a direction of a line extending from the main air path, with one end of the small upper chamber being connected to the main air path, a small side chamber which is connected to the other end of the small upper chamber so as to extend downward, a small lower chamber which extends along a bottom side of the bag, with one end of the small lower chamber being connected to the small side chamber, and a small intermediate chamber which is disposed between and connected to the small lower chamber and the small upper chamber, and which is separated from the small side chamber. 
     In such a bag for protecting the head of an automobile passenger, the gas flowing into the main air path from the inlet flows rapidly into the cushion. The flow of the gas inside the cushion spreads to cause the small upper chamber and the small intermediate chamber to expand rapidly. After the small upper chamber and the small intermediate chamber have expanded, the gas which has passed through the small upper chamber collides with the inside wall of the cushion, smoothly changes its direction of flow, and flows into the small side chamber. On the other hand, the gas which has passed through the small intermediate chamber collides with the inside wall of the cushion, smoothly changes its direction of flow, and flows into the small lower chamber. Thereafter, from either one of the small side chamber and the small lower chamber that has finished expansion earlier, the gas flows into the other small side chamber or the small lower chamber. When the other chamber has expanded, the expansion of the cushion is completed. The small side chamber and the small lower chamber may finish expansion at about the same time. 
     Accordingly, at the initial stage of expansion, the small intermediate chamber and the small upper chamber close to the main air path expand rapidly. The small side chamber and the small lower chamber expand by the gas which has passed through the small upper chamber and the small intermediate chamber. Here, since the small upper chamber and the small intermediate chamber have already expanded to a sufficiently large size, the gas flows smoothly, so that a sufficient gas pressure is also applied to the small side chamber and the small lower chamber, which expand rapidly. Therefore, the cushion as a whole expands in a very short time. Accordingly, the time required to complete the expansion of the whole bag is made considerably less than that of conventional bags in which every cell is expanded. 
     In the present invention, it is preferable that the bag for protecting the head of an automobile passenger further comprises a front side disposed along an A pillar of the automobile, and a back side disposed along either a C pillar or a D pillar. In the bag, the main gas path extends along the front side and a front portion of the top side, and the gas inlet is formed in a lower portion of the front side. 
     In the present invention, in the bag for protecting the head of an automobile passenger comprising a front side and a back side, it is preferable that the cushion is disposed near an intermediate portion of the bag in a forward and backward direction along the automobile and is located near a B pillar and a back portion of a front-door window adjacent to the B pillar. In the bag, curtains which do not expand are provided between the cushion and the front side of the bag and between the cushion and the back side of the bag, respectively. 
     In such a bag, when the cushion expands, the curtains disposed at the front and back of the cushion are in a taut state. As a result, even if a door window opens, the cushion is not pushed out of the vehicle from the door window, and the head of a passenger is prevented from projecting out of the vehicle. Since the cushion is only disposed at the intermediate portion of the bag in the forward or backward direction, the cushion finishes expansion in a considerable short time. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for protecting a head of an automobile passenger comprising: any one of the bags explained above for protecting the head of an automobile passenger, and an inflator connected to the gas inlet of the bag. 
     According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automobile comprising the device for protecting the head of the automobile passenger. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a bag for protecting a head of an automobile passenger in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIGS.  2 ( a ) to  2 ( d ) are sectional views taken along lines  2 ( a )— 2 ( a ),  2 ( b )— 2 ( b ),  2 ( c )— 2 ( c ) and  2 ( d )— 2 ( d ) shown in FIG. 1, respectively; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bag shown in FIG. 1 during expansion; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of an inside of an automobile which includes the embodiment of the bag in accordance with the present invention; and 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of another embodiment of a bag for protecting a head of an automobile passenger in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereunder, embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1, FIGS.  2 ( a ) to  2 ( d ), FIG. 3, and FIG. 4 illustrate a bag  1  for protecting a head of an automobile passenger of an embodiment in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of the bag  1 . FIGS.  2 ( a ) to  2 ( d ) are sectional views taken along lines  2 ( a )— 2 ( a ),  2 ( b ) 2 ( b ),  2 ( c )— 2 ( c ) and  2 ( d )— 2 ( d ) of FIG. 1, respectively. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bag  1  during expansion. FIG. 4 is a side view of the inside of the automobile in which the bag  1  is installed. FIG. 5 is a front view of a bag  1  for protecting a head of an automobile passenger of another embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
     In the bag  1  of the embodiment of the present invention, a window-side sheet  2  and a room-interior-side sheet  3  are laminated with each other, and sewed together in order to form a main air path  7  and a cushion  8  between both of these sheets  2  and  3 . Reference numerals  4  denote protrusions used to mount the bag  1  to a roof side member  32 , an A pillar  31  and a C pillar  33  of the automobile. Reference numerals  5  denote receiving holes for receiving mounting means, such as rivets provided on the projections  4 . Reference numeral  34  denotes a B pillar, reference numeral  35  denotes a front door, and reference numeral  36  denotes a rear door. 
     The main air path  7  extends along an edge of the bag  1  from a lower end of a front side  1 F along the A pillar  31  to a front portion of a top side  1 U. A gas inlet  6  is provided in the lower end of the front side  1 F of the bag  1 , and an inflator  30  is connected thereto. 
     The sheets  2  and  3  are joined together by linear joining sections  14 ,  15 ,  19  and  20 , linear joining sections  15 ,  16 ,  17  and  18 , double-ringed joining sections  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25  and  26 , and linear joining sections  27 ,  28  and  29 . The linear joining sections  14 ,  15 ,  19  and  20  are used to form the main air path  7 . The linear joining sections  15 ,  16 ,  17  and  18  are used to form the outer periphery of the cushion  8 . The double-ringed joining sections  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25  and  26  are used to join the sheets  2  and  3  more firmly together. The linear joining sections  27 ,  28  and  29  are used to form a small upper chamber  8   a , a small side chamber  8   b , a small lower chamber  8   c  and a small intermediate chamber  8   d  in the cushion  8 . The sheets  2  and  3  may be joined together by, for example, sewing, bonding, or welding. However, when the sheets  2  and  3  are formed of cloth, in particular, cloth coated with synthetic resin, it is preferable to join them together by sewing. 
     In order to form the main gas path  7 , the pair of linear joining sections  14  and  20  extend from the lower portion of the front side  1 F parallel to the front side  1 F, and the pair of linear joining sections  15  and  19  extend parallel to and along the upper side  1 U. The linear joining section  15  extends along the upper side  1 U to the back end of the cushion  8 . The linear joining section  16  is connected to the linear joining section  15  and extends to the lower portion of the bag  1 . The linear joining section  17  is connected to the linear joining section  16  and extends along the bottom side of the bag  1 . The linear joining section  18  is connected to the linear joining section  17  and extends towards the upper portion of the bag  1  to be connected to the linear joining section  19 . 
     The annular joining section  21  is disposed near the portion where the linear joining sections  18  and  19  are joined together. The linear joining sections  27  and  28  are provided almost parallel to the linear joining section  16 . The top portion of the linear joining section  27  is separated from the linear joining section  15  by a distance almost equal to the width of the main gas path  7 . The linear joining sections  27  and  28  extend substantially linearly. The bottom end of the linear joining section  28  is located above the linear joining section  17  by a required distance. 
     The annular joining section  23  is positioned at the top end of the linear joining section  27 . The annular joining section  26  is positioned at the bottom end of the linear joining section  28 . The annular joining section  24  is positioned in a middle between the annular joining sections  23  and  26 . The linear joining section  29  extends obliquely forward and downward from the annular joining section  24 . The front end, i.e. lower end, of the linear joining section  29  is separated from both the linear joining sections  17  and  18  by predetermined distances. 
     The annular joining section  22  is positioned near an intermediate portion between the annular joining sections  21  and  23 . The small upper chamber  8   a  is formed above the annular joining sections  21 ,  22  and  23 . The small side chamber  8   b  is formed between the linear joining sections  27  and  28  and the linear joining section  16 . The small lower chamber  8   c  is formed between the linear joining sections  28  and  29  and the linear joining section  17 . The small intermediate chamber  8   d  is formed between the linear joining sections  27 ,  29  and  18  and the annular joining sections  21 ,  22  and  23 . 
     The annular joining section  22  forms the boundary between the small intermediate chamber  8   d  and the small upper chamber  8   a , and prevents the small intermediate chamber  8   d  from expanding excessively to a large thickness. 
     The bag  1  does not include expanding sections other than the main air path  7  and the cushion  8 , so that curtains  10  and  11  which are provided at the front and back of the cushion  8  do not expand. Although the curtains  10  and  11  are formed by placing the sheets  2  and  3  together, one of the sheets  2  and  3  may be omitted. In forming the curtains  10  and  11 , the sheets  2  and  3  may be bonded together. The cushion  8  is disposed at a side of the head of an automobile passenger in accordance with the model of the automobile. Automobile passengers have different heights and various body shapes. The location and size of the cushion  8  are set so that the cushion  8  is disposed at a side of the head of a passenger of any height with different body shape. 
     The bag  1  is installed such that the front portion is folded along the A pillar  31  of the automobile. In addition, it is installed such that its top side is folded along the roof side rail  32 , and its back side is folded along the C pillar  33 . 
     The folded bag  1  is covered with a cover (not shown). The cover is constructed so that it tears when the bag  1  expands. 
     When the automobile crashes at its side surface or turns over and lies on its side, the inflator  30  operates to allow a gas to flow into the main gas path  7  from the gas inlet  6 . From the main gas path  7 , the gas flows into the cushion  8 , causing each of the small chambers  8   a  to  8   d  to expand successively. 
     From the gas inlet  6 , the gas flows as indicated by arrows  100  and  101  shown in FIG. 3, causing the main gas path  7  to expand. Then, when the gas flows into the cushion  8 , the flow of the gas spreads as indicated by arrows  102  and  105 , causing the small upper chamber  8   a  and the small intermediate chamber  8   d  to expand. 
     After the small intermediate chamber  8   d  has expanded, the gas which has flown in the direction of an arrow  105  collides with a corner formed by the linear joining sections  17  and  18  and changes the direction as indicated by an arrow  106 , causing the small lower chamber  8   c  to expand. After expansion of the small lower chamber  8   c , the gas collides with a corner formed by the linear joining sections  16  and  17  and changes its direction as indicated by an arrow  107 , causing the small side chamber  8   b  to expand. 
     On the other hand, after expansion of the small upper chamber  8   a , the gas which has flown in the direction of an arrow  102  collides with a corner formed by the linear joining sections  15  and  16 , and changes its direction as indicated by an arrow  103 , causing the small side chamber  8   b  to expand. 
     The small side chamber  8   b  is expanded by the gas which flows from both the small upper chamber  8   a  and the small lower chamber  8   c , whereby the expansion of the bag  1  is completed. 
     Accordingly, at the initial stage of expansion, the small intermediate chamber  8   d  and the small upper chamber  8   a  near the main air path expand rapidly. Then, the small lower chamber  8   c  and the small side chamber  8   b  are expanded by the gas which has passed through the small upper chamber  8   a  and the small intermediate chamber  8   d . Here, since the small upper chamber  8   a  and the small intermediate chamber  8   d  have already expanded to sufficiently large sizes, the gas flows smoothly, so that a sufficient gas pressure is also applied to the small lower chamber  8   c  and the small side chamber  8   b , which expand rapidly. The gas flows into the cushion without flowing into the curtains, so that the cushion is not spread more than required by the linear joining sections  27  to  29  and the annular joining sections  21  to  26 . Therefore, the amount of gas required to expand the cushion is small. Consequently, the time required to complete the expansion of the bag  1  is decreased. In addition, since the bag  1  expands quickly enough even if the gas pressure generated by the inflator  30  is small, the stress applied by the gas onto the joining sections, such as the sewing sections, between the sheets  2  and  3  is decreased. Therefore, since the required strength of the bag  1  can be made small, the sheets  2  and  3  can be easily joined together by, for example, sewing, and a thin material which has a small strength can be used for the sheets  2  and  3 . When the sheets  2  and  3  are made thin, the volume required to accommodate the bag  1  when folded is made small. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. 
     As in the protecting bag  1  of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, in a protecting bag  1 ′ of another embodiment, a window-side sheet  2  and an interior-side sheet  3  are placed upon each other and are sewed together in order to form a main air path  7  and a cushion  8  between both of the sheets  2  and  3 . 
     The main air path  7  extends along an edge of the bag  1 ′ from a lower end of a front side  1 F along the A pillar  31  to the front portion of a top side  1 U. A gas inlet  6  is provided in the lower end of the front side  1 F of the bag  1 ′, and an inflator  30  is connected thereto. 
     The sheets  2  and  3  are joined together by linear joining sections  14 ,  15 ,  19  and  20 , linear joining sections  15 ,  16 ,  17  and  18 , double-ringed joining sections  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44  and  45 , and linear joining sections  46 ,  47  and  48 . The linear joining sections  14 ,  15 ,  19  and  20  are used to form the main air path  7 . The linear joining sections  15 ,  16 ,  17  and  18  are used to form the outer periphery of the cushion  8 . The double-ringed joining sections  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44  and  45  are used to join the sheets  2  and  3  more firmly together. The linear joining sections  46 ,  47  and  48  are used to form a small upper chamber  8   a , a small side chamber  8   b , a small lower chamber  8   c , and a small intermediate chamber  8   d  in the cushion  8 . The sheets  2  and  3  may be joined together by, for example, sewing, bonding, or welding. However, when the sheets  2  and  3  are formed of cloth, in particular, cloth coated with a synthetic resin, it is preferable to join them together by sewing. 
     In order to form the main air path  7 , the pair of linear joining sections  14  and  20  extend from the lower portion of the front side  1 F parallel to the front side  1 F, and the pair of linear joining sections  15  and  19  extend parallel to and along the upper side  1 U. The linear joining section  15  extends along the upper side  1 U to the back end of the cushion  8 . The linear joining section  16  is connected to the linear joining section  15  and extends to the lower portion of the bag  1 ′. The linear joining section  17  is connected to the linear joining section  16  and extends along a bottom side of the bag  1 ′. The linear joining section  18  is connected to the linear joining section  17  and extends towards the upper portion of the bag  1 ′ to be connected to the linear joining section  19 . 
     The annular joining section  41  is disposed near the portion where the linear joining sections  18  and  19  are joined together. 
     The linear joining section  46  is disposed substantially parallel to the linear joining section  18  to extend substantially in a straight line. The top end of the linear joining section  46  is separated from the linear joining section  15  by a distance which is substantially equal to the width of the main air path  7 , and the bottom end of the linear joining section  46  is situated above the linear joining section  17  by a predetermined distance. The annular joining section  42  is disposed near the upper side of the top end of the linear joining section  46 , whereas the annular joining section  45  is disposed near the bottom side of the bottom end of the linear joining section  46 . 
     The annular joining section  44  is disposed at required distances away from both the linear joining sections  16  and  17 . 
     The linear joining section  47  is provided parallel to the linear joining section  46  near the annular joining section  42 , is curved at a middle portion thereof, and extends to near the annular joining section  44 . 
     The linear joining section  48  is provided along the linear joining section  46  from near the annular joining section  45 , is curved at a middle portion thereof, and extends to near the annular joining section  44  along the linear joining section  47 . 
     The annular joining section  43  is separated from the linear joining section  15  by a distance substantially equal to the width of the main air path  7 . It is also spaced at a required distance away from the linear joining section  16 . 
     The annular joining section  43  prevents the small side chamber  8   c  from expanding to an excessive thickness. 
     The bag  1 ′ is installed such that its front portion is folded along the A pillar  31  of the automobile. In addition, it is installed such that its top side is folded along the roof side rail  32 , and its back side is folded along the C pillar  33 . The folded bag  1 ′ is covered with a cover (not shown). The cover is constructed so that it tears when the bag  1 ′ expands. 
     In this embodiment, there are five annular joining sections, so that there is one annular joining section less than those in the previous embodiment where there are six annular joining sections. This makes it easier for the cushion  8  to be produced by sewing. By sewing the linear joining sections  46 ,  47  and  48  for separating the cushion  8  to form each of the chambers as in above-described forms, the diameters of expansion of the corresponding small chambers are made more uniform than in the previous embodiment. Thus, this way of sewing allows the diameters (thickness) of the expansion of the corresponding small chambers to be more uniform, and further, equalizes the loads on these sewn portions to be applied upon expansion of the air bag. 
     When the automobile crashes at its side surface or turns over and lies on its side, the inflator  30  operates in order to cause gas to flow into the main gas path  7  from the gas inlet  6 . From the main gas path  7 , the gas flows into the cushion  8 , causing each of the small chambers  8   a  to  8   d  to expand successively. 
     The gas from the inlet  6  first expands the main air path  7 , and then, expands the small upper chamber  8 a and the small intermediate chamber  8   d . The gas which has expanded the small upper chamber  8   a  collides with a corner formed by the linear joining sections  15  and  16 , and changes its direction, causing the small side chamber  8   b  to expand. Thereafter, the gas flows into the small lower chamber  8   c  from the small side chamber  8   b , causing the small lower chamber  8   c  to expand. 
     On the other hand, the gas which has expanded the small intermediate chamber  8   d  collides with a corner formed by the linear joining sections  17  and  18 , and smoothly changes its direction, causing the small lower chamber  8   c  to expand. The small lower chamber  8   c  is expanded by the gas which flows into the small lower chamber  8   c  from both of the small side chamber  8   b  and the small intermediate chamber  8   d , whereby the expansion of the bag  1 ′ is completed. 
     As in the previous embodiment, in this embodiment, the time required to complete the expansion of the bag  1 ′ is sufficiently short. In addition, since the bag  1 ′ expands quickly enough even if the gas pressure generated by the inflator  30  is small, the stress applied by the gas onto the joining sections (such as the sewing sections) between the sheets  2  and  3  is decreased. Therefore, since the required strength of the bag  1 ′ can be made small, the sheets  2  and  3  can be easily joined together by, for example, sewing, and a thin material which has a small strength can be used for the sheets  2  and  3 . When the sheets  2  and  3  are made thin, the volume required to accommodate the bag  1 ′ when folded is made small. 
     Although in the above-described embodiment, the back side  1 R is disposed along the C pillar, it may be disposed along a D pillar. 
     In the present invention, the inflator and the gas inlet of the bag may be disposed on the back portion of a vehicle, such as the B pillar, the C pillar, or the D pillar. 
     As can be understood from the foregoing description, the bag for protecting a head of an automobile passenger in accordance with the present invention as a whole expands more quickly than in the conventional bags. Therefore, an inflator having a small capacity can be used. The stress exerted onto the bag is decreased to make it possible to reduce the required strengths of the joining sections, such as sewing sections, and of the structural material of the bag. 
     While the invention has been explained with reference to the specific embodiments of the invention, the explanation is illustrative and the invention is limited only by the appended claims.