Abstract:
A center airbag cushion installed between left and right seats of a vehicle to protect a passenger from a shock generated by a side collision of the vehicle may include a first chamber part, a second chamber part comprising a left second chamber part and a right second chamber part respectively coupled to left and right sides of an upper end of the first chamber part to fluid-communicate therebetween, and a tension member provided on inner facing surfaces of the left and right second chamber parts, wherein the inner facing surfaces of the left and right second chamber parts face each other with a gap, and wherein the tension member has a rear end extending in a predetermined length rearwards and is fixed to a rear end of the first chamber part or the second chamber part therein.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application Number 10-2010-0057188 filed on Jun. 16, 2010, the entire contents of which application is incorporated herein for all purpose by this reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a center airbag cushion which is installed between the left and right seats of a vehicle to protect a passenger from a shock generated by a side collision of the vehicle, and a center airbag module having the center airbag cushion. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Generally, airbag systems include an impact sensor, an airbag module and an airbag control unit. The airbag systems are safety devices which are configured such that when a vehicle is involved in a collision, an airbag cushion installed in the airbag module is inflated by inflation gas to protect a driver or a passenger from shock. Such airbag systems have been developed to cope with front collisions of vehicles. Recently, center airbag systems and side airbag systems have been developed and used to cope with side collisions or vehicles overturning. A center airbag system is installed between the front left and right seats or the rear left and right seats to provide support to a passenger who is pushed to the left or the right when a vehicle is involved in a side collision and to prevent passengers from secondarily colliding with themselves. 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a view showing a vehicle equipped with conventional center airbag systems. The conventional center airbag system is installed between the front left and right seats A 1  and A 2  of the vehicle or between the rear left and right seats A 3  and A 4 . The center airbag system may be disposed in a space B 1  between the left and right seats, a center console compartment B 2  or a central portion B 3  of the dashboard. When a side collision of the vehicle occurs, the center airbag system deploys an airbag cushion C, C′ to prevent the passenger on the left from excessively leaning to the right or to prevent the passenger on the right from excessively leaning to the left, thus preventing the passenger from being injured. Furthermore, the center airbag system prevents a secondary collision between the left and right seated passengers, thus preventing the passengers from suffering injuries due to secondary impacts. 
         [0007]    The airbag cushion C, C′ must have a structure and elasticity sufficient to absorb the shock applied from the passenger to the airbag cushion C, C′. Furthermore, the airbag cushion C, C′ must have a support force sufficient to prevent the passenger from excessively leaning and colliding with another passenger. In other words, the center airbag system must be configured such that when the vehicle is involved in a side collision, the airbag cushion C, C′ can maintain its correct position rather than excessively leaning in one direction and can thus reliably protect both passengers who are seated on the left seat and the right seat. 
         [0008]    However, the conventional center airbag system is problematic in that the airbag cushion C, C′ excessively leans in one direction because absorption of shock transmitted from the passenger to the airbag cushion C, C′ is set as the main point, or the deployment force of the airbag cushion C, C′ is insufficient or the airbag cushion C, C′ cannot effectively absorb shock transmitted from the passenger thereto because supporting the passenger is set as the main point. Therefore, the conventional center airbag system cannot meet all the demanded criteria of superior shock absorption ability, sufficient support force and the airbag cushion being satisfactorily deployed. 
         [0009]    The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    Various aspects of the present invention are directed to provide a center airbag cushion which effectively absorbs shock transmitted from a passenger, and is prevented from excessively leaning to the left or the right, thus preventing a secondary collision between passengers, and can ensure satisfactory deployment performance at the same time as it provides enhanced support ability, and a center airbag module including the center airbag cushion. 
         [0011]    In an aspect of the present invention, the center airbag cushion installed between left and right seats of a vehicle to protect a passenger from a shock generated by a side collision of the vehicle may include a first chamber part; a second chamber part having a left second chamber part and a right second chamber part respectively coupled to left and right sides of an upper end of the first chamber part to fluid-communicate therebetween; and a tension member provided on inner facing surfaces of the left and right second chamber parts, wherein the inner facing surfaces of the left and right second chamber parts face each other with a gap, and wherein the tension member has a rear end extending in a predetermined length rearwards and is fixed to a rear end of the first chamber part or the second chamber part therein. 
         [0012]    Rear end portions of the left second chamber part and the right second chamber part may be fluid-connected each other. 
         [0013]    Front ends of the left and right second chamber parts may be united together to form a united portion so that the left and right second chamber parts are prevented from moving away from each other in opposite directions. 
         [0014]    The tension member may include a pair of tension parts respectively provided on the inner facing surfaces of the left and right second chamber parts, the tension parts respectively having rear ends extending in a predetermined length and being united together, and a support part disposed in the first chamber part, wherein the support part is connected at a front end thereof to the rear ends of the pair of the tension parts and has a rear end extending in a predetermined length and fixed to an inner surface of the first chamber part. 
         [0015]    The pair of tension parts may respectively form the inner facing surfaces of the left and right second chamber parts. 
         [0016]    The pair of tension parts may respectively form a portion of the inner facing surfaces of the left and right second chamber parts. 
         [0017]    The pair of tension parts may have band shapes, and front ends of the tension parts are respectively fixed to front ends of the left and right second chamber parts. 
         [0018]    The pair of tension parts may extend across the central portion of the left and right second chamber parts. 
         [0019]    Rear ends of the pair of tension parts and the front end of the support part may be united together to a fabric of the center airbag cushion between lower portions of the left and right second chamber parts. 
         [0020]    In another aspect of the present invention, the center airbag module installed between left and right seats of a vehicle to protect a passenger from a shock generated by a side collision of the vehicle may include a housing, an inflator installed in the housing, an airbag cushion connected to the inflator, and including, a first chamber part, a second chamber part connected to an upper end of the first chamber part, wherein the second chamber part includes a left second chamber part and a right second chamber part, and a tension member provided on inner facing surfaces of the left and right second chamber parts, wherein the tension member has a rear end extending in a predetermined length rearwards and being fixed to a rear end of the first chamber part or the second chamber part, and has a front end fixed to front ends of the first and second chamber parts. 
         [0021]    The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description of the Invention, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is view showing a center airbag cushion and a center airbag module according to a conventional technique. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a front view of an exemplary center airbag cushion, according to the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the center airbag cushion of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0025]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are sectional views of the center airbag cushion of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0026]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are sectional views of am exemplary center airbag cushion, according to the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 5B . 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a view showing deformation of the center airbag cushion of  FIG. 5B  when left shock is applied thereto. 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a view showing deformation of the center airbag cushion of  FIG. 5B  when right shock is applied thereto. 
       
    
    
       [0030]    It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment. 
         [0031]    In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawing. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]    Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that present description is not intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0033]    Hereinafter, a center airbag cushion according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. 
         [0034]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a center airbag cushion C, according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3  is a side view of the center airbag cushion C. 
         [0035]    The center airbag cushion C according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is installed between left and right seats of a vehicle to protect passengers when the vehicle is in a side collision. The center airbag cushion C includes a first chamber part  100 , a second chamber part  200  and a tension member  300 . The second chamber part  200  includes a left second chamber part  220  and a right second chamber part  240  which are respectively connected to a left side and a right side of an upper end  120  of the first chamber part  100 . The tension member  300  is provided on inner facing surfaces  224  and  244  of the left and right second chamber parts  220  and  240 . A rear end of the tension member  300  extends a predetermined length rearward and is fixed to the first chamber part  100  or the second chamber part  200 . 
         [0036]    The center airbag cushion C must be able to support a passenger who is pushed in a lateral direction when the vehicle is involved in a side collision. For this, the cushion C must form a shape corresponding to a side body line of the passenger when the cushion C is inflated. 
         [0037]    In detail, the first chamber part  100  supports a chest  50  and a shoulder of the passenger. The second chamber part  200  supports a head  10  of the passenger. When the cushion C inflates, the second chamber part  200  protrudes more than the first chamber part  100  to support the head  10  and the chest  50  at the same time. Thus, the left and right second chamber parts  220  and  240  are respectively provided on the left and right sides of the upper end  120  of the first chamber part  100  and have an area larger than that of the first chamber part  100 . However, if the left and right second chamber parts  220  and  240  excessively protrude to the left and the right, the left or right second chamber part  220  or  240  may strike the head  10  of the passenger before the first chamber part  100  comes into contact with the chest  50 . Thereby, the neck  30  of the passenger may be bent. Therefore, it is desirable that upper portions of the left and right second chamber parts  220  and  240  be united together to form a united portion  260 , thus preventing the left and right second chamber parts  220  and  240  from moving away from each other in opposite directions. The united portion  260  may be formed by sewing the upper portions of the left and right second chamber parts  220  and  240 . Due to the united portion  260 , the center airbag cushion C has a reversed egg shaped section in general. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the center airbag cushion C has a shape corresponding to the side body line of the passenger to more reliably support the passenger and prevent the passenger from being injured, for example, prevent the neck  30  from being bent, by the airbag cushion C. 
         [0038]    Furthermore, in the center airbag cushion C according to the embodiment of the present invention, the inner facing surfaces  224  and  244  of the left and right second chamber parts  220  and  240  may not be in close contact with each other such that a space  280  is defined between the inner facing surfaces  224  and  244 . Thus, each of the left and right second chamber parts  220  and  240  can some independently move, so that when a collision occurs, it can effectively and actively cope with movement of the passenger. Lower portions  222  and  242  of the left and right second chamber parts  220  and  240  are coupled to the upper end  120  of the first chamber part  110 . The lower portions  222  and  242  of the left and right second chamber parts  220  and  240  may communicate with the upper end  120  of the first chamber part  110 . In this case, an airbag inflator may be connected to either of the first chamber part  100  or the second chamber part  200 , and when the inflator deploys the airbag, the first and second chamber part  100  and  200  can be deployed at the same time. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are sectional views showing two examples of the center airbag cushion C of  FIG. 2 . The tension member  300  is provided on the inner facing surfaces  224  and  244  of the left and right second chamber parts  220  and  240 . The rear end  344  of the tension member  300  extends rearwards and is fixed to the rear portion of the first or second chamber part  100  or  200 . As such, because the tension member  300  is fixed to the rear portion of the first or second chamber part  100  or  200 , when a shock is applied to the cushion, the tension member  300  pulls the left or right second chamber part  220  or  240  around the fixed point. Thereby, the entire cushion can be prevented from shaking from side to side. The tension member includes a pair of tension parts  320  and a support part  340 . The tension parts  320  are respectively provided on the inner facing surfaces  224  and  244  of the left and right second chamber parts  220  and  240 . Rear ends  324  of the tension parts  320  extend in a predetermined length rearwards and are united together. The support part  340  is disposed inside the first chamber part  100 . A front end  342  of the support part  340  is connected to the rear ends  324  of the tension parts  320 . A rear end  344  of the support part  340  extends a predetermined length and is fixed to the inner surface of the first chamber part  100 . The tension parts  320  may be provided on the inner or outer side of the inner facing surfaces  224  and  244  of the left and right second chamber parts  220  and  240 . Alternatively, the tension parts  320  may form the entirety or a portion of the inner facing surfaces  224  and  244 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 4A  shows an example of a tension part  320  which forms a portion of the facing surface  224 ,  244 .  FIG. 4B  shows an example of a tension part  320  which forms the entirety of the facing surface  224 ,  244 . Each tension part  320  may be united to a fabric of the corresponding second chamber part  220  or  240  by sewing. When a shock is applied to the cushion C, the tension parts  320  support the second chamber parts  220  and  240  in such a way as to pull the entirety of the fabric of the second chamber parts  220  and  240  which are united to the perimeters of the tension parts  320 . 
         [0041]    As such, the tension member  300  is provided on the inner facing surfaces of the left and right second chamber parts  220  and  240 , and the rear end of the tension member  300  extends a predetermined length and is fixed to the first or second chamber part  100  or  200 . Therefore, the tension member  300  may be made of a single material and manufactured into a single body. The rear end of the tension member  300  may be fixed to the first or second chamber part  100  or  200  through the interior of the airbag cushion C. Alternatively, the rear end of the tension member  300  may extend along the outer surface of the airbag cushion C rearwards and then be fixed to the first or second chamber part  100  or  200 . In the case of  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the tension member  300  includes the tension parts  320  and the support part  340 . The support part  340  is disposed inside the first chamber part  100 . The front end  342  of the support part  340  is connected to the rear ends  324  of the tension parts  320 , and the rear end  344  of the support part  340  extends a predetermined length and is fixed to the rear end of the inner surface of the first chamber part  100 . 
         [0042]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are sectional views showing a center airbag cushion C, according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, two tension parts  320  of a tension member  300  are respectively provided on the inner facing surfaces  224  and  244  of the left and right second chamber parts  220  and  240 . Each tension part  320  has a band shape. Front ends  322  of the tension parts  320  are respectively fixed to front ends  226  and  246  of the left and right second chamber parts  220  and  240 . Rear ends  324  of the tension parts  320  are connected to a front end  342  of a support part  340  of the tension member  300 . A rear end  344  of the support part  340  is connected to the rear end of the first chamber part  100 . The rear ends  324  of the tension parts  320  are united to the fabric of the cushion between lower portions  222  and  242  of the left and right second chamber parts  220  and  240 . The front end  342  of the support part  340 , along with the rear ends  324  of the tension parts  320 , are united to the fabric of the cushion between lower portions  222  and  242  of the left and right second chamber parts  220  and  240 . The tension parts  320  are installed on the respective second chamber parts  220  and  240  and the support part  340  can be disposed inside the first chamber part  100  by the above-mentioned method of unifying them. Because the tension parts  320  are coupled to the support part  340  and formed into a single body, tension can be applied to the second chamber parts  220  and  240  when a shock is applied to the cushion C.  FIG. 5A  shows an example of a tension part  320  which extends along the lower end of the second chamber part  220 ,  240 .  FIG. 5B  shows an example of a tension part  320  which extends across the central portion of the second chamber part  220 ,  240 . Installation positions of the tension parts  320  may be determined depending on the shape of the airbag cushion C and designed to take into account the position of the passenger. 
         [0043]    As stated above, the tension member  300  may be made of a single material. Alternatively, the tension member  300  may be made of two materials including the material of the tension part  320  and the material of the support part  340 . Furthermore, each tension part  320  may form the entirety or a portion of the facing surface  224 ,  244  of the corresponding second chamber part  220 ,  240 . Particularly, the tension part  320  may have a band shape and be configured such that the front end  322  thereof is fixed to the front end of the second chamber part  220 ,  240 . It is desirable that the support part  340  be made of material having heat resistance to prevent it from being damaged by high-temperature and high-pressure gas when the support part  340  is coupled to the cushion C around a portion  230  to which the inflator is connected. 
         [0044]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 5B . As stated above, the second chamber part  200  includes the two second chamber parts  220  and  240  which are disposed at the left and right sides. The tension parts  320  are provided on the respective inner facing surfaces  224  and  244 . The front ends  322  of the tension parts  320  are fixed to the front ends  226  and  246  of the second chamber parts  220  and  240 . The rear ends  324  of the tension parts  320  are fixed to the junction between the second chamber parts  220  and  240 . The support part  340  is installed in the first chamber part  100  and configured such that the front end  342  of the support part  340  is fixed to the rear ends  324  of the tension parts  320  and the rear end  344  of the support part  340  is fixed to the rear end of the first chamber part  100 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 7  is a view showing a state of tension applied to the center airbag cushion C when a left passenger P 1  collides with the center airbag cushion C. When a shock is applied to the left side of the vehicle, the passenger P 1  is moved to the right and applies a shock to the airbag cushion C. At this time, the airbag cushion C is pushed to the right by the collision with the passenger P 1 . If the airbag cushion C has no support force acting in the opposite direction, the airbag cushion C is excessively pushed to the right rather than supporting the passenger P 1 . In this case, the left passenger P 1  may collide with a right passenger because the airbag cushion C cannot support the left passenger P 1  who is being pushed to the right by the collision of the vehicle. 
         [0046]    The tension member  300  of the present invention is provided to avoid the above-mentioned problem. The tension member  300  is provided on the inner facing surfaces of the second chamber parts  220  and  240 , thus providing support force to the airbag cushion C. In detail, when the left passenger P 1  collides with the airbag cushion C, the airbag cushion C is pushed to the right. Here, in the present invention, the tension part  320  is provided on the outer surface of the right second chamber part  240  and the front end  322  and the rear end  324  of the tension part  320  are fixed to the right second chamber part  240 . Thus, the front end  322  of the tension part  320  is pulled on the basis of the rear end  344  of the support part  340 , so that tension T is applied to the tension part  320 . Because of the tension T, the front end  320  of the tension part  320  pulls the front end  246  of the right second chamber part  240 . Thereby, a counterclockwise moment F is applied to the right second chamber part  240 , so that the entire airbag cushion C is biased to the left. Therefore, when the left collision occurs, the airbag cushion C is pushed to the right but the force F for biasing the airbag cushion C towards the center is applied to the airbag cushion C by the tension part  320 . As a result, the airbag cushion C can reliably support the left passenger P 1  such that the left passenger P 1  is prevented from being excessively pushed to the right. Furthermore, because the tension parts  320  are provided on the inner facing surfaces of the second chamber parts  220  and  240 , when the inflator I deploys the airbag, the tension parts  320  do not impede deployment of the airbag cushion C. Therefore, the present invention can reliably ensure the inflation force of the airbag cushion C, shock absorption performance and the force required to support the passenger. 
         [0047]      FIG. 8  is a view showing a state of tension applied to the center airbag cushion C when a right passenger P 2  collides with the center airbag cushion C. In the same manner as the case of  FIG. 7 , when the right passenger P 2  collides with the airbag cushion C, tension T is applied to the tension part  320  that is provided on the left second chamber part  220 . Thereby, force for biasing the left second chamber part  220  to the right is applied to the left second chamber part  220 . Thus, the airbag cushion C can reliably support the right passenger P 2  such that the passenger P 2  is prevented from being excessively pushed to the left. 
         [0048]    Meanwhile, a center airbag module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing M, an inflator I and a center airbag cushion C. The housing M is installed in an inner panel between the left and right seats. The inflator I is installed in the housing M to apply the force of inflation to the airbag cushion C. The airbag cushion C is connected to the inflator I in the housing M. As mentioned above, the airbag cushion C includes a first chamber part  100 , a second chamber part  200  and a tension member  300 . The second chamber part  200  includes a left second chamber part  220  and a right second chamber part  240  which are respectively connected to a left side and a right side of an upper end  120  of the first chamber part  100 . The tension member  300  is provided on inner facing surfaces  224  and  244  of the left and right second chamber parts  220  and  240 . A rear end of the tension member  300  extends a predetermined length rearward and is fixed to the first chamber part  100  or the second chamber part  200  so that the tension member  300  applies the support force to the airbag cushion C in a direction opposite to a direction in which a passenger collides with the airbag cushion C. 
         [0049]    As described above, the present invention provides a center airbag cushion and a center airbag module having the same. The airbag cushion has a shape corresponding to a body shape of a passenger, that is, a side body line of the head, the neck and the shoulder of the passenger. Thus, the airbag cushion can effectively absorb shock. 
         [0050]    Furthermore, when a vehicle collision occurs, appropriate tension is applied to the airbag cushion to restrict the airbag cushion from excessively moving to the left or the right. Therefore, the airbag cushion can reliably support the passenger and prevent a secondary collision between passengers. 
         [0051]    Moreover, because a tension member for applying tension to the airbag cushion is disposed inside the airbag cushion, the deployment performance of the airbag cushion can be prevented from deteriorating despite having the tension member. 
         [0052]    For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “inner” and “outer,” “front”, and “rear” are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures. 
         [0053]    The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.