Abstract:
A mounting structure of a curtain airbag in a vehicle is disclosed. The structure is adapted to easily form an inflation passage between a pillar trim and pillar by using a head liner; therefore, the overall portions of the curtain airbag can smoothly expand during the deployment. Such mounting structure may be performed with the head liner, pillar trim, and force transmission means.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a structure of mounting a curtain airbag in a vehicle and, more particularly, to a structure of a pillar trim and head liner enclosing the curtain airbag.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     A curtain airbag is generally arranged in a space formed by a roof side rail and head liner and extends to a space formed by an A-pillar and pillar trim. When the curtain airbag inflates, the head liner and pillar trim each separate from the roof side rail and A-pillar to create an inflation passage into the passenger compartment.  
         [0003]     The head liner and pillar trim should easily be separated from the roof side rail and A-pillar for a smooth deployment of the curtain airbag, however, should not completely be separated from the vehicle body for preventing injury to the passengers.  
         [0004]     In the normal state, the head liner and pillar trim should properly be supported by the vehicle body and stably shroud the curtain airbag.  
         [0005]     The region where the curtain airbag is wrapped by the head liner and roof side rail can relatively and easily make the inflation passage when the curtain airbag expands. However, the region where the curtain airbag is wrapped by the A-pillar and pillar trim contains an edge of the curtain airbag and makes it difficult in configuration to supply a sufficient expansion force of the curtain airbag. Therefore, the inflation passage can insufficiently be formed between the A-pillar and pillar trim.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Embodiments of the present invention help easily form an inflation passage between a pillar trim and A-pillar during the deployment of a curtain airbag, thereby enabling all portions of the curtain airbag to smoothly deploy.  
         [0007]     A mounting structure of a curtain airbag for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a head liner that forms a space with a roof side rail for storing a curtain airbag. A pillar trim is located adjacent to the head liner and forms a space with a pillar for storing the curtain airbag. A force transmission means is in close proximity to the head liner and pillar trim and extends from the interior of the head liner to the interior of the pillar trim for transmitting the force of the head liner (tending to move down into the passenger compartment during the deployment of the curtain airbag) to the pillar trim. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a mounting structure of a curtain airbag for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of  FIG. 1  according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention corresponding to  FIG. 4 ; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the present invention corresponding to  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]     Referring to FIGS.  4  to  6 , embodiments of the present invention include a head liner  5  that forms a space with a roof side rail  1  for storing a curtain airbag  3  (see  FIGS. 1 through 3 ). A pillar trim  9  located adjacent to head liner  5  forms a space with a pillar  7  for storing curtain airbag  3 . A force transmission means is in close proximity to head liner  5  and pillar trim  9  and extends from the interior of head liner  5  to the interior of pillar trim  9 . The force transmission means transmits the force of head liner  5 , which tends to move down into the passenger compartment when curtain airbag  3  inflates, to pillar trim  9 .  
         [0016]     The interiors of head liner  5  and pillar trim  9  refer to the area where curtain airbag  3  is situated, and the exteriors of the above elements refer to the passenger compartment.  
         [0017]     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the force transmission means according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes an extension plate  11  that contacts at one end thereof with the inner surface of head liner  5  while the other end extends to the interior of pillar trim  9 . A coupling means couples pillar trim  9  to extension plate  11 .  
         [0018]     The coupling means is constituted by a boss  13  inwardly protruding at pillar trim  9 . A coupling screw  15  penetrates from boss  13  to extension plate  11 . A supporter  17  is integrally formed with extension plate  11  for maintaining the end of coupling screw  15  at a distance from pillar  7  and for locating pillar trim  9  apart from pillar  7 . A cover  19  conceals boss  13 .  
         [0019]     Accordingly, coupling screw  15  that couples pillar trim  9  to extension plate  11  is invisible in the passenger compartment via cover  19 .  
         [0020]     Under such construction, if curtain airbag  3  pushes head liner  5  during the deployment, and the thrust force of curtain airbag  3  is transmitted to pillar trim  9  through extension plate  11 . Thus, even if the expansion force is slightly provided to the curtain airbag between pillar trim  9  and pillar  7 , a sufficient inflation passage can be created between pillar trim  9  and pillar  7 .  
         [0021]     As a result, curtain airbag  3  can smoothly expand overall. Further, even after the expansion of curtain airbag  3 , pillar trim  9  is connected to head liner  5  via extension plate  11  so that a complete separation of pillar trim  9  from pillar  7  is restrained and the passengers are protected from injuries which can arise hereby.  
         [0022]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the force transmission means according to a second embodiment of the present invention is composed of a liner extension  21  and coupling means. Liner extension  21  integrally extends from one end (adjacent to pillar trim  9 ) of head liner  5  to the interior of pillar trim  9 , and the coupling means couples pillar trim  9  to liner extension  21 .  
         [0023]     In comparison with the first embodiment, liner extension  21  is integrally formed with head liner  5  for transmitting the force of head liner  5  to pillar trim  9  without the aid of a separate extension plate.  
         [0024]     The coupling means includes boss  13  protruding inward at pillar trim  9 . A fastener  23  is rotatably installed in relation to boss  13  and screws to liner extension  21 . A supporter  25  is fixed to liner extension  21  for maintaining the end of fastener  23  at a distance from pillar  7  and for placing pillar trim  9  apart from pillar  7 . Cover  19  conceals boss  13 .  
         [0025]     Supporter  25  contacts or welds in advance with liner extension  21 , whereby when fastener  23  screws to liner extension  21 , supporter  25  is also coupled thereto by means of the screw.  
         [0026]     In this embodiment, liner extension  21  transmits the force of curtain airbag  3  (pushing head liner  5  downward during the expansion of curtain airbag  3 ) to pillar trim  9 .  
         [0027]     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the force transmission means according to a third embodiment of the present invention includes an elastic plate  27  that is fixed at one surface thereof to an inner side of head liner  5  while the other surface closely attaches to an inner side of pillar trim  9 .  
         [0028]     Elastic plate  27  is composed of a flat planar portion  29  fixed in head liner  5 , and an arc sectional portion  31  extending from flat planar portion  29  and closely attaches to the interior of pillar trim  9  by bypassing the contiguous region of head liner  5  and pillar trim  9 .  
         [0029]     Arc sectional portion  31  of elastic plate  27  transmits the force of head liner  5  to pillar trim  9  in the course of the deployment of curtain airbag  3 .  
         [0030]     In the third embodiment, once a space is formed between pillar trim  9  and pillar  7  for the inflation of the curtain airbag, a separate tether or the like is preferably added for preventing a complete detachment of pillar trim  9  from pillar  7 .  
         [0031]     As apparent from the foregoing, there is an advantage in that an inflation passage can easily be formed between a pillar trim and pillar by using the head liner such that the overall portions of the curtain airbag can smoothly expand during the deployment.  
         [0032]     Furthermore, a complete separation of the pillar trim from the vehicle body is avoided during the deployment of the curtain airbag, thus effectively preventing injury to the passengers.