Patent ID: 12240407

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, the embodiments disclosed in the present specification will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the same or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals even though they are depicted in different drawings, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted.

In the following description, with respect to constituent elements used in the following description, the suffixes “module” and “unit” are used only in consideration of facilitation of description, and do not have mutually distinguished meanings or functions.

In the following description of the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when the same may make the subject matter of the embodiments disclosed in the present specification rather unclear. In addition, the accompanying drawings are provided only for a better understanding of the embodiments disclosed in the present specification and are not intended to limit the technical ideas disclosed in the present specification. Therefore, it should be understood that the accompanying drawings include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions within the scope and spirit of the present invention.

It will be understood that although the terms “first”, “second”, etc., may be used herein to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another component.

It will be understood that when a component is referred to as being “connected to” or “coupled to” another component, it may be directly connected to or coupled to another component, or intervening components may be present. On the other hand, when a component is referred to as being “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another component, there are no intervening components present.

As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, and/or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

FIG.1is a view showing a state in which a shoulder airbag of the present invention is inflated and deployed around one of the shoulders of an occupant.

Referring to the drawing, the shoulder airbag of the present invention includes an airbag cushion100mounted in a seatback10and configured to be deployed so as to cover each of the shoulders of an occupant sitting in a seat in three axis directions.

For example, the shoulder airbag is mounted on the upper end of at least one of two side portions of the seatback10.

The shoulder airbag is deployed so as to cover each of the shoulders of the occupant sitting in the seat in three axis directions, i.e., an X-axis direction, a Y-axis direction, and a Z-axis direction, thereby covering the entire area of each of the shoulders of the occupant.

In detail, the airbag cushion100may be deployed so as to cover the front portion, side portion, and upper portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant.

Accordingly, when vehicle collision occurs behind the seatback10, a chamber covering the upper portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant prevents a phenomenon that the occupant is moved upward along the seatback10, i.e., ramping-up behavior of the occupant, and a chamber covering the front portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant prevents the occupant from being pushed in a direction away from the seatback10.

As a result, it is possible to eliminate not only the risk of injury due to the ramping-up behavior of the occupant but also the risk of injury due to forward movement of the occupant away from the seat, thus safely protecting the occupant.

According to the present invention, the airbag cushion100includes a first chamber110formed in a shape covering each of the shoulders in a first axis direction, a second chamber120formed in a shape covering each of the shoulders in a second axis direction, and a third chamber130including a first extended chamber140extending from the first chamber110and formed in a shape covering a portion of each of the shoulders in a third axis direction and a second extended chamber150extending from the second chamber120and formed in a shape covering the remaining portion of each of the shoulders in the third axis direction.

FIG.2is a view showing a state in which an airbag cushion according to a first embodiment of the present invention is inflated and deployed.

Referring to the drawing, the first axis direction may be a leftward-rightward direction of the seat, the second axis direction may be an upward-downward direction of the seat, and the third axis direction may be a forward-backward direction of the seat.

In the first embodiment, the first chamber110covers the side portion of each of the shoulders, the second chamber120covers the upper portion of each of the shoulders, and the third chamber130covers the front portion of each of the shoulders.

In detail, the first chamber110is formed in a rectangular shape to cover the side portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant.

The second chamber120extends from the upper end of the first chamber110in the lateral direction toward the occupant and is formed in a rectangular shape to cover the upper portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant.

The first extended chamber140of the third chamber130extends from the front end of the first chamber110in the lateral direction toward the occupant so as to cover a part of the front portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant.

The second extended chamber150of the third chamber130extends from the front end of the second chamber120in the downward direction toward the occupant so as to cover the remaining part of the front portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant, which is not covered by the first extended chamber140extending from the first chamber110.

FIG.3is a view showing a state in which an airbag cushion according to a second embodiment of the present invention is inflated and deployed.

Referring to the drawing, the first axis direction may be the leftward-rightward direction of the seat, the second axis direction may be the forward-backward direction of the seat, and the third axis direction may be the upward-downward direction of the seat.

In the second embodiment, the first chamber110covers the side portion of each of the shoulders, the second chamber120covers the front portion of each of the shoulders, and the third chamber130covers the upper portion of each of the shoulders.

In detail, the first chamber110is formed in a rectangular shape to cover the side portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant.

The second chamber120extends from the front end of the first chamber110in the lateral direction toward the occupant and is formed in a rectangular shape to cover the front portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant.

The first extended chamber140of the third chamber130extends from the upper end of the first chamber110in the lateral direction toward the occupant so as to cover a part of the upper portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant.

The second extended chamber150of the third chamber130extends from the upper end of the second chamber120in the backward direction toward the occupant so as to cover the remaining part of the upper portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant, which is not covered by the first extended chamber140extending from the first chamber110.

In the present invention, the first extended chamber140extending from the first chamber110and the second extended chamber150extending from the second chamber120may be fixed to each other along edges thereof that contact each other, thereby forming the third chamber130.

In detail, each of the first extended chamber140and the second extended chamber150is formed in the shape of a right triangle, and the hypotenuse portion of the first extended chamber140and the hypotenuse portion of the second extended chamber150are fixed to each other by sewing, thereby forming the third chamber130having a rectangular shape.

In the configuration of the first embodiment, the third chamber130covers the front portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant. In the configuration of the second embodiment, the third chamber130covers the upper portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant.

The present invention may be configured such that gas is first supplied to the first chamber110and such that the first chamber110, the second chamber120, and the third chamber130communicate with each other so that the airbag cushion100is inflated.

An inflator200is connected to the first chamber110configured to cover the side portion of each of the shoulders. Gas generated by explosion of the inflator200is first supplied to the first chamber110.

Hole-shaped communication portions H are formed in boundaries between the chambers.

After gas is first supplied to the first chamber110covering the side portion of each of the shoulders, the gas in the first chamber110is supplied to the second chamber120and the first extended chamber140through the communication portions H. Subsequently, the gas in the second chamber120is supplied to the second extended chamber150through the communication portions H. As a result, the entirety of the airbag cushion100is inflated and deployed.

In the present invention, the first chamber110, the second chamber120, and the third chamber130may be folded with respect to each other such that the first chamber110and the second chamber120are perpendicular to each other, the second chamber120and the third chamber130are perpendicular to each other, and the third chamber130and the first chamber110are perpendicular to each other.

In an example, referring toFIG.2, the second chamber120is folded toward the occupant at a right angle from the upper end of the first chamber110covering the side portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant, thereby covering the upper portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant.

The third chamber130is folded toward the occupant at a right angle from the front end of the first chamber110to cover the front portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant. In this case, the third chamber130is in a state of being folded downward at a right angle from the front end of the second chamber120.

In another example, referring toFIG.3, the second chamber120is folded toward the occupant at a right angle from the front end of the first chamber110covering the side portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant, thereby covering the front portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant.

The third chamber130is folded toward the occupant at a right angle from the upper end of the first chamber110to cover the upper portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant. In this case, the third chamber130is in a state of being folded backward at a right angle from the upper end of the second chamber120.

Alternatively, in the present invention, the first chamber110, the second chamber120, the first extended chamber140, and the second extended chamber150may be folded with respect to each other such that the first chamber110and the second chamber120are perpendicular to each other, the first chamber110and the first extended chamber140, which extends from the first chamber110, are perpendicular to each other, and the second chamber120and the second extended chamber150, which extends from the second chamber120, are perpendicular to each other.

In an example, referring toFIG.2, the second chamber120is folded toward the occupant at a right angle from the upper end of the first chamber110covering the side portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant, thereby covering the upper portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant.

The first extended chamber140is folded toward the occupant at a right angle from the front end of the first chamber110to cover the front portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant.

The second extended chamber150is folded downward at a right angle from the front end of the second chamber120to cover the front portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant together with the first extended chamber140.

In another example, referring toFIG.3, the second chamber120is folded toward the occupant at a right angle from the front end of the first chamber110covering the side portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant, thereby covering the front portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant.

The first extended chamber140is folded toward the occupant at a right angle from the upper end of the first chamber110to cover the upper portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant.

The second extended chamber150is folded backward at a right angle from the upper end of the second chamber120to cover the upper portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant together with the first extended chamber140.

FIG.4is a view showing the airbag cushion100according to the present invention in an unfolded state.

Referring to the drawing, the airbag cushion100according to the present invention may include a first chamber110configured to cover each of the shoulders of an occupant sitting in a seat in a first axis direction, a second chamber120formed parallel to the first chamber110in the lateral direction and configured to cover each of the shoulders of the occupant in a second axis direction, a first extended chamber140extending from the first chamber110in a predetermined direction and configured to cover a portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant in a third axis direction, and a second extended chamber150extending from the second chamber120in a predetermined direction and configured to cover the remaining portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant in the third axis direction, wherein the first extended chamber140and the second extended chamber150are fixed to each other along edges thereof that face each other.

The edge of the first extended chamber140and the edge of the second extended chamber150that face each other are formed obliquely relative to each other so as to face each other and are fixed to each other.

The first chamber110and the first extended chamber140may be formed symmetrically with the second chamber120and the second extended chamber150.

Due to this structure, when vehicle collision occurs, the airbag cushion100is inflated and deployed in such a manner that the first chamber110, the second chamber120, the first extended chamber140, and the second extended chamber150are folded along a folding line FL formed between the first chamber110and the second chamber120, a folding line FL formed between the first chamber110and the first extended chamber140, and a folding line FL formed between the second chamber120and the second extended chamber150.

The first chamber110, the second chamber120, the first extended chamber140, and the second extended chamber150communicate with each other along the folding line FL formed between the first chamber110and the second chamber120, the folding line FL formed between the first chamber110and the first extended chamber140, and the folding line FL formed between the second chamber120and the second extended chamber150.

Since the oblique edge of the first extended chamber140and the oblique edge of the second extended chamber150are fixed to each other, the airbag cushion100is inflated in a three-dimensional shape in such a manner that the first chamber110and the second chamber120are folded with respect to each other, the first chamber110and the first extended chamber140are folded with respect to each other, and the second chamber120and the second extended chamber150are folded with respect to each other.

Accordingly, the first chamber110covers the side portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant, the second chamber120covers the upper portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant, and the first extended chamber140and the second extended chamber150, which constitute the third chamber130, cover the front portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant. In this way, the airbag cushion100covers each of the shoulders of the occupant in the three axis directions, thereby safely protecting the occupant.

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, when vehicle collision occurs behind a seatback, a chamber covering the upper portion of each of the shoulders of an occupant prevents a phenomenon that the occupant is moved upward along the seatback, i.e. ramping-up behavior of the occupant, and a chamber covering the front portion of each of the shoulders of the occupant prevents the occupant from being pushed in a direction away from the seatback.

Accordingly, it is possible to eliminate not only the risk of injury due to the ramping-up behavior of the occupant but also the risk of injury due to forward movement of the occupant away from the seat, thus safely protecting the occupant.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions, and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.