Guide unit for guiding curtain airbag and curtain airbag device
View Patent ↗A curtain airbag device and a guide unit for facilitating assembly of a curtain-guide member and a guide element to a vehicle body. When an inflator is activated, a curtain airbag is led by a protruding piece of a curtain-guide member to be deployed along the cabin-side of a pillar garnish. During the deployment, the rear portion of the curtain airbag is guided by a guide rod via a link strap. The link strap starts moving downward along the guide rod when the curtain airbag begins to be deployed. The guide rod and the curtain-guide member are temporarily fixed to each other by a bolt in advance.
1. A guide unit for guiding a curtain airbag, comprising:
a guide element attached to a pillar of a vehicle and extending in the vertical direction for guiding the end of a curtain airbag that is capable of being deployed downward along the inner side surface of the vehicle cabin; and
a curtain-guide member for guiding the curtain airbag towards the interior of the vehicle cabin away from a pillar garnish at the beginning of deployment of the curtain airbag, wherein the curtain guide member includes a protruding portion over which the curtain airbag is guided, the protruding portion being positioned above the guide element, and wherein the curtain-guide member and the guide element are combined or engaged with each other.
2. The guide unit according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a strap protruding from the curtain airbag and engaging with the guide element.
3. The guide unit according to claim 2 , wherein the curtain-guide member is configured to prevent the strap from detaching from the guide element.
4. The guide unit according to claim 1 , wherein the curtain-guide member and the guide element are connected to each other by a bolt.
5. The guide unit according to claim 1 , wherein the curtain-guide member and the guide element are fixed to each other.
6. The guide unit according to claim 5 , wherein the curtain-guide member and guide element are welded or riveted together.
7. The guide unit according to claim 5 , wherein the curtain-guide member and the guide element are rigidly connected together.
8. The guide unit according to claim 1 , wherein
at least either one of the curtain-guide member and the guide element has an engaging portion for engaging the other; and
the curtain-guide member and the guide element are engaged with each other via the engaging portion.
9. The guide unit according to claim 8 , wherein the curtain-guide member and guide element are temporarily fixed to each other.
10. A curtain airbag device, comprising:
a curtain airbag that is capable of being deployed downward along an inner side surface of a vehicle cabin; and
a guide unit for guiding the end of the curtain airbag, the guide unit comprising:
a guide element attached to a pillar of a vehicle and extending in the vertical direction for guiding the end of the curtain airbag; and
a curtain-guide member for guiding the curtain airbag towards the interior of the vehicle cabin away from a pillar garnish at the beginning of deployment of the curtain airbag, wherein the curtain guide member includes a protruding portion over which the curtain airbag is guided, the curtain airbag being positioned on a top surface of the protruding portion prior to inflation of the curtain airbag,and wherein the curtain-guide member and the guide element are combined or engaged with each other.
11. The curtain airbag device according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a strap protruding from the curtain airbag and engaging with the guide element.
12. The curtain airbag device according to claim 11 , wherein the curtain-guide member is configured to prevent the strap from detaching from the guide element.
13. The curtain airbag device according to claim 10 , wherein the curtain-guide member and the guide element are connected to each other by a bolt.
14. The curtain airbag device according to claim 10 , wherein the curtain-guide member and the guide element are fixed to each other.
15. The curtain airbag device according to claim 14 , wherein the curtain-guide member and the guide element are welded or riveted together.
16. The curtain airbag device according to claim 14 , wherein the curtain-guide member and the guide element are rigidly connected together.
17. The curtain airbag device according to claim 10 , wherein
at least either one of the curtain-guide member and the guide element has an engaging portion for engaging the other; and
the curtain-guide member and the guide element are engaged with each other via the engaging portion.
18. The curtain airbag device according to claim 17 , wherein the curtain-guide member and guide element are temporarily fixed to each other.
19. The guide unit according to claim 1 , wherein the guide element is fixed to a hanging piece extending from the guide member.
20. The guide unit according to claim 1 , wherein the guide element is fixed to the guide member with welding, and the guide element and guide member are fixed to the vehicle body via a bolt.
21. A guide unit for guiding a curtain airbag, comprising:
a guide element attached to a pillar of a vehicle and extending in the vertical direction for guiding the end of a curtain airbag that is capable of being deployed downward along the inner side surface of the vehicle cabin; and
a curtain-guide member for guiding the curtain airbag towards the interior of the vehicle cabin away from a pillar garnish at the beginning of deployment of the curtain airbag, wherein the curtain-guide member and the guide element are combined or engaged with each other such that the curtain-guide member and the guide element are rigidly connected together.
22. A curtain airbag device, comprising:
a curtain airbag that is capable of being deployed downward along an inner side surface of a vehicle cabin; and
a guide unit for guiding the end of the curtain airbag, the guide unit comprising:
a guide element attached to a pillar of a vehicle and extending in the vertical direction for guiding the end of the curtain airbag; and
a curtain-guide member for guiding the curtain airbag towards the interior of the vehicle cabin away from a pillar garnish at the beginning of deployment of the curtain airbag, wherein the curtain-guide member and the guide element are combined or engaged with each other such that the curtain-guide member and the guide element are rigidly connected together.