Roof airbag device for a vehicle and method of inflating the same

Abstract

The application provides a roof airbag device for a vehicle and an inflating method thereof, which comprises an airbag, a connecting mechanism and a gas generator; the airbag comprises a main cavity and a secondary cavity; the main cavity and the secondary cavity are fixed by at least two connecting mechanisms, at least one of the connecting mechanisms is above the center line of the main cavity, and at least one of the connecting mechanisms is below the center line of the main cavity; when the vehicle collides, the gas generator is triggered to make the airbag expand and unfold; during the unfolding of the airbag, the gas inflates into the main cavity and the secondary cavity respectively until the airbag is filled; in the inflated state, the main cavity and the secondary cavity form a triangular structure with the supporting points of the internal structure of the vehicle, so as to ensure the accuracy of the protection position of the airbag and prevent the airbag from shaking during work.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of airbag technology, and more specifically to a roof airbag device for vehicles and its inflation method. Background Technology

[0002] Car roof airbags are an important safety device in the event of a car collision. Their function is to generate gas within the airbag device, causing the airbag to inflate and expand to the space between the windshield and the occupants, thereby protecting the occupants from injury.

[0003] In existing technology, automotive roof airbags typically consist of a long, narrow cavity and a spiral-shaped cavity. During an accident, the gas generator in the long, narrow cavity produces a large amount of gas, causing the long, narrow cavity to extend from the airbag housing, pulling the spiral-shaped cavity along with it. Once the spiral-shaped cavity is filled with gas, it comes into contact with the occupant, thus providing a cushioning effect.

[0004] However, existing automotive roof airbags also have the following drawbacks: the connection mechanism between the volute-shaped cavity and the elongated cavity is located at the bottom of the volute-shaped cavity, and there is only one connection mechanism. This structure makes the roof airbag prone to swaying during use and unstable in posture after inflation. This can cause the airbag to bounce off the occupant's body or strike protrusions on the dashboard, such as the display screen, thereby reducing safety performance.

[0005] To address the aforementioned issues, a vehicle roof airbag is needed that can prevent airbag swaying and maintain stable posture after inflation. This ensures a more robust and stable connection between the volute-shaped cavity and the elongated cavity. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a vehicle roof airbag that is stable in posture and provides precise protection during operation.

[0007] The objective of this invention is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0008] This invention provides a roof airbag device for a vehicle, comprising: an airbag, connecting mechanisms, and a gas generator; the airbag consists of a main chamber and a secondary chamber; the main chamber is located on the passenger side, and the secondary chamber is located on the windshield side; the main chamber and the secondary chamber form a stable triangular support structure with the support points inside the vehicle; the main chamber is provided with at least two connecting mechanisms connected to the secondary chamber; the uppermost connecting mechanism is a first connecting mechanism, which is located above the center line of the main chamber; the center line of the main chamber is the perpendicular bisector of the line connecting the uppermost and lowermost contact points of the main chamber and the secondary chamber.

[0009] Preferably, the secondary cavity has at least one support point at the upper part and the windshield, and at least one support point at the lower part and the dashboard; the main cavity has at least one support point at the instrument panel; the instrument panel is equipped with a display screen, and the main cavity and the display screen have at least one support point; the three support points form a stable triangular support structure.

[0010] Furthermore, protruding pads are provided on both sides of the main cavity; the protruding pads restrict the occupant's head from moving to both sides in the middle of the airbag during an offset collision; the main cavity is provided with an inner pull strap, one end of which is connected to the inner side of the main cavity facing the occupant, and the other end is connected to the inner side of the main cavity facing the instrument panel.

[0011] Furthermore, the secondary cavity is divided into multiple air chambers, with the uppermost air chamber being the first air chamber; each air chamber is connected by a channel, either directly or by offset connection; the first air chamber is connected to the main cavity through the first connecting mechanism.

[0012] Preferably, the first connecting mechanism is a channel; except for the first air chamber, each of the other air chambers of the plurality of air chambers has at least one connecting mechanism connected to the main chamber; all the connecting mechanisms are channels.

[0013] Preferably, the first connecting mechanism can be replaced by an outer pull strap; the upper end of the outer pull strap is fixed to the first small cavity, and the lower end is fixed above the center line of the main cavity; the inner pull strap is connected to the main cavity by stitching or slot fixing, and the outer pull strap is connected to the first air cavity and the main cavity by stitching or slot fixing.

[0014] Furthermore, the gas generator is installed inside the secondary cavity and located at the upper end of the secondary cavity.

[0015] Furthermore, the present invention also provides a method for inflating a roof airbag device for a vehicle, comprising the following steps:

[0016] S1: Detecting an impact on the vehicle in which the roof airbag device for a vehicle is located;

[0017] S2: If a collision is detected with the vehicle, the gas generator is activated to expand the secondary chamber;

[0018] S3: The airflow in the secondary cavity expands to the main cavity through the first connecting mechanism and / or the remaining connecting mechanisms;

[0019] S4: After the secondary cavity and the main cavity expand, they come into contact with the interior of the vehicle, forming three support points, which further form a stable triangular support structure.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects that at least one technical solution adopted in the embodiments of this specification can achieve include at least:

[0021] First, the vehicle roof airbag of this invention employs a multi-connecting mechanism to connect the main chamber and the secondary chamber. The connecting mechanism above the centerline of the main chamber ensures the stability of the airbag's posture during inflation, and the connecting mechanism uses channels. Traditional vehicle roof airbags typically use a single channel to connect the main chamber and the secondary chamber, and the channel is only located below the centerline of the main chamber and relatively lower in the secondary chamber; this not only results in a slower inflation speed and a tendency to become blocked, posing a potential risk to occupant safety, but also causes the airbag to sway up and down, potentially impacting the occupant's body or protruding objects inside the vehicle. The upper connecting mechanism allows the vehicle roof airbag to accurately contact the optimal protection position, improving the airbag's protective effect on occupants during a vehicle collision. The multi-channel structure effectively reduces the safety hazard of inflation failure due to airbag channel blockage. In traditional single-channel designs, if the airbag channel becomes blocked for any reason, the airbag may fail to inflate, thus affecting its normal operation. This invention uses a multi-channel structure, so even if one channel becomes blocked, the other channels can still continue to supply inflation gas to the airbag, ensuring that the airbag fully deploys and functions effectively. The multi-channel structure also has better durability. Because the gas flows through multiple channels, the inflation burden on each channel is lighter, thus reducing friction and wear on the channel walls, extending the lifespan of the airbag, and lowering maintenance and replacement costs.

[0022] Secondly, this invention introduces multiple support points to form a stable triangular structure. Compared to traditional designs, the airbag device provided by this invention, after full deployment, exhibits greater stability due to the constraint of the multiple support points. This design increases the coordination between the various parts inside the airbag, making it more stable during inflation and reducing tilting or imbalance caused by insufficient constraint. Through the application of multiple support points, the airbag not only maintains its shape and posture more stably after deployment but also better maintains balance under pressure changes or external impacts. Furthermore, the multiple support points allow for flexible adjustment of the airbag's deployment method, enabling it to adapt to different spatial requirements, such as display screens. This prevents the airbag from shaking and hitting the display screen in application scenarios, further improving its practicality and adaptability. Attached Figure Description

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0024] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the vehicle roof airbag of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the second embodiment of the vehicle roof airbag of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the third embodiment of the vehicle roof airbag of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the fourth embodiment of the vehicle roof airbag of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the fifth embodiment of the vehicle roof airbag of the present invention.

[0029] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0030] 1. Secondary cavity; 11. First air cavity; 12. Support cavity; 2. Main cavity; 3. Support point one; 4. Support point two; 5. Support point three; 6. Support point four; 7. Inner pull strap; 8. Outer pull strap; 9. Display screen. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0032] The following specific examples illustrate the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of them. The present invention can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and the details in this specification can also be modified or changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the following embodiments and features in the embodiments can be combined with each other. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0033] Furthermore, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances, and they should not be construed as limiting the invention.

[0034] like Figure 1As shown, Embodiment 1 of the present invention is a roof airbag for a vehicle; the airbag includes a secondary chamber 1, a main chamber 2, a channel, and a gas generator; a first air chamber 11 and a support chamber 12 are connected by a staggered channel to form the secondary chamber 1; the first air chamber 11 and the support chamber 12 are respectively connected to the main chamber 2, and the connection between the three chambers is via a channel; the channel between the first air chamber 11 and the main chamber 2 is located above the center line of the main chamber 2, while the channel between the support chamber 12 and the main chamber 2 is located below the center line of the main chamber 2, to prevent the main chamber 2 from swaying up and down during inflation and to provide support in an appropriate position after inflation; to increase the stability and safety of the airbag, an inner traction strap 7 is provided inside the main chamber 2, and the airbag is constrained by the inner traction strap 7 during inflation to prevent over-inflation, thereby ensuring more stable and reliable protection for passengers inside the vehicle; a triangular support structure... The structure is formed by three support points; firstly, the upper end of the support cavity 12 contacts the windshield, forming support point 1 3; secondly, the lower end of the support cavity 12 contacts the windshield, forming support point 2 4; and finally, the main cavity 2 contacts the dashboard, forming support point 3 5. These three support points cooperate to form a stable triangular support structure, enabling the airbag to provide stable and reliable protection in the event of an accident. To achieve airbag inflation, the roof airbag of this invention is equipped with a gas generator, which is installed on the upper part of the first air cavity 11. When a vehicle accident occurs, the gas generator produces expanding gas and fills the first air cavity 11. Subsequently, the airflow flows through the channel to the support cavity 12 and the main cavity 2. The gas expansion process causes the main cavity 2 and the support cavity 12 to expand rapidly, quickly forming a protective structure. The airflow expands in the main cavity 2, causing the main cavity 2 to... Figure 1 As indicated by the middle arrow, the main cavity 2 expands in a direction that prevents it from shaking during expansion, thus maintaining a stable posture after expansion and allowing the airbag to reach the precise and optimal protection position.

[0035] like Figure 2As shown, Embodiment 2 of the present invention describes an airbag for a vehicle roof; the airbag includes a secondary chamber 1, a main chamber 2, a channel, and a gas generator; the secondary chamber 1 is composed of a first air chamber 11 and a support chamber 12, the first air chamber 11 and the support chamber 12 being connected by a channel in a staggered manner, and the main chamber 2 is also connected to the two chambers by a channel; the connecting channel between the first air chamber 11 and the main chamber 2 is located above the centerline of the main chamber 2; in the airbag application scenario of this embodiment, a display screen 9 is also equipped in the vehicle, the display screen 9 is placed in the vehicle's dashboard position, directly contacting and supporting the main chamber 2, forming a stable support point 46; this avoids the problem of the main chamber 2 impacting the display screen 9 after the airbag deploys; because the vehicle... During a collision, a vehicle will inevitably experience severe vibrations. Without proper support, the main cavity 2 may cause unexpected impacts to the display screen 9 due to its up-and-down movement, leading to damage or malfunction of the display screen 9, or even rebound, causing injury to the occupants. Support point 4 6 is formed by the contact between the main cavity 2 and the display screen 9. In addition, the upper end of the secondary cavity 1 contacts the windshield to form support point 1 3, the lower end contacts the dashboard to form support point 2 4, and the main cavity 2 contacts the dashboard to form support point 3 5. The three support points form a stable triangular support structure, avoiding the potential problem of the main cavity 2 impacting the display screen 9 or the occupants' bodies during a severe collision, while also improving the overall protective performance and stability of the airbag.

[0036] like Figure 3As shown in Embodiment 3, the present invention provides an airbag device for a vehicle roof; its design includes a secondary cavity 1, a main cavity 2, channels, and a gas generator; the secondary cavity 1 is an important part of the airbag device, divided into upper and lower first air chambers 11 and a support cavity 12; the first air chambers 11 and the support cavity 12 are located in the same cavity, i.e., within the secondary cavity 1; the secondary cavity 1 is connected to the main cavity 2 through two channels, located on the upper and lower sides of the center line of the main cavity 2 respectively; in addition, the gas generator is installed in the upper part of the secondary cavity 1; the working principle of the airbag device is as follows: when the gas generator is activated, the secondary cavity 1 first expands, and the gas is simultaneously injected into the main cavity 2 through the pipes connecting the upper and lower channels of the secondary cavity 1 and the main cavity 2, resulting in a relatively stable and uniform airflow. The secondary chamber 1 and the main chamber 2 expand to their predetermined working positions. During inflation, the upper end of the secondary chamber 1 forms a stable support point 3 with the vehicle's windshield, and the lower end forms another support point 4 with the vehicle's dashboard. Simultaneously, the main chamber 2 contacts the vehicle's dashboard and forms a third support point 5. The three support points form a stable triangular support structure, increasing the stability and reliability of the airbag in rollover accidents. Since the upper and lower channels are respectively installed above and below the centerline of the main chamber 2, the dual-channel design allows the main chamber 2 to inflate quickly. Furthermore, after inflation, the upper channel enables the main chamber 2 to maintain a stable posture, ensuring that the airbag can deploy in a timely manner and provide effective protection, effectively reducing the possible shaking or instability of the airbag during inflation.

[0037] like Figure 4 As shown, in Embodiment 4 of the present invention, based on Embodiment 3, the channel is set as a separate cavity, connecting the main cavity 2 and the auxiliary cavity 1; in the airbag device provided in Embodiment 4, the three cavities are connected in pairs.

[0038] like Figure 5As shown, Embodiment 5 of the present invention provides an airbag for a vehicle roof, comprising a secondary cavity 1, a main cavity 2, a gas generator, an outer pull strap 8, and a channel; the secondary cavity 1 includes a first air chamber 11 and a support cavity 12; the first air chamber 11 and the support cavity 12 are directly connected through the channel; the support cavity 12 is connected to the main cavity 2 through the channel; the airbag for the vehicle roof provided in this embodiment also includes the main cavity 2, and the first air chamber 11 is connected to the main cavity 2 through the outer pull strap 8 instead of the channel; one end of the outer pull strap 8 is located above the centerline of the main cavity 2. The other end is located in the first air chamber 11. When the gas generator is in operation, the gas expands the support chamber 12 through the channel connecting the first air chamber 11 and the support chamber 12. Then, it expands into the main chamber 2 through the channel connecting the support chamber 12 and the main chamber 2. While the main chamber 2 expands, the secondary chamber 1 and the main chamber 2 are connected by an outer pull strap 8. The upper end of the outer pull strap 8 is sewn to the outer surface of the first air chamber 11 in the secondary chamber 1 for fixation, and the lower end is sewn to the outer surface above the center line of the main chamber 2 for fixation. The secondary chamber 1 and the main chamber 2 reach the optimal working position through the limiting effect of the outer pull strap 8.

[0039] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, this invention provides an inflation method for a vehicle roof airbag device. This method uses a gas generator within the secondary chamber 1 to inflate the vehicle roof airbag. The method can detect a vehicle collision and activate the gas generator, causing the secondary chamber 1 and the main chamber 2 to expand and reach a set working position, forming a stable three-support point structure with the vehicle's interior. To ensure the stability and prevent shaking of the main chamber 2 during inflation, two channels are used to inflate the main chamber 2. Specifically, the upper channel is located above the center line of the main chamber 2, while the lower channel is located below the center line of the main chamber 2. The airbag is inflated through the channels, allowing the gas to be evenly distributed within the main chamber 2, effectively preventing any shaking or instability that may occur during inflation. This design ensures that the airbag expands stably during inflation and that the secondary chamber 1 is tightly fitted against the vehicle's roof, providing more reliable protection. Simultaneously, the well-arranged channels ensure that the airbag fully deploys after inflation, covering a large area of ​​the vehicle's roof and maximizing the safety of vehicle occupants. This inflation method, through the combination of a gas generator and two channels, ensures the stability of the airbag during inflation and accelerates the inflation speed.

[0040] Furthermore, under the inventive spirit of this invention, a specific embodiment of the roof airbag device and inflation method for vehicles of this invention can also be modified based on the above embodiments. For example, the secondary cavity 1 includes a first air cavity 11 and two or more supporting cavities 12, each supporting cavity 12 being connected to the main cavity 2 by a channel structure; the channel is replaced with a breathable and waterproof air valve; and the other components and the connection methods between the components are the same as those described in the previous embodiments of this invention, and will not be repeated here due to space limitations; however, it should be understood that these components and the connection methods between the components can all be introduced into this modified embodiment as equivalent embodiments.

[0041] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A roof airbag device for a vehicle, characterized by: It comprises: an air bag, a connecting mechanism and a gas generator; the air bag is composed of a main cavity (2) and a secondary cavity (1); the main cavity (2) is located on the passenger side, and the secondary cavity (1) is located on the windshield side; the main cavity (2) and the secondary cavity (1) form a stable triangular support structure with the support points in the vehicle interior; the main cavity (2) is provided with at least two connecting mechanisms connected with the secondary cavity (1); the connecting mechanism located at the uppermost side is the first connecting mechanism, which is located above the center line of the main cavity; at least one of the remaining connecting mechanisms is located below the center line of the main cavity, and the center line of the main cavity is the vertical bisector of the line connecting the uppermost end contact point and the lowermost end contact point of the main cavity (2) and the secondary cavity (1).

2. The roof airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized by: There are at least one support point between the upper part of the secondary cavity (1) and the windshield, and at least one support point between the lower part of the secondary cavity (1) and the instrument panel; there are at least one support point between the main cavity (2) and the instrument panel; the three support points form a stable triangular support structure.

3. The roof airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 2, characterized by: The display screen (4) is arranged at the position of the instrument panel, and there is at least one support point between the main cavity (2) and the display screen (4).

4. The roof airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized by: The main cavity (2) is further provided with a protruding pad on both sides; the protruding pad limits the movement of the head of the occupant to both sides in the air bag during offset collision.

5. The roof airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized by: The main cavity (2) is provided with an inner pull belt (7), one end of which is connected with the inner side of the main cavity facing the occupant, and the other end is connected with the inner side of the main cavity facing the instrument panel; the inner pull belt (7) is a non-elastic pull belt.

6. The roof airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized by: The secondary cavity (1) is divided into multiple air cavities, and the air cavity located at the uppermost side is the first air cavity (11); channels are arranged between the air cavities for connection, and the connection mode is direct connection or staggered connection; the first air cavity (11) is connected with the main cavity (2) through the first connecting mechanism.

7. The roof airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that: The first connecting mechanism is a channel; except the first air cavity (11), any one of the other air cavities of the multiple air cavities is connected with the main cavity (2) through at least one connecting mechanism; the connecting mechanism is a channel.

8. The roof airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that: The first connecting mechanism can be replaced by an outer pull belt (8); the upper end of the outer pull belt (8) is fixed at the first air cavity (11), and the lower end is fixed above the center line of the main cavity (2); the outer pull belt (8) is a non-elastic pull belt.

9. The roof airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that: The connection mode of the inner pull belt (7) and the main cavity (2) is sewing or clamping groove fixing.

10. The roof airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that: The connection mode of the outer pull belt (8) and the first air cavity (11) and the main cavity (2) is sewing or clamping groove fixing.

11. The roof airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gas generator is installed inside the secondary cavity (1) and located at the upper end of the secondary cavity (1).

12. The inflating method of a roof airbag device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by: It comprises the following steps: S1: detecting the impact of the vehicle in which the air bag device for the roof of the vehicle is located; S2: if the impact of the vehicle is detected, start the gas generator to make the secondary cavity (1) expand; S3: the airflow in the secondary cavity (1) expands to the main cavity (2) through the first connecting mechanism and / or the remaining connecting mechanisms; S4: after the secondary cavity (1) and the main cavity (2) expand, they contact with the interior of the vehicle to form three support points and further form a stable triangular support structure.

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