Airbag apparatus

• US 10,640,073 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2018
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Nukaya, Akihiro, Honda, Kensaku
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Toan C
• Application Number:
  US15/879,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20180222434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 280729, 2807302, 280740, 280741, 280742, 2807431, 2807432
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23146 seat mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23332 using independent bags, one within the other
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/272 with means for increasing the pressure of the gas just before or during liberation, e.g. hybrid inflators

Abstract

An airbag apparatus includes a gas generator, and an airbag. The airbag includes a first fabric inner tube and a second fabric inner tube, both surrounding at least a gas injecting portion of the gas generator to have a double tubular shape. Common portions of the first inner tube and the second inner tube in a tubular circumferential direction are coupled to an airbag main body by a coupling portion extending in a tubular length direction, and other common portions which are separated from the common portions of the first inner tube and the second inner tube by a central angle (a central angle in a state where the airbag is only deployed and not inflated) of 70 to 180 degrees about the gas generator in the tubular circumferential direction are coupled to each other by a coupling portion extending in the tubular length direction.

Claims

1. An airbag apparatus comprising:

a gas generator; and

an airbag,

wherein the airbag includes a second fabric inner tube and a third fabric inner tube, both surrounding at least a gas injecting portion of the gas generator to have a double tubular-shape, the second inner tube and the third inner tube being arranged from inside to outside in this order,

wherein common portions of the second inner tube and the third inner tube in a tubular circumferential direction are coupled to an airbag main body by a body coupling portion extending in a tubular length direction, and

wherein other common portions of the second inner tube and the third inner tube are coupled to each other by a longitudinal coupling portion extending in the tubular length direction, in a state where the airbag is only deployed and not inflated a first imaginary line through the other common portions at the longitudinal coupling portion and a second imaginary line through the common portions of the second inner tube and the third inner tube at the body coupling portion are separated in the tubular circumferential direction by a central angle of 70 to 180 degrees about the gas generator,

wherein a first tubular check valve is formed by one piece of cloth which is integrally continuous from the third inner tube,

wherein a part of the first check valve in the tubular circumferential direction is coupled to the airbag main body.

2. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the third inner tube is formed by one piece of cloth which is integrally continuous with a longitudinal partition portion which partitions an inflation space of the airbag main body into front part and rear part.

3. An airbag apparatus comprising:

a gas generator; and

an airbag,

wherein the airbag includes a second fabric inner tube and a third fabric inner tube, both surrounding at least a gas injecting portion of the gas generator to have a double tubular-shape, the second inner tube and the third inner tube being arranged from inside to outside in this order,

wherein common portions of the second inner tube and the third inner tube in a tubular circumferential direction are coupled to an airbag main body by a body coupling portion extending in a tubular length direction, and

wherein other common portions of the second inner tube and the third inner tube are coupled to each other by a longitudinal coupling portion extending in the tubular length direction, in a state where the airbag is only deployed and not inflated a first imaginary line through the other common portions at the longitudinal coupling portion and a second imaginary line through the common portions of the second inner tube and the third inner tube at the body coupling portion are separated in the tubular circumferential direction by a central angle of 70 to 180 degrees about the gas generator,

wherein a first tubular check valve is formed by one piece of cloth which is integrally continuous from the third inner tube,

wherein a second fabric tubular check valve is provided outside of the first valve to have a double tubular shape.

4. The airbag apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein common portions of the first check valve and the second check valve in the tubular circumferential direction are coupled to the airbag main body.

5. The airbag apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the second check valve is formed by one piece of cloth which is integrally continuous from a lateral partition portion which partitions an inflation space of the airbag main body into an upper part and a lower part.

6. The airbag apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the third inner tube is formed by one piece of cloth which is integrally continuous with a longitudinal partition portion which partitions an inflation space of the airbag main body into front part and rear part.

7. An airbag apparatus comprising:

a gas generator; and

an airbag,

wherein the airbag includes a first fabric inner tube, a second fabric inner tube and a third fabric inner tube, all surrounding at least a gas injecting portion of the gas generator to have a triple tubular-shape, the first inner tube, the second inner tube, and the third inner tube being arranged from inside to outside in this order,

wherein common portions of the first inner tube, the second inner tube and the third inner tube in a tubular circumferential direction are coupled to an airbag main body by a body coupling portion extending in a tubular length direction, and

wherein other common portions of the first inner tube, the second inner tube, and the third inner tube are coupled to each other by a longitudinal coupling portion extending in the tubular length direction, in a state where the airbag is only deployed and not inflated a first imaginary line through the other common portions at the longitudinal coupling portion and a second imaginary line through the common portions of the first inner tube, the second inner tube and the third inner tube at the body coupling portion are separated in the tubular circumferential direction by a central angle of 70 to 180 degrees about the gas generator,

wherein the first inner tube, the second inner tube and the third inner tube are coupled to each other by a tubular circumferential coupling portion extending in the tubular circumferential direction.

8. The airbag apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein the third inner tube is formed by one piece of cloth which is integrally continuous with a longitudinal partition portion which partitions an inflation space of the airbag main body into front part and rear part.

9. The airbag apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein a first tubular check valve is formed by one piece of cloth which is integrally continuous from the third inner tube.

10. The airbag apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein a part of the first check valve in the tubular circumferential direction is coupled to the airbag main body.

11. The airbag apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein a second fabric tubular check valve is provided outside of the first check valve to have a double tubular shape.

12. The airbag apparatus according to claim 11,

wherein common portions of the first check valve and the second check valve in the tubular circumferential direction are coupled to the airbag main body.

13. The airbag apparatus according to claim 11,

wherein the second check valve is formed by one piece of cloth which is integrally continuous from a lateral partition portion which partitions an inflation space of the airbag main body into an upper part and a lower part.

14. The airbag apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein the first inner tube is shorter than the second inner tube.

15. The airbag apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein the first inner tube is formed by one piece of cloth folded into a plurality of layers.

16. The airbag apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein the airbag is a side airbag which is deployed and inflated at a side of an occupant seated on a vehicle seat to which the airbag apparatus is attached.