Air bag apparatus for side crash

• US 20020096869A1
• Filed: 01/23/2002
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Takashi, Kai, Takeshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,108,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

An air bag apparatus for side crash, includes an acceleration sensor, an inflater and an air bag. The acceleration sensor detects acceleration in a side direction larger than a predetermined value to generate a detection signal. The inflater generates a gas in response to the detection signal. The air bag is folded initially, and expands with the gas. The air bag includes a main section and a protrusion section which is provided at a tip portion of the main section such that an inner space of the protrusion section is connected with an inner space of the main section. The protrusion section has at least one opening from which the gas is spouted.

Claims

1. An air bag apparatus for side crash, comprising:

an acceleration sensor which detects acceleration in a side direction larger than a predetermined value to generate a detection signal;

an inflater which generates a gas in response to said detection signal; and

an air bag which is folded initially, and expands with said gas, wherein said air bag comprises a main section and a protrusion section which is provided at a tip portion of said main section such that an inner space of said protrusion section is connected with an inner space of said main section, said protrusion section having at least one opening from which said gas is spouted.

2. The air bag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said protrusion section has a pipe shape with openings at opposing ends.

3. The air bag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said protrusion section has said at least one opening in a portion connected with said main section.

4. The air bag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said protrusion section is pushed into the inner space of said main section initially.

5. The air bag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said protrusion section is pushed into the inner space of said main section initially such that said protrusion section is turned inside out.

6. The air bag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said main section comprises first and second side panels, which are sewed in a limb portion such that outer surfaces of said first and second side panels are joined to each other.

7. The air bag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said air bag has at least one partition provided in said inner space of said main section.

8. The air bag apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said at least one partition is formed by sewing a predetermined portion of said first and second side panels.

9. The air bag apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said predetermined portion is a curved line.

10. The air bag apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said predetermined portion is a circle.

11. The air bag apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said predetermined portion is a semicircle.

12. The air bag apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said predetermined portion is provided to determine an expansion direction of said air bag during an expanding process.

14. The air bag apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said air bag comprises first and second side panels, which are sewed in a limb portion such that outer surfaces of said first and second side panels are joined to each other.

15. The air bag apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said at least one partition is formed by sewing a predetermined portion of said first and second side panels.

16. The air bag apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said predetermined portion is a curved line.

17. The air bag apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said predetermined portion is a circle.

18. The air bag apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said predetermined portion is a semicircle.

19. The air bag apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said predetermined portion is provided to determine an expansion direction of said air bag during an expanding process.

13. An air bag apparatus for side crash, comprising:

an acceleration sensor which detects acceleration in a side direction larger than a predetermined value to generate a detection signal;

an inflater which generates a gas in response to said detection signal; and

an air bag which is folded initially, and expands with said gas, wherein said air bag has at least one partition provided in an inner space of said air bag.

20. An air bag used for an air bag apparatus for side crash, comprising:

a main section; and

a protrusion section which is provided at a tip portion of said main section such that an inner space of said protrusion section is connected with an inner space of said main section,

wherein said air bag is folded initially, and expands with a gas from an inflater, and said protrusion section has at least one opening from which said gas is spouted.

21. The air bag according to claim 20, wherein said protrusion section has a pipe shape with openings at opposing ends.

22. The air bag according to claim 20, wherein said protrusion section has said opening in a portion connected with said main section.

23. The air bag according to claim 20, wherein said protrusion section is pushed into the inner space of said main section initially.

24. The air bag according to claim 20, wherein said protrusion section is pushed into the inner space of said main section initially such that said protrusion section is turned inside out.

26. The air bag apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said at least one partition is formed by sewing a predetermined portion of said first and second side panels.

27. The air bag apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said predetermined portion is a curved line.

28. The air bag apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said predetermined portion is a circle.

29. The air bag apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said predetermined portion is a semicircle.

25. An air bag used for an air bag apparatus for side crash, comprising first and second side panels,

wherein said first and second side panels are sewed in a limb portion such that outer surfaces of said first and second side panels are joined to each other, and

wherein said air bag further comprises at least one partition provided in an inner space of said air bag, said air bag which is folded initially, and expands with gas supplied from an inflater.