Passenger-side airbag apparatus

• US 20030094794A1
• Filed: 10/28/2002
• Published: 05/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Amamori, Ichiro
• Granted Patent: US 6,971,664 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/729
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• 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

Abstract

An airbag has the first bag expanding from an upper portion of an instrument panel toward a passenger, and the second bag disposed at a front part of the first bag. The first and second bags are respectively formed of two panels. The first bag has a length smaller than that of the second bag in the lateral width direction. When the second bag expands, the second bag abuts against a windshield or a ceiling of a passenger compartment, and contacts the upper body of the passenger for supporting.

Claims

1. A passenger-side airbag apparatus for protecting a passenger in a vehicle, comprising:

an inflator for generating gas adapted to be attached to an upper portion of an instrument panel,

a first bag connected to the inflator for receiving the gas from the inflator to expand; and

a second bag connected to the first bag for receiving the gas through the first bag to expand, and having a maximum lateral width greater than that of the first bag, said second bag being located at a front side of the first bag and having a size to abut against one of a windshield and an inside ceiling of the vehicle when the first and second bags fully expand so that the second bag receives an upper body of the passenger when the first and second bags fully expand.

2. A passenger-side airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first bag has upper and lower sides, a first opening formed in the lower portion at a rear side thereof and connected to the inflator, and a second opening formed in the upper portion at the front side opposite to the rear side, said second bag being connected to the front side of the first bag.

3. A passenger-side airbag apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second bag has a lower portion connected to the front side of the first bag so that the second bag extends upwardly from the front side of the first bag when the first and second bags expand.

4. A passenger-side airbag apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second bag has middle and lower portions, said middle portion being connected to the front side of the first bag so that the lower portion of the second bag extend upwardly immediately above legs of the passenger when the first and second bags expand.

5. A passenger-side airbag apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each said first and second bags is formed of two panels.

6. A passenger-side airbag apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first bag is connected to the second bag through a plurality of openings.