On-vehicle airbag apparatus

• US 20030222439A1
• Filed: 03/21/2003
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Iijima, Satoshi, Akiyama, Hideki, Yamamoto, Takenori
• Granted Patent: US 7,083,187 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0088 Cycles, e.g. motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/16 Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags protective garments with automatically inflatable shock-absorbing means A41D13/018; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/276 with means to vent the inflation fluid source, e.g. in case of overpressure B60R21/30 takes precedence; venting means on inflatable member walls B60R21/239
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 27/20 Airbags specially adapted for motorcycles or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2202/00 Motorised scooters

Abstract

An on-vehicle airbag apparatus includes an airbag housing having a weakened portion, which is breakable. An airbag is stored in a folded state in the airbag housing so that the weakened portion is broken upon inflation. An inflator for generating gas for inflating the airbag is provided. The speed of response of air discharge from the airbag is sufficiently enhanced. A shutter that can open and close the air discharge port is mounted on a case. The case is formed of rigid material, is hermetically connected to an opening of the airbag and is provided with the air discharge port. A shutter-driving inflator for driving a shutter from the closed position to the opened position when in operation is connected to the shutter.

Claims

1. An on-vehicle airbag apparatus comprising:

an airbag housing having a weakened portion, said weakened portion being breakable;

an airbag stored in a folded state in said airbag housing so that said weakened portion is broken upon inflation;

an inflator for generating gas for inflating the airbag;

a case formed of rigid material hermetically connected to an opening of said airbag and provided with an air discharge port;

a shutter mounted on said case so as to be capable of moving between a closed position in which said air discharge port is closed and an opened position in which said air discharge port is opened; and

a shutter-driving inflator connected to said shutter so as to hold said shutter in the closed position when it is not in use and drive said shutter instantaneously from the closed position to the opened position upon actuation.

2. The on-vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising;

a pressure sensor, said pressure sensor detecting the pressure in said airbag; and

a control unit, said control unit controlling operation of the shutter-driving inflator.

3. The on-vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said control unit actuates said shutter-driving inflator to drive said shutter upon initiation of a lowering of a pressure value detected by the pressure sensor after the pressure has initially increased.

4. The on-vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said shutter-driving inflator includes a rod mounted for movement thereon, said rod being attached to said shutter and movable upon actuation of said shutter-driving inflator to move said shutter from said closed position to said opened position.

5. The on-vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said shutter-driving inflator includes a rod mounted for movement thereon, said rod being attached to said shutter and movable upon actuation of said shutter-driving inflator to move said shutter from said closed position to said opened position.

6. The on-vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said shutter is slidable by said shutter-driving inflator from said closed position to said opened position.

7. The on-vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said shutter is slidable by said shutter-driving inflator from said closed position to said opened position.

8. The on-vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said weakened portion is formed between a lid and a body of said airbag housing, said lid including a hinged portion connecting said lid to said body of said airbag housing.

9. The on-vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said weakened portion is formed between a lid and a body of said airbag housing, said lid including a hinged portion connecting said lid to said body of said airbag housing.

10. An air discharge mechanism for an on-vehicle airbag apparatus, the on-vehicle airbag apparatus including an airbag housing having a weakened portion, which is breakable, an airbag stored in a folded state in the airbag housing so that the weakened portion is broken upon inflation, and an inflator for generating gas for inflating the airbag, said air discharge mechanism comprising:

a case formed of rigid material hermetically connectable to an opening of the airbag and provided with an air discharge port;

a shutter mounted on said case so as to be capable of moving between a closed position in which said air discharge port is closed and an opened position in which said air discharge port is opened; and

a shutter-driving inflator connected to said shutter so as to hold said shutter in the closed position when it is not in use and drive said shutter instantaneously from the closed position to the opened position upon actuation.

11. The air discharge mechanism for an on-vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising;

a pressure sensor, said pressure sensor being capable of detecting the pressure in the airbag; and

a control unit, said control unit controlling operation of the shutter-driving inflator.

12. The air discharge mechanism for an on-vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said control unit actuates said shutter-driving inflator to drive said shutter upon initiation of a lowering of a pressure value detected by the pressure sensor after the pressure has initially increased.

13. The air discharge mechanism for an on-vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said shutter-driving inflator includes a rod mounted for movement thereon, said rod being attached to said shutter and movable upon actuation of said shutter-driving inflator to move said shutter from said closed position to said opened position.

14. The air discharge mechanism for an on-vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said shutter-driving inflator includes a rod mounted for movement thereon, said rod being attached to said shutter and movable upon actuation of said shutter-driving inflator to move said shutter from said closed position to said opened position.

15. The air discharge mechanism for an on-vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said shutter is slidable by said shutter-driving inflator from said closed position to said opened position.

16. The air discharge mechanism for an on-vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said shutter is slidable by said shutter-driving inflator from said closed position to said opened position.

17. A vehicle comprising:

a frame;

a seat, said seat being mounted on said frame; and

and airbag apparatus, said airbag apparatus being mounted below said seat and comprising;

an airbag housing having a weakened portion, said weakened portion being breakable;

an airbag stored in a folded state in said airbag housing so that said weakened portion is broken upon inflation;

an inflator for generating gas for inflating the airbag;

a case formed of rigid material hermetically connected to an opening of said airbag and provided with an air discharge port;

a shutter mounted on said case so as to be capable of moving between a closed position in which said air discharge port is closed and an opened position in which said air discharge port is opened; and

a shutter-driving inflator connected to said shutter so as to hold said shutter in the closed position when it is not in use and drive said shutter instantaneously from the closed position to the opened position upon actuation.

18. The vehicle according to claim 17, further comprising;

a pressure sensor, said pressure sensor detecting the pressure in said airbag; and

a control unit, said control unit controlling operation of the shutter-driving inflator.

19. The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein said control unit actuates said shutter-driving inflator to drive said shutter upon initiation of a lowering of a pressure value detected by the pressure sensor after the pressure has initially increased.

20. The vehicle according to claim 17, wherein said shutter-driving inflator includes a rod mounted for movement thereon, said rod being attached to said shutter and movable upon actuation of said shutter-driving inflator to move said shutter from said closed position to said opened position.

21. The vehicle according to claim 17, wherein said shutter is slidable by said shutter-driving inflator from said closed position to said opened position.

22. The vehicle according to claim 17, wherein said weakened portion is formed between a lid and a body of said airbag housing, said lid including a hinged portion connecting said lid to said body of said airbag housing.