Airbag apparatus

• US 20030234525A1
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Igawa, Tadahiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,090,243 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2171 specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2346 Soft diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/36 using airbags

Abstract

To provide an airbag apparatus in which gas from a gas generator can be prevented from directly colliding with an airbag thereof, thereby easing the requirements of heat resistance on the airbag via a gas generator that is inserted through an aperture of an airbag and is fixed to the periphery of the aperture by a band around them. A retaining member is fitted around the gas generator and is fixed to a casing by bolts. Both sides and a lower side of a portion of the gas generator where gas ports are formed are surrounded by side walls and a bottom of the retaining member as a gas-flow deflecting member. Gas spewed through gas ports are prevented from directly colliding with parts of the airbag near the gas ports.

Claims

1. An airbag apparatus comprising:

an airbag of flexible material;

a gas generator having gas outlet ports disposed in the airbag closely adjacent to the material thereof; and

a gas flow deflecting member mounted between the gas outlet ports and the adjacent airbag material to direct high temperature gas flowing out from the ports in a direction away from the adjacent airbag material and in which direction the airbag is inflated.

2. The airbag apparatus of claim 1 including a casing for the airbag, and

a retaining member that mounts the generator to the casing and which is integrally formed with the gas flow deflecting member.

3. The airbag apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gas generator has a cylindrical configuration with the gas ports spaced circumferentially about one end thereof, and the gas flow deflecting member extends circumferentially about approximately one half of the generator end including the gas ports so that gas flow from the ports disposed on the other half of the generator end does not impinge against the deflecting member.

4. The airbag apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gas flow deflecting member has a predetermined rigid configuration that opens in the direction away from the adjacent airbag material.

5. The airbag apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gas flow deflecting member comprises cloth material wrapped about the gas outlet ports with the cloth material unwrapping upon actuation of the gas generator to direct gas flow away from the adjacent airbag material.

6. The airbag apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gas generator comprises a plurality of aligned generators and the gas flow deflecting member comprises a plurality of deflecting members each associated with one of the generators and configured so that gas flows from the generators into the airbag in directions that are generally parallel to each other.