Airbag device and method for inflating the same

• US 20040041375A1
• Filed: 08/29/2003
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Okamoto, Yutaka, Kikuchi, Yuji
• Granted Patent: US 7,036,843 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/729
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2165 characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening
• 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 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• 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: B60R 21/36 using airbags

Abstract

The present invention provides an airbag device for, upon collision of a vehicle carrying the airbag device with an obstacle, mitigating the impact of collision of the obstacle with an inflated airbag. The airbag device includes a bag housing case and a cover. A main airbag and a cover opening bag are housed in deflated, folded states within the bag housing case. First, the cover opening bag inflates by the inflow of gas, opening the cover. Gas also flows into the main airbag through the cover opening bag, thereby inflating the main airbag. If an obstacle collides with the inflated main airbag, a bag pressure release mechanism provided at the bottom of the bag housing case opens the main airbag, releasing gas within the main airbag and mitigating the impact on the obstacle.

Claims

1. An airbag device comprising:

a bag housing case;

a first airbag housed in a deflated, folded state within the bag housing case, for opening a cover of the bag housing case by an inflating force of the first airbag when inflating;

a second airbag housed in a deflated, folded state within the bag housing case, for mitigating an impact on an obstacle by inflation after the cover is opened; and

a bag pressure release mechanism for opening the inflated second airbag when an internal pressure of the second airbag reaches a predetermined pressure so as to release gas within the second airbag to the outside.

2. An airbag device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bag pressure release mechanism faces into the second airbag.

3. A method for inflating an airbag device, comprising the steps of:

inflating with gas a first airbag housed in a deflated, folded state within a bag housing case;

opening a cover of the bag housing case with an inflating force of the first airbag;

guiding gas within the first airbag into a second airbag housed in a deflated, folded state within the bag housing case;

inflating the second airbag by inflow of the gas;

opening a bag pressure release mechanism when an internal pressure of the inflated second airbag reaches a predetermined pressure; and

discharging gas within the second airbag to the outside through the open bag pressure release mechanism.