Air bag system

• US 20040207186A1
• Filed: 03/11/2004
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kai, Takeshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,152,875 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/731
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

A restricting member 39 disposed along an outer surface of an air bag 32 restricts an axial inflation of the air bag 32 in an earlier stage of deployment of the air bag 32, and in a later stage of deployment, the restricting member 39 allows for the inflation of the air bag 32 to its maximum capacity through breakage of brittle portions 41b. In the deployment process of the air bag 32, since vent holes 37b formed in a base fabric 37 of the air bag 32 are closed by the restricting member 39, the leakage of gas from the vent holes 37b is prevented to thereby enable a quick deployment of the air bag 32. Then, when the brittle portions 41b on the restricting member 39 break, the vent holes 37b are opened.

Claims

1. An air bag system comprising:

a retainer,

a folded air bag supported on the retainer,

an inflator supported on the retainer, the air bag being inflated to be deployed into a passenger compartment of a vehicle by a gas produced by the inflator at the time of collision, and

a restricting member including a restricting fabric disposed along an outer surface of the air bag, and

a brittle portion on the restricting member, wherein,

an end portion of the restricting member is coupled to the retainer, so that in an earlier stage of deployment of the air bag, an axial inflation of the air bag is restricted by the restricting member, and in a later stage of deployment of the air bag, the brittle portion is broken by a tension so as to allow the air bag to inflate to its maximum capacity, and

the restricting member closes a vent hole formed in the air bag until the brittle portion on the restricting member is broken, and the vent hole is opened when the brittle portion is broken.

2. The air bag system as set forth in the claim 1, wherein

the restricting member includes four restricting fabrics which extend radially at intervals of 90°

.

3. The air bag system as set forth in the claim 1, wherein

the restricting member includes three restricting fabrics which extend radially at intervals of 120°

.

4. The air bag system as set forth in the claim 1, wherein

the brittle portion is provided at any position on the restricting fabric.

5. The air bag system as set forth in the claim 1, wherein

the brittle portion is made partially narrow.

6. The air bag system as set forth in the claim 1, wherein

the brittle portion is made partially thin.

7. The air bag system as set forth in the claim 1, wherein

the brittle portion is made of fabric.

8. The air bag system as set forth in the claim 1, wherein

the brittle portion is made of paper.