Airbag device

• US 20060028009A1
• Filed: 08/25/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hasebe, Masahiro, Narimoto, Yukitoshi, Sakata, Yoshiaki
• Application Number:
  US11/210,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20060028009A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/743.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0044 Chest
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0048 Head
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23504 characterised by material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration

Abstract

An airbag device includes a first region and a second region. The first region is configured to have a higher energy absorption than the second region. The airbag further includes left and right portions. The left portion is separated from the right portion. The airbag is capable of absorbing the kinetic energy of different occupants of various sizes and shapes.

Claims

1. An airbag device comprising:

an airbag including a first region and a second region; and

wherein the first region is configured to absorb more energy from an occupant than the second region.

2. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the airbag includes a left portion and a right portion, the left portion is separated from the right portion in an upper half of the left and right portions.

3. The airbag device of claim 2, wherein the separated upper half of the left and right portion is configured to absorb more energy from an occupant than a lower half of the left and right portion.

4. The airbag device of claim 2, wherein the airbag is configured to absorb the energy of a 95^th percentile male at a first area in the upper half of the left and right portion.

5. The airbag device of claim 2, wherein the airbag is configured to absorb the energy of a 50^th percentile male at a second area in the upper half of the left and right portion.

6. The airbag device of claim 2, wherein the airbag is configured to absorb the energy of a 5^th percentile female at a third area in the upper half of the left and right portion.

7. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the airbag includes a left portion and a right portion, the left portion is separated from the right portion in a lower half of the left and right portions.

8. The airbag device of claim 7, wherein the separated lower half of the left and right portion is configured to absorb more energy from an occupant than an upper half of the left and right portion.

9. The airbag device of claim 7, wherein the airbag is configured to protect an occupant when the occupant is in an out of position location in a collision.

10. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the airbag includes a left portion and a right portion, the airbag includes a separation between the left and right portions along the length of the airbag in a vertical direction on a side proximate an occupant.

11. The airbag device of claim 10, wherein an area proximate the separation of the left and right portions is configured to absorb more energy from an occupant than an area of the airbag distant from the separation.

12. The airbag device of claim 10, wherein the airbag is configured to absorb the energy of a 95^th percentile male at a first area in the upper half of the separation.

13. The airbag device of claim 10, wherein the airbag is configured to absorb the energy of a 50^th percentile male at a second area in the upper half of the separation.

14. The airbag device of claim 10, wherein the airbag is configured to absorb the energy of a 5^th percentile female at a third area in the upper half of the separation.

15. An occupant protection device comprising:

an airbag;

an electronic control unit configured to transmit a signal to inflate the airbag;

wherein the electronic control unit receives input from a seat weight sensor for weighing a seat for a vehicle including the weight of a passenger on the seat and a pre-crash sensor; and

wherein the airbag includes a first region and a second region, the first region is configured absorb more energy from an occupant than the second region.

16. The occupant protection device of claim 15, wherein the airbag includes a left portion and a right portion, the left portion is separated from the right portion in an upper half of the left and right portions.

17. The occupant protection device of claim 16, wherein the separated upper half of the left and right portion is configured to absorb more energy from an occupant than a lower half of the left and right portion.

18. The occupant protection device of claim 16, wherein the airbag is configured to absorb the energy of a 95^th percentile male at a first area in the upper half of the left and right portion.

19. The occupant protection device of claim 16, wherein the airbag is configured to absorb the energy of a 50^th percentile male at a second area in the upper half of the left and right portion.

20. The occupant protection device of claim 16, wherein the airbag is configured to absorb the energy of a 5^th percentile female at a third area in the upper half of the left and right portion.

21. The occupant protection device of claim 15, wherein the airbag includes a left portion and a right portion, the left portion is separated from the right portion in a lower half of the left and right portions.

22. The occupant protection device of claim 21, wherein the separated lower half of the left and right portion is configured to absorb more energy from an occupant than an upper half of the left and right portion.

23. The occupant protection device of claim 21, wherein the airbag is configured to protect an occupant when the occupant is in an out of position location in a collision.

24. The occupant protection device of claim 15, wherein the airbag includes a left portion and a right portion, the airbag includes a separation between the left and right portions along the length of the airbag in a vertical direction on a side proximate an occupant.

25. The occupant protection device of claim 24, wherein an area proximate the separation of the left and right portions is configured to absorb more energy from an occupant than an area of the airbag distant from the separation.

26. The occupant protection device of claim 24, wherein the airbag is configured to absorb the energy of a 95^th percentile male at a first area in the upper half of the separation.

27. The occupant protection device of claim 24, wherein the airbag is configured to absorb the energy of a 50^th percentile male at a second area in the upper half of the separation.

28. The occupant protection device of claim 24, wherein the airbag is configured to absorb the energy of a 5^th percentile female at a third area in the upper half of the separation.

29. An airbag device for protecting a vehicle occupant comprising:

an airbag including a plurality of regions, and

wherein each region is configured to inflate into a position where contact with a part of an occupant is expected and wherein the capability of each region to absorb the energy of the occupant corresponds to the size and/or weight of the expected part of the occupant.

30. The airbag device of claim 29, wherein the airbag includes a left portion and a right portion, the left portion is separated from the right portion in an upper half of the left and right portions.

31. The airbag device of claim 30, wherein the separated upper half of the left and right portion is configured to absorb more energy from an occupant than a lower half of the left and right portion.

32. The airbag device of claim 29, wherein the airbag includes a left portion and a right portion, the left portion is separated from the right portion in a lower half of the left and right portions.

33. The airbag device of claim 32, wherein the separated lower half of the left and right portion is configured to absorb more energy from an occupant than an upper half of the left and right portion.

34. The airbag device of claim 29, wherein the airbag includes a left portion and a right portion, the airbag includes a separation between the left and right portions along the length of the airbag in a vertical direction on a side proximate an occupant.

35. The airbag device of claim 34, wherein an area proximate the separation of the left and right portions is configured to absorb more energy from an occupant than an area of the airbag distant from the separation.