Airbag apparatus and airbag folding method

• US 20060108777A1
• Filed: 09/08/2005
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Sato, Eiji, Kanto, Takanori, Naruse, Motoaki, Mabuchi, Satoshi, Kashio, Atsushi
• Granted Patent: US 7,396,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.200
• 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 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

An airbag apparatus according to the present invention includes a gas generator and an airbag. The airbag includes a panel sheet and a recess defined inwardly with respect to the airbag. The airbag is formed in a bag-like shape by folding the panel sheet in two and sewing the circumference of the panel sheet. The panel sheet has a first folding line and an inward folding portion including a line extending from the first folding line and arranged in a circumferential portion of the panel sheet. The inward folding portion includes a second folding line by which the inward folding portion is defined, a third folding line extending along the line extending from the first folding line, and an insertion opening through which the gas generator is inserted into the airbag. The recess is provided by folding the inward folding portion along the second folding line inwardly with respect to the airbag, re-folding the airbag in two along the third folding line, and sewing the circumference of the inward folding portion together with the circumference of the panel sheet.

Claims

1. An airbag apparatus comprising a gas generator for generating gas and an airbag which is unfolded and inflated by the gas when the gas generator is operated, the airbag including an insertion opening through which the gas generator is inserted into the airbag, and the gas generator including a portion projecting from the airbag to the exterior through the insertion opening, with the insertion opening being sealed by said portion.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the airbag includes a panel sheet and a recess defined inwardly with respect to the airbag, the airbag being formed by folding the panel sheet in two and sewing the circumference of the panel sheet,

wherein the panel sheet has a first folding line for folding the panel sheet in two and an inward folding portion including a line extending from the first folding line and arranged in a circumferential portion of the panel sheet,

wherein the inward folding portion has a second folding line by which the inward folding portion is defined and a third folding line that extends along the line extending from the first folding line,

wherein the recess is provided by folding the inward folding portion along the second folding line inwardly with respect to the airbag, folding the inward folding portion in two along the third folding line, and sewing the circumference of the inward folding portion together with the circumference of the panel sheet, and

wherein the insertion opening is arranged in and sealed by the inward folding portion.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the gas generator includes an inflator for supplying the gas into the airbag and a retainer secured to the airbag for securing the inflator to the airbag, and

wherein the retainer includes a fixing portion for fixing the inflator and is secured to the airbag with the fixing portion projecting from the airbag to the exterior through the insertion opening.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the retainer is shaped like a cylinder, and wherein the interior of the airbag communicates with the exterior through the retainer.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the insertion opening extends in a direction intersecting the third folding line or a direction in which the third folding line extends.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the inward folding portion includes:

a projection projecting from an end of the panel sheet to the exterior of the panel sheet; and

an inner portion arranged inwardly with respect to the panel sheet as compared to the end of the panel sheet.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the projection is formed in a triangular shape, and wherein the inward folding portion is folded in such a manner that the circumference of the projection overlaps the circumference of the panel sheet.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is used by being fixed to an accommodating portion provided in a passenger compartment of a vehicle,

wherein the gas generator includes an inflator for generating the gas and a retainer fixed to the accommodating portion for receiving the inflator,

wherein the airbag has an insertion opening defined in a proximal end of the airbag through which the retainer is passed and a contact point between the circumference of an opening end of the insertion opening and one of the retainer and the inflator, and

wherein the retainer and inflator are arranged in the proximal end of the airbag with a portion of one of the retainer and inflator projecting from the airbag to the exterior through the insertion opening, and wherein the insertion opening is sealed by folding the air bag along a folding line starting from the contact point and re-folding the airbag from the distal end of the airbag to the proximal end.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the retainer includes a fixing portion for fixing the inflator arranged at a position outwardly from the insertion opening with respect to the airbag, the retainer being formed of metal and received in the airbag with an opening of the retainer located outwardly from the insertion opening with respect to the airbag, and

wherein the inflator is fixed to the retainer by swaging the fixing portion.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an accommodating container in which the airbag and the retainer are accommodated in a folded state, wherein the insertion opening is located in the accommodating container when the airbag is unfolded and inflated.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the passenger compartment includes a seat for a passenger and the vehicle includes a side,

wherein when a passenger is seated on the seat, a gap is formed between the passenger and the side of the vehicle, and

wherein the airbag is a side airbag that unfolds and inflates in such a manner as to extend into the gap between the side of the vehicle and the passenger.

12. A method of folding an airbag for an airbag apparatus including an inflator for generating gas that unfolds and inflates the airbag and a retainer for receiving the inflator, the airbag apparatus being fixed to an accommodating portion provided in a vehicle passenger compartment through the retainer, the method comprising:

preparing the airbag in a flattened form and providing an insertion opening through which the retainer is passed;

setting at least one contact point by passing the retainer through the insertion opening of the airbag in such a manner that a portion of the retainer projects from the insertion opening and that the retainer is held in contact with an opening end of the insertion opening;

setting at least one folding line starting from the contact point and folding the airbag along the folding line; and

folding the airbag in a folded state from a distal end of the airbag toward the retainer.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising inserting the inflator into the retainer prior to said preparing the airbag.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the opening end of the insertion opening has a curved portion, and wherein the contact point is set on the curved portion.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the inflator is a cylinder type and has an axis, and wherein the folding line is defined linearly and extends perpendicularly to the axis of the inflator.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the airbag has an upper section corresponding to an upper portion of the passenger compartment,

wherein the insertion opening is defined in the upper section of the airbag, and

wherein said setting at least one folding line includes folding the upper section of the airbag over a lower part of the airbag.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the airbag includes a lower section corresponding to a lower portion of the passenger compartment,

wherein the insertion opening is defined in the lower section of the airbag, and

wherein said setting at least one folding line includes folding the lower section of the airbag over an upper part of the airbag.

18. The method according to claim 12, wherein said folding the airbag in a folded state includes folding the airbag in a pleated manner from a distal end of the airbag to a proximal end.