Airbag apparatus

• US 20070046002A1
• Filed: 07/11/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Bito, Kazuaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,669,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/731
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns

Abstract

An open-looped rim portion which results when an upper part thereof is open is provided on a steering wheel, and airbags of an airbag apparatus are accommodated in a pad portion lying inside of the rim portion. Then, when an impact of a predetermined value or greater is applied to a front end of a vehicle, the individual airbags are deployed by injecting the gas from an inflator. In addition, when an occupant is captured by the first airbag which is so deployed, the second airbag applies a reaction force which is directed to the rear of the vehicle so as to resist a pressure applied to the first airbag by the occupant.

Claims

1. An airbag apparatus comprising:

an airbag to be deployed between a steering wheel and an occupant on a seat by injecting a gas from a gas generator, the steering wheel being formed into an open-loop shape which results when a part of a loop is open in a rim portion disposed around a pad portion at a center of the steering wheel;

wherein a reaction force applier is provided at a location which faces an opening portion of the rim portion for applying a reaction force directed toward a rear of a vehicle to the airbag when the airbag is deployed at the opening portion by injecting the gas from the gas generator.

2. An airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reaction force applier is not projected toward the opening portion of the rim portion when the airbag is not deployed and is made projected toward the opening portion of the rim portion when the airbag is deployed.

3. An airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is accommodated within the pad portion together with the gas generator when the airbag is not deployed, and wherein the gas from the gas generator is injected from the pad portion toward the opening portion of the rim portion when the airbag is deployed.

4. An airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reaction force applier is a reaction force applying airbag which is to be deployed in a form different form the airbag deployed between the steering wheel and the occupant and which is to be deployed independently by branching off a part of the gas injected from the pad portion thereinto.