Airbag apparatus

• US 20070138769A1
• Filed: 12/08/2006
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kokeguchi, Akira, Nakazawa, Wataru, Miwa, Kazuya
• Granted Patent: US 7,597,343 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together

Abstract

An airbag apparatus includes an airbag, an airbag housing portion for housing the airbag in a folded-back condition, an airbag cover for covering the airbag opening, a gas-supplying portion for supplying gas to the airbag, an airbag-holding member formed of a film sheet, and a thin thickness portion formed in the film sheet of the airbag-holding member. The airbag-holding member holds a folded-back shape of the airbag while wrapping around an external surface of the airbag in the folded-back condition. The airbag-holding member is ruptured at the thin thickness portion by the gas supplied from the gas supplying portion when a motor vehicle accident occurs.

Claims

1. An airbag apparatus mounted on a vehicle comprising:

an airbag;

an airbag housing portion for housing the airbag in a folded-back condition folded back in a predetermined configuration, and including an airbag opening for allowing the airbag to be developed and expanded therefrom;

an airbag cover for covering the airbag opening;

a gas-supplying portion for supplying gas to the airbag for developing and expanding the airbag in a developing and expanding area when a motor vehicle accident occurs;

an airbag-holding member formed of a film sheet comprising a plurality of resin layers stacked together, said airbag-holding member having a bag-shape for wrapping around an entire external surface of the airbag in the folded-back condition; and

a thin thickness portion formed at a predetermined portion of the film sheet, and having a thickness less than the other portion of the film sheet,

wherein the airbag-holding member is constructed to hold a folded-back shape of the airbag while wrapping around an external surface of the airbag in the folded-back condition housed in the airbag housing portion in a partitioned area between the airbag housing portion and the airbag cover, and to be ruptured at the thin thickness portion by receiving developing and expanding force of the airbag from the gas supplied from the gas supplying portion when a vehicle accident occurs, while releasing the hold of the folded-back shape of the airbag.

2. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the airbag-holding member is configured such that force required when the airbag-holding member is ruptured at the thin thickness portion is smaller than force for holding the folded-back shape of the airbag in the folded-back condition.

3. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thin thickness portion is positioned at an airbag opening side of the airbag-holding member when the airbag in the folded-back condition is housed in the airbag housing portion.

4. The airbag apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the thin thickness portion positioned at the airbag opening side of the airbag-holding member is provided with a predetermined color.

5. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the film sheet includes at least one of a resin layer having translucency, a resin layer having high strength, and a resin layer having an environmental deterioration resistance.

6. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the airbag has a reduced volume in the folded-back condition by compression thereof.

7. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the airbag holding member comprises a lower film sheet and an upper film sheet between which the airbag folded in a predetermined shape is completely held.

8. The airbag apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the airbag holding member has a center portion for receiving the folded airbag, and an edge portion surrounding the center portion, said center portion being separated and sealed from the edge portion.