Automotive Airbag Device

• US 20070257475A1
• Filed: 11/29/2004
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nogami, Mitsuo, Higano, Makoto, Fukuda, Masataka, Shimizu, Taro, Yoshida, Yuichiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,597,348 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2617 Curtain bag nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10

Abstract

An airbag is formed from fabric layers joined at a seam, and gas generator inflates the airbag by means of gas expelled from the gas generator'"'"'s insertion end which has been inserted into the airbag. A gas guide is formed in the airbag in order to direct gas from the gas generator into the airbag and includes a pouch-shaped gas guide member in which are formed gas injection nozzles and an attachment orifice. The insertion end of the gas generator is inserted into the attachment orifice with the gas injection nozzles facing an interior of the airbag. A convex-shaped seam is included where the fabric layers are joined, and is disposed in opposition to the gas guide member. The gas guide member comes into contact with the convex-shaped seam as a result of the pressure of the flow of gas from the gas generator through the gas guide member.

Claims

1. An automotive airbag device comprising:

a side impact airbag having an interior formed by joining mutually facing fabric layers,

a gas generator used to inflate said airbag by injecting gas therein, said gas generator having an insertion end which is inserted into and disposed within a gas guide of the airbag configured to direct the flow of gas from said gas generator into said airbag,

the gas guide including a gas guide member having an attachment orifice into which said insertion end of said gas generator is inserted, and also including gas injection nozzles facing the interior of said airbag, and

a convex seam formed by a mutually joined part of said fabric layers, said convex seam disposed in opposition to said gas guide member, wherein

said gas flowing into said airbag from said gas generator, when said airbag is being inflated, causes said gas guide member to come into contact with said convex seam.

2. The automotive airbag device according to claim 1, wherein said gas guide member includes a gas discharge tube which includes said gas injection nozzles, and said gas discharge tube comes into contact with said convex seam in response to the inflation of said airbag so as to change the direction of gas flow into said airbag from said gas generator through said gas guide member.

3. The automotive airbag device according to claim 1, wherein at least one gas injection nozzle of said gas guide member is formed over each side of a protrusion of said convex seam.

4. The automotive airbag device according to claim 3, wherein said convex seam is approximately triangular in shape and said protrusion thereof is disposed facing said gas guide member in close proximity.

5. The automotive airbag device according to claim 4, wherein a region of said gas discharge tube between said gas discharge nozzles comes into contact with and straddles two inclined sides of said protrusion of said convex seam during the time that said airbag is being inflated.

6. The automotive airbag device according to claim 2, wherein the width of said convex seam facing said gas guide member is from 80 to 120% the width of said gas discharge tube of said gas guide member.

7. The automotive airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the clearance between said gas guide member and said convex seam is less than 20 mm.

8. The automotive airbag device according to claim 1, wherein said gas guide member is made from an expandable material.

9. The automotive airbag device according to claim 8, wherein the flow of gas through said gas guide member causes said member to elongate, in a direction toward said convex seam, a distance at least 5 mm greater than a clearance therebetween.