Side Airbag Apparatus for a Vehicle

• US 20080203711A1
• Filed: 10/28/2005
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Shimono, Hiroyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,056,923 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23146 seat mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• 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 21/2346 Soft diffusers

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides a side airbag apparatus for a vehicle having a seat with a back rest part and a hinge mechanism. The side airbag includes a separation means defining a front airbag chamber and a rear airbag chamber within the side airbag. A connecting passage connects the front and rear airbag chambers adjacent a lower extremity of the separation means. An attaching portion provided on the rear portion of the rear airbag chamber attaches the side airbag to the backrest part. An inflator proximate said attaching portion injects gas into the rear airbag chamber which flows through the connecting passage into the front airbag chamber.

Claims

1. A side airbag apparatus for a vehicle having a side airbag attached to a side of a backrest part of a vehicle seat at a position above a hinge mechanism which is mounted on a lower part of said backrest, the apparatus comprising;

separation means defining a front airbag chamber and a rear airbag chamber within said side airbag,

a connecting passage connecting said front and rear airbag chambers adjacent a lower extremity of said separation means,

an attaching portion provided on an upper rear portion of said rear airbag chamber and attaching said side airbag to said backrest part, and

an inflator proximate said attaching portion for injecting a gas into said rear airbag chamber which flows through said connecting passage to said front airbag chamber.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said separation means includes a sewn portion that joins at least one portion of side surfaces of said front and rear airbag chambers.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said separation means is a tether which forms at least one portion of a wall that defines said front and rear airbag chambers.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said separation means is an inner bag that defines at least one of said front and rear airbag chambers, said inner bag defining a connecting port that forms said connecting passage.

5. The apparatus according to claims 1 wherein said rear airbag chamber includes a downward leading flow channel that extends toward said connecting passage as a means of applying gas flow pressure created in said rear airbag chamber to inflate a lower portion of said side airbag.

6. The apparatus according to claims 1 wherein said separation means is formed as a multi-angular structure extending both towards said front airbag chamber and downward from a top of said rear airbag chamber to a bottom of said rear airbag chamber as means of directing the gas flow within said rear airbag chamber in a downward direction.

7. The apparatus according to claims 1 wherein said rear airbag chamber has a larger volumetric capacity proximate said attaching portion than proximate said connecting passage.

8. The apparatus according to claims 1 wherein said hinge mechanism is a fold-flat hinge by which said backrest part of said seat is able to fold down over a seat cushion of said seat.