Airbag-Releasing Structure, Inner Case, And Airbag Device
First Claim
1. An airbag device comprising:
- a vehicle panel of a vehicle having an opening therein;
a cover panel connected to the vehicle and sized to fit in the opening for extending in general alignment with the vehicle panel;
a frangible portion of the cover panel;
an airbag retainer assembly including an airbag for being deployed in a predetermined deployment direction toward the cover panel and breaking the frangible portion thereof during airbag inflation out through the vehicle panel opening;
an inner reinforcement panel of the airbag retainer assembly connected to and extending along an underside of the cover panel for reinforcing the cover panel;
a generally U-shaped hinge portion of the inner reinforcement panel for pivoting of the inner reinforcement panel thereabout during airbag inflation; and
a straight section of the hinge portion extending in the predetermined deployment direction.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag-releasing structure capable of smoothly releasing an airbag in the vehicle, an inner case, and an airbag device are provided. In one form, the inner case of the present invention includes the inner panels connected to the inside of the outer panel, and the side walls defining the space for housing the retainer. Each inner panel includes the supporting portion connected to the fixing portion of the outer panel, the flap portion welded to the door portion, and the hinge portion formed between the supporting portion and the flap portion. The hinge portion has the apex section, the connecting section adjacent to the supporting portion, which connects the supporting portion and the apex section, and the connecting section adjacent to the flap portion, which connects the flap portion and the apex section. The connecting section adjacent to the supporting portion and the connecting section adjacent to the flap portion each have a straight section extending in the direction in which the airbag is released.
17 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An airbag device comprising:
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a vehicle panel of a vehicle having an opening therein; a cover panel connected to the vehicle and sized to fit in the opening for extending in general alignment with the vehicle panel; a frangible portion of the cover panel; an airbag retainer assembly including an airbag for being deployed in a predetermined deployment direction toward the cover panel and breaking the frangible portion thereof during airbag inflation out through the vehicle panel opening; an inner reinforcement panel of the airbag retainer assembly connected to and extending along an underside of the cover panel for reinforcing the cover panel; a generally U-shaped hinge portion of the inner reinforcement panel for pivoting of the inner reinforcement panel thereabout during airbag inflation; and a straight section of the hinge portion extending in the predetermined deployment direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An airbag retainer assembly for being connected to a vehicle component, the airbag retainer assembly comprising:
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an inner case; an upper, inner panel of the inner case for being connected to the vehicle component; a side wall of the inner case extending downward from the inner panel; an airbag retainer supported by the side wall; an airbag in the airbag retainer for being deployed in a predetermined deployment direction toward the inner panel; a hinge portion of the inner case extending downwardly from the upper, inner panel adjacent the side wall; a straight section of the hinge portion extending in the predetermined deployment direction; and a slanted section of the hinge portion extending obliquely to the predetermined deployment direction and between the straight section and the upper, inner panel. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A vehicle having a front window and an occupant protection device for protecting an occupant in a vehicle compartment, the vehicle comprising:
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an instrument panel in the vehicle compartment and having an opening therein; an outer panel sized to cover the opening and having a generally central frangible portion thereof; a pair of door portions of the outer panel on either side of the central frangible portion so that one of the door portions is closer to the front window and the other door portion is closer to the occupant; an airbag retainer assembly of the occupant protection device below the outer panel and having an airbag for being deployed in a predetermined deployment direction toward the cover panel; a pair of inner panels of the airbag retainer assembly with one of the inner panels having a flap portion connected to and extending along the one door portion and the other inner panel having a flap portion connected to and extending along the other door portion; a pair of hinge portions of the inner panels extending downwardly from the adjacent flap portions with the hinge portions having different configurations from each other; and a straight section of only one of the hinge portions with the straight section extending in the predetermined deployment direction. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification