AIRBAG, AIRBAG DEVICE AND AIRBAG EXHAUSTING METHOD

• US 20100201107A1
• Filed: 05/09/2008
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Miyata, Yasuhito, Kumagai, Masayoshi, Abe, Kazuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,322,748 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23384 having ends which are movable or detachable during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

[Object] To provide an airbag, an airbag apparatus, and an air-discharging method of the airbag which are able to reduce the pressure loss during inflation and deployment of the airbag, or is able to demonstrate the impact absorbing capability of the airbag apparatus efficiently depending on the physical structure of an occupant.

[Solving Means] The airbag apparatus of the present invention includes a gas generator 1 configured to generate gas under predetermined conditions, an airbag 2 connected to the gas generator 1 and configured to be inflated and deployed, and a retainer 3 configured to store the airbag 2, and the airbag 2 includes a protrusion 4 which forms a portion protruding outward partly on the airbag 2, a vent hole 5 formed on the protrusion 4, a strap 6 connected at one end to the protrusion 4 and at the other end to the interior of the airbag 2, and an insertion hole 7 configured to guide the other end of the strap 6 into the interior of the airbag 2, and the vent hole 5 is arranged in an area where the protrusion 4 and the airbag 2 are overlapped with each other when the protrusion 4 is pulled by the strap 6.

Claims

1. An airbag configured to be inflated and deployed by being supplied with gas into the interior thereof comprising:

a vent hole formed on the airbag; and

a strap connected at one end to the airbag and at the other end to a component or a mounting component of the airbag,

wherein the vent hole is arranged in an area where the surface of the airbag is overlapped with each other when the airbag is pulled by the strap.

2. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the vent hole is opened by the deformation of the airbag.

3. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein a protrusion which forms a portion protruding outward is provided on part of the airbag, the vent hole is formed on the protrusion or the airbag, the one end of the strap is connected to the protrusion, the vent hole is arranged in an area where the protrusion and the airbag are overlapped with each other when the protrusion is pulled by the strap.

4. The airbag according to claim 3, wherein the vent hole is opened by standing upright of the protrusion.

5. The airbag according to claim 4, wherein the internal pressure of the protrusion is increased and the protrusion stands upright by the gas flowing from the airbag into the protrusion.

6. The airbag according to claim 3, wherein the protrusion includes a first panel formed with the vent hole and a second panel continuously connected to the first panel, and the first panel and the second panel are seamed to a mounting hole formed on the airbag.

7. The airbag according to claim 3, wherein the airbag includes a front panel arranged on the side of an occupant and a rear panel arranged on the side of a vehicle structure, and the protrusion is formed by seaming protruding portion formed on outer peripheral portions of the front panel and the rear panel.

8. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the airbag is formed with an insertion hole for guiding the other end of the strap into the interior of the airbag.

9. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the airbag is formed with a loop for guiding the other end of the strap.

10. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the airbag includes a left airbag section to be inflated and deployed on the left side of an occupant, and a right airbag section to be inflated and deployed on the right side of the occupant, and the left airbag section and the right airbag section are respectively formed with the vent hole.

11. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the airbag includes a second vent hole formed at a position other than the area.

12. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the component is any one of an outer panel which forms the airbag, a tether arranged in the airbag, and an inner panel arranged in the airbag.

13. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the mounting component is any one of a retainer configured to store the airbag, a back plate coupled to the retainer, and a cover coupled to the retainer.

14. An airbag apparatus comprising a gas generator configured to generate gas under specific conditions;

an airbag connected to the gas generator to be inflated and deployed; and

a retainer configured to store the airbag, wherein the airbag is the airbag according to claim 1.

15. The airbag apparatus according to claim 14, comprising:

a strap holding device configured to be able to keep the strap at a certain length and to be able to disengage the strap; and

a control device configured to emit a release signal for disengaging the strap to the strap holding device.

16. The airbag apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the control device emits the release signal when the gas generator is activated when an occupant comes into contact with the airbag or when the weight of the occupant is lighter than a predetermined reference value.

17. The airbag apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the control device does not emit the release signal when the airbag includes the second vent hole, and the weight of an occupant is heavier than a predetermined reference value.

18. The airbag apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the control device emits the release signal substantially at the same time when the gas generator includes a first gas generator and a second gas generator and only the first gas generator is activated.

19. The airbag apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the control device does not emit the release signal when the airbag includes the second vent hole, the gas generator includes a first gas generator and a second gas generator, and both the first gas generator and the second gas generator are activated.

20. The airbag apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the strap holding device includes a cap which is engageable with an engaging hole formed on the strap, a holder which can fix the cap, a releasing device connected to the holder and being capable of releasing the fixation of the cap, and a connector receiving a release signal which activates the releasing device from the control device.

21. The airbag apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the releasing device includes the gas generator.

22. An air-discharging method of an airbag configured to be supplied with gas in the interior thereof and inflated and deployed comprising:

forming a vent hole on the airbag;

closing the vent hole on the surface of the airbag by deforming the airbag; and

discharging the gas in the airbag by opening the vent hole by deforming the airbag.

23. An air-discharging method of an airbag configured to be supplied with gas in the interior thereof and inflated and deployed comprising:

forming a protrusion protruding outward on part of the airbag;

forming a vent hole on the protrusion or the airbag;

closing the vent hole by pressing the protrusion against the surface of the airbag;

opening the vent hole by bringing the protrusion away from the surface of the airbag; and

discharging the gas in the airbag.