DRIVER SEAT AIRBAG SYSTEM

• US 20140375035A1
• Filed: 06/25/2014
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Fukawatase, Osamu, Taguchi, Hiroyuki
• Granted Patent: US 9,321,421 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/731
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0009 Oblique collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0023 Offset collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2346 Soft diffusers

Abstract

A driver seat airbag system includes: an airbag that is housed in a pad section of a steering wheel, receives a supply of gas for inflation during a collision of a vehicle, and is inflated and deployed between the steering wheel and an occupant in a driver seat; and an inflator that generates the gas. The airbag includes an auxiliary inflated section that is inflated to a front of the vehicle in conjunction with inflation and deployment of the airbag, so as to enter a space between a rim and a spoke of the steering wheel.

Claims

1. A driver seat airbag system comprising:

an airbag that is housed in a pad section of a steering wheel, receives a supply of gas for inflation during a collision of a vehicle, and is inflated and deployed between the steering wheel and an occupant in a driver seat; and

an inflator that generates the gas, wherein

the airbag includes an auxiliary inflated section that is inflated to a front of the vehicle in conjunction with inflation and deployment of the airbag, so as to enter a space between a rim and a spoke of the steering wheel.

2. The driver seat airbag system according to claim 1, wherein

the plural auxiliary inflated sections are provided in a circumferential direction of the steering wheel.

3. The driver seat airbag system according to claim 2, wherein

the plural auxiliary inflated sections are provided to fill all spaces between the rim and the spoke of the steering wheel.

4. The driver seat airbag system according to claim 1, wherein

the auxiliary inflated section is inflated to the outside in a radial direction of the rim in a front side of the vehicle.

5. The driver seat airbag system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a lid that is provided in the pad section and is deployed during the inflation and deployment of the airbag, wherein

a hinge section of the lid is provided in a peripheral wall in a front side of the vehicle from a rear surface of the pad section.

6. The driver seat airbag system according to claim 1, wherein

of base cloths that constitute the airbag, an opening is formed in a base cloth that is located in a front side of the vehicle, and

the auxiliary inflated section is a sub bag that is communicated with the airbag through the opening.

7. The driver seat airbag system according to claim 1, wherein

of base cloths that constitute the airbag, a base cloth that is located in a front side of the vehicle is formed with openings in slit shapes,

the auxiliary inflated section are communicated with the airbag through the openings, respectively, and

the auxiliary inflated section are formed in a bag shape to be opened in one direction by sewing a pair of base cloths in substantially semicircular shapes.

8. The driver seat airbag system according to claim 1, wherein

the inflator is provided with a rectifying cloth,

the rectifying cloth controls a supply direction of the gas to the auxiliary inflated sections,

the rectifying cloth is formed by sewing a base cloth in a cylindrical body, and has openings that are respectively opened to the auxiliary inflated sections.