Inflatable type occupant restraint device for automobile or the like

• US 3,945,665 A
• Filed: 10/24/1973
• Issued: 03/23/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Hanai, Kiyoshi, Tsutsumi, Masanobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Application Number:
  US05/409,083
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 280/150 AB, 280/87 R
• US Class Current: 280/731
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21525 the lid being fixed on the bag, or forming part of the bag wall, or the bag itself being used as wall liner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2032 the inflator or inflatable member not being rotatable with the steering wheel; Arrangements using the steering column or steering wheel rim for storing, supplying or evacuating the inflation gas or for storing the inflatable member
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23 Inflatable members B60R21/18 takes precedence; connection to inflation fluid source retainers B60R21/217

Abstract

An inflatable type occupant restraint device for an automobile or the like, comprising a gas bag box secured to the central part of a steering wheel, a gas bag folded up within the gas bag box, and a wheel pad sewn on the outside surface of the gas bag. The wheel pad is detachably and fittingly engaged with the gas bag box. The lower part of the gas bag communicates with a gas passage leading to a gas injection unit. In case of the collision of the automobile or the like, the gas bag is inflated without causing the wheel pad to fly off.

Claims

1. An inflatable type occupant restraint device for an automobile or the like comprising:

a gas bag box secured at the central part of a steering wheel and having an opening part on a seat side,

a gas bag accommmodated in said gas bag box in a manner to be folded up,

a wheel pad firmly secured onto the outer peripheral surface of said gas bag,

said wheel pad being detachably fitted to the peripheral edge of the seat-side opening part of said gas bag box by engaging means,

the lower part of said gas bag communicating with gas injection ports joining to a gas passage, and

an inner box disposed inside the gas bag box, said inner box comprising a flange which is opened on the seat side and whose peripheral edge part extends outwardly.

2. An inflatable type occupant restraint device for an automobile or the like comprising:

a gas bag box secured at the central part of a steering wheel and having an opening part on a seat side,

a gas bag accommodated in said gas bag box in a manner to be folded up,

a wheel pad firmly secured onto the outer peripheral surface of said gas bag,

said wheel pad being detachably fitted to the peripheral edge of the seat-side opening part of said gas bag box by engaging means,

the lower end part of said gas bag communicating with gas injection ports joining to a gas passage,

said gas bag having its lower peripheral edge arranged on the bottom of an inner box, and

a ring-shaped retainer arranged on said lower peripheral edge and said bottom of said inner box is secured by a plurality of bolts and nuts so that said gas box is mounted on said bottom of said inner box in airtight condition.

3. An inflatable type occupant restraint device for an automobile or the like comprising:

a gas bag box secured at the central part of a steering wheel and having an opening part on a seat side,

a gas bag accommodated in said gas bag box in a manner to be folded up,

a wheel pad firmly secured onto the outer peripheral surface of said gas bag, said wheel pad being fixed to a side part of said gas bag,

said wheel pad being detachably fitted to the peripheral edge of the seat-side opening part of said gas bag box by engaging means,

the lower end part of said gas bag communicating with gas injection ports joining to a gas passage, and

said wheel pad comprises a frame formed of a soft synthetic resin material, a foamed urethane filled up into a hollow part inside said frame, and a shape keeping plate which is a ring-shaped thin sheet buried in the interior of said foamed urethane and made of a synthetic resin.

4. An inflatable type occupant restraint device for an automobile or the like comprising:

a gas bag box secured at the central part of a steering wheel and having an opening part on a seat side,

a gas bag accommodated in said gas box in a manner to be folded up,

a wheel pad firmly secured onto the outer peripheral surface of said gas bag,

said wheel pad being detachably fitted to the peripheral edge of the seat-side opening part of said gas bag box by engaging means, said engaging means comprising a groove portion substantially L-shaped in cross section and an engaging piece substantially L-shaped in cross section, said groove portion being at the clearance part between the whole peripheral edge portion of the seat-side opening part of said gas bag box and a flange portion of an inner box, said engaging piece being formed into a ring shape at the peripheral edge part of said wheel pad and towards the center thereof and being fitted into said groove portion, and

the lower end part of said gas bag communicating with gas injection ports joining to a gas passage.

5. An inflatable type occupant restraint device for an automobile or the like comprising:

a gas bag box secured at the central part of a steering wheel and having an opening part on a seat side,

a gas bag accommodated in said gas bag box in a manner to be folded up,

a wheel pad firmly secured onto the outer peripheral surface of said gas bag,

said wheel pad being detachably fitted to the peripheral edge of the seat-side opening part of said gas bag box by engaging means,

the lower end part of said gas bag communicating with gas injection ports joining to a gas passage,

said gas bag having its lower peripheral edge arranged on the bottom of an inner box, and

a ring-shaped retainer arranged on said lower peripheral edge and said bottom of said inner box and secured by securing means so that said gas box is mounted on said inner box in airtight condition.