Air bag structure for an automotive vehicle

• US 5,085,465 A
• Filed: 09/07/1990
• Issued: 02/04/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Hieahim, Isao
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRAYSAY, TAMARA L
• Application Number:
  US07/578,656
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 280/732, 280/738, 280/743, 280/728, 280/727
• US Class Current: 280/738
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/30 with means to draw ambient air into the flow line and mix such air with the inflation fluid

Abstract

An air bag structure for an automotive vehicle is mounted on an instrument panel in front of a passenger seated on a front seat of the vehicle. The air bag structure includes a casing enclosing an inflator and air bag. The casing is formed with a plurality of aspiration holes, through which air is introduced into the air bag when the air bag is inflated by an ignition of inflator. A cover member surrounds and covers the casing. The cover member is spaced from the casing by a predetermined distance, so that an air passage is formed between the cover member and the casing.

Claims

1. An air bag structure for an automotive vehicle which is mounted on an instrument panel in front of a passenger seated on a front seat of the vehicle, comprising:

an inflator for generating gas,

an air bag for receiving the gas generated by the inflator,

a casing for enclosing the inflator and the air bag, said casing including a plurality of aspiration holes formed therein through which air is introduced into the air bag when the air bag is inflated by ignition of said inflator, and

a cover member for surrounding and covering the casing, said cover member being spaced from the casing so that air is introduced into the air bag, through the aspiration holes, from an air passage between the cover member and the casing.

2. An air bag structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cover member and the casing are sealed, and said air passage is formed between the cover member and the casing so that the air passage can be used as an air-conditioner duct.

3. An air bag structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the casing is accommodated in the cover member.

4. An air bag structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said cover member is spaced from the casing by a predetermined gap.

5. An air bag structure in accordance with claim 4, wherein said predetermined gap is greater than 20 millimeters.

6. An air bag structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area of the air passage between the cover member and the casing is around 5000 square millimeters.

7. An air bag structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the air passage between the cover member and the casing is determined so that the air bag is completely expanded within 50 milliseconds after ignition of the inflator.

8. An air bag structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the casing is connected with a shaft for supporting a steering shaft.

9. An air bag structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the casing has an open end on which a lid member is hingedly supported, the lid opening when the air bag inflates.

10. An air bag structure for an automotive vehicle which is mounted on an instrument panel in front of a passenger seated on a front seat of the vehicle, comprising:

an inflator for generating gas,

an air bag for receiving the gas generated by the inflator,

a casing for enclosing the inflator and the air bag, said casing including a plurality of aspiration holes formed therein through which air is introduced into the air bag when the air bag is inflated by ignition of said inflator, and

a cover member for surrounding and covering the casing and forming an air passage between the cover member and the casing, said air passage being communicated to outside of the vehicle.