Airbag system

• US 5,547,215 A
• Filed: 04/03/1995
• Issued: 08/20/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Taguchi, Masahiro, Yoshida, Masatada, Katoh, Kazutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US08/415,508
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/732, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/732
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid

Abstract

An airbag of an airbag system is formed by sewing an edge of at least one piece of cloth two-dimensionally like a balloon. An airbag installation hole which introduces gas from an inflator into the airbag is off set from a center position of the airbag in back and forth direction of a vehicle to be away from a vehicular occupant. The airbag system is installed in an interior component of a vehicle so that the airbag inflates upwards rather than horizontally. When the airbag is inflated completely, the airbag projects towards the vehicular occupant because the airbag installation hole is formed in the off-centered position. Therefore, it is possible to fill a gap efficiency in front of the vehicular occupant with the inflated airbag and protect the vehicular occupant sufficiently.

Claims

1. An airbag system installed in a vehicle, comprising:

an inflator which generates gas when the vehicle crashes;

an airbag inflatable by the gas from the inflator, the airbag having an installation hole through which the gas flows into the airbag;

a retainer, attached to the inflator and the airbag, which secures the inflator and the airbag to the vehicle; and

a plate, fixed to the retainer, which allows the gas introduced through the installation hole of the airbag to be discharged into the airbag only in a crosswise direction of the vehicle.

2. An airbag system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the airbag is formed by sewing an edge of at least one piece of cloth two-dimensionally so that the airbag turns into a bag shape when the airbag is inflated, and the installation hole of the airbag is offset from a center position of the airbag along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle to be away from the vehicle occupant.

3. An airbag system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the airbag is formed by folding one cloth then sewing the edge of the cloth together into a bag shape.

4. An airbag system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the one cloth is folded symmetrically along a folding line.

5. An airbag system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the airbag system has a strap of which one end is secured to a position near the airbag installation hole on an inner surface of the airbag and the other end is secured to a position located symmetrically, when said airbag is inflated, to the airbag installation hole with the airbag center position.

6. An airbag system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the airbag system is installed in an upper part of a dashboard facing a passenger seat of the vehicle.

7. An airbag system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the inflator is positioned in parallel to a surface of the dashboard.

8. An airbag system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the inflator is positioned at right angle to a surface of the dashboard.

9. An airbag system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the airbag is composed of first and second cloths and formed by sewing an edge of first cloth to an edge of second cloth into a bag shape.

11. An airbag system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the airbag inflates along an inclined surface of a windshield in front of the passenger seat in the early stage of an inflation thereof.

10. An airbag system as claimed in 2, wherein the airbag system is installed in an interior component of the vehicle so that the airbag inflates upwards rather than horizontally.