Passenger-side airbag device for a vehicle

• US 5,597,176 A
• Filed: 07/10/1995
• Issued: 01/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kansei Company
• Original Assignee: Kansei Company
• Inventors: Kikuchi, Hirohiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Application Number:
  US08/500,440
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.1, 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 280/731, 280/732, 280/743.1, 24/711.1, 24/907, 24/72.7, 24/588, 24/698.1
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2171 specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4691 Penetrating portion includes relatively movable structure for resisting extraction

Abstract

A passenger-side airbag device includes a container divided into a bag storage area and an inflator storage area. The perimeter of the inflator storage area is smaller than the perimeter of the bag storage area to create a shelf in the container to support an uninflated airbag. A rim around an opening of the airbag is attached to the container using a plurality of resiliently deformable resin clips. A shaft connecting the container to a pocket in the airbag rim is optionally added for greater support when the airbag is inflated.

Claims

1. An airbag device for a vehicle, comprising in combination with an airbag:

a container;

an inflator storage area in said container;

an inflator in said inflator storage area;

a bag storage area in said container, said airbag being stored in said bag storage area;

a perimeter of said inflator storage area being smaller than a perimeter of said bag storage area, thereby creating a shelf for said airbag to rest upon when uninflated;

means for connecting said inflator to said container;

said airbag having an opening;

a rim around said airbag opening;

a plurality of resiliently deformable resin clips, said resin clips being attached to said rim;

a corresponding plurality of slots in a wall of said bag storage area, said resin clips being inserted into said slots for securing said airbag rim to the bag storage area wall;

said resin clips deforming from an original shape thereof during insertion of said resin clips into said slots and resuming their original shape after completion of insertion into said slots;

a pocket in a lengthwise side of said rim;

a bag support piece transversely connected to said container in an upper portion of said inflator storage area; and

said bag support piece having a hole therein, thereby permitting a shaft to be inserted through said pocket and said hole.

2. An airbag device according to claim 1, wherein each resin clip includes:

an attachment portion having a first end attachable to said rim;

an initial insertion piece attached to a second end of said attachment portion;

said initial insertion piece forming an obtuse angle with a first side of said attachment portion;

a hook attached to said initial insertion piece and to said second end of said attachment portion;

said hook forming an acute angle with a second side of said attachment portion;

said initial insertion piece deformably passing into a wall slot before said hook when attaching said airbag to said wall; and

said initial insertion piece and said hook resiliently resuming an original shape after deformably passing into said slot.

3. An airbag device for a vehicle, comprising in combination with an airbag:

a container;

an inflator storage area in said container;

an inflator in said inflator storage area;

a bag storage area in said container, said airbag being stored in said bag storage area;

a perimeter of said inflator storage area being smaller than a perimeter of said bag storage area, thereby creating a shelf for said airbag to rest upon when uninflated;

means for connecting said inflator to said container;

said airbag having an opening;

a rim around said airbag opening;

a plurality of resiliently deformable resin clips, said resin clips being attached to said rim;

a corresponding plurality of slots in a wall of said bag storage area, said resin clips being inserted into said slots for securing said airbag rim to the bag storage area wall;

said resin clips deforming from an original shape thereof during insertion of said resin clips into said slots and resuming their original shape after completion of insertion into said slots;

at least one resin clip being enveloped by a cloth at said rim of said airbag; and

said at least one resin clip being fitted into its corresponding slot while enveloped by said cloth.

4. A resin clip for attaching an airbag to a wall of an airbag device, said clip comprising:

an attachment portion having a first end attachable to a rim of said airbag;

an initial insertion piece attached to a second end of said attachment portion;

a hook attached to said initial insertion piece and to said second end of said attachment portion;

said initial insertion piece deformably passing into a slot before said hook when attaching said airbag to said wall;

said initial insertion piece and said hook resiliently resuming an original shape after deformably passing into said slot;

said resin clip being enveloped by a cloth; and

said resin clip being fitted into said slot while enveloped.