Air bag device

• US 5,865,466 A
• Filed: 06/23/1997
• Issued: 02/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Mori, Kenji, Sakamoto, Masanari, Yamamoto, Tadashi, Masuya, Chisato
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Application Number:
  US08/880,541
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.1, 280/743.1, 280/743.2, 280/731
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

The air bag device comprises a folded air bag which can be expanded by gas. The air bag is wrapped with a breakable band during folding. Thus, amount, rate and direction of expansion of the air bag can be regulated and controlled during the initial stages of deployment.

Claims

1. An air bag device comprising:

a pad;

an air bag holder;

an air bag located between said pad and said air bag holder;

said air bag being folded in a first folded position and having a breakable band wrapped around a central portion of the folded air bag in said first folded position, wherein at least a portion of said air bag is further folded in an orthogonal direction over said breakable band to form a second folded position.

2. The air bag device according to claim 1, wherein said breakable band is fixed to said bag holder.

3. The air bag device according to claim 1, wherein said breakable band includes a slit to direct breaking.

4. The air bag device according to claim 1, wherein said air bag includes a gas inflow hole and said breakable band has a width that is at least as great as the diameter of said gas inflow hole.

5. The air bag device of claim 1, wherein said breakable band has a length, wherein said length allows a partial outward movement during a deployment of said airbag before said band breaks.

6. The air bag device of claim 1, wherein said breakable band has a weakened portion so that said band can be broken at the weakened portion.

7. An air bag device comprising:

a pad;

an air bag holder;

an air bag located between said pad and said air bag holder;

said air bag being folded orthogonally at a first pair of opposite lateral edges of said air bag to define a first folded position;

a breakable band wrapped around a central portion of said air bag in said first folded position;

said air bag orthogonally folded over at least a portion of said breakable band by a second pair of opposite lateral edges of said air bag to define a second folded position.

8. The air bag device of claim 7, wherein said breakable band has a length, wherein said length allows a partial outward movement of said airbag during a deployment of said air bag before said band breaks.

9. The air bag device of claim 7, wherein said breakable band restricts a rate of speed of expansion and an initial direction of air bag movement when said air bag is deployed.

10. The air bag device of claim 7, wherein upon deployment of said air bag, said breakable band causes the deployment to occur in at least three stages, wherein said first stage comprises expansion of said bag, said second stage comprises breaking of said band, and said third stage comprises further expansion of said bag.

11. The air bag device of claim 7, wherein in said second folded position of said air bag, said breakable band is embedded in said folded air bag.

12. An air bag and breakable band assembly comprising:

an air bag; and

a breakable band, wherein said air bag is folded in a first folded position and wherein said breakable band is wrapped around a central portion of the folded air bag in said first folded position, and wherein at least a portion of said air bag is further folded in an orthogonal direction over said breakable band to form a second folded position.

13. The air bag and breakable band assembly of claim 12, wherein said breakable band has a length, wherein said length allows a partial outward movement of said airbag during a deployment of said air bag before said band breaks.