Air bag device

• US 5,899,486 A
• Filed: 03/12/1997
• Issued: 05/04/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Ibe, Shoichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US08/820,388
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

There is provided an air bag device in which a bag body can be inflated smoothly in a predetermined form and reduction in cost can be achieved. The air bag device includes an elongated bag body and a wire passes through the bag body along a longitudinal direction of the bag body. The wire is supported movably by a plurality of mounting hardwares. Each mounting hardware passes through slits, which are formed in the bag body and in a cover with the bag body being accommodated therein, to project outward and is fixed at a predetermined position by a bolt. A widthwise dimension of the mounting hardware is made shorter than a longitudinal dimension of each of the slits. For this reason, when the bag body inflates, the bag body suitably moves along the mounting hardwares and tensile force acting in the longitudinal direction of the bag body due to an internal pressure of the bag body at the time of inflation is thereby made uniform. Accordingly, the bag body can smoothly inflate to expand in accordance with a predetermined expanding progress.

Claims

1. An air bag device comprising:

a bag body having an elongated configuration that defines a longitudinal axis, the bag body disposed on an inner side of a vehicle body, the bag body inflating to be elongated in the longitudinal direction due to pressure of gas blown into the bag body; and

a bag body supporting portion which movably supports said bag body with respect to the vehicle body so that said bag body can be moved relative to the vehicle body in a predetermined range in the longitudinal direction prior to and during inflation of the bag body.

2. An air bag device according to claim 1, wherein said bag body includes first slits formed along a longitudinal direction of said bag body, and said bag body supporting portion includes:

a wire of which both end portions are fixed to the vehicle body and which supports said bag body continuously along the longitudinal direction of said bag body; and

a mounting member passing through the first slits so as to be relatively movable with respect to said bag body along the first slits and holding said wire within said bag body so that said wire is relatively movable, the mounting member being fixed to the vehicle body in such a manner as to project out of said bag body.

3. An air bag device according to claim 2, wherein said bag body includes:

an expanding portion which expands due to pressure of gas; and

a cylindrical portion which is formed continuously from said expanding portion via a sewn-together portion and is opened at both end portions in a longitudinal direction of said bag body.

4. An air bag device according to claim 3, wherein said cylindrical portion includes the first slits.

5. An air bag device according to claim 4, wherein said wire is disposed within said cylindrical portion.

6. An air bag device according to claim 5, further comprising:

a cover which has an elongated configuration and is disposed on an inner side of the vehicle body, the cover being provided to accommodate said expanding portion in a folded state.

7. An air bag device according to claim 6, wherein said cover includes second slits formed along a longitudinal direction of said cover.

8. An air bag device according to claim 7, wherein said mounting member passes through the second slits.

9. An air bag device according to claim 8, wherein each dimension of the first slits and the second slits in the longitudinal direction thereof is made greater than a dimension of said mounting member along the longitudinal direction of the first slits and the second slits.

10. An air bag device according to claim 9, wherein said cover includes a notching portion which allows inflation of said expanding portion when said expanding portion inflates.

11. An air bag device comprising:

a bag body having an elongated configuration and disposed on an inner side of a vehicle body, the bag body inflating to be elongated in a predetermined direction due to pressure of gas blown into the bag body, and said bag body including first slits formed along a longitudinal direction of said bag body; and

a bag body supporting portion which supports said bag body with respect to the vehicle body so that said bag body can be moved in a predetermined range, said bag body supporting portion including a wire of which both end portions are fixed to the vehicle body and which supports said bag body continuously along the longitudinal direction of said bag body and a mounting member passing through the first slits so as to be relatively movable with respect to said bag body along the first slits and holding said wire within said bag body so that said wire is relatively movable, the mounting member being fixed to the vehicle body in such a manner as to project out of said bag body.

12. An air bag device according to claim 11, wherein said bag body includes:

an expanding portion which expands due to pressure of gas; and

a cylindrical portion which is formed continuously from said expanding portion via a sewn-together portion and is opened at both end portions in a longitudinal direction of said bag body.

13. An air bag device according to claim 12, wherein said cylindrical portion includes the first slits.

14. An air bag device according to claim 13, wherein said wire is disposed within said cylindrical portion.

15. An air bag device according to claim 14, further comprising:

a cover which has an elongated configuration and is disposed on an inner side of the vehicle body, the cover being provided to accommodate said expanding portion in a folded state.

16. An air bag device according to claim 15, wherein said cover includes second slits formed along a longitudinal direction of said cover.

17. An air bag device according to claim 16, wherein said mounting member passes through the second slits.

18. An air bag device according to claim 17, wherein each dimension of the first slits and the second slits in the longitudinal direction thereof is made greater than a dimension of said mounting member along the longitudinal direction of the first slits and the second slits.

19. An air bag device according to claim 18, wherein said cover includes a notching portion which allows inflation of said expanding portion when said expanding portion inflates.