Side impact air bag system

• US 5,927,750 A
• Filed: 04/07/1997
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Nakamura, Junichi, Nagayama, Noritaka, Shimoda, Mikiharu, Ookochi, Tsutomu, Hatta, Setuko, Hatta, Tosiyasu
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US08/833,449
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 280/729, 280/730.2
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23146 seat mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2342 Tear seams

Abstract

In a side impact air bag system, the blowing direction of gas is regulated by connecting a bag to an inflator through a gas intake portion which suppresses the diffusion of the gas. The bag is formed of a main body, a lower inflation unit, and an upper inflation unit having a vent hole. The upper inflation unit and the lower inflation unit are contained with the main body in a shape of bellows when installed. When the bag is inflated by a gas blown out from the inflator, the bag is inflated from a portion of the main body opposing an abdomen portion having a higher shock load resistance than that of a chest portion, thereby improving the restraining condition of a passenger by regulating the inflating condition of the bag into a desired condition. Consequently, a possibility of the bag being obstructed by vehicle structural members in the process of the bag inflated from inner sides of the upper inflation unit and the lower inflation unit is eliminated, thereby positively inflating the bag.

Claims

1. A side impact air bag system having a bag inflated between a side of a vehicle and a passenger by a gas blown out from a gas generating device, said bag comprising:

a first portion facing an abdomen portion of said passenger when inflated;

a second portion facing a chest portion of said passenger when inflated; and

an inflation portion folded within said first portion prior to the inflation of the bag, and deployed in a downward direction when said bag is inflated,

wherein said second portion is folded within said first portion prior to the inflation of the bag, and deployed from said first portion when said bag is inflated.

2. A side impact air bag system of claim 1, wherein said first portion is sequentially folded toward said gas generating device while containing therein said second portion prior to the inflation of the bag.

3. A side impact air bag system of claim 1, wherein said second portion is deployed prior to said second portion.

4. A side impact air bag system of claim 1, wherein said first portion is sequentially folded toward said gas generating device while containing said inflating portion prior to the inflation of the bag.

5. A side impact air bag system of claim 1, wherein said first portion is sequentially folded toward said gas generating device while containing said second portion and said inflating portion prior to the inflation of the bag.

6. A side impact air bag system of claim 5, wherein said second portion is formed above said first portion and said inflation portion is formed below said first portion to protect a waist portion of the passenger.

7. A side impact air bag system of claim 1, wherein an edge of said first portion, when said second portion and said inflating portion are being contained therein, is releasably joined to be separated at a pressure above a predetermined pressure to allow inflation of said second portion and said inflation portion.

8. A side impact air bag system of claim 1, wherein said second portion has at least one vent hole for discharging gas in said second portion.

9. A side impact air bag system of claim 1, wherein said at least one vent hole is inside said first portion when said second portion is folded inside said first portion.

10. A side impact air bag system having a bag inflated between a side of a vehicle and a passenger by a gas blown out from a gas generating device, said bag comprising:

a first portion facing an abdomen portion of said passenger when inflated; and

a second portion facing a chest portion of said passenger when inflated,

wherein said second portion is folded within said first portion prior to the inflation of the bag, and deployed from said first portion when said bag is inflated;

wherein an edge of said first portion, when said second portion is being contained therein, is releasably joined to be separated at a pressure above a predetermined pressure to allow deployment of said second portion.

11. A side impact air bag system of claim 10, wherein said edge of first portion is sewn.

12. A side impact air bag system, comprising:

an inflator attached to a structure of a vehicle adjacent to a passenger, said inflator generating gas when a shock is applied to the vehicle; and

a bag including;

a first portion for protecting an abdomen portion of a passenger, said first portion being connected to said inflator; and

a second portion for protecting a chest portion of the passenger, said second portion being connected to said first portion and folded inside said first portion prior to deployment of the bag,

wherein a joint portion connecting said first portion and said second portion is releasably closed after said second portion is folded inside said first portion.

13. A side impact air bag system of claim 12, wherein said joint portion is released when a pressure inside said first portion exceeds a predetermined value.

14. A side impact air bag system of claim 12, wherein said inflator is attached to a frame of a vehicle seat.

15. A side impact air bag system having a bag inflated between a side of a vehicle and a passenger by a gas blown out from a gas generating device, said bag comprising:

a first portion facing an abdomen portion of said passenger when inflated; and

a second portion facing a waist portion of said passenger when inflated,

wherein said second portion is folded within said first portion prior to the inflation of the bag, and deployed in a downward direction from said first portion when said bag is inflated.

16. A side impact air bag system of claim 15, wherein said second portion has at least one vent hole for discharging gas in said second portion.

17. A side impact air bag system of claim 15, wherein said first portion is deployed prior to said second portion.

18. A side impact air bag system of claim 15, wherein said first portion is sequentially folded toward said gas generating device while containing therein said second portion prior to the inflation of the air bag.

19. A side impact air bag system of claim 15, wherein an edge of said first portion, when said second portion is being contained therein, is releasably joined to be separated at a pressure above a predetermined pressure to allow the deployment of said second portion.