Air-bag device

• US 6,042,147 A
• Filed: 05/20/1998
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nihon Plast Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nihon Plast Company Limited
• Inventors: Kaneko, Kazuhiro, Suzuki, Michitaka, Nishijima, Kazuyoshi, Sugiyama, Toshiyuki, Endo, Tetsuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fischer, Andrew J.
• Application Number:
  US09/068,873
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.1, 280/728.2, 280/729, 280/736, 280/740, 280/743.1, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/08 automatically movable from an inoperative to an operative position, e.g. in a collision electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid

Abstract

A retainer (15) adapted to fix an air bag (14) to a base plate (11) includes an expanded portion (15b) for covering an inflator (12). An angled portion (15d) of the expanded portion (15b) is provided with radially arranged gas through holes (15f). The center portion of an upper fabric material (14a) of the air bag (14) is affixed to the center of a top plate portion (15e) of the expanded portion (15b) by means of a rivet (41), thereby limiting the distance by which the air bag (14) projects toward the occupant.

Claims

1. An air bag device comprising:

an attachment structure including an attachment base;

an opening in said attachment base;

an inflator for ejecting gas;

an extending part of said inflator extending through said opening;

a retainer mounted on said attachment base and fastened thereto;

a pouch shaped air bag;

a lower part of said air bag having an attachment portion thereon;

said attachment portion including a gas inlet opening;

said lower part of said air bag being disposed intermediate said attachment base and said retainer;

said gas inlet opening positioned for passage of said extending part of said inflator extending into an inside space of said air bag whereby gas ejected therefrom expands said air bag;

means for fastening an attachment portion of an upper part of said air bag against said retainer, whereby, upon inflation of said air bag, an upper inflated section and a lower inflated section meet at said means;

an expanded upper part on a top portion of said retainer; and

a fastener passing through said upper portion and secured to a top of said retainer expanded upper part.

2. An air bag device in accordance with claim 1 in which the fastener is a screw fastener.

3. An air bag device in accordance with claim 1 in which the retainer expanded upper part includes gas openings.

4. An air bag device in accordance with claim 3 in which the retainer expanded upper part gas openings are arrayed in the said upper part as a circle of openings.