Airbag device with inner and outer bags

• US 6,213,496 B1
• Filed: 03/11/1999
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kitagishi, Norihiko, Nakano, Yoshiyuki, Minami, Yoshihiko, Ato, Tadayuki, Kusaka, Shuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US09/266,629
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 280/729, 280/728.1, 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/748, 280/749, 280/739
• US Class Current: 280/729
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23115 with inflatable support compartments creating an internal suction volume
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/276 with means to vent the inflation fluid source, e.g. in case of overpressure B60R21/30 takes precedence; venting means on inflatable member walls B60R21/239

Abstract

An airbag device is formed of a retainer having a center opening, an air bag, and at least one inflater fixed to the retainer. The air bag includes an outer bag having an outer bag opening, and an inner bag arranged inside the outer bag and having an inner bag opening. The peripheries of the outer and inner bag openings are directly or indirectly fixed to the retainer so that the inner bag communicates with an outside through the outer bag opening and the center opening. The inflater has a main body containing a gas generating agent therein and faces a space between the outer and inner bags to directly supply gas to the space when the inflater is actuated. When the gas is supplied to the space between the outer and inner bags, air is inspired into the inner bag through the center opening.

Claims

1. An airbag device comprising:

a retainer having a center opening,

an airbag including an outer bag having an outer bag opening with a periphery, and an inner bag arranged inside the outer bag and having an inner bag opening with a periphery, said peripheries of the outer and inner bag openings being directly or indirectly fixed to the retainer so that the inner bag communicates with an outside of the airbag through the center opening of the retainer, and

at least one inflator directly fixed centrally on the retainer and having a main body containing a gas generating agent therein, said main body facing a space between the outer and inner bags to directly supply to the space gas when the at least one inflator is actuated so that air is inspired inside the inner bag through the inner bag opening and the center opening.

2. An airbag device comprising:

a retainer having a center opening,

an airbag including an outer bag having an outer bag opening with a periphery, and an inner bag arranged inside the outer baa and having an inner bag opening with a periphery, said peripheries of the outer and inner bag openings being directly or indirectly fixed to the retainer so that the inner bag communicates with an outside of the airbag through the center opening of the retainer, and

at least one inflator directly fixed to the retainer adjacent the center opening and having an annular shape with an air vent hole in a middle thereof and a main body containing a gas generating agent therein, said main body facing a space between the outer and inner bags to directly supply to the space gas when the at least one inflator is actuated so that air is inspired inside the inner bag through the inner bag opening and the center opening.

3. An airbag device according to claim 2, wherein said at least one inflator or has an outer flange extending outwardly from the main body and fixed to the retainer, and an inner flange extending inwardly from the main body and fixed to the periphery of the inner bag.

4. An airbag device according to claim 3, wherein said airbag further includes a flap fixed to the inner bag at the air vent hole to open inwardly and outwardly of the inner bag.

5. An airbag device according to claim 3, wherein said at least one inflator includes a flat annular plate forming the outer and inner flanges, said main body being located on the flat plate between the outer and inner flanges, said periphery of the outer bag being sandwiched between the flat annular plate and the retainer, and said periphery of the inner bag being fixed above the inner flange.

6. An airbag device according to claim 5, further comprising a ring disposed on the inner flange to fix the periphery of the inner bag between the inner flange and the ring.

7. An airbag device comprising:

a retainer having a center opening, and a plurality of side openings situated around the center opening,

an airbag including an outer bag having an outer bag opening with a periphery, and an inner bag arranged inside the outer bag and having an inner bag opening with a periphery, said peripheries of the outer and inner bag openings being directly or indirectly fixed to the retainer so that the inner bag communicates with an outside of the airbag through the center opening of the retainer, and

a plurality of small inflators directly fixed to the retainer and disposed in the side openings, each inflator having a main body containing a gas generating agent therein, said main body facing a space between the outer and inner bags to directly supply to the space gas when the inflator is actuated so that air is inspired inside the inner bag through the inner bag opening and the center opening.

8. An airbag device according to claim 7, further comprising an inner ring situated immediately outside the center opening to sandwich the periphery of the inner bag between the retainer and the inner ring, and an outer ring disposed outside the side openings to sandwich the periphery of the outer bag between the retainer and the outer ring.