Connecting structure between an airbag and an inflator

• US 6,224,089 B1
• Filed: 09/14/1999
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Masuda, Yasushi, Nakanishi, Ryosuke, Mishina, Joji, Uchiyama, Atsuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US09/395,962
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 280/731, 280/740, 280/733
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23 Inflatable members B60R21/18 takes precedence; connection to inflation fluid source retainers B60R21/217
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid

Abstract

To improve the strength in the connection between an inflator and an airbag, an area around a gas inlet 12 of an airbag 10 is fitted onto an inflator 30 and is bound tightly by two bands 14. The areas of the airbag 10 near the bands 14 are provided with stitches 16 extending in the circumferential direction of the inflator 30. The stitches 16 rise from the outer surface of the airbag 10. The areas around the gas inlet of the airbag 10 and the inflator 30 are held by saddle bands 24 of a holder 20. The stitches 16 are caught by the bands 14 when the airbag 10 is inflated and the airbag 10 is about to be slipped off, thereby securely preventing the detachment of the airbag 10.

Claims

1. A connecting structure between an airbag and an inflator comprising:

an inflator having gas ports formed in an end portion thereof;

an airbag having a gas inlet fitted onto the inflator so that the gas ports direct gas into the airbag;

a binding member for fixing the gas inlet of the airbag to the inflator; and

a securing member for preventing the airbag from coming off the inflator, wherein said securing member comprises stitches which rise from the outer surface of said airbag and are positioned on the opposite side of the binding member from the gas ports so that when the airbag is inflated the stitches contact the binding member and prevent the airbag from coming off the inflator.

2. A connecting structure between an airbag and an inflator comprising:

an inflator having gas ports formed in an end portion thereof;

an airbag having a gas inlet fitted onto the inflator;

a binding member for fixing the gas inlet of the airbag to the inflator; and

a securing member for preventing the airbag from coming off the inflator,

a holder for fixing said inflator to a vehicle body, wherein said holder comprises a plate and a plurality of holding portions, wherein each holding portion projects from said plate and holds the inflator and an area of the gas inlet of the airbag fitted onto said inflator to a vehicle body; and

wherein said binding member is arranged between at least two of said holding portions.

3. A connecting structure between an airbag and an inflator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the securing member comprises a cloth member sewn to the outer surface of said airbag.

4. A connecting structure between an airbag and an inflator as claimed in claim 2, wherein said securing member comprises a bar member which is inserted into a through portion formed in the airbag.

5. A connecting structure between an airbag and an inflator as claimed in claim 2, wherein said inflator has a groove formed in the outer surface thereof and wherein said securing member comprises a portion of the airbag which is retained in the groove.

6. A connecting structure between an airbag and an inflator as claimed in claim 2, wherein said securing member is positioned between at least two of said holding portions and comprises stitches which rise from the outer surface of said airbag.

7. A connecting structure between an airbag, for a vehicle, and an inflator comprising:

a tube shaped inflator having a gas outlet port located at one end;

an airbag having a tube shaped gas inlet portion and a main portion configured to be inflated by a gas, the gas inlet portion being positioned around the inflator;

a holder for securing the airbag and the inflator to the vehicle, wherein the holder includes a pair of bands that surround the airbag and the inflator;

a binding ring positioned between the bands for fixing the gas inlet of the airbag to the inflator; and

a securing member positioned between the bands for preventing the airbag from coming off the inflator.

8. The connecting structure of claim 7, wherein the securing member comprises stitches that are raised outward from the surface of the airbag and positioned on the side of the binding ring away from the main portion of the airbag so that when the airbag inflates and tends to slide off of the inflator the stitches engage the binding ring thereby preventing detachment of the airbag from the inflator.

9. The connecting structure of claim 8, wherein the stitches extend in a ring circumferentially around the gas inlet portion of the airbag.

10. The connecting structure of claim 7, wherein the securing member comprises a strip of material sewn to the exterior of the gas inlet portion of the airbag.

11. The connecting structure of claim 10, wherein the securing member further comprises a bar shaped member positioned between the strip of material and the airbag.

12. The connecting structure of claim 10, wherein the material comprises a synthetic resin.

13. The connecting structure of claim 7, wherein each of the bands is saddle shaped.

14. The connecting structure of claim 13, wherein each of the bands is integrally connected to a plate at one end and is configured to wrap around the gas inlet and the inflator to be fastened to the plate at another end.

15. The connecting structure of claim 14, further comprising a pair of fasteners for connecting the other end of the bands to the plate and the holder to the vehicle.

16. A connecting structure between an airbag, for a vehicle, and an inflator comprising:

an airbag having a tube shaped gas inlet portion and a main portion configured to be inflated by a gas;

a tube shaped inflator having a gas outlet port located at one end, the inflator extending through an opening in the airbag to be positioned inside the gas inlet portion;

a holder for securing the airbag and the inflator to the vehicle, wherein the holder includes a pair of bands that surround the airbag and the inflator;

a binding ring positioned between the bands for fixing the gas inlet of the airbag to the inflator; and

a securing member comprising a wire passing through a circumferential passage in the airbag, the wire being located adjacent the opening of the airbag and configured to be tightened to secure the airbag to the inflator.

17. The connecting structure of claim 16, wherein the inflator includes a circumferential groove for receiving the circumferential passage in the airbag containing the wire.