Air bag apparatus and inflator apparatus therefor

• US 6,231,069 B1
• Filed: 11/16/1998
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nihon Plast Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nihon Plast Company Limited
• Inventors: Yokoyama, Aki
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JASMIN, LYNDA C
• Application Number:
  US09/193,065
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/736, 280/741, 280/740, 280/742, 280/728.2, 280/728.1, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• 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

A wall 17 capable of receiving discharged gas G through a first port 11 is formed on a portion of a holder 12 opposed to the first port 11 of an inflator 10. The gas G reaching the bag body 14 through the first port 11 of the inflator 10 and the second port 13 of the holder 12 is discharged toward the vicinity of a bottom 16a of a chest supporting portion 16 of the bag body 14.

Claims

1. An air bag apparatus comprising:

an inflator having a proximal end and a distal end, said inflator having a gas generating chamber at said proximal end and a first port at said distal end for discharging gas when a shock detecting sensor detects a shock more than a predetermined value;

an L-shaped air bag body having a head supporting portion of a passenger and a chest supporting portion thereof, said air bag body operative for being unfolded and expanded by said gas;

a tubular holder covering said inflator, said holder having a wall part totally enclosing more than half of said inflator from said distal end for guiding gas discharged through said first port toward said proximal end, said holder having a discharging part defining a second port at said proximal end for discharging guided gas to a vicinity of a bottom of said chest supporting portion of said air bag body; and

said holder having a guide portion which is disposed at said second port and opposed to said first port of said inflator.

2. An air bag apparatus comprising:

an inflator having a proximal end and a distal end, said inflator having a gas generating chamber at said proximal end, said inflator having a first port at said distal end for discharging gas;

an air bag body operative for being unfolded and expanded by discharged gas;

a holder opposed to said inflator, said holder having a wall part totally enclosing more than half of said inflator from said distal end for guiding gas discharged through said first port to be cooled from said first port toward said proximal end, said holder having a discharging part defining a second port at said proximal end for discharging guided gas to said air bag body;

said air bag body comprising;

a chest supporting-portion having a bottom corresponding to said proximal end of said inflator;

a head supporting portion adjacent to said chest supporting portion; and

a partition between said head supporting portion and said chest supporting portion, said partition having a distal end corresponding to said inflator, said partition defining a through-hole at only said distal end thereof for said head supporting portion and said chest supporting portion to communicate with each other there through; and

said second port being directed toward said partition when developing and expanding said inflator body.

3. An air bag apparatus comprising:

an inflator having a proximal end and a distal end, said inflator having a gas generating chamber at said proximal end, said inflator having a first port at said distal end for discharging gas;

an air bag body operative for being unfolded and expanded by discharged gas; and

a holder opposed to said inflator, said holder having a wall part totally enclosing more than half of said inflator from said distal end for guiding gas discharged through said first port to be cooled from said first port toward said proximal end, said holder having a discharging part defining a second port at said proximal end for discharging guided gas to said air bag body; and

said inflator having a cooling chamber at said distal end thereof.