Airbag device for a front seat passenger's seat

• US 6,435,548 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2001
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Kazumasa, Kuriyama, Yuji, Okada, Yasushi, Ido, Masaru
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US09/771,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20010011816A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/732, 280/740, 280/736
• US Class Current: 280/732
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2171 specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid

Abstract

An airbag device for a passenger'"'"'s seat includes an airbag, cylinder type inflator, a casing, and a retainer. The airbag is provided with an opening for inflowing an expansion gas therethrough and is capable of being folded. The inflator is capable of producing and supplying the expansion gas to the opening of the airbag. The casing may receive the folded airbag and the inflator therein. The retainer is adapted to engage a peripheral edge of the opening of the airbag and is mounted to the casing with the peripheral edge of the airbag being disposed and compressed between the retainer and the casing. The retainer includes presser portions, which abut the inflator when mounted to the casing. The casing includes supports, which abut the inflator. The inflator is disposed between the presser portions of the retainer and the supports of the casing, thereby securing the inflator within the casing.

Claims

1. An airbag device comprising:

an airbag provided with an opening for inflowing an expansion gas therethrough, the airbag capable of being folded,

a cylindrical inflator capable of producing and supplying the expansion gas to the opening of the airbag, the inflator having opposite axial ends,

a casing constructed and arranged to receive the folded airbag and the inflator therein, and

a retainer adapted to engage a peripheral edge of the opening of the airbag and being mounted to the casing with the peripheral edge of the airbag being disposed and compressed between the retainer and the casing;

wherein

the retainer includes presser portions integrally formed therewith and positioned thereon proximate the opposite axial ends of the inflator to abut the inflator thereat when the retainer is mounted to the casing;

the casing includes supports positioned corresponding to respective presser portions to abut the inflator proximate the opposite axial ends thereof; and

the inflator is disposed between the presser portions of the retainer and the supports of the casing to secure the inflator therebetween within the casing.

2. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein each axial end of the inflator is supported at a plurality of circumferentially-spaced points about an outer peripheral surface thereof, the circumferentially-spaced points being provided by respective presser portions and supports.

3. The airbag device according to claim 2, wherein the presser portions of the retainer are formed to provide elongated projections that abut the inflator.

4. The airbag device according to claim 2, wherein each axial end of the inflator is supported by at least one of the presser portions and at least one of the supports.

5. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the casing comprises an upper chamber, within which the folded airbag is disposed, and a lower chamber disposed below the upper chamber for receiving the inflator;

wherein the casing is constructed and arranged such that the inflator is positionable within the lower chamber through the upper chamber.

6. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the presser portions of the retainer directly contact an exterior surface of the inflator.

7. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the retainer comprises airbag presser portions for compressing the peripheral edge of the opening of the airbag against an outer peripheral surface of the inflator, the presser portions being arranged adjacent the airbag presser portions to directly contact another surface of the inflator.

8. The airbag device according to claim 7, wherein the presser portions extend generally downwardly from the airbag presser portions.

9. An airbag device comprising:

an airbag provided with an opening for inflowing an expansion gas therethrough, the airbag capable of being folded,

a cylindrical inflator capable of producing and supplying the expansion gas to the opening of the airbag,

a casing constructed and arranged to receive the folded airbag and the inflator therein, and

a retainer adapted to engage a peripheral edge of the opening of the airbag and being mounted to the casing with the peripheral edge of the airbag being disposed and compressed between the retainer and the casing;

the retainer including presser portions, which abut the inflator when mounted to the casing;

the casing including supports, which abut the inflator;

the inflator being disposed between the presser portions of the retainer and the supports of the casing, thereby securing the inflator within the casing;

wherein each axial end of the inflator is supported at a plurality of circumferentially-spaced points about an outer peripheral surface thereof, the circumferentially-spaced points being provided by respective presser portions and supports;

wherein the retainer includes a pair of presser portions at opposite ends thereof positioned thereon corresponding to the axial ends of the inflator, each pair of presser portions engaging a corresponding axial end of the inflator at two points thereof, and the casing providing supports at opposite ends thereof corresponding to each axial end of the inflator, each support engaging a corresponding axial end of the inflator at one point thereof.

10. An airbag device comprising:

an airbag provided with an opening for inflowing an expansion gas therethrough, the airbag capable of being folded,

a cylindrical inflator capable of producing and supplying the expansion gas to the opening of the airbag,

a casing constructed and arranged to receive the folded airbag and the inflator therein, and

a retainer adapted to engage a peripheral edge of the opening of the airbag and being mounted to the casing with the peripheral edge of the airbag being disposed and compressed between the retainer and the casing;

the retainer including presser portions, which abut the inflator when mounted to the casing;

the casing including supports, which abut the inflator;

the inflator being disposed between the presser portions of the retainer and the supports of the casing, thereby securing the inflator within the casing;

wherein the retainer comprises airbag presser portions for compressing the peripheral edge of the opening of the airbag against an exterior surface of the inflator, the presser portions being arranged adjacent the airbag presser portions to abut directly against the exterior surface of the inflator;

wherein the presser portions are positioned on the airbag presser portions, and the peripheral edge of the opening of the airbag is provided with holes, which permit corresponding presser portions to pass through the holes and directly contact the exterior surface of the inflator.