Air bag device

• US 6,435,549 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2000
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ochiai, Fumiharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Toan C
• Application Number:
  US09/716,205
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 280/736, 280/739, 280/742, 280/735
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2035 using modules containing inflator, bag and cover attachable to the steering wheel as a complete sub-unit steering wheel covers with tear lines B60R21/21656; assembling of modules B60R21/217
• 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 21/2171 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 21/276 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

A vent hole disposed in a retainer, which supports an inflator and an air bag of an air bag device, is opened and closed by a control valve including a plate-shaped valve member. The valve member of the control valve includes a body reinforced by a flange, and a piezoelectric element operates as an actuator affixed to a hinge portion provided at one end of the body. The piezoelectric element is supplied with an electric current and is contracted to bend the hinge portion, whereby the vent hole is opened by movement of the body. The piezoelectric element is provided on the hinge portion of the valve member and hence, the size of the piezoelectric element can be reduced, whereby the amount of expensive piezoelectric element used can be reduced to contribute to a reduction in cost, as compared with a case in which the piezoelectric element is superposed on the entire valve member of the valve member.

Claims

1. An air bag device for a vehicle, comprising:

a retainer,

a folded up air bag having an opening, a peripheral edge of which is fixed to said retainer,

an inflator in said retainer operative to deploy said air bag to restrain an occupant by a gas generated therein upon collision of said vehicle,

said retainer having a vent hole and a control valve for closing said vent hole, said control valve including a valve member having a portion hingedly connected to said retainer,

an actuator provided on said hingedly connected portion, and

means for controlling a supply of electric current to said actuator to controllably bend said valve member at said hingedly connected portion to regulate the degree of opening of said vent hole.

2. An air bag device according to claim 1, wherein said actuator is a piezoelectric element.

3. An air bag device according to claim 1, wherein said valve member of said control valve covers said vent hole from the outside of said retainer.