Air bag apparatus

• US 6,543,803 B1
• Filed: 07/14/2000
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TS Tech Company Limited
• Original Assignee: TS Tech Company Limited
• Inventors: Higashi, Yosuke, Harada, Masami
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sliteris, Joselynn Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/616,435
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/743.1, 280/728.2, 280/730.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• 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 21/26 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

Abstract

The invention provides an air bag apparatus which can securely prevent gas, generated from an inflator, from leaking from an insertion port of an air bag provided in a mounting base portion of the air bag. The air bag apparatus has a gas generating inflator (2) for expanding and developing an air bag (1) assembled in an inner portion from an insertion port (1c) provided in a mounting base portion (1b) of the air bag (1). The inflator (2) is positioned inside the air bag (1). An internal contact fabric (4) for closing the insertion port (1c) of the air bag (1) from the inner side is provided for preventing a gas leakage, and an external contact fabric (5) is provided for reinforcing the bag mounting base portion (1b).

Claims

1. An air bag apparatus adapted to be mounted to a seat frame, said air bag apparatus comprising:

an air bag having an inner surface and an outer surface;

a gas generating inflator for expanding and developing said air bag; and

an internal contact fabric disposed in said air bag;

said air bag having a mounting base portion and an insertion port formed in said mounting base portion for allowing said gas generating inflator to be inserted into said air bag;

said gas generating inflator having an inflator body and mounting means for mounting said air bag apparatus to said seat frame,

said internal contact fabric being formed for closing the insertion port of said air;

said internal contact fabric having first and second end portions; and

said internal contact fabric being fastened at said first end portion thereof onto the inner surface of said air bag;

said gas generating inflator being positioned within said air bag with said inflator body being in contact with an inner surface of said internal contact fabric and with said mounting means projecting through said second end portion of said internal contact fabric and through the mounting base portion of said air bag, whereby said internal contact fabric is securely fixed against said inner surface of said air bag to close said insertion port of said air bag.

2. An air bag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gas generating inflator further includes a retainer for holding said inflator body and said mounting means, and said internal contact fabric being pressed against the inner surface of said air bag by said retainer.

3. An air bag apparatus according to claim 1, further including an external contact fabric for reinforcing the mounting base portion of said air bag, said external contact fabric being attached to the outer surface of said mounting base portion and surrounding the mounting base portion.

4. An air bag apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said external contact fabric has first and second end portions, said external contact fabric being attached to the outer surface of said mounting base portion with said first end portion being fastened to said air bag and with said second end portion having said mounting means projecting therethrough.

5. An air bag apparatus according to claim 2, further including an external contact fabric for reinforcing the mounting base portion of said air bag, said external contact fabric being attached to the outer surface of said mounting base portion and surrounding the mounting base portion.

6. An air bag apparatus according to claim 5, herein said external contact fabric has first and second end portions, said external contact fabric being attached to the outer surface of said mounting base portion with said first end portion being fastened to said air bag and with said second end portion having said mounting means projecting therethrough.

7. An air bag apparatus adapted to be mounted to a seat frame, said air bag apparatus comprising:

an air bag having an inner surface and an outer surface;

a gas generating inflator for expanding and developing said air bag; and

an internal contact fabric provided inside said air bag;

said air bag having a mounting base portion and an insertion port formed in said mounting base portion for allowing said gas generating inflator to be inserted into said air bag;

said gas generating inflator having an inflator body and mounting means for mounting said air bag apparatus to said seat frame;

said internal contact fabric being formed and positioned over said insertion port for closing the insertion port of said air bag such that gas leakage is prevented when said air bag is inflated;

said internal contact fabric having first and second end portions; and

said internal contact fabric being fastened at said first end portion thereof onto the inner surface of said air bag;

said gas generating inflator being positioned within said air bag with said inflator body being in contact with an inner surface of said internal contact fabric and with said mounting means projecting through said second end portion of said internal contact fabric and through the mounting base portion of said air bag, so that said internal contact fabric is securely fixed against said inner surface of said air bag to close said insertion port of said air bag.