Air bag

• US 6,655,713 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2001
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation), Toyota Boshoku Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation), Toyota Boshoku Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kato, Masayuki, Tanabe, Choko, Tanase, Toshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YEAGLEY, DANIEL S
• Application Number:
  US09/883,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20020000713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 280/729, 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/743.1, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

An air bag provided with linear joined portions in the inflation section is disclosed. The linear joined portions linearly join the opposing wall portions of the inflation section. Each of the linear joined portions includes a body portion and end portions. The end portions extend from the body portion and gradually become wider than the body portion. The periphery surrounds the end portions and is provided with at least three straight portions. This air bag restrains mesh spreading and inflating gas leakage from the vicinity of any of the end portions of the linear joined portions.

Claims

1. An air bag comprising:

an inflation section having opposing wall portions that become spaced apart from each other during inflation by an inflating gas; and

linear joined portions disposed in the inflation section that linearly join the opposing wall portions, each of the linear joined portions comprising a body portion and at least one end portion, wherein;

an outer periphery of the at least one end portion is connected to an outer periphery of the body portion;

the at least one end portion is wider than the body portion;

the outer periphery of the at least one end portion is defined by at least three straight portions and connecting portions, wherein the connecting portions are located between adjacent ones of the at least three straight portions;

each of the straight portions is parallel with yarns that weave the air bag; and

the at least three straight portions comprise;

a first straight portion and a second straight portion that are parallel to each other; and

a third straight portion extending perpendicularly to the first straight portion and the second straight portion, the third straight portion having curved end portions for connecting to the first straight portion and the second straight portion.

2. The air bag according to claim 1, wherein each linear joined portion has one end portion.

3. The air bag according to claim 1, wherein each of the connecting portions comprises an arcuate curved portion.

4. The air bag according to claim 3, wherein the radius of curvature of the arcuate curved portion is from 3 to 10 mm.

5. The air bag according to claim 1, wherein each of the straight portions is at least 3 mm long.

6. The air bag according to claim 1, wherein each of the end portions is at least 20 mm wide.

7. The air bag according to claim 1, wherein the end portions are substantially rectangular in shape.

8. The air bag according to claim 1, wherein the end portions are substantially triangular in shape.

9. The air bag according to claim 1, wherein the inflation section has a front seat section containing at least one linear joined portion and a rear seat section containing at least one linear joint portion.

10. The air bag according to claim 1, wherein each linear joined portion has two end portions, wherein each end portion has at least three straight portions.

11. The air bag of claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is further for defining a non-inflation section.

12. An air bag comprising:

an inflation section having opposing wall portions that become spaced apart from each other during inflation by an inflating gas; and

linear joined portions disposed in the inflation section that linearly join the opposing wall portions, each of the linear joined portions comprising a body portion and at least one end portion, wherein;

an outer periphery of the at least one end portion is connected to an outer periphery of the body portion;

the at least one end portion is wider than the body portion;

the outer periphery of the at least one end portion is defined by at least three straight portions and connecting portions, wherein the connecting portions are located between adjacent ones of the at least three straight portions; and

each linear joined portion has three end portions that have at least three straight portions.

13. An air bag comprising:

an inflation section having opposite wall portions that become spaced apart from each other during inflation by an inflating gas; and

linear joined portions disposed in the inflation section that linearly join the opposing wall portions, each of the linear joined portions comprising a body portion and at least one end portion, wherein;

an outer periphery of the at least one end portion is connected to an outer periphery of the body portion;

the at least one end portion is wider than the body portion;

the outer periphery of the at least one end portion is defined by at least three straight portions and connecting portions, wherein the connecting portions are located between adjacent ones of the at least three straight portions;

the inflation section has a front seat section containing at least one linear joined portion and a rear seat section containing at least one linear joint portion; and

the linear joined portion of the front seat section has a first linear joined portion in the shape of a T, second linear joined portion in the shape of an inverted J and a third linear joined portion in the shape of a T.

14. The air bag according to claim 13, wherein the linear joined portion of the rear seat section is in the shape of an inverted F.