Airbag

• US 6,679,522 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2003
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Igawa, Tadahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US10/356,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20030116951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.1, 280/743.2, 280/742, 280/731, 280/732, 280/728.1
• 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 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23538 Sewing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

An inflatable airbag includes a rearwardly directed surface to be contacted by the occupant when expanded, an end located at a side opposite to the rearwardly directed surface and having a hole for receiving an inflation gas, and laterally spaced side surfaces extending between the rearwardly directed surface and the end, and oriented substantially vertically in the passenger compartment. The side surfaces have inwardly extending depressions formed in a middle portion of each side surface of the airbag as viewed in a vertical direction and located away from the rearwardly directed surface to restrict movement of the inflation gas inside the airbag when the occupant hits the inflated airbag.

Claims

1. An inflatable airbag for installation in front of a passenger compartment of a vehicle for protecting an occupant during an emergency, comprising,

a rearwardly directed surface positioned to be contacted by the occupant when expanded,

an end located at a side opposite to the rearwardly directed surface and having a hole for receiving an inflation gas, and

laterally spaced side surfaces extending between the rearwardly directed surface and the end and being oriented substantially vertically in the passenger compartment, said side surfaces having inwardly extending depressions formed in a middle portion of each side surface of the airbag as viewed in a vertical direction and located away from the rearwardly directed surface to restrict movement of the inflation, gas inside the airbag when the occupant hits the inflated airbag.

2. An inflatable airbag for use in front of an occupant in a vehicle, said airbag being formed from a flexible material and comprising,

a pair of laterally spaced generally vertically extending side panel portions when inflated, each having a middle portion,

a central panel portion situated between said side panel portions to face the occupant, and

lateral expansion limiting means engaging the middle portions of said side panel portions away from the central panel portion to form inward depressions therein to thereby restrict movement of inflation gas inside the airbag when the occupant hits the inflated airbag.

3. An inflatable airbag as claimed in claim 2, wherein said lateral expansion limiting means comprises flexible restraining means engaging and limiting lateral expansion of said side panel portions to form the inward depressions therein.

4. An inflatable airbag as claimed in claim 3, wherein said flexible restraining means is contained within said airbag and joined to said side panel portions, said flexible restraining means being dimensioned to restrict the lateral expansion of said side panel portions and thereby to reduce an inflated volume of the airbag.

5. An inflatable airbag as claimed in claim 3, wherein said flexible restraining means comprises means joining said side panel portions together.