Passenger-side airbag apparatus

• US 6,971,664 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2002
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2001
• 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: Amamori, Ichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US10/281,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20030094794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 287/29, 287/431
• US Class Current: 280/729
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• 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

Abstract

An airbag has the first bag expanding from an upper portion of an instrument panel toward a passenger, and the second bag disposed at a front part of the first bag. The first and second bags are respectively formed of two panels. The first bag has a length smaller than that of the second bag in the lateral width direction. When the second bag expands, the second bag abuts against a windshield or a ceiling of a passenger compartment, and contacts the upper body of the passenger for supporting.

Claims

1. A passenger-side airbag apparatus for protecting a passenger in a vehicle, comprising:

an inflator for generating gas adapted to be attached to an upper portion of an instrument panel,

a first bag having a first opening at a rear side thereof connected to the inflator for receiving the gas from the inflator and a second opening at a front side and opposite to the rear side, and

a second bag connected to the second opening of the first bag at the front side thereof for receiving the gas through the first bag to expand upwardly from the first bag, and having a maximum lateral width greater than that of the first bag, said second bag having a lower portion connected to the front side of the first bag so that the second bag extends upwardly from the front side of the first bag and the front side of the first bag supports the passenger together with the second bag when the first and second bags expand, and a size to abut against one of a windshield and an inside ceiling of the vehicle when the first and second bags fully expand so that the second bag receives an upper body of the passenger when the first and second bags fully expand.

2. A passenger-side airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first bag is connected to the second bag through a plurality of openings.

3. A passenger-side airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first opening is formed at a lower portion of the first bag, and said second opening is formed at an upper portion of the first bag opposite to the lower portion.

4. A passenger-side airbag apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said second bag is attached to the first bag obliquely.

5. A passenger-side airbag apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said second bag expands substantially upwardly relative to the first bag without expanding downwardly.

6. A passenger-side airbag apparatus for protecting a passenger in a vehicle, comprising:

an inflator for generating gas adapted to be attached to an upper portion of an instrument panel,

a first bag connected to the inflator for receiving the gas from the inflator to expand, said first bag having upper and lower portions, a first opening formed in the lower portion at a rear side thereof and connected to the inflator, and a second opening formed in the upper portion and at a front side opposite to the rear side, and

a second bag connected to the second opening of the first bag for receiving the gas through the first bag to expand, and having a maximum lateral width greater than that of the first bag, said second bag being located at the front side of the first bag so that the front side of the first bag supports the passenger together with the second bag when the first and second bags expand and having a size to abut against one of a windshield and an inside ceiling of the vehicle when the first and second bags fully expand so that the second bag receives an upper body of the passenger when the first and second bags fully expand, said second bag having a lower portion connected to the front side of the first bag so that the second bag extends upwardly from the front side of the first bag when the first and second bags expand.

7. A passenger-side airbag apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each said first and second bags is formed of two panels.

8. A passenger-side airbag apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said first bag is connected to the second bag through a plurality of openings.

9. A passenger-side airbag apparatus for protecting a passenger in a vehicle, comprising:

an inflator for generating gas adapted to be attached to an upper portion of an instrument panel,

a first bag connected to the inflator for receiving the gas from the inflator to expand, said first bag having upper and lower portions, a first opening formed in the lower portion at a rear side thereof and connected to the inflator, and a second opening formed in the upper portion and at a front side opposite to the rear side, and

a second bag attached to the first bag obliquely and connected to the second opening of the first bag for receiving the gas through the first bag to expand, and having a maximum lateral width greater than that of the first bag, said second bag being located at the front side of the first bag so that the front side of the first bag supports the passenger together with the second bag when the first and second bags expand and having a size to abut against one of a windshield and an inside ceiling of the vehicle when the first and second bags fully expand so that the second bag receives an upper body of the passenger when the first and second bags fully expand, said second bag expanding substantially upwardly relative to the first bag without expanding downwardly.