Airbag device

• US 7,125,043 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2004
• Issued: 10/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2003
• 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): Dunn, David R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sliteris, Joselynn Y.
• Application Number:
  US10/785,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20040195808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.1, 280/728.2, 280/731, 280/732, 280/743.2, 280/728.1
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• 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 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

An airbag device is provided with a retainer, an airbag mounted on the retainer, an airbag-mounting ring to mount the airbag to the retainer, an inflator to inflate the airbag, a shape-maintaining component to maintain a folded shape of the airbag, and a module cover covering the folded airbag. The shape-maintaining component is fixed to bolts. A central portion of the shape-maintaining component is attached to a central portion of a front panel of the airbag with a seam thread. When the inflator is mounted on the retainer, since a space is provided in the retainer, a front-end side of the inflator is smoothly inserted.

Claims

1. An airbag device for protecting an occupant of a vehicle, comprising:

an airbag having a front portion facing the occupant and a rear portion opposite to the front portion when the airbag is inflated,

an inflator attached to the rear portion of the airbag for inflating the airbag,

a retainer attached to the airbag and the inflator and having an insertion port for inserting one end of the inflator, said airbag being folded and mounted on one side of the retainer, and

a shape-maintaining component having a first connecting portion connected to the front portion of the airbag and a second connecting portion attached to a lower part of the retainer for covering the airbag in a folded state so that the one end of the inflator is placed in the insertion port behind the first connecting portion, said shape-maintaining component covering an upper portion of the folded airbag located on said one side of the retainer and extending from said upper portion to the other side of the retainer to attach and hold the folded airbag to the retainer.

2. An airbag device according to claim 1, wherein said first connecting portion of the shape-maintaining component is located above the insertion port.

3. An airbag device according to claim 2, wherein said shape-maintaining component at the front portion of the airbag extends from the front portion toward a periphery of the retainer.

4. An airbag device according to claim 1, wherein said shape-maintaining component includes a tearing portion around the first connecting portion, said tearing portion being torn when the airbag is inflated.

5. An airbag device according to claim 1, wherein said shape-maintaining component includes a main part having said first connecting portion, and said second connecting portion is formed of a plurality of flaps extending outwardly from the main part and connected to the lower part of the retainer.

9. An airbag device according to claim 5, wherein said main part substantially entirely covers the folded airbag on the retainer, and the first connecting portion is fixed to the front portion of the airbag.

10. An airbag device according to claim 5, wherein said main part spreads substantially flatly on the folded airbag on the retainer so that a center part of the front portion of the airbag is located adjacent the main part.

6. An airbag device for protecting an occupant of a vehicle, comprising:

an airbag having a front portion facing the occupant and a rear portion opposite to the front portion when the airbag is inflated,

an inflator, attached to the rear portion of the airbag for inflating the airbag,

a retainer attached to the airbag and the inflator and having an insertion port for inserting one end of the inflator,

a shape-maintaining component including a main part having a first connecting portion connected to the front portion of the airbag, and a second connecting portion attached to a lower part of the retainer for covering the airbag in a folded state so that the one end of the inflator is placed in the insertion port behind the first connecting portion, said second connecting portion being formed of a plurality of flaps extending outwardly from the main part and connected to the lower part of the retainer, and

a mounting ring disposed inside the airbag and having attaching members protruding from the mounting ring, said plurality of flaps being attached to the attaching members.

8. An airbag device according to claim 6, wherein said shape-maintaining component includes a tearing portion around the first connecting portion, said tearing portion being torn when the airbag is inflated.

7. An airbag device for protecting an occupant of a vehicle, comprising:

an airbag having a front portion facing the occupant and a rear portion opposite to the front portion when the airbag is inflated,

an inflator attached to the rear portion of the airbag for inflating the airbag,

a retainer attached to the airbag and the inflator and having an insertion port for inserting one end of the inflator, and

a shape-maintaining component including a main part having a first connecting portion connected to the front portion of the airbag, and a second connecting portion attached to a lower part of the retainer for covering the airbag in a folded state so that the one end of the inflator is placed in the insertion port behind the first connecting portion, said second connecting portion being formed of a plurality of flaps extending outwardly from the main part and connected to the lower part of the retainer,

wherein said shape-maintaining component further includes a plurality of slits at the main part, through which parts of the retainer pass.