Airbag apparatus

• US 7,360,791 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamada, Tadashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEBB, TIFFANY LOUISE
• Application Number:
  US11/085,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20050212276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.1, 280/728.2, 280/731, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/743.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• 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 airbag apparatus comprises an airbag deployed between a vehicle and a passenger with gas generated by an inflator. The airbag comprises a first panel cloth, a second panel cloth attached to the first panel cloth, a reinforcement cloth fastened to the inner face of the second panel cloth, and tethers connecting the periphery of the reinforcement cloth to the first panel cloth. The center of the reinforcement cloth is disposed below the center of the second panel cloth. The tethers are disposed below the center of the reinforcement cloth. The inflator injects gas from the central portion of the first panel cloth towards the inside of the airbag. The airbag apparatus is preferably a driver'"'"'s seat airbag apparatus.

Claims

1. An airbag apparatus mounted on a steering wheel having a toroidal rim portion and comprising an airbag deployed between a vehicle and a passenger with gas generated by a gas generator, the airbag comprising:

a first panel cloth;

a second panel cloth opposing the first panel cloth, wherein a periphery of the second panel cloth is attached to a periphery of the first panel cloth, and the second panel cloth faces the passenger during deployment;

a reinforcement cloth fastened to an inner face of the second panel cloth, wherein the reinforcement cloth is formed so as to be smaller than the second panel cloth, and a center of the reinforcement cloth is disposed lower than the center of the second panel cloth, wherein an entire periphery of the reinforcement cloth is joined to the second panel cloth; and

a tether connecting the reinforcement cloth and the first panel cloth to each other, wherein the tether is provided at a location that is lower than the center of the reinforcement cloth, wherein

the gas generator injects gas from a central portion of the first panel cloth towards an inside of the airbag,

the tether is attached to the first panel cloth below the center of the first panel cloth,

the tether is connected to the second panel cloth at a location that is below a location at which the tether is connected to the first panel cloth,

the first panel cloth is formed substantially concentrically with the toroidal rim of the steering wheel, and

both the first and second panel cloths are formed to have similar sizes.

2. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tether is one of a plurality of tethers provided at the periphery of the reinforcement cloth, and the plurality of tethers include at least a pair of tethers disposed on either side of the reinforcement cloth.

3. The airbag apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pair of tethers is disposed so as to be symmetrical with the reinforcement cloth in between the tethers.

4. The airbag apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the pair of tethers is configured to be equal in length.

5. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tether protrudes from a lower periphery of the reinforcement cloth.

6. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tether is attached to the second panel cloth while being sandwiched between the second panel cloth and the reinforcement cloth.

7. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tether is attached to the first panel cloth below the gas generator.

8. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a distance of the central point of the second panel cloth and a central point of the reinforcement cloth is set to be between 10 to 100 mm, inclusive.

9. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gas generator injects gas towards a central portion of the second panel cloth.

10. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gas generator injects gas a central portion of the second panel cloth.

11. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an outer face of the airbag corresponding to the reinforcement cloth forms a recess during deployment of the airbag.

12. The airbag apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the recess is shifted downwards from the center of the second panel cloth.

13. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the airbag apparatus is a driver'"'"'s seat airbag apparatus.