Side-impact airbag and side-impact airbag apparatus

• US 7,614,650 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2008
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yokota, Masatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan; Ruth
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENGLISH, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US12/153,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20090039626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 280/729, 280/730.2, 280/743.1, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2171 specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

A side-impact airbag is housed in a casing to be deployed between a side wall portion of a vehicle body and an occupant seated on a seat. The side-impact airbag includes an upper portion, and a lower portion situated below the upper portion. The upper and lower portions are folded opposite to each other in a width direction of the vehicle in housing in the casing.

Claims

1. A side-impact airbag to be housed in a casing and deployed between a side wall portion of a vehicle body and an occupant seated on a seat, comprising:

an upper portion; and

a lower portion situated below the upper portion,

wherein the upper and lower portions are folded opposite to each other in a width direction of the vehicle and housed in the casing.

2. A side-impact airbag according to claim 1, wherein the upper portion is folded back toward the side wall portion of the vehicle, and the lower portion is folded back toward the occupant.

3. A side-impact airbag according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the upper and lower portions is folded back into a roll shape by repeatedly folding in one direction.

4. A side-impact airbag according to claim 2, wherein the upper portion includes a first bag portion for restraining a movement of a shoulder of the occupant, and the lower portion includes a second bag portion for restraining a movement of a waist portion of the occupant.

5. A side-impact airbag according to claim 4, further comprising a first communicating portion for connecting the first and second bag portions so that gas is distributed to the upper and lower portions.

6. A side-impact airbag according to claim 5, further comprising a tether and a non-expansion portion provided in the upper portion so that the tether and the non-expansion portion partially partition the upper portion and form a middle portion communicating with the first communicating portion.

7. A side-impact airbag according to claim 6, further comprising a second communicating portion provided between the upper portion and the middle portion so that the gas is distributed to the upper portion through the middle portion.

8. A side-impact airbag apparatus, comprising:

the side-impact airbag according to claims 1;

an inflator connected to the side-impact airbag for supplying gas to expand and develop the side-impact airbag; and

the casing for housing the side-impact airbag and the inflator.