Airbag apparatus
First Claim
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1. An airbag apparatus comprising:
- an airbag to be deployed between a steering wheel and an occupant on a seat by an injection of gas from a gas generator, the steering wheel being formed into an open-loop shape which results when a part of a loop is open in a rim portion, the rim portion being disposed around a pad portion at a center of the steering wheel, whereina reaction force applier, provided separately from the airbag at a location which faces an opening portion of the rim portion, applies a reaction force to the airbag when the airbag is deployed at the opening portion by the injection of gas from the gas generator, a portion of the reaction force applier directly abutting a portion of the airbag lying to the front of the vehicle such that the reaction force, resisting pressure from the occupant against the airbag, is directed toward a rear of the vehicle, andthe reaction force applier is not projected toward the opening portion of the rim portion when the airbag is not deployed and is made projected toward the opening portion of the rim portion when the airbag is deployed.
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Abstract
An open-looped rim portion which results when an upper part thereof is open is provided on a steering wheel, and airbags of an airbag apparatus are accommodated in a pad portion lying inside of the rim portion. Then, when an impact of a predetermined value or greater is applied to a front end of a vehicle, the individual airbags are deployed by injecting the gas from an inflator. In addition, when an occupant is captured by the first airbag which is so deployed, the second airbag applies a reaction force which is directed to the rear of the vehicle so as to resist a pressure applied to the first airbag by the occupant.
11 Citations
9 Claims
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1. An airbag apparatus comprising:
an airbag to be deployed between a steering wheel and an occupant on a seat by an injection of gas from a gas generator, the steering wheel being formed into an open-loop shape which results when a part of a loop is open in a rim portion, the rim portion being disposed around a pad portion at a center of the steering wheel, wherein a reaction force applier, provided separately from the airbag at a location which faces an opening portion of the rim portion, applies a reaction force to the airbag when the airbag is deployed at the opening portion by the injection of gas from the gas generator, a portion of the reaction force applier directly abutting a portion of the airbag lying to the front of the vehicle such that the reaction force, resisting pressure from the occupant against the airbag, is directed toward a rear of the vehicle, and the reaction force applier is not projected toward the opening portion of the rim portion when the airbag is not deployed and is made projected toward the opening portion of the rim portion when the airbag is deployed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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3. An airbag apparatus comprising:
an airbag to be deployed between a steering wheel and an occupant on a seat by an injection of gas from a gas generator, the steering wheel being formed into an open-loop shape which results when a part of a loop is open in a rim portion, the rim portion being disposed around a pad portion at a center of the steering wheel, wherein a reaction force applier, provided separately from the airbag at a location which faces an opening portion of the rim portion, applies a reaction force to the airbag when the airbag is deployed at the opening portion by the injection of gas from the gas generator, a portion of the reaction force applier directly abutting a portion of the airbag lying to the front of the vehicle such that the reaction force, resisting pressure from the occupant against the airbag, is directed toward a rear of the vehicle, and the reaction force applier is a reaction force applying airbag which is to be deployed in a form different from the airbag deployed between the steering wheel and the occupant and which is to be deployed independently by branching off a part of the gas injected into the airbag from the gas generator.
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4. An airbag apparatus comprising:
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a first airbag, deployed between a steering wheel and an occupant on a seat, and injected with gas from a gas generator, the steering wheel including a loop rim portion formed around a pad portion at a center of the steering wheel, the airbag being deployed through an open portion at the top of the loop rim portion; and a second airbag deployed through the open portion at the top of the loop rim portion and disposed inside the first airbag such that a front portion of the second airbag abuts a front portion of the first airbag, wherein a flow of the injected gas in the first airbag toward a front end of the vehicle is restricted by the second airbag abutting the first airbag, and a force is applied toward a rear end of the vehicle, in the form of the injected gas flowing in the first airbag toward the rear end of the vehicle due to restriction of gas flowing in the first airbag toward the front end of the vehicle.
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Specification