Airbag apparatus

• US 7,695,004 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2007
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Inoue, Michio
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coker; Robert A
• Application Number:
  US11/802,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20070273129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 280/743.1, 297/216.13
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats

Abstract

An airbag apparatus comprising an airbag module installed in a backrest of a vehicle seat is provided. The backrest has a side support on each side. Each side support has a base portion located at a position closer to a center of the backrest. The airbag module is installed in a side portion of the back rest that faces the exterior of the vehicle. The airbag module includes a gas generator that generates gas in response to impact from a side of the vehicle, and first and second airbag portions that are inflated and deployed by the gas generated by the gas generator. The airbag module is installed in the backrest in such a manner that, when the airbag is inflated and deployed, the first airbag portion pushes the base portion of the side support on the exterior side obliquely forward and further into the passenger compartment.

Claims

1. An airbag apparatus comprising an airbag module installed in a backrest of a vehicle seat, the backrest having a side support on each side with respect to a direction of a width of a vehicle, each side support having a base portion located at a position closer to a center of the backrest with respect to the direction of the vehicle width, the airbag module being installed in a side portion of the back rest that faces an exterior of the vehicle, wherein the airbag module includes a gas generator that generates gas in response to impact from a side of the vehicle, and an airbag that is inflated and deployed by the gas generated by the gas generator,

wherein the airbag includes a first airbag portion, which is inflated and deployed obliquely forward and toward a center of a passenger compartment in the vehicle, and a second airbag portion, which is inflated and deployed forward of the vehicle,

wherein a first pressure receiving portion is provided in the backrest and in a vicinity of an exterior side of the first airbag portion, and wherein the first pressure receiving portion receives, through the first airbag portion, a pressure of gas supplied into the first airbag portion from the gas generator, thereby applying, to the first airbag portion, a reaction force directed obliquely forward and toward the center of the passenger compartment,

wherein a second pressure receiving portion is provided in the backrest and in a vicinity of a rear end of the second airbag portion, and wherein the second pressure receiving portion receives, through the second airbag portion, a pressure of gas supplied into the second airbag portion from the gas generator, thereby applying, to the second airbag portion, a reaction force directed forward of the vehicle,

wherein the first pressure receiving portion extends along a front-rear direction of the vehicle,

wherein the second pressure receiving portion extends along the direction of the width of the vehicle from a front end of the first pressure receiving portion.

2. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein no hard objects that hinder the inflation and deployment of the airbag are present between the base portion and the airbag.

3. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure receiving portion is formed by a side frame located in a side portion of the backrest on the exterior side or by a bracket attached to the side frame.

4. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first pressure receiving portion is formed by a side frame located in a side portion of the backrest on the exterior side or by a bracket attached to the side frame.

5. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first airbag portion is accommodated in a non-folded state in the side portion of the backrest on the exterior side.

6. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second pressure receiving portion is formed by a side frame located in a side portion of the backrest on the exterior side or by a bracket attached to the side frame.

7. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second airbag portion is accommodated in a folded state in the side portion of the backrest on the exterior side.