Side airbag apparatus with side airbag cover

• US 7,753,407 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2008
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yokota, Masatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Faye M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENGLISH, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US12/153,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20090079169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 2807281-7283, 280/730.2, 280/743.1, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/743.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• 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 21/2346 Soft diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid

Abstract

A side airbag cover for holding a folded shape of a side airbag to be stored includes a first cover portion for covering a front inflation portion of the side airbag, the front inflation portion inflating and deploying substantially forward in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle; and a second cover portion for covering a lower inflation portion of the side airbag, the lower inflation portion inflating and deploying substantially downward.

Claims

1. A side airbag apparatus, comprising:

an inflator for supplying gas,

a side airbag connected to the inflator to be inflated and deployed between a side wall portion of a vehicle and an occupant seated in a seat inside the vehicle, the side airbag having a front inflation portion inflating and deploying substantially forward in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and a lower inflation portion inflating and deploying substantially downward,

a fixing member to fix the inflator and the side airbag to the seat, and having a bolt, and

a side airbag cover for covering and holding a folded side airbag so as to be stored, the side airbag cover being sewed to the side airbag and comprising;

a first cover portion for covering the front inflation portion of the side airbag and having a first hole,

a second cover portion separated from the first cover portion and extending perpendicular to the first cover portion for covering the lower inflation portion of the side airbag, the second cover portion having a second hole, and

a base integrally formed with the first and second cover portions for covering the folded side airbag together with the first and second cover portions and having a third hole, the first, second and third holes being arranged to engage the bolt to hold the folded side airbag, wherein

said first and second cover portions include tear portions for tearing upon inflation and deployment of the side airbag.

2. A side airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first cover portion includes a first tear portion at a front end portion thereof in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in a state where the front inflation portion is covered;

and the second cover portion includes a second tear portion at a lower end portion thereof in a state where the lower inflation portion is covered.

3. A side airbag apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

a casing for storing the side airbag, the side airbag cover, and the inflator.

4. A side airbag apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the side airbag includes a first bag portion as a front inflation portion provided at an upper portion to restrain a shoulder of the occupant, and a second bag portion as a lower inflation portion provided at a lower portion to restrain a lower-back of the occupant, and wherein the first cover portion covers the first bag portion, and the second cover portion covers the second bag portion.

5. A side airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said side airbag cover consists of said base, said first cover portion and said second cover portion, and covers front, back two sides and bottom portions of the folded side airbag without covering an upper portion of the folded side airbag.