Airbag device

• US 7,854,446 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2006
• Issued: 12/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ashimori Industry Company Limited, Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ashimori Industry Company Limited, Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Nakamura, Kengo, Hirata, Daisuke, Sasaki, Kou, Shimazaki, Yoshio, Taniyama, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, DREW J
• Application Number:
  US11/916,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20080265554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,658 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/736, 280/740
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21543 with emblems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23123 Heat protection panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2035 using modules containing inflator, bag and cover attachable to the steering wheel as a complete sub-unit steering wheel covers with tear lines B60R21/21656; assembling of modules B60R21/217
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21656 Steering wheel covers or similar cup-shaped covers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2346 Soft diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

There is provided an airbag device being excellent in performance of protection of an occupant wherein a folded airbag (10) undergoes sequential and orderly expansion starting from a region where the expansion ought to be started. It is characterized in that a gas rectification member (12′) for rectifying and guiding a gas generated from an inflator (30) up to the vicinity of a part of the airbag (10), inflating in the initial expansion thereof, is provided substantially at the central part of the airbag (10).

Claims

1. An airbag device comprising:

an inflator;

an airbag communicating with the inflator for undergoing inflation by a gas generated from the inflator; and

a holding member for holding the airbag in a state as folded and contained therein, and pressing down the outer circumferential side of the airbag, to thereby restrain inflation and expansion of the airbag in the direction of the side thereof in a state in which, the gas generated from the inflator causes at least the initial expansion of the airbag,

wherein a gas rectification member for rectifying and guiding the gas generated from the inflator up to the vicinity of a part of the airbag, inflating in the initial expansion thereof, is provided substantially at the central part of the airbag;

wherein the holding member has an opening facing to the part of the airbag that will be inflated in the initial expansion thereof, and the opening remains intact as the airbag inflates and expands through the opening.

2. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is folded and contained on a side of the outer circumference of the gas rectification member.

3. The airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the gas rectification member is tubular in shape, the airbag is provided with a communicating port for communicating with the inflator, and the gas rectification member is extended from a peripheral edge of the communicating port up to the vicinity of the part of the airbag that will inflate in the initial stage of the expansion thereof.

4. The airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the gas rectification member is made of a woven cloth.

5. The airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the gas rectification member is disposed as a member having a function for protecting the airbag from heat of the inflator and an impactive pressure thereof.

6. The airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holding member is made of a woven cloth for containing the airbag covered thereby.

7. The airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holding member is contained in an airbag cover.

8. The airbag device according to claim 7, wherein tear-lines to be split and torn upon generation of the gas in the inflator to thereby form an expansion port of the airbag are provided on a back side of the airbag cover.

9. The airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a tether belt for restraining an extension length of the airbag toward an occupant side, is disposed in the airbag.