Airbag and airbag apparatus
First Claim
1. An airbag device to be deployed by gas supplied from an inflator for restraining an occupant, comprising:
- an outer shell forming an airbag and having a vent hole and a through hole smaller than the vent hole, said through hole being located adjacent to the vent hole;
a restriction member for restricting gas flow through the vent hole;
an inner panel partitioning an inside of the airbag into a first chamber located at a side opposite to the occupant and a second chamber located at a side of the occupant, and having a peripheral edge connected to a side periphery of the airbag and a communication portion for allowing communication between the first chamber and the second chamber, the vent hole being provided in the first chamber; and
a tether member for connecting said restriction member and the inner panel, said tether member extending through the through hole and being connected to the restriction member at a location external of the outer shell, said airbag device being arranged such that;
as the inflator starts its operation, the gas is first introduced into the first chamber and is then introduced into the second chamber through the communication portion,when the first chamber is filled with the gas and the inner panel is tensioned by a pressure differential between the first chamber and the second chamber, a tension exceeding a predetermined value is applied to said restriction member via the tether member so that said vent hole is substantially closed, andwhen the first chamber is not filled with the gas and the inner panel loosens, the tension applied to said restriction member does not reach the predetermined value so that said vent hole is substantially opened.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag device includes an outer shell forming an airbag and having a vent hole, a restriction member for restricting gas flow through the vent hole, a first chamber having the vent hole, a second chamber, the inner panel partitioning the airbag into the first and second chambers and having a communication portion, and a tether member for connecting the restriction member and the inner panel. Gas is introduced into the first chamber and then into the second chamber. When the first chamber is filled with gas and the inner panel is tensioned, the tension exceeding a predetermined value is applied to the restriction member so that the vent hole is substantially closed. When the first chamber is not filled with gas and the inner panel loosens, the tension applied to the restriction member does not reach the predetermined value so that the vent hole is opened.
63 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An airbag device to be deployed by gas supplied from an inflator for restraining an occupant, comprising:
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an outer shell forming an airbag and having a vent hole and a through hole smaller than the vent hole, said through hole being located adjacent to the vent hole; a restriction member for restricting gas flow through the vent hole; an inner panel partitioning an inside of the airbag into a first chamber located at a side opposite to the occupant and a second chamber located at a side of the occupant, and having a peripheral edge connected to a side periphery of the airbag and a communication portion for allowing communication between the first chamber and the second chamber, the vent hole being provided in the first chamber; and a tether member for connecting said restriction member and the inner panel, said tether member extending through the through hole and being connected to the restriction member at a location external of the outer shell, said airbag device being arranged such that; as the inflator starts its operation, the gas is first introduced into the first chamber and is then introduced into the second chamber through the communication portion, when the first chamber is filled with the gas and the inner panel is tensioned by a pressure differential between the first chamber and the second chamber, a tension exceeding a predetermined value is applied to said restriction member via the tether member so that said vent hole is substantially closed, and when the first chamber is not filled with the gas and the inner panel loosens, the tension applied to said restriction member does not reach the predetermined value so that said vent hole is substantially opened. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An airbag device to be deployed by gas supplied from an inflator for restraining an occupant, comprising:
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an outer shell forming an airbag; an inner panel for partitioning an inside of the airbag into a first chamber at a side opposite to the occupant and a second chamber at a side of the occupant, the inner panel having a peripheral edge connected to a side periphery of the airbag, and a communication portion for allowing communication between the first chamber and the second chamber; a vent structure formed on the first chamber and having a bulging portion bulging outwards from the first chamber and a vent hole formed in the bulging portion; and a tether member passing through a through hole formed in the airbag for connecting the bulging portion and the inner panel, wherein said airbag device is arranged such that as the inflator starts its operation, the gas is first introduced into the first chamber and is then introduced into the second chamber through the communication portion, when the first chamber is filled with the gas and the inner panel is tensioned, tension exceeding a predetermined value is applied to said bulging portion via the tether member so that said bulging portion is squash folded so as to maintain said vent portion in a, substantially closed state, and when the first chamber is not filled with gas and the inner panel loosens, the tension applied to said bulging portion does not reach the predetermined value so that said bulging portion stands so as to open said vent portion. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification