Airbag device

• US 8,104,792 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2006
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ashimori Industry Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ashimori Industry Company Limited
• Inventors: Taniyama, Hiroyuki, Shimazaki, Yoshio, Sasaki, Kou
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US11/916,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20090218799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,080 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.1, 280/743.2, 280/728.3, 280/728.1, 280/731, 280/740, 280/742
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• 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 2021/2375 Folding devices
• 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 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• 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 stage of the 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;

a holding member for holding the airbag in a state as folded and contained therein, and pressing down on an outer circumference of the airbag, to thereby restrain inflation and expansion of the airbag in a direction extending from a center of the airbag to the outer circumference of the airbag, caused by the gas generated from the inflator at least in an initial stage of the inflation of the airbag; and

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 stage of the inflation thereof, which is provided substantially at a central part of the airbag,

wherein the holding member is formed to have a hole at the time of inflation of the airbag so that the airbag travels through the hole during inflation,

wherein the gas rectification member is not attached to a part of the airbag which expands during the inflation of the airbag,

wherein the airbag has a folded portion,

wherein the folded portion of the airbag is provided between the holding member and the gas rectification member in a radial direction of the airbag during the initial stage of inflation,

wherein the holding member is separate from an airbag cover, and

wherein the opening in the holding member is sized to allow a part of the airbag cover to pass through the opening of the holding member.

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, wherein the gas rectification member is tubular in shape, the airbag is provided with an inflator communicating port for communicating with the inflator, and the gas rectification member is extended from a peripheral edge of the inflator communicating port up to the vicinity of the part of the airbag that will inflate in the initial stage of the inflation thereof.

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

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

7. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the holding member is contained in the 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, wherein a tether belt for restraining an extension length of the airbag toward an occupant side, is disposed in the airbag.

10. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein tear-lines are provided in the holding member to allow the hole to be formed in the holding member during inflation.

11. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the gas rectification member compresses the folded portion of the airbag against the holding member so that side portions of the airbag are smoothly delayed in expanding at least in the initial stage of the inflation.

12. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag undergoes expansion toward the occupant side while subjected to resistance by the holding member, upon passing through the opening of the holding member, while parts of a back side portion of the airbag are contained in the holding member.

13. An airbag device comprising:

an inflator;

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

a holding member for holding the airbag in a state as folded and contained therein, and pressing down on an outer circumference of the airbag, to thereby restrain inflation and expansion of the airbag in a direction extending from a center of the airbag to the outer circumference of the airbag, caused by the gas generated from the inflator at least in an initial stage of the inflation of the airbag; and

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 stage of the inflation thereof, which is provided substantially at a central part of the airbag,

wherein the holding member is formed to have a hole at the time of inflation of the airbag so that the airbag travels through the hole during inflation,

wherein the gas rectification member is not attached to a part of the airbag which expands during the inflation of the airbag,

wherein the airbag has a folded portion,

wherein the folded portion of the airbag is provided between the holding member and the gas rectification member in a radial direction of the airbag during the initial stage of inflation,

wherein the holding member is separate from an airbag cover, wherein the gas rectification member has multiple folded pleats thereon.

14. An airbag device, comprising:

an inflator;

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

a holding member for holding the airbag in a state as folded and contained therein, and pressing down on an outer circumference of the airbag, to thereby restrain inflation and expansion of the airbag in a direction extending from a center of the airbag to the outer circumference of the airbag, caused by the gas generated from the inflator at least in an initial stage of the inflation of the airbag; and

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 stage of the inflation thereof, which is provided substantially at a central part of the airbag,

wherein the holding member is formed to have a hole at the time of inflation of the airbag so that the airbag travels through the hole during inflation,

wherein the gas rectification member is not attached to a part of the airbag which expands during the inflation of the airbag,

wherein the airbag has a folded portion,

wherein the folded portion of the airbag is provided between the holding member and the gas rectification member in a radial direction of the airbag during the initial stage of inflation,

wherein the holding member is separate from an airbag cover,

wherein the outer circumference of the airbag surrounds an area when the airbag is folded and contained within the holding member prior to inflation,

wherein the hole of the holding member surrounds an area at the time of inflation, and

wherein the area surrounded by the hole of the holding member at the time of inflation is smaller than the area surrounded by the outer circumference of the airbag when the airbag is folded and contained within the holding member prior to inflation.