Airbag device

• US 8,141,902 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2011
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ashimori Industry Company Limited, Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ashimori Industry Company Limited, Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Toshihiro, Yamaji, Naoki, Hashizume, Tomoki, Soemoto, Kazuhiko, Moritani, Keisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, DREW J
• Application Number:
  US13/177,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20110259662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 265 Days
• Field of Search: 280/739, 280/743.1, 280/743.2, 112/285, 112/157
• US Class Current: 280/739
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/36 using airbags

Abstract

An airbag (10) has a vent hole (18) in one side end portion. One end of a third base fabric (20) is sewn to the airbag (10) through a first sewn portion (23) that closes the vent hole (18), and the other end of the third base fabric 20 is sewn to the other side end portion of the airbag (10) through a second sewn portion (24). The first sewn portion (23) has weaker binding force by sewing than the second sewn portion (24) so that the first sewn portion (23) is separated to open the vent hole (18) when tension force is applied from the third base fabric (20) to the first and second sewn portions (23) and (24).

Claims

1. An airbag device comprising:

an airbag inflatable with gas generated by an inflator, the airbag having a front surface base fabric comprising a front surface of the airbag, a back surface base fabric comprising a back surface of the airbag, and internal tethers provided in an airbag body that restrict inflation; and

a third base fabric that covers at least a portion of the front surface of the airbag and restricts inflation of the airbag during inflation,

wherein the front surface base fabric of the airbag has a vent hole through which gas is discharged,

wherein the third base fabric covers the vent hole, both side ends of the third base fabric being joined to the front surface base fabric,

wherein the third base fabric is fixed to the front surface of the airbag and has such a length that the tension caused by inflation of the airbag is not applied thereto,

wherein the third base fabric closes the vent hole through the use of a curved surface at the side portions of the front surface base fabric of the airbag during inflation, and

wherein, while the airbag is in an inflated state, the third base fabric is broken and the vent hole is exposed so as to discharge gas, by the further inflation of the airbag resulting from an object pushing into the third base fabric.

2. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein, when the third base fabric is broken at least one cut end is formed on the third base fabric, and said at least one cut end of the third base fabric is provided near a boundary between a portion where inflation is restricted by the third base fabric of the airbag when a person pushes into the third base fabric of the airbag in an inflated state, and a portion adjacent thereto where inflation is not restricted.

3. The airbag device according to claim 1,

wherein the third base fabric has a cutting line near the vent hole, and

wherein the third base fabric is broken along the cutting line and the vent hole is opened when an object pushes into the third base fabric of the airbag while the airbag is in an inflated state.

4. The airbag device according to claim 3,

wherein the cutting line includes intermittent cuts.

5. An airbag device comprising:

an airbag inflatable with gas generated by an inflator, the airbag having a front surface base fabric comprising a front surface of the airbag and a back surface base fabric comprising a back surface of the airbag; and

a third base fabric that covers at least a portion of the front surface of the airbag and restricts inflation of the airbag during inflation,

wherein the front surface base fabric of the airbag has a vent hole through which gas is discharged,

wherein the third base fabric covers the vent hole, both side ends of the third base fabric being joined to the front surface base fabric, and

wherein, while the airbag is in an inflated state, a joined portion at the joined side end portions of the third base fabric is separated and the vent hole is exposed so as to discharge gas, by the further inflation of the airbag resulting from an object pushing into the third base fabric.

6. The airbag device according to claim 5,

wherein at least one end of the joined side portions of the third base fabric is provided near a boundary between a portion where inflation is restricted by the third base fabric of the airbag when an object pushes into the third base fabric of the airbag in an inflated state, and a portion adjacent thereto where inflation is not restricted.

7. The airbag device according to claim 5, further comprising internal tethers provided in an airbag body that restrict inflation of the airbag, and wherein the third base fabric is fixed to the front surface of the airbag and has such a length that the tension caused by inflation of the airbag is not applied to the third base fabric, and wherein, the third base fabric closes the vent hole through the use of a curved surface at the side portions of the front surface base fabric of the airbag during inflation.