Airbag, airbag device and airbag exhausting method

• US 8,322,748 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2008
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Abe, Kazuhiro, Miyata, Yasuhito, Kumagai, Masayoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRISBY, KEITH J
• Application Number:
  US12/452,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20100201107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,670 Days
• Field of Search: 280/739, 280/743.2, 280/732, 280/731, 280/730.2, 280/730.1, 280/728.1
• US Class Current: 280/739
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23384 having ends which are movable or detachable during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

[Object] To provide an airbag, an airbag apparatus, and an air-discharging method of the airbag which are able to reduce the pressure loss during inflation and deployment of the airbag, or is able to demonstrate the impact absorbing capability of the airbag apparatus efficiently depending on the physical structure of an occupant.

[Solving Means] The airbag apparatus of the present invention includes a gas generator 1 configured to generate gas under predetermined conditions, an airbag 2 connected to the gas generator 1 and configured to be inflated and deployed, and a retainer 3 configured to store the airbag 2, and the airbag 2 includes a protrusion 4 which forms a portion protruding outward partly on the airbag 2, a vent hole 5 formed on the protrusion 4, a strap 6 connected at one end to the protrusion 4 and at the other end to the interior of the airbag 2, and an insertion hole 7 configured to guide the other end of the strap 6 into the interior of the airbag 2, and the vent hole 5 is arranged in an area where the protrusion 4 and the airbag 2 are overlapped with each other when the protrusion 4 is pulled by the strap 6.

Claims

1. An airbag configured to be inflated and deployed by being supplied with gas into an interior thereof comprising:

an inner surface forming the interior of the airbag;

an outer surface on an opposite side of the inner surface, the outer surface facing an exterior of the airbag;

a vent hole formed on the airbag; and

a strap connected at one end to the airbag and at the other end to a component of the airbag or a mounting component of the airbag,

wherein the vent hole is arranged in an area where one portion of the outer surface and its corresponding inner surface portion overlap with another portion of the outer surface such that the vent hole is covered by one of the overlapping one and another portions of the outer surfaces when the airbag is pulled by the strap, and

wherein the one and another portions of the outer surface remain outside of the interior of the airbag when the one and another portions of the outer surface overlap when the airbag is pulled by the strap.

2. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the vent hole is opened by deformation of the airbag.

3. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the one portion of the outer surface is formed on a protrusion protruding outward from a surface area of the outer surface, wherein the vent hole is formed on the protrusion or the another portion of the outer surface, wherein the one end of the strap is connected to the protrusion, and wherein the vent hole is arranged in an area where the protrusion and the another portion of the outer surface are overlapped with each other when the protrusion is pulled by the strap.

4. The airbag according to claim 3, wherein the vent hole is opened by the protrusion standing upright from the surface area of the outer surface.

5. The airbag according to claim 4, wherein internal pressure of the protrusion is increased and the protrusion stands upright by the gas flowing from the airbag into the protrusion.

6. The airbag according to claim 3, wherein the protrusion includes a first panel formed with the vent hole and a second panel continuously connected to the first panel, and the first panel and the second panel are seamed to a mounting hole formed on the airbag.

7. The airbag according to claim 3, wherein the airbag includes a front panel arranged on a side of an occupant and a rear panel arranged on a side of a vehicle structure, and wherein the protrusion is formed by seaming protruding portions formed on outer peripheral portions of the front panel and the rear panel.

8. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the airbag is formed with an insertion hole for guiding the other end of the strap into the interior of the airbag.

9. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the airbag is formed with a loop for guiding the other end of the strap.

10. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the airbag includes a left airbag section to be inflated and deployed on a left side of an occupant, and a right airbag section to be inflated and deployed on a right side of the occupant, and wherein the left airbag section and the right airbag section are respectively formed with the vent hole.

11. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the airbag includes a second vent hole formed at a position other than the area.

12. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the component of the airbag is one of an outer panel which forms the airbag, a tether arranged in the airbag, and an inner panel arranged in the airbag.

13. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the mounting component is one of a retainer configured to store the airbag, a back plate coupled to the retainer, and a cover coupled to the retainer.

14. An airbag apparatus comprising a gas generator configured to generate gas under specific conditions;

an airbag connected to the gas generator to be inflated and deployed; and

a retainer configured to store the airbag, wherein the airbag is the airbag according to claim 1.

15. The airbag apparatus according to claim 14, comprising:

a strap holding device configured to be able to keep the strap at a certain length and to be able to disengage the strap; and

a control device configured to emit a release signal for disengaging the strap from the strap holding device.

16. The airbag apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the control device is configured to emit the release signal when the gas generator is activated, when an occupant comes into contact with the airbag, or when a weight of the occupant is lighter than a predetermined reference value.

17. The airbag apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the control device is configured to not emit the release signal when the airbag includes a second vent hole, and a weight of an occupant is heavier than a predetermined reference value.

18. The airbag apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the gas generator includes a first gas generator and a second gas generator, wherein the control device is configured to emit the release signal substantially at the same time as when the gas generator is activated when only the first gas generator is activated.

19. The airbag apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the control device is configured to not emit the release signal when the airbag includes a second vent hole, the gas generator includes a first gas generator and a second gas generator, and both the first gas generator and the second gas generator are activated.

20. The airbag apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the strap holding device includes a cap which is engageable with an engaging hole formed on the strap, a holder which can fix the cap, a releasing device connected to the holder and being capable of releasing the fixation of the cap, and a connector configured to receive the release signal which activates the releasing device from the control device.

21. The airbag apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the releasing device includes the gas generator.

22. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein, when the airbag is pulled by the strap, the one portion of the outer surface abuts the another portion of the outer surface as the one and another portions of the outer surface overlap.

23. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein, when the airbag is pulled by the strap, the one portion of the outer surface and its corresponding inner surface portion are folded over onto the another portion of the outer surface.

24. An air-discharging method of an airbag configured to be supplied with gas in an interior thereof and inflated and deployed comprising:

forming a vent hole on the airbag;

closing the vent hole on an outer surface of the airbag by deforming the airbag such that one portion of the outer surface and its corresponding inner surface portion are folded onto another portion of the outer surface so as to form overlapping outer surface portions that remain outside of the interior of the airbag, wherein the vent hole is covered by one of the overlapping outer surface portions; and

discharging the gas in the airbag by opening the vent hole by deforming the airbag such that the one and another portions of the outer surface are not overlapping.

25. An air-discharging method of an airbag configured to be supplied with gas in an interior thereof and inflated and deployed comprising:

forming a protrusion protruding outward from an outer surface area of the airbag, wherein a connection of the outer surface area to the protrusion circumscribes around a base of the protrusion;

forming a vent hole on the protrusion or the outer surface area of the airbag;

closing the vent hole by pressing an outer surface of the protrusion against the outer surface area of the airbag;

opening the vent hole by filling the protrusion up with gas so as to stand upright from the outer surface area of the airbag such that the connection of the outer surface area to the protrusion remains around the base of the protrusion; and

discharging the gas in the airbag.