Airbag apparatus

• US 8,517,417 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2011
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan GK
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Fujita, Takafumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Rocca, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coker, Robert A
• Application Number:
  US13/177,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20120013109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/732, 280/743.1, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/732
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23576 Sewing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2334 Expansion control features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

An airbag apparatus is provided including an airbag which is formed as a bag body by connecting a plurality of panels via seaming and is folded and housed in an instrument panel, and an inflator, wherein: in one form the airbag includes: a multi-layered connecting portion that connects at least three layers of the panels; and a height regulating portion that regulates a dimension of a height direction of the airbag from an upper surface of the instrument panel in an initial stage of an inflation and deployment process of the airbag; and the multi-layered connecting portion is positioned further toward a vehicle rear than the height regulating portion, in a state where the airbag apparatus is mounted to a vehicle.

Claims

1. An airbag apparatus comprising an airbag which is formed as a bag body by connecting a plurality of panels via seaming and is folded and housed in an instrument panel, and an inflator, wherein:

said airbag comprises;

a multi-layered connecting portion that connects at least three layers of said panels; and

a height regulating portion that regulates a dimension of a height direction of said airbag from an upper surface of said instrument panel in an initial stage of an inflation and deployment process of said airbag; and

said multi-layered connecting portion is positioned further toward a vehicle rear side than said height regulating portion, in a state where said airbag apparatus is mounted to a vehicle, and

said airbag in a folded and housed state comprises;

a front folded portion positioned on a windshield side; and

a rear folded portion positioned opposite said windshield side of said front folded portion;

said height regulating portion includes said front folded portion; and

said multi-layered connecting portion is positioned between said front folded portion and said rear folded portion.

2. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said front folded portion of said airbag comprises a number of folds that is less than a number of folds of said rear folded portion.

3. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said front folded portion and said rear folded portion of said airbag each include a roll-shaped fold that rolls toward said vehicle rear side.

4. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said airbag is formed by connecting an outer panel and an inner panel via seaming, and comprises a left airbag portion and a right airbag portion; and

said multi-layered connecting portion is a connecting portion that connects said outer panel and said inner panel with a reinforcement panel.

5. An airbag apparatus comprising an airbag which is formed as a bag body by connecting a plurality of panels via seaming and is folded and housed in an instrument panel, and an inflator, wherein:

said airbag comprises;

a multi-layered connecting portion that connects at least three layers of said panels; and

a height regulating portion that regulates a dimension of a height direction of said airbag from an upper surface of said instrument panel in an initial stage of an inflation and deployment process of said airbag; and

said multi-layered connecting portion is positioned further toward a vehicle rear side than said height regulating portion, in a state where said airbag apparatus is mounted to a vehicle, wherein

said airbag in a folded and housed state comprises;

a front folded portion positioned on a windshield side; and

a rear folded portion positioned opposite said windshield rear side of said front folded portion;

said height regulating portion includes said front folded portion; and

said multi-layered connecting portion is positioned between said front folded portion and said rear folded portion,

said front folded portion of said airbag comprises a number of folds that is less than a number of folds of said rear folded portion,

said front folded portion and said rear folded portion of said airbag each include a roll-shaped fold that rolls toward said vehicle rear side,

said airbag is formed by connecting an outer panel and an inner panel via seaming, and comprises a left airbag portion and a right airbag portion; and

said multi-layered connecting portion is a connecting portion that connects said outer panel and said inner panel with a reinforcement panel, and

said connecting portion is positioned at a contact side of an upper portion of said left airbag portion and said right airbag portion, the contact side contacting with said windshield in a final inflated and deployed state.