Airbag apparatus

• US 9,352,721 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2015
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Jang, Rae Ick
• Primary Examiner(s): TO, TOAN C
• Application Number:
  US14/592,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20150283973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.1, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23384 having ends which are movable or detachable during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2395 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

Disclosed is an airbag apparatus, which includes: an airbag body unfolded by gas generated by an inflator during a crash of a car; two or more vents formed at one side of the airbag body; shielding parts installed so as to shield the vents, respectively; a tether configured to connect the shielding parts to each other; and a hinge part configured to make the tether be in close contact with an internal surface of the airbag body. Accordingly, the vent is shielded after a passenger collides with the airbag body, so that it is possible to minimize an injury to the neck of the passenger by maintaining a pressure inside the airbag apparatus.

Claims

1. An airbag apparatus, comprising:

an airbag body expanding by gas generated by an inflator during a crash of a vehicle;

two or more vents formed at portions of the airbag body;

two or more curtains installed such that each of the curtains opens or blocks a corresponding one of the vents;

a tether configured to connect adjacent curtains to each other; and

a hinge part configured to make the tether proximate to an internal surface of the airbag body,

wherein first and second side portions of each of the curtains are sewn in a folded state, and the first side portion connected with the tether is broken by pulling the tether to close the corresponding one of the vents.

2. The airbag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the curtains close the vents in response to a force applied to the tether.

3. The airbag apparatus of claim 1, wherein a closing time of the vents corresponds to a length of the tether.

4. The airbag apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the curtains closes the corresponding one of the vents when a passenger collides with the airbag body.