Airbag device for vehicle

• US 9,376,081 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2014
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Choi, Jun Yeol
• Primary Examiner(s): Rocca, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilhelm, Timothy
• Application Number:
  US14/550,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20160052478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 584 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2395 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/216 comprising tether means for limitation of cover motion during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

An airbag device for a vehicle may include a main vent hole formed in an airbag cushion and configured to discharge an expanding gas therein, a cover provided to an outer side of the airbag cushion and configured to switch between a state in which the cover is spaced apart from the main vent hole by a given tensile force to open the main vent hole and a state in which the cover is closely adhered to the main vent hole to close the main vent hole, a tether configured to have one end portion connected to the cover and another end portion fixed in the airbag cushion and provide the tensile force to the cover through the main vent hole, and a tether guide.

Claims

1. An airbag device for a vehicle, comprising:

a main vent hole formed in an airbag cushion and configured to discharge an expanding gas therein;

a cover provided to an outer side of the airbag cushion and configured to switch between a state in which the cover is spaced apart from the main vent hole by a given tensile force to open the main vent hole and a state in which the cover is closely adhered to the main vent hole to close the main vent hole;

a tether configured to have one end portion connected to the cover and another end portion fixed in the airbag cushion and provide the tensile force to the cover through the main vent hole; and

a tether guide configured to have an edge fixed on an inner side of the airbag cushion to form a space between the tether guide and the airbag cushion such that the tether is configured to slide in a state in which the tether passes through the tether guide and is supported,

wherein the tether guide has an edge formed in a circular shape and is sewed on the inner side of the airbag cushion.

2. The airbag device according to claim 1, further comprising a closed guide provided between the main vent hole and the tether guide to support the tether and configured so that the tether passing through the tether guide slides on the inner side of the airbag cushion and passes through the inner side of the airbag cushion.

3. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the cover is provided with an auxiliary vent hole to discharge the expanding gas in the airbag cushion, and the auxiliary vent hole is positioned on an inner side or an outer side of the main vent hole in a state in which the cover closes the main vent hole.

4. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the cover has a portion adhered to the airbag cushion to enclose the main vent hole and remaining portions which are opened, and is configured together with an outer side of the airbag cushion, to form an outlet having a pocket shape discharging the expanding gas discharged from the main vent hole into an atmosphere.

5. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the main vent hole is formed in a side surface of the airbag cushion and the tether guide is installed in an inner side of a portion of the airbag cushion that a head of a passenger is in contact with.

6. The airbag device according to claim 5, wherein an outer surface of the airbag cushion to which the tether guide is fixed is deployed in a state in which the outer surface of the airbag cushion to which the tether guide is fixed protrudes to the passenger as compared to an outer surface of the airbag cushion therearound.

7. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the tether includes a first portion connecting a front and a rear of the airbag cushion and a second portion extended to a side of the airbag cushion and connected to the cover, and

the tether guide is provided with a first guide hole through which the first portion of the tether passes and a second guide hole through which the second portion of the tether passes, such that the tether slides while passing through a space between the tether guide and the airbag cushion through the first guide hole and the second guide hole.

8. The airbag device according to claim 7, wherein the other end portion of the tether is fixed on the front of the airbag cushion and a middle end portion of the tether slides while passing through the first guide hole and the second guide hole, such that the tensile force provided to the cover is released by a change in a relative length of the first portion and the second portion of the tether when a head of the passenger is in contact with the airbag cushion to thereby switch the main vent hole to an opened state.

9. The airbag device according to claim 1, further comprising a shape maintaining tether having front and rear ends, and both the front and rear ends fixed in the airbag cushion and regulating a deployed shape of the airbag cushion,

wherein a front end portion of the shape maintaining tether is fixed to a front of the airbag cushion together with the other end portion of the tether.