Air bag apparatus for vehicle

• US 9,421,942 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2015
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2014
• 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: Shin, Hyo Shub, Kim, Tae In, Yoo, Jae Haeng, Lee, Chang Hyun, Choi, Jun Yeol
• Primary Examiner(s): Freedman, Laura
• Application Number:
  US14/673,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20160144820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23308 the individual compartments defining the external shape of the bag
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2395 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2346 Soft diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/274 characterised by means to rupture or open the fluid source

Abstract

An air bag apparatus for a vehicle includes an inflator and a main tube configured to be unfolded toward an occupant of the vehicle by a gas pressure when the inflator explodes. A support tube is coupled to one side of the main tube and configured to be unfolded by being supplied with gas from the main tube. An active vent is configured to be installed in a path which connects the main tube to the support tube and to open and close the path. A controller is configured to control an opening and closing operation of the active vent.

Claims

1. An air bag apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

an inflator;

a main tube configured to be unfolded toward an occupant of the vehicle by a gas pressure when the inflator explodes;

a support tube coupled to one side of the main tube and configured to be unfolded by being supplied with gas from the main tube;

an active vent configured to be installed in a path which connects the main tube to the support tube and to open and close the path; and

a controller configured to control an opening and closing operation of the active vent,

wherein the opening and closing operation of the active vent depends on whether or not the controller receives a signal from a seat belt sensor that occupant wears a seat belt while the main tube is unfolded.

2. The air bag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the occupant is a passenger, the support tube is coupled to one side of the main tube in a first direction from a passenger'"'"'s seat to a driver'"'"'s seat, and

the support tube unfolds toward the driver'"'"'s seat when the active vent is opened.

3. The air bag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the opening and closing operation of the active vent depends on a vehicle velocity.

4. The air bag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the active vent so as not to open when the controller does not receive the signal from the seat belt sensor that occupant does not wear the seat belt when the main tube is unfolded.

5. The air bag apparatus of claim 4, wherein the controller controls the active vent not to open while a vehicle velocity is equal to or more than a reference vehicle velocity.

6. The air bag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the active vent to open when the controller receives the signal from the seat belt sensor that the occupant wears the seat belt while the main tube is unfolded.

7. The air bag apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller controls the active vent to open while a vehicle velocity is equal to or more than a reference vehicle velocity.

8. The air bag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is an air bag control unit, and

the air bag control unit controls all air bags within the vehicle to be simultaneously deployed when the main tube is unfolded.

9. An air bag apparatus for a vehicle, the air bag apparatus comprising:

an inflator;

a main tube configured to be unfolded toward an occupant of the vehicle by a gas pressure when the inflator explodes;

a support tube coupled to one side of the main tube and configured to be unfolded by being supplied with gas from the main tube;

an active vent configured to be installed in a path which connects the main tube to the support tube and to open and close the path;

a controller configured to control an opening and closing operation of the active vent,

wherein the opening and closing operation of the active vent depends on a vehicle velocity, and

wherein the controller controls the active vent not to open when the vehicle velocity is equal to or less than a reference vehicle velocity when the main tube is unfolded.

10. The air bag apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller controls the active vent not to open whether or not the controller receives a signal from a seat belt sensor that the occupant wears a seat belt.