Airbag apparatus

• US 9,475,451 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2015
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kwon, Hae Wook
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, DREW J
• Application Number:
  US14/823,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20160046255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23384 having ends which are movable or detachable during deployment
• 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 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

Disclosed is and airbag apparatus including an inflator which generates gas; an airbag which has a first expandable portion that is coupled to the inflator and inflated when gas flows into the first expandable portion, and a second expandable portion that is inflated by gas discharged from the first expandable portion; and a partition wall which is disposed in the airbag to divide the airbag in a left and right direction into the first expandable portion and the second expandable portion, and has a communicating hole through which gas in the first expandable portion is discharged into the second expandable portion.

Claims

1. An airbag apparatus comprising:

an inflator which generates gas;

an airbag which has a first expandable portion that is coupled to the inflator and inflated when gas flows into the first expandable portion, and a second expandable portion that is inflated by gas discharged from the first expandable portion;

a partition wall which is disposed in the airbag to divide the airbag in a left and right direction into the first expandable portion and the second expandable portion, and has at least one communicating hole through which gas in the first expandable portion is discharged into the second expandable portion; and

a vent rate adjusting member which shields the at least one communicating hole, and opens the at least one communicating hole as the first expandable portion is inflated,

wherein the vent rate adjusting member comprises;

at least one vent cover which is coupled to the partition wall and shields the at least one communicating hole; and

at least one tether which is coupled to the at least one vent cover and the first expandable portion and pulls the at least one vent cover while being tightened as the first expandable portion is inflated, such that the at least one vent cover opens the at least one communicating hole.

2. The airbag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one communicating hole comprises a plurality of communicating holes formed in the partition wall, the at least one vent cover comprises a plurality of vent covers is provided to shield the plurality of communicating holes, respectively, and coupled to the partition wall, and the at least one tether is provided and pulls the plurality of vent covers while being tightened as the first expandable portion is inflated, such that the plurality of vent covers shields the plurality of communicating holes.

3. The airbag apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of communicating holes includes a first communicating hole and a second communicating hole, the plurality of vent covers includes a first vent cover which is coupled to the partition wall and shields the first communicating hole, and a second vent cover which is coupled to the partition wall and shields the second communicating hole, and the at least one tether includes a first tether coupled to the first vent cover and the first expandable portion, and a second tether coupled to the second vent cover and the first expandable portion.

4. The airbag apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of communicating holes includes a first communicating hole and a second communicating hole, the plurality of vent covers includes a first vent cover which is coupled to the partition wall and shields the first communicating hole, and a second vent cover which is coupled to the partition wall and shields the second communicating hole, and the at least one tether has a plurality of portions, which branches off from the tether and has ends that are coupled to the first vent cover and the second vent cover, respectively, and the other end of the tether is coupled to the first expandable portion.

5. The airbag apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an elastic member which is coupled to the partition wall and the at least one vent cover and pulls the at least one vent cover in a direction in which the vent cover shields the communicating hole.

6. The airbag apparatus of claim 5, wherein the elastic member is formed in a ring shape, and the at least one tether penetrates the elastic member.

7. The airbag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the airbag includes a main panel to which the inflator is coupled and is configured for an occupant to come into contact with, and side panels which are coupled at both sides of the main panel, respectively, and the partition wall is disposed between the side panels at both sides and coupled to the main panel.

8. The airbag apparatus of claim 7, wherein the partition wall has the same shape and the same size as the side panels at both sides.

9. The airbag apparatus of claim 1, wherein a vent hole through which gas in the first expandable portion is discharged to the outside of the airbag is formed in one surface of the first expandable portion.

10. The airbag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first expandable portion has a larger volume than the second expandable portion.

11. The airbag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first expandable portion is disposed to be closer to the outside from the interior of a vehicle between the left and right sides than the second expandable portion, and disposed at a position corresponding to an occupant seated in a seat.