Air bag apparatus for vehicle

• US 20020043787A1
• Filed: 12/19/2001
• Published: 04/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nihon Plast Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nihon Plast Company Limited
• Inventors: Yokoyama, Aki
• Granted Patent: US 6,820,892 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2171 specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters B60R21/2176 takes precedence

Abstract

An air bag apparatus for a vehicle according to the invention is provided with an inflator discharging gas, a folded air bag deployed by said discharged gas, a case storing the folded airbag therein, and a retainer fixing the airbag to the peripheral edge of the opening in a state of holding the end portion of the air bag therebetween. The peripheral edge of the opening forms an upward standing flange, and the flange seals off the end portion of the air bag from said discharged gas.

Claims

1. An air bag apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a case comprising an open end, a surface opposite to the open end comprising an opening and a flange standing inward from a peripheral edge of the opening;

a folded air bag stored in the case, having an end portion connected to the inner peripheral edge of the opening; and

a retainer fixed to the inner peripheral edge of the opening holding the end portion of the air bag therebetween,

an inflator facing to the inner side of the air bag for discharging gas to deploy the air bag;

wherein the flange extends higher than the end portion of the air bag.

2. An air bag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the retainer comprises a covering surface fitted to the flange.

3. An air bag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 2,

wherein the end portion of the air bag is curved along the flange and is further held between the covering surface of the retainer and the flange.

4. An air bag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the inflator comprises one or more gas injection holes positioned substantially at a center of the opening.

5. An air bag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a bracket fixed to an outer side of the surface opposite to the open end of the case so that the bracket and the retainer surround the inflator.

6. An air bag apparatus for vehicle according to claim 5,

wherein the bracket further comprises one or more grooves on a surface opposite to the inflator thereof so that said gas is conducted to the opening.

7. An air bag apparatus for vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the end portion of the air bag is curved along the flange.