Air-bag for a vehicle

• US 20040012181A1
• Filed: 12/30/2002
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Jung-Soo, Kim, Gun-Woo, Kim, Ik-Hwan, Kim, Joon-Ho, Ahn, Jung-Bae, Cho, Byong-Ryong
• Granted Patent: US 6,840,535 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/740
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/276 with means to vent the inflation fluid source, e.g. in case of overpressure B60R21/30 takes precedence; venting means on inflatable member walls B60R21/239

Abstract

Disclosed is an airbag for a vehicle capable of minimizing gas leakage in an early stage through gas discharge holes in a housing when spreading an air cushion. In both sides opposite to a first housing, the gas discharge holes are formed for emitting gas. A retainer, on whose upper surface is fixed the air cushion, and in whose both sides are formed a coupling part having coupling holes corresponding to the gas discharge holes, is provided. This coupling part is coupled to the first housing through the coupling means. The gas discharge holes are made lengthwise to make it possible to move the retainer up and down. As a result, when spreading the air cushion, some of the holes are opened by movement of the coupling part. Besides, the coupling holes are formed in the lower side of the coupling part, so when not spreading the air cushion, the gas discharge holes are kept closed by means of the coupling part. In accordance with this structure, it is possible to adopt a smaller capacity of the inflator as it can efficiently control the gas emitted to the outside through the gas discharge holes in the early stage of spreading the air cushion.

Claims

1. An airbag for a vehicle, comprising:

an air cushion;

an inflator for providing gas to the air cushion by generating it;

a first housing for accepting the inflator, having gas discharge holes for emitting gas in both sides opposite to each other;

a retainer for fixing the air cushion on its upper surface, including a coupling part having coupling holes corresponding to the gas discharge holes in both sides, and coupled to the first housing to move up and down;

a coupling means for coupling the coupling part to the first housing; and

a second housing for accepting the air cushion, coupled to an upper portion of the first housing,

wherein the gas discharge holes are formed long in a upward and downward direction to make the retainer to move up and down so that some of the gas discharge holes are opened by movement of the coupling part when spreading the air cushion, and the coupling holes keep the gas discharge holes closed by means of the coupling part when not spreading the air cushion by being arranged in the lower portion of the coupling part.

2. The airbag for the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the coupling means comprises bolts for being inserted into the coupling holes from the outside through the gas discharge holes, and nuts for being screw-coupled with the bolts, and a friction force between the coupling part and the first housing is controlled according to a coupling strength of the bolt.

3. The airbag for a vehicle according to claims 1 or 2, wherein a guiding part inclined with a predetermined angle towards the center part of the retainer is formed to guide gas flow easily to the gas discharge holes on an end of the coupling part when emitting gas through the gas discharge holes.