Airbag apparatus

• US 20070138767A1
• Filed: 11/16/2006
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nakazawa, Wataru
• Granted Patent: US 7,322,596 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members

Abstract

In airbag apparatus mounted on a vehicle, a folded shape of an airbag is held by an airbag-holding member disposed over an outer surface of the airbag, and is housed in a retainer. The airbag-holding member is made of a translucent film sheet, in which a plurality of resin layers is stacked in a thickness direction. The folded shape of the airbag can be visually confirmed.

Claims

1. An airbag apparatus mounted on a vehicle comprising:

an airbag;

an airbag housing portion for housing the airbag folded in a predetermined configuration and including an airbag opening for allowing the airbag to be developed and expanded;

an airbag cover for covering the airbag opening;

a gas-supplying device for supplying gas to the airbag to expand and develop the airbag in a developing and expanding area when the vehicle accident occurs; and

an airbag-holding member for holding the folded airbag, disposed over an outer surface of the folded airbag housed in the airbag housing portion to partition the airbag housing portion and the airbag cover, said airbag-holding member being formed of a translucent film sheet having a plurality of resin layers stacked in sheet thickness direction.

2. An airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the airbag-holding member comprises a resin layer having translucency and a low frictional characteristic for the airbag, as the translucent film sheet, and is fixed to an outer surface of the airbag in a folded condition to be housed in the airbag housing portion.

3. An airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the airbag-holding member comprises at least a first resin layer having translucency and high strength, and a second resin layer having translucency and environmental deterioration resistance, as the translucent film sheet.

4. An airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the airbag-holding member is arranged to wrap around an outer surface of the airbag with an airbag open side, folded in a predetermined configuration.

5. An airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the airbag-holding member is arranged such that the translucent film sheet covers the airbag opening of the airbag housing portion, and the translucent film sheet is fixed to an opening side of the airbag housing portion.

6. An airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said airbag-holding member has a rectangular shape to cover four sides of the folded airbag.

7. An airbag apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said airbag-holding member has tear lines at an upper portion thereof for allowing the airbag to be expanded easily, said tear line being partly formed in the first resin layer without completely penetrating the same.