# US 10,246,042 B2 · Air bag device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,042 B2 - Document ID: US10246042B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/319,904 - Filed: 2015-05-01 - Published: 2017-05-04 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2014-06-25 - Assignees: Autoliv Development AB - Applicants: Autoliv Development AB - Inventors: Tomohiro Sumiya - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246042B2 ## CPC - B60R 21/233: comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other (B60R21/232 takes precedence) - B60R 21/013: including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over - B60R 21/203: in steering wheels or steering columns - B60R 21/205: in dashboards - B60R 21/231: characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration - B60R 21/23138: {specially adapted for side protection (B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence)} - B60R 21/2338: Tethers - B60R 21/239: characterised by their venting means - B60R 21/263: using a variable source, e.g. plural stage or controlled output (hybrid inflators B60R21/272) - B60R 2021/0004: {Frontal collision} - B60R 2021/0009: {Oblique collision} - B60R 2021/0023: {Offset collision} - B60R 2021/0048: {Head} - B60R 2021/23107: {the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system} - B60R 2021/23308: {the individual compartments defining the external shape of the bag} - B60R 2021/23324: {Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents} - B60R 2021/23382: {Internal tether means} - B60R 2021/23384: {having ends which are movable or detachable during deployment} - B60R 2021/23386: {External tether means} - B60R 2021/2395: {comprising means to control the venting} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An airbag device capable of restraining an obliquely forward movement of an occupant. The airbag device includes: an inflator which is operated by a signal from a sensor that detects a collision and which discharges expansion gas; to deploy and expand the airbags. The airbags include: a first airbag which deploys to the front of an occupant for restraining a forward movement of the occupant; and a second airbag which is joined to a side part of the first airbag on a cabin center side and restrains an obliquely forward movement of the occupant. The collision sensor is capable of discriminating between a first collision mode which is not accompanied by rotation of the vehicle and a second collision mode which is accompanied by a rotation of the vehicle in a horizontal plane, and the second airbag is deployed only when the second collision mode occurs. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An airbag device for restraining a forward movement of an occupant seated on a vehicle seat of a vehicle adapted for use with a collision sensor, comprising: an inflator which is operated by a signal from the sensor that detects a collision of the vehicle and which discharges an expansion gas; and a plurality of airbags which expand and deploy due to the expansion gas, wherein the plurality of airbags includes a first airbag which deploys to the front of the occupant; and a second airbag which is joined to a side part of the first airbag on a cabin center side with respect to the occupant and is adapted to restrain an obliquely forward movement of the occupant when deployed, the collision sensor of a type capable of discriminating between a first collision mode which is not accompanied by a significant rotation of the vehicle in a horizontal plane and a second collision mode which is accompanied by a significant rotation of the vehicle in the horizontal plane, and the first airbag is deployed in the first and the second collision modes and the second airbag is deployed only when the second collision mode occurs and the second airbag is not deployed when the first collision mode occurs, the inflator discharges the expansion gas into the first airbag in the first collision mode and in the second collision mode, a joint of the first airbag and the second airbag is provided with an openable and closable inflation vent opening which communicates with both the first and the second airbags, and the inflation vent opening is configured so that the gas flows into the second airbag from the first airbag during the second collision mode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The airbag device according to claim 1, further comprising wherein the inflation vent opening opens to permit the gas flow only when the second collision mode occurs. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The airbag device according to claim 1, further comprising an inflation vent tether which adjusts an opening and a closing of the inflation vent opening and is joined to the inflation vent opening. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The airbag device according to claim 3, further comprising the inflation vent tether is severed when the second collision mode is detected causing the inflation vent opening to open. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The airbag device according to claim 3, further comprising the inflation vent tether is controlled in response to the collision sensor detecting the first collision mode or the second collision mode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The airbag device according to claim 1, further comprising a third airbag joined to a side part of the first airbag on a window side of the vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The airbag device according to claim 6, further comprising wherein the third airbag is deployed only when the first collision mode occurs. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The airbag device according to claim 7, further comprising a second inflation vent opening between the first airbag and the third airbag, the second inflation vent opening is configured so that the gas flows from the first airbag to the third airbag through the second inflation vent opening only when the first collision mode occurs, and the second vent opening is closed in the second collision mode. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The airbag device according to claim 8, further comprising a second inflation vent tether connected with the second vent opening. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The airbag device according to claim 9, further comprising the second inflation vent tether having one end connected with the second airbag and an opposite end connected with the second inflation vent opening wherein when the second airbag is not deployed the second inflation vent opening is open to allow inflation of the third airbag and when the second airbag is deployed tension is applied to the second inflation vent tether causing the second inflation vent opening to close. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The airbag device according to claim 7, further comprising wherein the third airbag is not deployed when the second collision mode occurs. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The airbag device according to claim 6, further comprising the third airbag is positioned on a window side of the vehicle with respect to the occupant. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The airbag device according to claim 6, further comprising the second and the third airbags are joined with the first airbag on opposite lateral sides of the first airbag. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The airbag device according to claim 1, further comprising an exhaust vent opening between the first airbag and atmosphere, the exhaust vent opening is configured so that the gas flows from the first airbag to the atmosphere through the exhaust vent opening only when the first collision mode occurs, the exhaust vent opening is closed in the second collision mode. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The airbag device according to claim 14, further comprising an exhaust vent tether for controlling a closing of the exhaust vent opening. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The airbag device according to claim 15, further comprising the exhaust vent tether is connected at one end to the exhaust vent opening and at an opposite end to a portion of the second airbag such that inflation of the second airbag places tension on the exhaust vent tether in a manner to close the exhaust vent opening thereby closing the exhaust vent opening in the second collision mode.