Air bag device for passenger seat

An air bag device comprising:

• an air bag arranged in a folded state and including a gas inflow opening;
• an inflator for feeding gas to the air bag through the gas inflow opening;
• a case constructed and arranged to enclose and store the inflator in a rear portion thereof and the air bag in a front portion thereof, said case having a front surface opening extending in a horizontal direction;
• a cover member for covering the front surface opening of the case, said cover member being constructed and arranged to open upon inflation of the air bag;
• wherein said air bag is constructed and arranged within said case such that a front portion of said air bag defines a zigzag folded portion consisting of a plurality of alternating and adjacent folds respectively erected upwardly and a rear portion of the air bag extends along a mounting base portion of the air bag and a lower side surface of the case, said zigzag folded portion being disposed transversely with respect to the rear portion of the air bag which extends along the lower side surface of said case whereby upon inflation of the air bag a gravitational effect on the inflating air bag tending to force the air bag downwardly upon exiting the air bag opening is overcome enabling the air bag to unfold substantially horizontally.

A method of storing an air bag in a case of an air bag device comprising the step of:

• mounting a base portion of the air bag to the case;
• folding a front portion of the air bag to define a zigzag folded portion having alternating and adjacent folds, and arranging a rear portion of the air bag to extend along said base portion of the air bag and a lower side surface of said case, said folds being disposed generally horizontal and parallel with respect to the rear portion of the air bag extending along said base portion;
• and
• moving said folded portion such that said folds are disposed generally vertically and transversely with respect to said rear portion of said air bag extending along the lower side surface of said case.