# US 5,704,636 A · Air bag apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,704,636 A - Document ID: US5704636A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/754,184 - Filed: 1996-11-25 - Granted: 1998-01-06 - Earliest claimed: 1994-12-28 - Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho - Inventors: Teruhiko Koide - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704636A ## CPC - B60R 21/231: characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration - B60R 21/217: Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together - B60R 2021/23153: {specially adapted for rear seat passengers} - B60R 2021/23169: {specially adapted for knee protection} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An air bag apparatus having a bag body inflated due to gas generated at the time of a sudden deceleration of a vehicle; a plate for holding the bag body; an oblong hole formed at a portion of the bag body where the bag body is not inflated; a rivet inserted into the oblong hole; and a pressing piece for holding the bag body via the rivet between the bag body and the plate in a state in which the bag body is not inflated when the vehicle is running at an ordinary state and for pressing the bag body so as to allow the bag body to be inflated when the vehicle suddenly decelerates. As a result, the bag body is moved along the longitudinal direction of the oblong hole when the vehicle suddenly decelerates, allowing the bag body to be inflated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An air bag apparatus comprising: a bag body inflated towards a vehicle occupant due to gas generated by an inflator when the vehicle decelerates suddenly; a plate-shaped bag holder mounted to the vehicle body for supporting said bag body; and a connecting means for connecting said bag body to said plate-shaped bag holder such that said bag body is movable within a predetermined range so as to inflate said bag body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An air bag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said connecting means includes: an oblong hole provided in said bag body; an axis member inserted into said oblong hole; and a pressing member engaged at one end of said axis member and pressing said bag body so as to hold said bag body between the same and said plate-shaped bag holder in a state in which said bag body is not inflated when the vehicle is running in an ordinary state and to move said bag body along the longitudinal direction of said oblong hole when the vehicle decelerates. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An air bag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bag body is in a generally rectangular shape in plan view, and said connecting means is provided so as to correspond to at least one of two pairs of opposing sides of said bag body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An air bag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bag body is in a generally rectangular shape in plan view, and said connecting means is provided so as to correspond to two sides adjacent each other of the four sides of said bag body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An air bag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bag body is in a generally rectangular shape in plan view, and said connecting means is provided so as to correspond to at least one side of the two pairs of opposing sides of said bag body and said bag body has a folded portion corresponding to at least one side of the other pair, said folded portion being folded when the vehicle is running in an ordinary state and being unfolded when the vehicle decelerates. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An air bag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said connecting means includes: an oblong hole provided in said plate-shaped bag holder; an axis member inserted into said oblong hole; and a pressing member engaged at one end of said axis member and pressing said bag body so as to hold said bag body between the same and said plate-shaped bag holder in a state in which said bag body is not inflated when the vehicle is running in an ordinary state and to move said bag body along the longitudinal direction of said oblong hole when the vehicle decelerates. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An air bag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bag body includes an upper cloth and a lower cloth, said upper cloth and said lower cloth being stitched together in a generally rectangular shape constituted by four stitched portions so that the inflating portion is inside said generally rectangular shape, and said connecting means is provided on portions of said bag body which are positioned outside at least one of two pairs of opposing stitched portions of said four stitched portions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An air bag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bag body includes an upper cloth and a lower cloth, said upper cloth and said lower cloth being stitched together in a generally rectangular shape constituted by four stitched portions so that the inflating portion is inside said generally rectangular shape, and said connecting means is provided on portions of said bag body which are positioned outside two adjacent ones of said four stitched portions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An air bag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bag body includes an upper cloth and a lower cloth, said upper cloth and said lower cloth being stitched together in a generally rectangular shape constituted by four stitched portions so that the inflating portion is inside said generally rectangular shape, said connecting means is provided on a portion of said bag body which is positioned outside of at least one stitched portion in one of the two pairs of two stitched portions opposing each other of said four stitched portions, and said bag body has a folded portion provided inside of at least one stitched portion in the other pair, said folded portion being maintained in a folded state when the vehicle is running in an ordinary state and being unfolded when the vehicle decelerates. ### Claim 10 An air bag apparatus suitable for being disposed corresponding to the knees of a vehicle occupant comprising: an inflator generating gas when the vehicle suddenly decelerates; a bag body inflated towards the vehicle occupant due to the gas generated by said inflator when the vehicle suddenly decelerates; a plate-shaped bag holder mounted to the vehicle body for fixing said inflator as well as supporting said bag body; and a connecting means for connecting said bag body to said plate-shaped bag holder such that said bag body is movable within a predetermined range so as to cause said bag body to be inflated. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An air bag apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said connecting means includes: an oblong hole provided in said bag body; an axis member inserted into said oblong hole; and a pressing member engaged at one end of said axis member and pressing said bag body to said plate-shaped bag holder so as to hold said bag body between the same and said plate-shaped bag holder in a state in which said bag body is not inflated when the vehicle is running at an ordinary state and to move said bag body longitudinally along said oblong hole when the vehicle suddenly decelerates. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) An air bag apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said bag body is in a generally rectangular shape in plan view, and said connecting means is provided so as to correspond to at least one of two pairs of opposing sides of said bag body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) An air bag apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said bag body is in a generally rectangular shape in plan view, and said connecting means is provided so as to correspond to two sides adjacent each other of the four sides of said bag body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) An air bag apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said bag body is in a generally rectangular shape in plan view, said connecting means is provided so as to correspond to at least one side of one pair of the two pairs of opposing sides of said bag body, and said bag body has a folded portion corresponding to at least one side of the other pair, said folded portion being folded when the vehicle is running at an ordinary state and being unfolded when the vehicle suddenly decelerates. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) An air bag apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said connecting means includes: an oblong hole provided in said plate-shaped bag holder; an axis member inserted into said oblong hole; and a pressing member engaged at one end of said axis member and pressing said bag body to said plate-shaped bag holder so as to hold said bag body between the same and said plate-shaped bag holder in a state in which said bag body is not inflated when the vehicle is running in an ordinary state and to move said bag body longitudinally along said oblong hole when the vehicle suddenly decelerates. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) An air bag apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said bag body includes an upper cloth and a lower cloth, said upper cloth and said lower cloth being stitched together in a generally rectangular shape constituted by four stitched portions so that the inflating portion is inside said generally rectangular shape, and said connecting means is provided on portions of said bag body which are positioned outside at least one of two pairs of opposing stitched portions of said four stitched portions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) An air bag apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said bag body includes an upper cloth and a lower cloth, said upper cloth and said lower cloth being stitched together in a generally rectangular shape constituted by four stitched portions so that the inflating portion is inside said substantially rectangular shape, and said connecting means is provided on portions of said bag body which are positioned outside two adjacent ones of said four stitched portions. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) An air bag apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said bag body includes an upper cloth and a lower cloth, said upper cloth and said lower cloth being stitched together in a generally rectangular shape constituted by four stitched portions so that the inflating portion is inside said generally rectangular shape, said connecting means is provided on a portion of said bag body which is positioned outside of at least one stitched portion in one of the two pairs of two stitched portions opposing each other of said four stitched portions, and said bag body has a folded portion provided inside of at least one stitched portion in the other pair, said folded portion being maintained in a folded state when the vehicle is running at an ordinary state and being unfolded when the vehicle suddenly decelerates. ### Claim 19 An air bag apparatus suitable for being disposed corresponding to the knees of a vehicle occupant comprising: an inflator generating gas when the vehicle suddenly decelerates; a bag body including an upper cloth and an lower cloth, said upper cloth and said lower cloth being stitched in a generally rectangular shape constituted by four stitched portions so that the inflating portion is inside said generally rectangular shape, said bag body being inflated towards the vehicle occupant due to gas generated by said inflator; a plate-shaped bag holder mounted to the vehicle body for fixing said inflator as well as supporting said bag body; and a connecting means provided on portions of said bag body which are positioned outside of one of two pairs of opposing stitched portions of the four stitched portions and connecting said bag body to said plate-shaped bag holder such that said bag body is movable within a predetermined range so as to be inflated. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) An air bag apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said bag body has folded portions provided on portions of the bag body which are inside of the other pair of two pairs of opposing stitched portions of said four stitched portions, said folded portions being maintained in a folded state when the vehicle is running at an ordinary state and being unfolded when the vehicle suddenly decelerates.