US 6,183,003 B2 · Air bag mounting and vent hole arrangement

Abstract

An airbag of an airbag device has a primary hole for receiving an inflator and a secondary hole for receiving a securing device which secures the inflator to a base plate. A section surrounding the secondary hole is sandwiched between the inflator put in the airbag and the base plate. Therefore, the section of the airbag sandwiched between the inflator and the base plate can be enlarged and thus a high securing strength of the airbag can be acquired. The primary hole can comprise a vent hole that is used to discharge the gas from the inflator to the outside of the airbag. This structure need not make the vent hole separately. Therefore, the airbag is made simple and the production cost thereof becomes lower.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims10

Dependent claims

An airbag device for a vehicle comprising:

a base plate;
an inflator mounted on said base plate and having a base face;
securing means provided at a center of said base face of said inflator for securing said inflator to said base plate;
and
an airbag, said inflator being disposed within said airbag, said airbag having a hole therein, said securing means passing through said hole, a diameter of said hole being smaller than a diameter of said inflator, said airbag also having a retention section surrounding said hole of said airbag, which is sandwiched and fastened between said base face of said inflator and said base plate when said inflator is secured to said base plate by said securing means.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description4,065 words

Summary855 words

#1. Field of the Invention:

#The present invention relates to an airbag device for protecting a vehicular occupant by softening a shock of a vehicle collision with an airbag inflated when the vehicle collision takes place.

#2. Related Art:

Brief description of the drawings16 figures

#Other features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated, as well as methods of operation and the function of the related parts, from a study of the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the drawings, all of which form a part of this application. In the drawings:

#FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating the structure of the first embodiment according to the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the airbag of the first embodiment according to the present invention, seen from the installation side of inflator;

Detailed description2,823 words

#The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments.

#FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating the entire structure of the airbag device in the first embodiment. In an airbag device 1, a retaining section 7 of an airbag 2 is sandwiched between an inflator 9 inserted into the airbag 2 and a base plate 10. The inflator 9 is secured to the base plate 10 by connecting a screw section 16 thereof with a nut 12. The airbag 2 is folded and housed in a pad 5. The inflator 9 is connected to a power source (not illustrated in the figure) by means of an electrical connector 51 to receive supply of a starting current. When the starting current is supplied to the inflator 9 through the connecter 51, the inflator 9 generates inflation gas for the airbag 2. An electronic control circuit (not illustrated in the figure) controls whether to supply the starting current to the inflator 9, based on a signal detected by an acceleration sensor (not illustrated in the figure). The acceleration sensor is included in the electronic control circuit and outputs the signal when a vehicle has crashed. The acceleration sensor need not be located in the electronic control circuit. It can also be installed outside the electronic control circuit in the vehicle. Furthermore, it is possible to eliminate the electronic control circuit and adopt a mechanical acceleration sensor which is disposed between the power source and the inflator 9. When the acceleration caused by the vehicle collision is applied to the mechanical acceleration sensor, a contact of the mechanical acceleration sensor is closed and the inflator 9 is connected to the power source. It is also possible to install the electronic control circuit or the electronic control circuit including the acceleration sensor within the base plate 10. The airbag device 1 having such a structure is installed in the center of steering wheel 50.

#FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show a detail of the airbag 2. FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the airbag 2 taken on line II—II of FIG.3, which is seen from the attachment side of the inflator 9. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the airbag 2 in an inflated state.

Facts

Application

08/404,862Filed 15 Mar 1995

Priority

JP 6-05029922 Mar 1994

Granted

6 Feb 2001

Term ended

6 Feb 2018

Estimated · how

Pre-1995 term; greater of 17 years from grant or 20 years from filing when eligible. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification4 codes

B60R 21/23
Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags: inflatable members
B60R 21/2035
In steering wheels or steering columns: using modules containing inflator, bag and cover attachable to the steering wheel as a complete sub-unit
B60R 21/217
Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components:…
B60R
Vehicle fittings and parts

Air bag mounting and vent hole arrangement

Life of this patent

Air bag mounting and vent hole arrangement

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims10

Description4,065 words

Drawings

Classification4 codes

Life of this patent

Description4,065 words