US 6,471,239 B1 · Air bag device

Abstract

An air bag device mounted on a steering wheel comprises a holding unit connected to a boss portion of the steering wheel. An inflater is held by the holding unit. The inflater includes a gas ejection portion. First and second fabrics have peripheral portions sewed together to constitute a bag structure. A gas inlet opening is formed in the first fabric. The gas inlet opening has the gas ejection portion of the inflater passed therethrough, so that the gas inlet opening is exposed to the interior of the bag structure. A third fabric is smaller in size than the first and second fabrics. The third fabric is installed in the bag structure in a manner to cover over the gas ejection portion of the inflater. A plurality of sewed points are provided by which the first and third fabrics are sewed together. A plurality of gas flow passages are provided between the first and third fabrics. Each gas flow passage is defined between neighboring two of the sewed points. A vent opening extends through one of the sewed points to provide a communication between a major portion of the interior of the bag structure and the outside of the same.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An air bag device comprising:

first and second fabrics having peripheral portions sewed together to constitute a bag structure;
a gas inlet opening formed in said first fabric;
a third fabric smaller in size than said first and second fabrics and comprising a peripheral portion, said third fabric being installed in said bag structure in a manner to cover over said gas inlet opening and said peripheral portion being free from said first and second fabrics;
a plurality of sewed points by which said first and third fabrics are sewed together, each sewed point being provided by sewing radially intermediate portions of said first and third fabrics respectively;
a plurality of gas flow passages provided between said first and third fabrics, each gas flow passage being defined between neighboring two of said sewed points;
and
a vent opening that is provided in and through at least one of said sewed points to provide a communication between a portion of the interior of said bag structure, which is defined between said second and third fabrics and the outside of said bag structure.

4 more elements

An air bag device for use on a steering wheel having a boss portion, comprising:

a holding unit connected to said boss portion of said steering wheel;
an inflater held by said holding unit, said inflater including a gas ejection portion;
first and second fabrics having peripheral portions sewed together to constitute a bag structure;
a gas inlet opening formed in said first fabric, said gas inlet opening having said gas ejection portion of said inflater received therein, so that said gas ejection portion is exposed to the interior of said bag structure;
a third fabric smaller in size than said first and second fabrics and comprising a peripheral portion, said third fabric being installed in said bag structure in a manner to cover over the gas ejection portion of said inflater and said peripheral portion being free from said first and second fabrics;
a plurality of sewed points by which said first and third fabrics are sewed together, each sewed point being provided by sewing radially intermediate portions of said first and third fabrics respectively;
a plurality of gas flow passages provided between said first and third fabrics, each gas flow passage being defined between neighboring two of said sewed points;
and
a vent opening that is provided in and through at least one of said sewed points to provide a communication between a portion of the interior of the bag structure, which is defined between said second and third fabrics and the outside of the bag structure.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Air bag device

Life of this patent

Air bag device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16