Airbag device
AssigneeTakata Corporation
InventorMasayoshi Kumagai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An airbag device is provided to prevent an airbag from being deployed or to reduce the deployment force of an airbag when an airbag device or a vehicle-body component adjacent to the airbag device is leaned against by a vehicle occupant. In one form, a passenger-seat airbag device is set in an instrument panel and includes a bracket which is fixed to a vehicle-body member with, for example, a bolt. A strain gauge is attached to the bracket. When a lid covering the front side of a retainer is leaned against by a vehicle occupant, the weight of the occupant is transmitted to the bracket via the retainer, such that a small strain is generated in the bracket. Such a strain is detected by the strain gauge to allow the deployment force of the airbag to be reduced.
Claims18
An airbag device for a vehicle, the airbag device comprising:
- an airbag operatively mounted to a predetermined component of the vehicle;
- a gas generator for inflating the airbag with inflation gas;
- and
- a detector operable to detect a load applied to the predetermined component of the vehicle prior to airbag deployment to allow inflation of the airbag to be controlled based on the applied load.
An airbag device for a vehicle, the airbag device comprising:
- an airbag operatively mounted to a predetermined component of the vehicle;
- a gas generator for inflating the airbag with inflation gas;
- and
- a detector for detecting a load applied to the predetermined component of the vehicle to allow inflation of the airbag to be controlled based on the applied load, wherein the detector comprises one of a strain gauge and a displacement sensor.
In combination, a vehicle including an airbag device, the combination comprising:
- a predetermined component of the vehicle;
- an airbag operatively mounted to the predetermined component of the vehicle;
- a gas generator for inflating the airbag with inflation gas;
- and
- a detector for detecting a load applied to the predetermined component of the vehicle to allow inflation of the airbag to be controlled based on the applied load, wherein the predetermined component of the vehicle includes one of an instrument panel and a steering wheel.
A vehicle having a passenger compartment, the vehicle comprising:
- an instrument panel in the vehicle passenger compartment;
- a steering wheel in the vehicle passenger compartment;
- an airbag device associated with at least one of the instrument panel and the steering wheel and having an airbag for being inflated in the passenger compartment during vehicle emergency conditions;
- and
- a lean force detector of the airbag device that detects a load applied by a passenger engaging and leaning against the one of the instrument panel and the steering wheel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.