Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Patent
1992-01-23
1993-05-25
Rice, Kenneth R.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
280731, 280732, 280743, B60R 2122
Patent
active
052133613
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air bag which is provided on a vehicle and is inflated when the vehicle crashes against something to protect the passenger and, more particularly to an air bag whose shape at inflation has been improved.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
As shown in FIG. 7, an air bag 21 of an air bag device is rapidly inflated when a vehicle 20 crashes against something, by gas from an inflator to protect a human body 10.
As this type of air bag, a type whose shape is an inflated state is like a flat board, is widely used. In Japanese laid open utility model publication 50-34441, an air bag 1 is disclosed, both sides of the surface thereof which faces a human body projecting forward when inflated, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. With such an air bag 1, since the human body 10 is sandwiched from left and right sides by projecting portions 1b and 1c of the air bag which has been inflated, it is possible to securely receive the human body.
The air bag of Japanese laid open utility model publication 50-34441 has a configuration wherein the left and right sides of the surface facing a human body are made of expandable cloth and, as a result, the left and right sides of the surface facing a human body are projected forward by the pressure of gas when inflated. However, when the gas selectively flows towards one side of the air bag because of a bias current occurred in the gas flow from the inflator, for example, the expandable cloth on one side (e.g., the side of 1b) is projected primarily while the expandable cloth on the other side (the side of 1b) is not projected so much and, as a result, it is not possible to receive the human body while sandwiching it from left and right sides.
Further, at the time of inflation, the center of the expandable cloth is projected forward more than the periphery of the expandable cloth is projected. As a result, when the human body 10 in front of the projecting portion 1c (or 1b), the left and right sides of the air bag form sharp peaks as shown in FIG. 4 which may strike the human body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An air bag according to the present invention is an air bag inflated by gas from an inflator which is characterized in that is made up on non-expandable cloth as a whole and its shape at inflation is such that both side portions are projected forward more than the central surface facing a human body is projected.
Since the air bag according to the present invention is made up of non-expandable cloth as a whole, the surface facing the human body and projecting portions on both sides thereof are inflated evenly when it is inflated. In this case, even if there is a bias current in the gas from the inflator, the projecting portions on the left and right sides are evenly inflated almost simultaneously. Further, the left and right projecting portions will have a substantially flat shape without sharp peak at the forward end thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of an air bag of an embodiment of the present invention at inflation.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the air bag.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a conventional air bag.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the conventional air bag.
FIG. 5 is a modified plan view of a modified conventional air bag.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the air bag of the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a side view showing the operation of an air bag.
BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of an air bag of an embodiment of the present invention at inflation, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the same.
An air bag 2 of the present embodiment has a shape wherein a surface 2a facing a human body has projecting portions 2b and 2c at the left and right sides thereof, and is made up on non-expandable cloth as a whole.
According to the present invention, the projecting portions 2b and 2c are preferably projected more than a recessed
REFERENCES:
patent: 3618979 (1971-04-01), Gulette
patent: 3938824 (1976-02-01), Patzelt
patent: 4449728 (1984-05-01), Pilatzki
Kurosaki Ryo
Satoh Takeshi
Rice Kenneth R.
Takata Corporation
LandOfFree
Air bag does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Air bag, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Air bag will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-893247