Motorcycle airbag system and motorcycle

1. An airbag apparatus for a motorcycle, the airbag apparatus comprising:

a multi-stage airbag to be deployed and inflated in rearward, forward and upward directions for protecting a rider of the motorcycle, the airbag including a forward inflated portion and a rearward inflated portion;

upper and lower portions of the airbag rearward portion;

a retainer for housing the airbag in a folded state and having an upper opening through which the airbag is deployed;

a cover that extends over the retainer opening with the airbag in the folded state in the retainer;

a forward hinge connection between the cover and the retainer so that during an initial stage of the airbag deployment the inflating airbag causes the cover to pivot forwardly with the lower portion of the airbag rearward inflated portion projecting out of a rearward portion of the retainer opening uncovered by the forwardly pivoted cover; and

at least one tether secured at one end thereof to the upper portion of the airbag rearward portion, the tether having a portion including the one end thereof that extends along and is disposed completely above the airbag in the folded state thereof with the entire folded airbag disposed below the tether portion so that during a subsequent deployment stage after the initial deployment stage the at least one tether substantially restricts deployment of the upper portion of the airbag rearward portion against deploying toward the head of the motorcycle rider causing the airbag forward portion to deploy in the forward direction from the retainer prior to deployment of the upper portion in the upward direction, and during a final deployment stage the upper portion is deployed in the upward direction with the airbag deployment stages being for engaging the chest of the motorcycle rider with the airbag before the head of the motorcycle rider is engaged therewith.

2. The airbag apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one tether is secured at another end to the motorcycle.

3. The airbag apparatus of claim 1 wherein the retainer has upstanding walls having upper ends forming the upper opening and the at least one tether is secured to the upper portion of the airbag rearward portion adjacent the cover when the airbag is in the folded state.

4. The airbag apparatus of claim 3 wherein the upper portion of the airbag rearward portion secured to the at least one tether during the folded state exerts a deployment force on the cover such that the airbag deploys through the retainer opening.

5. The airbag apparatus of claim 3 wherein the upper portion of the airbag rearward portion secured to the at least one tether is generally parallel to the retainer cover when the airbag is in the folded state.

6. The airbag apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one tether comprises a pair of tethers each secured at one end to the upper portion of the airbag rearward portion and secured at another end to the motorcycle, the pair of tethers being secured to opposing sides of the motorcycle.

7. A motorcycle comprising:

a body extending in a fore-and-aft direction and including a seat for a rider;

an airbag to be deployed and inflated generally forwardly of the seat and a rider of the motorcycle thereon;

a rearwardly facing surface of the fully inflated airbag for facing the motorcycle rider;

a head constraining upper surface portion of the rearwardly facing surface of the fully inflated airbag;

an upper body lower constraining surface portion of the rearwardly facing surface of the fully inflated airbag;

an inflator for supplying inflation gas to the airbag;

a retainer for housing the airbag in a folded state;

a cover hingedly connected to the retainer to pivot open forwardly upon airbag deployment so that the upper body lower constraining surface portion contacts the rider before the head constraining surface portion; and

at least one tether fixedly secured at one end thereof to the head constraining upper surface portion of the airbag rearwardly facing surface prior to airbag deployment such that during deployment of the airbag, the airbag has a forward portion that is inflated forwardly before the airbag is inflated upwardly so that the head constraining upper surface portion contacts the rider after the upper body lower constraining surface portion, and after full inflation of the airbag, the one end of the tether fixedly secured at the upper surface portion of the rearwardly facing surface faces rearwardly therewith toward the motorcycle rider.

8. The motorcycle of claim 7 wherein the at least one tether is secured at another end to the motorcycle.

9. The motorcycle of claim 7 wherein the retainer has upstanding walls having upper ends forming an opening with the cover disposed to extend over the opening, and the at least one tether is secured to the upper surface portion of the airbag rearward surface adjacent the cover when the airbag is in the folded state.

10. The motorcycle of claim 7 wherein the at least one tether comprises a pair of tethers each secured at one end to the head constraining upper surface portion of the airbag and secured at another end to the motorcycle body, the pair of tethers being secured to opposing sides of the motorcycle body.

11. The motorcycle of claim 7 wherein the cover includes a rearward depending wall having a frangible portion and a through opening with the at least one tether extending therethrough such that airbag deployment causes the rearward depending wall to break at the frangible portion thereof and the cover to pivot forwardly open.