IP Library Granted Patent US 7,971,901
Granted Patent B2
US 7,971,901 · App. 12/677,775 · Granted Jul 5, 2011

Airbag apparatus

Assignees: Kanto Auto Works, Ltd.; Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,971,901
App. No.
12/677,775
Granted
Jul 5, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

An airbag apparatus is provided by which, when an airbag collides with an occupant, the occupant can receive a reaction force from the airbag. An airbag apparatus ( 10 A to 10 B) inflates between two seats arranged in a vehicle width direction ( 20 L, 20 R, 21 L, 21 R) to protect an occupant (P). The airbag apparatus ( 10 A to 10 B) includes an inflator ( 12 ) and a folded airbag ( 11 ). When gas is jetted from the inflator ( 12 ) at a side collision, the airbag ( 11 ) is allowed to inflate and is abutted to a vehicle interior ( 35 ) to thereby suppress the move of the airbag ( 11 ) when the airbag ( 11 ) collides with the body of the occupant (P).

Claims (15)

1. An airbag apparatus inflating between two seats arranged in a vehicle width direction to protect an occupant, comprising:

an inflator and a folded airbag, wherein

the inflator and the airbag are provided at an inner side of a seat back to inflate the airbag between the two seats,

the airbag is configured so that an upper end is abutted to a ceiling by a gas jetted from the inflator, and

the gas jetted from the inflator into the airbag causes the airbag to abut to a vehicle interior thereby suppressing the move of the airbag when the occupant pushes the airbag.

2. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the upper end of the airbag has an expansion margin so that the airbag can inflate to a position higher than the ceiling.

3. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the upper end has an expansion margin so that the inflated airbag is abutted to the ceiling even when the seat back is set in a reclined status.

4. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the upper end has an expansion margin so that the inflated airbag is abutted to the ceiling even when the seat is set at any front-and-rear position.

5. An airbag apparatus inflating between two seats arranged in a vehicle width direction to protect an occupant, comprising:

an inflator and a folded airbag, wherein

the inflator and the airbag are stored in a position higher than a surface of a seat cushion to inflate the airbag between the two seats, and

a gas jetted from the inflator into the airbag causes the airbag to abut to a vehicle interior thereby suppressing the move of the airbag when the occupant pushes the airbag.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Aug 16, 2012
From: KANTO AUTO WORKS, LTD.
To: TOYOTA MOTOR EAST JAPAN, INC.
Reel/Frame 028798/0747 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 30, 2010
From: TOMITAKA, AKIHIRO; MISAWA, KAZUMASA; MOCHIDUKI, MITSURU
To: KANTO AUTO WORKS, LTD.; TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 024912/0372 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2007-240260 · Sep 14, 2007 · national
JP 2007-240304 · Sep 16, 2007 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100314859A1 · Dec 16, 2010