An airbag of a side airbag apparatus includes an upstream inflation portion, which inflates by inflation gas, and deploys frontward at a side of a vehicle seat. An opening is provided at a wall portion of the upstream inflation portion. A pressure regulator valve closes before an occupant is restrained by the upstream inflation portion, thereby restricting the inflation gas in the upstream inflation portion from flowing through the opening. Upon the occupant restraint, the pressure regulator valve cancels the restriction in response to a change in a tensed state of the dividing portion by an external force applied due to the restraint. A tear seam that connects valve body portions of the pressure regulator valve delays the opening time of the pressure regulator valve upon the occupant restraint by the upstream inflation portion relative to the opening time set only by the pressure regulator valve.

Side airbag apparatus

A vehicular seat assembly includes a seat bottom defining an occupant seating area. The seat bottom includes a cushion covered by a trim cover spanning opposed lateral sides of the seat bottom. A seat back defines an occupant back support and includes a cushion covered by a trim cover spanning opposed lateral sides of the seat back. An opening is formed in the cushion at one of the lateral sides of the seat back. An opening is formed in the trim cover at one of the lateral sides of the seat back. A cup is received in the opening formed in the cushion. A retaining ring is secured to the trim cover about the opening formed in the trim cover and attached to the cup.

Side airbag closeout assembly for vehicular seats and method of installation

In an air bag (2), with respect to the distance from a sewed portion (10) to a right outer periphery (13A) of a press-down plate (13), L1 is set less than L2, with L2 being the distance on the installation-side base cloth (3) side, L1 the distance on the cloth-like piece (9) side. When the air bag (2) is inflated in an emergency, the installation-side base cloth (3) side is inflated outward, separating away from the cloth-like piece (9). This opens a gas discharge hole (8), buffering rapid inflation of the air bag (2) toward the occupant side. When the air bag (2) is in a size sufficient to protect the occupant, an engagement plate (17) is instantly bent to release engagement made by the cloth-like piece (9). Then the cloth-like piece (9) comes into tight contact with the installation-side base cloth (3) to close the gas discharge hole (8), reliably protecting the occupant.

Air bag device

An air bag device for a side collision of an automobile, comprising a housing (3) having a tubular side surface portion (8) formed of an extrusion molded product, an air bag (1) and an inflator (4) stored in the interior of the housing (3), a seat back frame (20), to which the housing (3) is fixed, provided on the end portion of a seat which is on the outer side of the automobile, and a tear-open section (12) provided in the side surface portion (8) of the housing (3) and formed of mutually engageable both end portions (13, 14) of the housing (3).

Air bag device for side collision of automobile

A side impact or rollover air bag for protecting a vehicle occupant during an accident, comprising: an inflatable cushion which upon inflation is positioned between the occupant and an adjacent portion of a vehicle to protect the occupant, the cushion including first and second sides, a top and bottom; inflatable tube, positioned adjacent the cushion, for extending the cushion to its full vertical length prior to the full forward inflation of the cushion by inflation gas.

Side air bag system

A vehicle air bag assembly includes an air bag container with a special orientation device for orienting and supporting an inflator in the container. The air bag container includes a pair of spaced-apart sidewalls. One of the pair of sidewalls has an opening which is dimensioned to receive an inflator. The orientation device comprises an orientation ring coupled to the one of the sidewalls and located at least partially within the opening in the one of the sidewalls. The inflator is loaded into the container through an opening in the orientation ring. The orientation ring has an internal configuration which (i) requires the inflator to be in an initial orientation as the inflator is loaded into the container, and (ii) engages a portion of the inflator to center and support the inflator in a predetermined final orientation when the inflator is coupled to the container.

Inflator mounting system

A side impact air bag module (10) includes an air bag (30) and an inflator (32) which is actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating the air bag. The air bag (30) includes first and second main body portions (70, 120) and a first retainer portion (80) which is disposed between the first and second main body portions. The first retainer portion (80) and the first main body portion (70) of the air bag (30) at least partially define a pocket (200) in the air bag in which the inflator (32) and a diffuser (34) are disposed. Stitching sections (182b, 184b) close two sides of the pocket (200).

Side impact air bag module

A tether assembly (10) for an inflatable restraint (16) such as an air bag includes a tether strap (30) and first and second intermediate pads (32, 34). A first end portion (42) of the tether strap is joined to the first intermediate pad (32) by a circular first stitching section (54). The first intermediate pad (32) is joined to a first panel (12) of the air bag by a circular second stitching section (56) which is disposed laterally outside of the tether strap first end portion (42). A second end portion (44) of the tether strap is joined to the second intermediate pad (34) by a circular first stitching section (66). The second intermediate pad (34) is joined to a second panel (14) of the air bag by a circular second stitching section (68) which is disposed laterally outside of the tether strap second end portion (44). The second stitching sections (56, 68) are larger in diameter than the first stitching sections (54, 66).

Air bag tether assembly

An air bag (10) for use with an inflation fluid source (34) includes a body portion (170) defining an inflation fluid volume (172) into which inflation fluid is directed to inflate the body portion. A mouth portion (160) of the air bag (10) is connected with the body portion (170). The mouth portion (160) defines an inflation fluid opening (176) in fluid communication with the inflation fluid volume (172). The inflation fluid opening (176) is defined in part by opposite fabric material panels (40, 42). Each panel (40, 42) comprises at least two layers (130, 132, 140, 142) of fabric material in abutting engagement with each other. At least two layers (130, 132, 140, 142) of fabric material encircle a retaining ring (174) for attaching the air bag mouth portion (160) to the inflation fluid source (34).

Jeffrey C. Synor

Papers

Inflator mounting system

Side impact air bag module

Air bag tether assembly

Inflatable occupant restraint