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

An airbag is constructed such that a gas-discharging amount from a venthole becomes largest when an occupant contacts a center portion, in the left and right direction, of an occupant-facing surface of the expanded airbag. In the airbag, a hanging strap couples a center portion of a front panel and a rear panel. A lid body covers an open-and-close venthole from outside the airbag, and the hanging strap is coupled by a tether. In a case that the airbag is expanded, the hanging strap and the tether are tensed, and the lid body is brought to a state to close the open-and-close venthole. A loosening amount of the hanging strap and the tether becomes largest when an occupant contacts the center portion of the front panel to retreat, and an opening amount of the open-and-close venthole also becomes largest.

Airbag and airbag apparatus

An air bag system for an automotive vehicle is disclosed. The air bag system includes a housing substantially enclosing a gas emitting inflator and a compact undeployed air bag. The system further includes a moveable member that controls flow of gas into the air bag by controlling items such as tether elements and venting openings that, in turn, control the amount of gas released into the bag and the shape of the bag upon deployment.

Automotive vehicle air bag system

The invention relates to a gas bag module comprising a gas bag which has a gas bag wall with a front wall section. The module further comprises a cover which has a given annular section which closes an annular outlet opening for the gas bag and has a stationary central portion which is surrounded by the annular section. A section of the gas bag wall other than the front section has an outflow opening which in a folded state of the gas bag is arranged beneath the central portion in such a manner that on outlet of the gas bag, the central portion arrives via the outflow opening into an interior of the gas bag.

Gas bag module

The invention relates to a vehicle steering wheel, comprising a skeleton, a gas bag module which is axially movably coupled with the skeleton in such a way that by pressing against the gas bag module a contact is closed for actuating a horn, and a resilient return element for the gas bag module. The gas bag module comprises a gas bag with an opening edge defining an inflation opening as well as comprises a flange clamping the opening edge on an inside of the gas bag for fastening the gas bag. Bearing pins are provided which directly engage the flange and which are attached to one of the skeleton and a part stationarily mounted directly to the skeleton.

Vehicle steering wheel

The steering wheel (1), airbag unit (2) and unit cover (3) consist of independent components At least two assembly bolts (4) which are parallel to the steering wheel axle, are fixed to the unit cover The assembly bolts are formed to fasten the unit cover and the airbag module to the steering wheel The bolts interact with the fixtures (5) which are located at the rear of the steering wheel

Crash protection device

An impact protection device for motor vehicle drivers includes a steering wheel, an air bag module and a module cover. The steering wheel, the air bag module and the module cover each form a separate assembly unit. Two mounting studs project from the module cover towards the steering wheel. The module cover and the air bag module are connected to the steering wheel by means of the mounting studs. The mounting studs are attached to the steering wheel. Fastening means are provided on the end of each mounting stud. A washer of insulating material, a coil spring and a mounting flange of the module cover are clamped between the flange of the mounting stud and the fastening means. Support for an electrical switch contact is embedded in the washer of insulating material and a mass contact of an electrical switch is provided on the mounting flange of the module cover.

Impact protection device

The container for a folded air bag and a gas generator is flexible. It has a textile material sector with a rectangular base part (1), which in the complete container forms the bottom (1a) and the front and rear walls (1b,1c). There are two side parts (2,3) connected to the main part, which in the complete container form the side walls and a cover for the container aperture. The side parts partly overlap each other in the closed position. One side part (2) has a slit in the overlap region and the other (3) has a tab (5) on the end to fit in the slit.

Flexible airbag container

This ring-shaped safety airbag for mounting in vehicle steering wheels or instrument panels is formed in several sections sewn together to form a ring-shaped contact surface (11) for the vehicle occupants. The airbag has a central opening (15) down to the central section (54) of the airbag, which is fixed permanently to the diffuser (10) of the gas generator (5). In order to close this central gap (15), a draw cord (32) is fitted round the central opening (15) behind its central seam (40), with its outer end sewn into the airbag outer ring seam (16) so that, when the airbag inflates, the draw cord (32) is pulled to tighten round the central opening (15) closing it, thus ensuring that the vehicle occupant's head cannot enter the opening.

Stefan Bohn

Papers

Gas bag module

Crash protection device

Impact protection device

Flexible airbag container

Air bag module