Abstract: An inflatable airbag includes a rearwardly directed surface to be contacted by the occupant when expanded, an end located at a side opposite to the rearwardly directed surface and having a hole for receiving an inflation gas, and laterally spaced side surfaces extending between the rearwardly directed surface and the end, and oriented substantially vertically in the passenger compartment. The side surfaces have inwardly extending depressions formed in a middle portion of each side surface of the airbag as viewed in a vertical direction and located away from the rearwardly directed surface to restrict movement of the inflation gas inside the airbag when the occupant hits the inflated airbag.

Abstract: An externally-developed air bag device is provided in which the air bag thereof is quickly and smoothly inflated in its entirety. Both end sides of the air bag 1 in the longitudinal direction that run over from the case 2 of the air bag 1, are folded back to the central side of the air bag along the short sides 2b of the case 2. Then, the portions running over from the long sides 2a of the case 2 are folded up in a bellows shape or in a roll shape, and are accommodated into the case 2. The gas from an inflator 4 substantially simultaneously inflates the central side of the air bag and both sides thereof in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An inflatable airbag for installation in front of a passenger compartment of a vehicle for protecting an occupant during an emergency includes a rearwardly directed surface positioned to be contacted by the occupant when expanded, an end located at a side opposite to the rearwardly directed surface and having a hole for receiving an inflation gas, and laterally spaced side surfaces extending between the rearwardly directed surface and the end and being oriented substantially vertically in the passenger compartment. Inwardly extending depressions are formed in a middle portion of each side surface of the airbag as viewed in a vertical direction. The depressions are located away from the rearwardly directed surface to restrict movement of the inflation gas inside the airbag when the occupant hits the inflated airbag.

Abstract: An external airbag device is provided which can smoothly deploy its airbag with being caught by neither a rear edge of a hood nor a windshield wiper. A lid 8 is allowed to be displaced relative to a retainer 2 in the vertical direction because hooks 10 are movable in the vertical direction within apertures 16. When an airbag 4 is inflated, the lid 8 is lifted and is torn to open outwardly by the inflation pressure of the airbag 4 to create flaps 28, 30. The flap 28 which pivoted outwardly toward the front of the motor vehicle is laid on an outer surface of a rear edge portion of a hood 18. The flap 30 which pivoted outwardly toward the rear of the motor vehicle is laid on a cowl top 22 below the windshield 20 to cover windshield wipers 26.

Abstract: A leg protection device for a vehicle occupant is disposed inside a seat-front member of a vehicle. The leg protection device includes an air bag having a rear panel and positioned along the seat-front member and a front panel facing the occupant when the air bag is inflated, and a gas generator for inflating the air bag. When the air bag is inflated, the air bag has a vertical length at a center portion of the front panel in the width direction longer than a vertical length at a center portion of the rear panel in the width direction to obtain a curved cross section.

Abstract: An air bag device is provided comprising an air bag, a retainer to which the air bag is mounted, a module cover covering the air bag, a protruding member protruding from the module cover towards the retainer, and a restricting member positioned along the outer side of the protruding member. The restricting member restricts displacement of the module cover during air bag inflation.

Abstract: In a method of folding an air bag for a driver, an air bag is placed in a flat form to orient an upper surface of the air bag upwardly. Then, at least two side areas of the air bag in the flat form are folded inwardly of the air bag so that at least two arm portions extending radially outwardly from a center portion of the air bag to lateral portions on an outer periphery of the air bag are formed. The air bag for the driver is folded compact.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus is formed of a base member, an airbag situated above the base member, an airbag-fitting member disposed on the base member to attach the airbag to the base member, an inflator for generating gas to inflate the airbag, and a module cover for covering the airbag in a folded condition. The inflator has a smooth side face without a projection projecting outwardly from the side face of the inflator, and is fixed to the base member by the airbag-fitting member. The inflator can be easily formed and attached to the base member.

Abstract: An airbag device which is easily aligned in an instrument panel and which includes a lid that does not lift from the instrument panel. The airbag device includes a retainer, an airbag folded and accommodated in the retainer, a lid for covering the opening of the retainer, and an inflator for deploying the airbag. The device includes a belt wrapped around the outside of the retainer. The ends of the belt are connected to the lid. The edge of the opening of the instrument panel includes two steps. The first step supports the edge of the lid and the second step supports a spacer. The belt has an elastically deformable portions that stretches to ensure that the belt remains in elastic contact with the bottom of the retainer.

Abstract: An air bag apparatus is formed of a retainer having an upper opening; an air bag accommodated in the retainer and having a gas inlet, a portion of the air bag around the gas inlet being connected to the retainer; a lid covering the upper opening of the retainer; and a support plate extending from the lid and connected to the retainer. The support plate is deformable in vertical, longitudinal and lateral directions thereby allowing the lid to move relatively in the vertical, longitudinal and lateral directions. The air bag apparatus is light, and the position of the air bag apparatus relative to an instrument panel and the lid can be adjusted easily.

Abstract: An air bag is formed of an outer bag and an inner bag situated inside the outer bag. The inner bag has upper and lower flow-out ports positioned on a driver's side relative to a plane of a steering wheel when the inner bag is expanded. Since an opening area of the lower flow-out port is larger than that of the upper flow-out port, a large quantity of gas in the inner bag is discharged in the lower direction through the flow-out port. As a result, the outer bag quickly expanded in the lower direction rather than in the upper direction, and quickly enters a narrow space between a driver and the steering wheel.

Abstract: An airbag is folded into a predetermined shape and is held by a shape-maintaining member or rubber strap to keep its shape. Both ends of the rubber strap are attached to the airbag by sewing portions. When the airbag is inflated with gas from an inflator, the rubber strap is detached, so that the airbag rapidly expands. In the airbag device with the shape-maintaining member, the shape of the folded airbag can be maintained, so that the airbag can be easily assembled.

Abstract: The invention provides an airbag which has a more preferable spread form without increasing the output of an inflator. An airbag is a three-piece bag in which one strip-like central cloth and two side cloths, one being provided at each side of the central cloth, are sewed together. A partition is mounted inside the airbag. Cutaway portions are formed in both side edges of the partition. The outer peripheral edge of the partition is attached to the inside surface of the airbag by, for example, a sewing or a welding operation. By the cutaway portions of the partition, the substantially middle portions of both side cloths of the airbag are brought towards each other, thereby forming inwardly extending depressions. The depressions make it difficult for gas at the lower portion inside the airbag to escape, so that the resistance of a lower portion of the bag acts uniformly with respect to the lower portion of the upper body (from the waist to the chest) of an occupant.

Abstract: A driver side air bag, in which the impact applied to tether belts during the deployment of the air bag is small, and comprising a member, of which structure is quite simple, for controlling the direction of the flow of gases in the air bag is provided. Ends of tether belts 68 are inserted between tether belt connecting fabrics 64 and 66 and are sewn by sewing yarn. Each tether belt 68 is an elongated band and is sewn to the tether belt connecting fabrics 64, 66 at both ends of the tether belt 68 and sewn to the front panel at the center in the longitudinal direction of the tether belt 68. A sheet 70 is made in a loop configuration to overlap an opening 72 with an opening 74 and a ring-like flametight fabric 80 is disposed between the sheet 70 and a holding ring 82.

Abstract: An air bag device is provided comprising an air bag, a retainer to which the air bag is mounted, a module cover covering the air bag, a protruding member protruding from the module cover towards the retainer, and a restricting member positioned along the outer side of the protruding member. The restricting member restricts displacement of the module cover during air bag inflation.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus is formed of a base member, an airbag situated above the base member, an airbag-fitting member disposed on the base member to attach the airbag to the base member, an inflator for generating gas to inflate the airbag, and a module cover for covering the airbag in a folded condition. The inflator has a smooth side face without a projection projecting outwardly from the side face of the inflator, and is fixed to the base member by the airbag-fitting member. The inflator can be easily formed and attached to the base member.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus having a retainer that can be employed with various embodiments of a horn switch that is turned on by the floating movement of a module cover. The apparatus includes an opening formed on a leg section of a module cover and a hook of a retainer, a predetermined gap is formed, thereby the module cover can be vertically moved. When the module cover is pressed, a horn switch is pressed so as to be turned on. Because a horn-switch supporting member is a separated part from the retainer, the retainer can be common to various models of the airbag apparatus having the module cover different in size and shape by changing only the horn-switch supporting member.

Abstract: A cover for an air bag device that enables an emblem to be secured to the cover in an extremely simple manner. The cover (module cover) has a recess for receiving the emblem. An extension of the emblem is extended through a hole in the cover. A distal end of the extension is bent along a rear side of the cover. A rib is pressed and welded by a thermal or ultrasonic welding element to form a welding body. The welding body covers the distal end of the extension.

Abstract: An air bag apparatus with a steering wheel is formed of a steering wheel section having a wheel center portion, wheel spoke portions extending radially outwardly from the wheel center portion and a wheel section attached to the wheel spoke portions; a retainer attached to the steering wheel section; an air bag mounted on the retainer and disposed in the wheel center portion and the wheel spoke portions; an inflator connected to the retainer for inflating the air bag; and a module cover connected to the retainer for covering the air bag. The module cover has a cover center portion and cover spoke portions extending from the cover center portion corresponding to the wheel center portion and the wheel spoke portions. The air bag apparatus for the driver's seat is made compact and has a slim appearance.

Abstract: In a method of folding an air bag for a driver, an air bag is placed in a flat form to orient an upper surface of the air bag upwardly. Then, at least two side areas of the air bag in the flat form are folded inwardly of the air bag so that at least two arm portions extending radially outwardly from a center portion of the air bag to lateral portions on an outer periphery of the air bag are formed. The air bag for the driver is folded compact.