Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (20) of a vehicle (12) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) comprising a panel (114) that at least partially defines an inflatable volume (54) of the protection device. A vent (100) includes a sidewall that extends through the panel (114) and defines a passage (134) for venting inflation fluid from the inflatable volume (54). The vent (100) includes a first portion (102) extendable inside the inflatable volume (54) and an opposite second portion (104) extendable outside the inflatable volume. The vent (100) has an open condition in which the first portion (102) is maintained inside the inflatable volume (54) and thereby permits venting of inflation fluid through the passage (134), and a closed condition in which the first portion (102) is inverted and positioned in the second portion (104) thereby blocking inflation fluid from venting through the passage (134).

Abstract: There is provided an airbag that is folded up in a normal state and is inflated and deployed in an emergency state. The airbag includes: a base fabric; a tether sewn to the base fabric and configured to restrict a shape of the airbag when the airbag is inflated and deployed. The base fabric has a first pin hole therethrough in a contact region where the base fabric and the tether contacts each other, and the tether has a second pin hole therethrough in the contact region, wherein a position of the second pin hole corresponds to a position of the first pin hole. The tether has a folded back portion sewn to the tether and covering the first and second pin holes. The respective first and second pin holes are configured to receive a positioning pin for fixing the base fabric and tether to each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag module (18) with a tear strip (13) for specific opening of a seat cover (20) under which the airbag module (18) is to be mounted, wherein a plurality of tear strips (13) is provided. Furthermore, the invention relates to a seat with one such airbag module and also to a manufacturing apparatus and to an assembly method for one such airbag module.

Abstract: A folding method of an airbag having a left airbag portion and a right airbag portion is disclosed. In one form, the method includes the steps of: a primary folding step for forming a primary folded body in which said airbag is flattened along a top-bottom direction and along a right-left direction by folding said airbag in a manner that decreases a thickness of said left airbag portion and said right airbag portion along a front-back direction and at least partially separates a left surface of said left airbag portion and a right surface of said right airbag portion along the right-left direction; and a secondary folding step for forming a final folded body by folding said primary folded body in a manner that decreases its width along the top-bottom direction and along the right-left direction.

Abstract: An airbag having a base end, a front panel and at least one panel opposing the front panel, the airbag having a cutout in the front panel, an inner perimeter of the cutout having first and second sides, a first panel having first and second edges, the first edge of the first panel is attached to the first side of the cutout, a second panel having third and fourth edges, the third edge is attached to the second edge of the first panel and the fourth edge is attached to the second side of the cutout, wherein the first and second panels define a slit in cutout of the front panel, and a tether attached along a backside of the slit and attached to an inner surface of the at least one panel opposing the front panel of the airbag.

Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator subassembly (10) for a vehicle safety system comprising a pyrotechnic actuator unit (12) including an igniting portion (14) as well as a receiving element (16) forming a guide for the movable igniting portion (14) after activating the actuator unit (12). Further the invention relates to an airbag module of a vehicle safety system comprising said actuator subassembly (10) and a method of mounting a releasable tether (30) on an airbag module by means of said actuator assembly (10).

Abstract: An airbag having a base end, a front panel and at least one panel opposing the front panel, the airbag having a cutout in the front panel, an inner perimeter of the cutout having first and second sides, a first panel having first and second edges, the first edge of the first panel is attached to the first side of the cutout, a second panel having third and fourth edges, the third edge is attached to the second edge of the first panel and the fourth edge is attached to the second side of the cutout, wherein the first and second panels define a slit member in cutout of the front panel, and a tether attached along a backside of the slit member and attached to an inner surface of the at least one panel opposing the front panel of the airbag.

Abstract: A passenger airbag module includes a housing, an inflator generating gas pressure according to a control signal of an electronic control unit, and an airbag cushion folded in the housing such that the airbag cushion is expanded in the form of a dual chamber. The airbag cushion is provided therein with a tether having a rectangular shape corresponding to a sectional shape of the airbag cushion. The tether is installed in the transverse direction to divide the airbag cushion into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. Transfer holes are formed at edges of the tether. In the passenger airbag module, the upper chamber is primarily expanded by concentrating gas flow into the upper chamber to instantly deploy the airbag cushion in the proper position, thereby safely protecting the occupants.

Abstract: At a time of deployment of an airbag, a rear portion of the airbag and a tension imparting member are prevented from hooking on an upper end of a quarter pillar garnish and impeding deployment of the airbag. An airbag (20) is contained along a door opening (46). An upper expansion portion (20D) is formed on an upper edge side of a rear seat expansion portion (20B), and a rear expansion portion (20E) is formed at a rear end side upper portion. The upper expansion portion is expanded and deployed at the compartment outer side of a terminal part (34A). A rear end side attachment portion (20E) is set at the rear end side of the rear expansion portion (20E), and the rear expansion portion expands inside a quarter pillar garnish (48). A rear end lower portion of the rear seat expansion portion is coupled to the vehicle body by a rear side strap (68).

Abstract: An airbag cushion for vehicles includes a cushion body, vent holes, tubes and a tether. The vent holes are formed in the cushion body at opposite positions. The tubes are connected to the respective vent holes. The tubes are deployed out of the vent holes by deployment of the cushion body so that gas is discharged out of the cushion body through the tubes. The tether connects the tubes to each other and is severed when pressure in the cushion body reaches a predetermined degree. At the point of time at which the weight of the occupant is applied to the airbag cushion, the pressure in the airbag cushion is released, thus reducing the risk of the deployment of the airbag cushion injuring the occupant.

Abstract: A knee airbag module for protecting a vehicle occupant comprising a housing containing an inflatable airbag and an inflator for providing gas for inflating the airbag; and wherein the airbag is configured to inflate and deploy out of the housing into a position forward of the knees of the occupant; where the airbag includes front and rear panels that are connected together to form an inflatable chamber; wherein when the airbag deploys the front panel is positioned adjacent to an instrument panel of the vehicle and the rear panel is positioned adjacent to the occupant; wherein the cross-sectional vertical length of the front panel is shorter than the cross-sectional vertical length of the rear panel thereby causing the airbag to deploy upwardly.

Abstract: An airbag assembly can include a stabilizer strap attached to an airbag, and the stabilizer strap can cooperate with a housing to prevent undesired rotation or skewing of the airbag during deployment. In some arrangements, a portion of the airbag is secured to the housing via an inflator.

Abstract: An airbag cushion of flexible sheet material has a vent opening with a vent cover of flexible sheet material stitched to an interior surface of the airbag cushion aligned with the vent opening in the airbag cushion to form a pocket. The vent cover has a vent opening therein allowing inflation gas to escape from the cushion via the vent opening. A vent flap of flexible sheet material is disposed at least partially within the pocket and inboard of the vent openings in the airbag cushion and vent cover. A tether extends inboard from vent flap to a tether end that is fixed in a releasable manner to a tether end securing device fixed to a module housing. The tether end is released in response to a sensor signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hinge arrangement for an airbag flap hinged to a dashboard. The motor vehicle dashboard body (1) is provided with an opening closed by a flap (4), both the opening and the flap being defined by an outline (3) that is generally rectangular, the flap being suitable for opening so as to allow an airbag to be deployed. It is further provided with one or more linear ties (11-14) fastened to one face of the dashboard body and to one face of the flap, in such manner that segments (43, 44) of linear ties straddle a portion (6) of the outline that extends transversely relative to the vehicle on which the dashboard is to be mounted, in order to constitute or reinforce a hinge (AX) via which the flap is hinged to the dashboard body. The invention relates to motor vehicle safety.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment, an airbag system includes an airbag cushion, a housing, an inflator, a latch mechanism, and a valve panel. The airbag cushion defines an inlet and a chamber. The house is coupled to the airbag cushion generally proximate the inlet. The inflator is coupled to the housing and is in fluidic communication with the inlet. The latch mechanism is coupled to the housing. The valve panel has a first end coupled to the airbag cushion generally opposite the inlet and includes a second end releasably coupled to the latch mechanism. The airbag cushion includes one or more vent apertures through a surface thereof. The valve panel includes one or more valve apertures and is disposed in the chamber generally adjacent the surface of the airbag cushion. The valve panel is configured to slide relative to the airbag cushion from a first position to a second position before being released by the latch mechanism to move to a third.

Abstract: Provided is a knee airbag apparatus including an airbag cushion that develops upward without sagging downward to protect the passenger's knee.

Abstract: Inflatable airbag cushions can be rolled and/or folded into a housing assembly. The housing assembly aids in coupling an inflator to the airbag and a vehicle structure. The housing also couples the airbag to a vehicle structure. The housing can be mounted behind an knee bolster or steering wheel of a vehicle and has a cover that can be flush with the cabin side of the mounted position. The housing cover can be a cosmetically finished piece or a cosmetically unfinished piece. The housing cover can be an integral part of the housing, and may be used in combination with a one-piece inflator mounting bracket and heat shield.

Abstract: A knee airbag module can include a knee airbag cushion and a deployment control mechanism, with the deployment control mechanism limiting displacement of the knee airbag cushion in at least a vertical direction relative to a vehicle. The deployment control mechanism can induce an airbag cushion to deploy in a direction rearward (relative to a front of a vehicle) and oblique along a vehicle dashboard quickly by controlling and limiting the downward deployment distance and making the rearward and oblique direction become a path of least resistance for deployment of the knee airbag cushion. In addition, the airbag module and the deployment control mechanism can permit a knee airbag cushion to provide enhanced coverage of an occupant's leg, such as above the knee of the occupant's leg, by controlling the deployment of the knee airbag cushion without the need to use an airbag cushion with a greater vertical height.

Abstract: Provided are a strap retention device that can improve the ability to reliably cut a strap, and an airbag device. A strap retention device includes an anchor having a retaining portion for retaining a first end of a strap, and a flat portion in contact with a back surface of the strap; a strap restraint member joined to the anchor for restraining movement of the strap in a width direction; a cutter for cutting the strap on the flat portion; a squib for applying a driving force to the cutter to move the cutter in a direction of the flat portion; and a housing accommodating the cutter and the squib and joined to the anchor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a passenger airbag apparatus that can suppress the deployment pressure of an airbag cushion when the airbag cushion and a passenger are excessively close to each other and maintain the deployment pressure of the airbag cushion when the airbag cushion and the passenger keep an appropriate distance from each other.

Abstract: Tether attachment arrangements for a vehicle airbag cushion and methods for attaching tethers to inflatable cushions are provided. One inflatable cushion assembly includes an inflatable cushion having an interior and a tether disposed within the interior of the inflatable cushion. The tether has at least one portion attached to the interior of the inflatable cushion. The inflatable cushion assembly also includes a circuitous stitching at the portion attaching the tether to the interior of the inflatable cushion.

Abstract: An airbag device is provided in which since part of a base fabric of the airbag (16) excluding an occupant restraining face (16d) is joined by stitchings (S1 to S3) having breaking strengths that increase in going from an already deployed portion toward a not yet deployed portion, during the process of deploying the airbag by gas generated by an inflator, the stitchings (S1 to S3) of the airbag (16) break from the already deployed portion toward the not yet deployed portion, and the airbag (16) is continuously inflated from the occupant restraining face (16d) side toward the inflator side. As a result, it is possible to stabilize the shape of the airbag (16) during the process of deployment and to inflate the occupant restraining face (16d) of the airbag (16) at an early stage, thus ensuring occupant restraining performance.

Abstract: An airbag assembly has an airbag, a gas emitting inflator, and an airbag thickness limiting structure. The airbag thickness limiting structure limits a first body region engaging portion to having a lateral thickness within a first lateral thickness range when the gas emitting inflator delivers a first amount of inflation gas into the interior space of the airbag and allows the first body region engaging portion of the airbag to have a lateral thickness within a second lateral thickness range when the gas emitting inflator delivers a second amount of inflation gas greater than the first amount into the interior space of the airbag. A second body region engaging portion has a substantially fixed maximum attainable lateral thickness. Maximum attainable lateral thickness of the first body region engaging portion of the airbag can be dependent upon whether or not inflation of the airbag is implemented using pre-crash sensing technology.

Abstract: An airbag system for a vehicle includes an airbag having a vent and a vent cover configured to close the vent, an actuator, and a tether. The tether is connected between the actuator and the airbag. The vent cover is positioned outside the airbag and between the tether and the airbag. During inflation of the airbag but prior to activation of the actuator, the tether is in tension so as to apply a normal force against the vent cover to maintain the vent in a closed state. The actuator is configured to be activated to reduce or release tension in the tether to reduce the normal force applied by the tether to the vent cover and allow inflation gas to move the vent cover to place the vent in an open state.

Abstract: A frontal airbag assembly has a housing defining an airbag space. An inflatable compacted airbag cushion is arranged in the airbag space and has a gas inlet connected to a gas generator. A wrapper having a front end attached outside of the housing to the front wall or the bottom wall of the housing and a rear end attached to the rear wall or the bottom wall of the housing. A guide flap extends between the wrapper and the airbag cushion and has an outer end attached to the wrapper between the front end and a split line of the wrapper, a first inward fold between the split line and the rear wall, and an inner end arranged between the wrapper and an upper portion of the front wall. The guide flap is released when the split line has separated the wrapper into a front portion and a rear portion.

Abstract: A center airbag cushion installed between left and right seats of a vehicle to protect a passenger from a shock generated by a side collision of the vehicle may include a first chamber part, a second chamber part comprising a left second chamber part and a right second chamber part respectively coupled to left and right sides of an upper end of the first chamber part to fluid-communicate therebetween, and a tension member provided on inner facing surfaces of the left and right second chamber parts, wherein the inner facing surfaces of the left and right second chamber parts face each other with a gap, and wherein the tension member has a rear end extending in a predetermined length rearwards and is fixed to a rear end of the first chamber part or the second chamber part therein.

Abstract: A vehicle side airbag apparatus has an inflator that discharges gas when a lateral collision occurs, a side airbag that is formed by sewing a passenger-side base fabric to a vehicle body-side base fabric, that is folded when it is stored and is inflated when gas is supplied from the inflator to be deployed into a space between a passenger seated in a vehicular seat and a vehicle body side portion, and a tether that couples a middle region of the passenger-side base fabric in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle with either a rear region of the passenger-side base fabric or the vehicle body-side base fabric in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and partitions the side airbag into a main chamber, which comes into contact with a lateral portion of the passenger, and a rear chamber, which comes into contact with a rear portion of the passenger, during deployment.

Abstract: A motor vehicle seat arrangement for a motor vehicle. The seat arrangement comprising a vehicle seat, at least one inflatable element, means for inflating the inflatable element which inflate the inflatable element depending on a control signal. The vehicle seat arrangement is arranged in the vehicle and the inflatable element is designed and arranged in or on a side wall of a backrest of the vehicle seat in a way that it exerts a momentum on the upper part of the body of the vehicle occupant while it is inflated in answer to the control signal, so that the whole vehicle occupant is moved away from a collision section of the vehicle that collides or is going to collide with the object or that the thorax region of the upper part of the body of the vehicle occupant performs a tilting movement away from the collision section of the vehicle.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus for a vehicle, may include an integrated vent formed in an airbag cushion, a tube provided on the airbag cushion and communicating with the integrated vent, wherein an inner diameter of the tube varies while gas may be discharged through the tube, so that a rate at which gas may be discharged from the airbag cushion may be adjusted according to a point of time of deployment of the airbag cushion, and a tether wrapped around the tube, the tether being connected to inner surface of the airbag cushion such that opposite ends of the tether may be pulled away from each other when the airbag cushion deploys, so that in a predetermined time period of the deployment of the airbag cushion, the tether contracts the tube, and after the predetermined time period, the tether snaps, thus releasing the tube.

Abstract: A curtain airbag assembly is provided having a number of airbags 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d arranged in a side by side relationship. Lower ends of the airbags 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d are linked to the adjacent airbag by an airbag tether connector assembly 10. Each of the tether connector assemblies includes first and second connectors 20, 30 that engage with one another and snap together to fasten together two tethers 26, 36. In the event that the first and second connectors 20, 30 are not correctly coupled together an indication of this fact is providing in one of a number of manners thereby reducing the risk that a vehicle 5 fitted with such a curtain airbag assembly can enter service with one or more tethers 26, 36 not connected.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus for a vehicle may include a vent hole formed on an airbag cushion to discharge an expanding gas inside of the airbag cushion, a cover attached on the outside of the airbag and selectively covering the vent hole, a rope, one end of which may be fixed to the inside of the airbag cushion and the other end of which may be fixed to the cover through the vent hole to provide a tensile force to the cover such that the cover opens or closes the vent hole according to the tensile force applied to the cover via the rope, and a rope-guide attached to the inside of the airbag cushion and upholding the rope to the airbag cushion, wherein the rope may be slidably engaged to the rope-guide and a section of the rope may be aligned longitudinally in the airbag cushion.

Abstract: An object is to be able to more appropriately restrain respective portions of an upper body, including a waist portion, of a passenger by a side airbag at a time of a side collision. At a time of a side collision, a side airbag receives a supply of gas and deploys between a passenger and a vehicle body side portion, and an upper bag portion restrains from a head portion to a shoulder portion, and a lower bag portion restrains a waist portion, and an intermediate portion, that connects a lower edge portion of the upper bag portion and an upper edge portion of the lower bag portion, restrains a chest portion. Load, that is imparted toward a vehicle transverse direction inner side from the upper bag portion to the shoulder portion of the passenger at this time, decreases at a latter stage of restraint of the shoulder portion by the upper bag portion, and therefore, an amount of movement of the shoulder portion toward a vehicle transverse direction inner side is suppressed to an appropriate degree.

Abstract: An active bolster for an automotive vehicle has an inflatable bladder formed by a reaction wall for mounting against a rigid structure of the vehicle and an expansion wall overlying the base wall. The base wall and expansion wall are comprised of molded plastic components. At least one of the reaction wall and the expansion wall includes a plurality of tether tabs, each tether tab having a contoured edge defining a movable flap. The contoured edge has first and second ends defining a first hinge axis and a pair of complementary undulations defining a second hinge axis substantially parallel to the first hinge axis. The movable flap has an attachment region joined to the other one of the reaction wall and the expansion wall, and the second hinge axis extends between the attachment region and the first hinge axis.

Abstract: An airbag having a base end, a front panel and at least one panel opposing the front panel, the airbag having a cutout in the front panel, an inner perimeter of the cutout having first and second sides, a first panel having first and second edges, the first edge of the first panel is attached to the first side of the cutout, a second panel having third and fourth edges, the third edge is attached to the second edge of the first panel and the fourth edge is attached to the second side of the cutout, wherein the first and second panels define a slit in cutout of the front panel, and a tether attached along a backside of the slit and attached to an inner surface of the at least one panel opposing the front panel of the airbag.

Abstract: Airbags including hingedly affixed non-inflatable support members and vehicles including such airbags are disclosed. An airbag includes a body portion, a non-inflatable support member having a proximal end and a distal end, and a tether having a support-member-end and an airbag-end. The proximal end of the non-inflatable support member is hingedly affixed to the body portion of the airbag. The support-member-end of the tether is affixed to the distal end of the non-inflatable support member and the airbag-end of the tether is affixed to the body portion of the airbag, thereby tethering the distal end of the non-inflatable support member to the airbag. When the airbag is in a pre-deployment state, the distal end of the non-inflatable support member does not extend beyond a perimeter of the airbag. The non-inflatable support member extends beyond the perimeter of the airbag in a deployed position.

Abstract: There is disclosed a safety device for a motor vehicle. The device comprises an inflatable (6) element formed from two opposing layers of fabric (10, 11) and the two layers of fabric are interconnected by a plurality of tether yarns (18) extending between said layers. Each said tether yarn (18) is a composite yarn comprising an outer thread (21) and a core thread (20), with the outer thread (21) being overfed on the core thread (20) and having a higher breaking strength than the core thread (23). The device is preferably configured such that the core threads (20) of the tether yarns (18) break (23) upon inflation of said inflatable element (6), thereby permitting the outer thread (21) to unravel and extend the effective length of the tether yarns (18) between said layers.

Abstract: An airbag module having an airbag and an inflation device, wherein at least one rebound strap for controlling the inflation of the airbag is disposed in the airbag and attached to portions of the airbag that move away from each other when the airbag is inflated. A first, shorter rebound strip segment breaks after a first inflation stage and subsequently the airbag regions separate from each other until the second, longer segment of the rebound strap is tensioned and the inflation stage of the airbag is predefined by the second, longer segment of the rebound strap. The rebound strap thereof is formed from a uniform textile segment, the first, shorter segment of the rebound strap is formed as a tab cut out of the second, longer segment the tab being narrower and shorter than the second, longer segment of the rebound strap.

Abstract: A front airbag including a sub-string and a vent. The front airbag attenuates impact in order to provide protection to a child or an occupant in an abnormal position on a passenger seat. Upon a vehicle collision, the front airbag discharges internal air through a vent provided at the lateral surface of the front airbag, if the front airbag is not inflated at the front, but is instead laterally inflated. The front airbag includes a main tether provided at a central portion of an airbag cushion, a vent selectively discharging air to an outside from the front airbag, and a sub-string, connected to and between the main tether, to control opening/closing of the vent part.

Abstract: An example airbag arrangement includes an example airbag moveable between an expansion-constrained position and an expanded position. The airbag includes a contact face. A tether has a first end connected to the contact face and a second end anchoring the tether. The tether holds the contact face of the airbag in a substantially vertical position.

Abstract: An interior structure of a vehicle comprises a shock absorbing member attached to a vehicle body inside a roof trim above a pillar trim, a curtain airbag device including a curtain airbag stored in a roof trim and an inflator to supply gas to the curtain airbag, wherein the curtain airbag has a bending portion in which a rear end portion of the curtain airbag bends forwardly in a storage state, a gas supply portion of the inflator is provided in front of the bending portion of the curtain airbag, and the shock absorbing member holds the bending portion of the curtain airbag inserted into an inside from a vehicle front side with an opening, a holding clip and a storage portion.

Abstract: An airbag has an airbag envelope (10) having two side walls (12, 14) enclosing a gas chamber. The first side wall (12) constitutes herein the impact surface and the second side wall (14) constitutes the support surface. A traction element (20) furthermore extends from a first end to a second end, whose first end is connected to the outer side of the second side wall (14) in order to force the inflated airbag to assume a curved shape. In order to achieve an easy production and assembly, the second end of the traction element (20) is also connected to the outer side of the second side wall (14), wherein the operating length of the traction element (20) is smaller than the length of the section of the second side wall (14) that is spanned thereby.

Abstract: A transportation vehicle has an inflatable restraint mounted proximate to a passenger seating location which is configured to inflate in an appropriate manner to interact with a passenger during an impact. The inflatable restraint is of a type not inflated in response to a frontal impact when the passenger seating location is empty. For enhanced protection of a driver, a restraint controller detects a far side impact that initiates at the side of the vehicle opposite from the driver, detects that the passenger seating location is empty, and causes inflation of the inflatable restraint to interact with the driver in response to the far side impact and the passenger seating location being empty.

Abstract: An airbag module for a motor vehicle generally includes an airbag cushion, an inflator, and an inflation control device. The airbag cushion includes at least one panel surrounding an inflatable interior portion. The inflator is configured to provide inflation gas for inflating the airbag cushion. The inflation control device is located in the interior portion of the airbag cushion and includes a first member coupled to a coupling member. The first member is connected to the at least one panel. The inflation control device is configured to allow the airbag cushion to inflate generally unrestrained until each of the first and coupling member are subjected to a tensile force. The inflation control device is configured to reduce a rate at which the airbag cushion expands after the first and coupling members are subjected to the tensile forces.

Abstract: A gasbag arrangement for a steering wheel of a motor vehicle is provided. The gasbag arrangement includes a gasbag which can be inflated for protecting a vehicle occupant. The gasbag, when inflated and mounted in the vehicle, includes an indentation in a portion that points towards the vehicle floor in the straight-ahead position of the steering wheel for reducing the expansion of a gasbag in the direction of a body region extending below the thorax region of the vehicle occupant such that a load on that body region during an impact of the vehicle occupant on the gasbag is minimized. According to another aspect a gasbag arrangement includes a gasbag which, when inflated and mounted in the vehicle, includes a side facing towards the vehicle floor and extending essentially parallel to a plane spanned by the longitudinal vehicle direction and the transverse vehicle direction.

Abstract: To provide an airbag and an airbag device that is excellent in an impact absorbing force and can efficiently inflate and deploy the airbag. An airbag 1 according to the present invention includes a left inflation chamber 11L that is inflated and deployed on the front left side of a passenger P and a right inflation chamber 11R that is inflated and deployed on the front right side of the passenger P. The left inflation chamber 11L and the right inflation chamber 11R include a first communication path 12 formed at an end portion on the car body side, a connection portion 13 connected at an intermediate portion in the inflating and deploying direction, and a second communication path 14 formed within the connection portion 13.

Abstract: An airbag, wherein gas is appropriately discharged from a vent hole by preventing a vent hole cover from being positionally displaced relative to the vent hole. An airbag (30) is provided with a cover guide member (70) which allows a vent hole cover (60) to move at a predetermined bag inner pressure to open a vent hole (34). The cover guide member has an opening (77) formed at a position corresponding to the vent hole.

Abstract: In a side airbag system (10), a tether portion (22), which serves as a partition between an upper bag portion (16) and a lower bag portion (18), is formed of upper regions (34U) of a piece of lower base fabric (34), and is formed by sewing the upper regions (34U) of the lower base fabric (34), folded toward a vehicle front side along a fold axis, together. In addition, a tube (24) that distributes inflation gas between the upper bag portion (16) and the lower bag portion (18) extends through the tether portion (22) to the lower bag portion (18) and to the upper bag portion (16). The tube (24) is formed into a cylindrical shape in such a manner that a piece of tube base fabric (36) is sewed to the upper regions (34U) of the lower base fabric (34) and folded toward a vehicle front side along the fold axis and then front ends (36F) of the folded tube base fabric are sewed together in a tube longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An air-bag includes a rear panel and a front panel secured to one another to define an inflatable volume. A tether interconnects the panels and has an area of mechanical weakness provided by at least one line of slits or perforations. The tether has a first configuration in which the area of mechanical weakness is substantially intact, and is configured to adopt a second configuration via rupture of the area of mechanical weakness. The first configuration of the tether is effective, during inflation of the air-bag, to limit the maximum depth of the air-bag to a predetermined distance measured between the front and rear panels, and the second configuration is effective to allow an increase in the maximum depth of the air-bag beyond the predetermined distance.

Abstract: An example airbag assembly an airbag, a duct having an duct opening for venting gas outside the airbag, and a flap moveable from a first position to a second position. The duct is configured to direct more gas outside the airbag when the flap is in the first position than when the flap is in the second position. A tether is configured to move the flap from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: An airbag that can inflate without using a high-power inflator, and an airbag apparatus provided with such an airbag are disclosed. In one form, the airbag, when inflating, has a normally open vent hole disposed in a rear panel in a region extending toward the center of a steering wheel from the rim of the steering wheel and an openable vent hole disposed in a region extending toward the outside of the steering wheel from the rim. The openable vent hole is covered by a cover. The cover and a strap inside the airbag are connected to each other with a tether. From the commencement of inflation of the airbag, the cover is placed over the openable vent hole to close the openable vent hole.