Patents by Inventor Akifumi Hanawa

Akifumi Hanawa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240010159
    Abstract: An airbag that includes a center chamber extending in a width direction of the vehicle in the vicinity of a lower edge of a windshield, and side chambers extending upward from both left and right end sections of the center chamber at least along an A-pillar, and is configured such that gas supplied from the inflator flows from the center chamber to the side chamber, a folded section is formed at which the side chamber is folded back toward the center chamber to be overlapped in a stowed state of the airbag, a pair of left and right partition panels for partitioning the center chamber and the side chambers are provided in the vicinity of the folded sections, and each of the pair of partition panels is provided with a check valve that prevents backflow of gas from the side chamber to the center chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Akifumi HANAWA, Satoshi ITO, Atsushi TAMURA
  • Publication number: 20230249642
    Abstract: The pedestrian airbag device includes an airbag cushion that expands and deploys from below the front hood toward the windshield. The airbag cushion has a main chamber covering at least the lower part of the windshield, a pillar chamber covering the A-pillar, provided at both ends of the main chamber in the vehicle width direction, a compartment wall partitioning the main chamber and the pillar chamber, an inner vent penetrating the compartment wall through which gas can pass, a bridge over the inner vent, and a patch attached so as to cover the inner vent on the pillar chamber side of the compartment wall, such that a portion is separable from the compartment wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Akifumi HANAWA, Atsushi TAMURA, Satoshi ITO
  • Patent number: 10919484
    Abstract: [Problem] To improve the energy absorption amount in a region for covering a pillar without increasing the gas generation amount of an inflator and without causing a shortage in the energy absorption amount in a region for covering the vicinity of the end on the hood side of a front glass. [Resolution means] A pedestrian protecting airbag apparatus includes: an airbag for covering the vicinity of the end on the hood side of a front glass along with at least a part on the lower side of a pillar; and an inflator for supplying gas to the airbag during a collision. The airbag includes: a center chamber for covering the vicinity of the end on the hood side of the front glass; a pillar cover chamber for covering at least the part on the lower side of the pillar; and a support chamber for expanding between this pillar cover chamber and the pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Satoshi Ito, Atsushi Tamura, Akifumi Hanawa
  • Publication number: 20200010045
    Abstract: [Problem] To improve the energy absorption amount in a region for covering a pillar without increasing the gas generation amount of an inflator and without causing a shortage in the energy absorption amount in a region for covering the vicinity of the end on the hood side of a front glass. [Resolution means] A pedestrian protecting airbag apparatus includes: an airbag for covering the vicinity of the end on the hood side of a front glass along with at least a part on the lower side of a pillar; and an inflator for supplying gas to the airbag during a collision. The airbag includes: a center chamber for covering the vicinity of the end on the hood side of the front glass; a pillar cover chamber for covering at least the part on the lower side of the pillar; and a support chamber for expanding between this pillar cover chamber and the pillar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Satoshi ITO, Atsushi TAMURA, Akifumi HANAWA
  • Patent number: 8905432
    Abstract: A curtain airbag capable of preventing a partial decrease in internal pressure to improve ejection prevention performance. The airbag includes: a main chamber, which inflates first; a delay chamber that is inflated with gas from the main chamber; a linear seam portion where front and back base fabrics are joined to partition the main chamber from the delay chamber; a planar seam portion formed at a lower end of the linear seam portion to define a non-inflation region in a range of the front and back base fabrics; and a gas inflow channel provided between the planar seam portion and the lower edge of the airbag to allow gas to flow from the main chamber into the delay chamber. The front and back base fabrics of the gas inflow channel sag upon completion of inflation and deployment to form a wrinkled portion that blocks or narrows the gas inflow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Atsushi Nakashima, Tsukasa Yoshihara, Hikaru Takahashi, Akifumi Hanawa
  • Patent number: 8714585
    Abstract: An airbag in which no choking occurs and which can be rapidly deployed. A cushion section of the airbag internally accommodates a cylinder-type inflator that includes an insertion hole for inserting the inflator from an outside to an inside, and a diffuser into which the inflator is inserted, and a diffuser having a tubular portion obtained by folding back a section of cloth to form symmetrical portions with an upper base formed by the folded back part and a lower base formed by adjacent ends of the symmetrical portions. The cushion section is folded back at both lateral sides of the along first folding lines that are substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Masakazu Okamoto, Akifumi Hanawa, Takashi Ohshima
  • Patent number: 8651513
    Abstract: An airbag having a cushion part defining an insertion hole that is positioned between first and second sewing lines provided to a base fabric and that is provided for the insertion of the inflator from an outside to an inside. A diffuser positioned within the cushion part and in which the inflator is inserted from the insertion hole. The diffuser has a tubular portion with a portion formed by folding layers of fabrics and being sewn to the base fabric along the first sewing line. The diffuser fabric of the tubular portion on a side adjacent to the base fabric being additionally sewn to the base fabric along a second sewing line. The diffuser includes a guide member 1 that extends and covers the insertion hole with a surface that continues from an inner surface of the diffuser. The guide member being sewn to the base fabric along the first sewing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Masakazu Okamoto, Akifumi Hanawa, Takashi Ohshima
  • Publication number: 20130341894
    Abstract: A curtain airbag capable of preventing a partial decrease in internal pressure to improve ejection prevention performance. The airbag includes: a main chamber, which inflates first; a delay chamber that is inflated with gas from the main chamber; a linear seam portion where front and back base fabrics are joined to partition the main chamber from the delay chamber; a planar seam portion formed at a lower end of the linear seam portion to define a non-inflation region in a range of the front and back base fabrics; and a gas inflow channel provided between the planar seam portion and the lower edge of the airbag to allow gas to flow from the main chamber into the delay chamber. The front and back base fabrics of the gas inflow channel sag upon completion of inflation and deployment to form a wrinkled portion that blocks or narrows the gas inflow channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Autoliv Developement AB
    Inventors: Atsushi Nakashima, Tsukasa Yoshihara, Hikaru Takahashi, Akifumi Hanawa
  • Publication number: 20130015646
    Abstract: An airbag in which no choking occurs and which can be rapidly deployed. A cushion section of the airbag internally accommodates a cylinder-type inflator that includes an insertion hole for inserting the inflator from an outside to an inside, and a diffuser into which the inflator is inserted, and a diffuser having a tubular portion obtained by folding back a section of cloth to form symmetrical portions with an upper base formed by the folded back part and a lower base formed by adjacent ends of the symmetrical portions. The cushion section is folded back at both lateral sides of the along first folding lines that are substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the diffuser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Masakazu Okamoto, Akifumi Hanawa, Takashi Ohshima
  • Publication number: 20120313358
    Abstract: An airbag having a cushion part defining an insertion hole that is positioned between first and second sewing lines provided to a base fabric and that is provided for the insertion of the inflator from an outside to an inside. A diffuser positioned within the cushion part and in which the inflator is inserted from the insertion hole. The diffuser has a tubular portion with a portion formed by folding layers of fabrics and being sewn to the base fabric along the first sewing line. The diffuser fabric of the tubular portion on a side adjacent to the base fabric being additionally sewn to the base fabric along a second sewing line. The diffuser includes a guide member 1 that extends and covers the insertion hole with a surface that continues from an inner surface of the diffuser. The guide member being sewn to the base fabric along the first sewing line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventors: Masakazu Okamoto, Akifumi Hanawa, Takashi Ohshima
  • Patent number: 7900961
    Abstract: An airbag has a front panel positioned on an occupant side when inflated, and a rear panel of substantially the same shape as the front panel positioned on an opposite side to the occupant. Furthermore, an inflation restricting section, which restricts the inflated shape of the airbag, is formed by drawing together and fixing a portion of the front panel. When the airbag is inflated, the occupant side of the airbag is pulled inwards, thereby forming a cavity on the occupant side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Akifumi Hanawa, Shinobu Yamamoto, Yosuke Shimizu, Keiko Aita
  • Patent number: 7866694
    Abstract: An airbag has a front panel positioned on an occupant side when inflated, and a rear panel of substantially the same shape as the front panel positioned on an opposite side to the occupant. Furthermore, an inflation restricting section, which restricts the inflated shape of the airbag, is formed by drawing together and fixing a portion of the front panel. When the airbag is inflated, the occupant side of the airbag is pulled inwards, thereby forming a cavity on the occupant side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Akifumi Hanawa, Shinobu Yamamoto, Yosuke Shimizu, Keiko Aita
  • Publication number: 20100117340
    Abstract: An airbag has a front panel positioned on an occupant side when inflated, and a rear panel of substantially the same shape as the front panel positioned on an opposite side to the occupant. Furthermore, an inflation restricting section, which restricts the inflated shape of the airbag, is formed by drawing together and fixing a portion of the front panel. When the airbag is inflated, the occupant side of the airbag is pulled inwards, thereby forming a cavity on the occupant side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Akifumi Hanawa, Shinobu Yamamoto, Yosuke Shimizu, Keiko Aita
  • Publication number: 20100109301
    Abstract: An airbag has a front panel positioned on an occupant side when inflated, and a rear panel of substantially the same shape as the front panel positioned on an opposite side to the occupant. Furthermore, an inflation restricting section, which restricts the inflated shape of the airbag, is formed by drawing together and fixing a portion of the front panel. When the airbag is inflated, the occupant side of the airbag is pulled inwards, thereby forming a cavity on the occupant side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Akifumi Hanawa, Shinobu Yamamoto, Yosuke Shimizu, Keiko Aita
  • Patent number: 7673901
    Abstract: An airbag has a front panel positioned on an occupant side when inflated, and a rear panel of substantially the same shape as the front panel positioned on an opposite side to the occupant. Furthermore, an inflation restricting section, which restricts the inflated shape of the airbag, is formed by drawing together and fixing a portion of the front panel. When the airbag is inflated, the occupant side of the airbag is pulled inwards, thereby forming a cavity on the occupant side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Akifumi Hanawa, Shinobu Yamamoto, Yosuke Shimizu, Keiko Aita
  • Publication number: 20060279072
    Abstract: An airbag has a front panel positioned on an occupant side when inflated, and a rear panel of substantially the same shape as the front panel positioned on an opposite side to the occupant. Furthermore, an inflation restricting section, which restricts the inflated shape of the airbag, is formed by drawing together and fixing a portion of the front panel. When the airbag is inflated, the occupant side of the airbag is pulled inwards, thereby forming a cavity on the occupant side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Inventors: Akifumi Hanawa, Shinobu Yamamoto, Yosuke Shimizu, Keiko Aita