Abstract: A support structure for an airbag apparatus includes an airbag apparatus having a bag holder, a supporting member having a shaft portion, a slider, an annular damper holder, and an annular elastic member. The shaft portion extends in a front-rear direction, while being passed through the bag holder. The shaft portion includes a flange at the rear end. The slider is fitted around the shaft portion to be slidable in the front-rear direction. The damper holder covers part of the slider in the front-rear direction. The elastic member includes protrusions that protrude rearward from the elastic member so as to contact the flange, thereby partially filling a gap between the elastic member and the flange. The protrusions extend radially with an axis of the supporting member serving as a center.

Abstract: A steering wheel, in which an airbag device is attached to a core metal, including a through hole for attachment of the airbag device, via a horn switch mechanism, the horn switch mechanism including: a metal pin member whose tip end portion is locked to the core metal via an engagement member to be engaged with the tip end portion in a state where the tip end portion is inserted into the through hole and which forms a part of an electrical circuit configured to operate the horn device; and a resin cap which is interposed between an inner surface of the through hole and an outer surface of the pin member, the steering wheel includes a plurality of connection paths configured to normally connect the pin member and the core metal in a manner of forming a part of the electrical circuit.

Abstract: A support structure for an airbag apparatus includes an airbag apparatus having a bag holder, a supporting member having a shaft portion, a slider, an annular damper holder, and an annular elastic member. The shaft portion extends in a front-rear direction, while being passed through the bag holder. The shaft portion includes a flange at the rear end. The slider is fitted around the shaft portion to be slidable in the front-rear direction. The damper holder covers part of the slider in the front-rear direction. The elastic member includes protrusions that protrude rearward from the elastic member so as to contact the flange, thereby partially filling a gap between the elastic member and the flange. The protrusions extend radially with an axis of the supporting member serving as a center.

Abstract: An airbag device with a horn switch body, configured so as to be installed in an upper surface side in a boss portion near a center of a steering wheel, includes: an airbag which inflates by receiving inflation gas; an inflator for supplying inflation gas to the airbag; a pad covering the folded airbag; a mounting base made of sheet metal which holds the airbag, the inflator, and the pad; a horn switch body having an assembling pin to be assembled to a main body side of the steering wheel; and a support plate made of a sheet metal which supports the horn switch body as a configuration attached to a lower surface side of the mounting base. A case around the assembling pin, the mounting base, or the support plate is provided with a spacer capable of preventing rattling of the switch disposition portion in the case.

Abstract: A preparatory folded form is a form of an airbag in an initial stage in a folding process which has not yet been reduced in size for storage in a steering wheel. The airbag includes a driver-side wall, and a vehicle-side wall which includes an inlet port in a vicinity of the center, and a plurality of taken-in portions towards the outer edge for reducing a length of the outer edge of the vehicle-side wall. The preparatory folded form includes an upper-surface portion composed of a central portion of the driver-side wall, a lower-surface portion composed of a peripheral portion of the inlet port in the vehicle-side wall, and at least one invaginated portion that is composed of a portion of the airbag located between the upper- and lower-surface portions including the taken-in portions, and is invaginated in between the upper- and lower-surface portions towards the inlet port. The upper-surface portion, invaginated portion and lower-surface portion lie over one another.

Abstract: An airbag for a steering wheel is configured to cover an upper surface of the steering wheel generally all over when inflated. The airbag includes a driver-protection portion that is configured to be deployed towards a driver's seat and restrain a driver, a central protruding portion that is disposed in a vicinity of a center of the driver-protection portion and protrudes towards the driver's seat, a circumferential protruding portion that is disposed in a vicinity of an outer circumferential edge of the driver-protection portion and protrudes towards the driver's seat, and a small protruding portion that is disposed between the central protruding portion and circumferential protruding portion and protrudes towards the driver's seat. The small protruding portion is smaller in protruding amount than the central protruding portion and the circumferential protruding portion.

Abstract: A steering wheel includes a decorative component and a surface skin on a surface of the rim. The decorative component is formed into a band and a leading-end portion of the decorative component has a tapered form in which an inner edge curves towards an outer circumference of the rim and serves as a curving edge. The surface skin includes a curved-side section adjoining the curving edge and a non-curved-side section adjoining a non-curving edge of the leading-end portion. The curved-side section includes a main body that includes a curving portion which corresponds to the curving edge of the leading-end portion in shape, and an extended portion that extends beyond an apex of the leading-end portion and extends towards the non-curving edge of the leading-end portion of the decorative component. A region of the extended portion beyond the apex is joined to a leading edge of the non-curved-side section.

Abstract: An airbag device with a horn switch body, configured so as to be installed in an upper surface side in a boss portion near a center of a steering wheel, includes: an airbag which inflates by receiving inflation gas; an inflator for supplying inflation gas to the airbag; a pad covering the folded airbag: a mounting base made of sheet metal which holds the airbag, the inflator, and the pad; a horn switch body having an assembling pin to be assembled to a main body side of the steering wheel; and a support plate made of a sheet metal which supports the horn switch body as a configuration attached to a lower surface side of the mounting base. A case around the assembling pin, the mounting base, or the support plate is provided with a spacer capable of preventing rattling of the switch disposition portion in the case.

Abstract: A preparatory folded form is a form of an airbag in an initial stage in a folding process which has not yet been reduced in size for storage in a steering wheel, The airbag includes a driver-side wall, and a vehicle-side wall which includes an inlet port in a vicinity of the center, and a plurality of taken-in portions towards the outer edge for reducing a length of the outer edge of the vehicle-side wall. The preparatory folded form includes an upper-surface portion composed of a central portion of the driver-side wall, a lower-surface portion composed of a peripheral portion of the inlet port in the vehicle-side wall, and at least one invaginated portion that is composed of a portion of the airbag located between the upper- and lower-surface portions including the taken-in portions, and is invaginated in between the upper- and lower-surface portions towards the inlet port. The upper-surface portion, invaginated portion and lower-surface portion lie over one another.

Abstract: An airbag for a steering wheel is configured to cover an upper surface of the steering wheel generally all over when inflated. The airbag includes a driver-protection portion that is configured to be deployed towards a driver's seat and restrain a driver, a central protruding portion that is disposed in a vicinity of a center of the driver-protection portion and protrudes towards the driver's seat, a circumferential protruding portion that is disposed in a vicinity of an outer circumferential edge of the driver-protection portion and protrudes towards the driver's seat, and a small protruding portion that is disposed between the central protruding portion and circumferential protruding portion and protrudes towards the driver's seat. The small protruding portion is smaller in protruding amount than the central protruding portion and the circumferential protruding portion.

Abstract: A steering wheel includes a decorative component and a surface skin on a surface of the rim. The decorative component is formed into a band and a leading-end portion of the decorative component has a tapered form in which an inner edge curves towards an outer circumference of the rim and serves as a curving edge. The surface skin includes a curved-side section adjoining the curving edge and a non-curved-side section adjoining a non-curving edge of the leading-end portion. The curved-side section includes a main body that includes a curving portion which corresponds to the curving edge of the leading-end portion in shape, and an extended portion that extends beyond an apex of the leading-end portion and extends towards the non-curving edge of the leading-end portion of the decorative component. A region of the extended portion beyond the apex is joined to a leading edge of the non-curved-side section.

Abstract: A steering wheel, in which an airbag device is attached to a core metal, including a through hole for attachment of the airbag device, via a horn switch mechanism, the horn switch mechanism including: a metal pin member whose tip end portion is locked to the core metal via an engagement member to be engaged with the tip end portion in a state where the tip end portion is inserted into the through hole and which forms a part of an electrical circuit configured to operate the horn device; and a resin cap which is interposed between an inner surface of the through hole and an outer surface of the pin member, the steering wheel includes a plurality of connection paths configured to normally connect the pin member and the core metal in a manner of forming a part of the electrical circuit.

Abstract: A gas generator includes: a housing having closure and diffuser shells; an inner tube member accommodating an igniter, an opening end of the inner tube member being located opposing a bottom plate of the closure shell and defining a ventilating portion formed at the opening end, the inner tube member being fixed to an igniter attaching portion, and having a cylindrical portion projecting inwardly in the closure shell, and a passage being formed between the inner tube member and the igniter attaching portion to reach the ventilating portion; an outer circumference cylindrical member provided in the combustion chamber and one end opening thereof being located at the bottom plate; and an annular porous member defining a space above the combustion chamber, the space being communicated to a gas discharge path defined between the outer circumference cylindrical member and a side surface of the diffuser shell through a communicating portion.

Abstract: A gas generator, includes: a housing having closure shell, a diffuser shell including a gas discharge ports, and a flange portion; an inner tube member defining a combustion chamber in an outside thereof for accommodating a gas generating agent, the igniter being attached to the closure shell such that the igniter projects inside from a hole formed in the bottom plate of the closure shell, the annular porous member having a plurality of holes which are smaller than the size of the gas generator, defining a space above the combustion chamber, a total opening area (A1) of the gas discharge ports being smaller than a total opening area (A2) of a gas pathway extending from the combustion chamber to the gas discharge ports (A1<A2), and the space and the gas discharge path being communicated with each other by a communicating portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a filterless gas generator, including, a housing having closure shell, a diffuser shell including a gas discharge ports, and a flange portion, an inner tube member defining a combustion chamber in an outside thereof for accommodating a gas generating agent, the igniter attached to the closure shell such that the igniter projects inside from a hole formed in the bottom plate of the closure shell, the annular porous member having a plurality of holes which are smaller than the size of the gas generator, defining a space above the combustion chamber, a total opening area (A1) of the gas discharge ports being smaller than a total opening area (A2) of a gas pathway extending from the combustion chamber to the gas discharge ports (A1<A2) , and the space and the gas discharge path being communicated with each other by a communicating portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a filterless gas generator, including a housing having a closure shell, a diffuser and a flange portion, an inner tube member accommodating an igniter coaxially with the central axis of the housing, an opening end of the inner tube member located in a bottom plate of the closure shell and a ventilating portion formed at the opening end, the inner tube member fixed to an igniter attaching portion, being a cylindrical portion projecting inwardly in the closure shell, and a passage being formed between the inner tube member and the igniter attaching portion to reach the ventilating portion, one end opening of a outer circumference cylindrical member provided in the combustion chamber being located at the bottom plate of the closure shell, the annular porous member disposed and defining a space above the combustion chamber, the space communicating to a gas discharge path between the outer circumference cylindrical member and a side surface of the diffuser shell through a communicati

Abstract: The airbag apparatus is provided with a retainer that includes a hold-down portion for attachment of a periphery of a gas inlet of an airbag to the case, a cover wall surrounding an inflator body, deflectors and catches. The cover wall includes a plurality of outlet ports for releasing inflation gas exited discharge ports of the inflator body radially. The deflectors deflect the inflation gas exited the outlet ports in a range of angle from a direction orthogonal to an axis of the inflator body to a downward direction extending toward the hold-down portion. The catches capture residual particles contained in the inflation gas when the gas deflected by the deflectors hit them.

Abstract: The airbag apparatus is provided with a retainer that includes a hold-down portion for attachment of a periphery of a gas inlet of an airbag to the case, a cover wall surrounding an inflator body, deflectors and catches. The cover wall includes a plurality of outlet ports for releasing inflation gas exited discharge ports of the inflator body radially. The deflectors deflect the inflation gas exited the outlet ports in a range of angle from a direction orthogonal to an axis of the inflator body to a downward direction extending toward the hold-down portion. The catches capture residual particles contained in the inflation gas when the gas deflected by the deflectors hit them.