GB2237248A - Vehicle air bag construction - Google Patents
Vehicle air bag construction Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2237248A GB2237248A GB9019516A GB9019516A GB2237248A GB 2237248 A GB2237248 A GB 2237248A GB 9019516 A GB9019516 A GB 9019516A GB 9019516 A GB9019516 A GB 9019516A GB 2237248 A GB2237248 A GB 2237248A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- bag
- steering wheel
- air bag
- strap
- lower portion
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
- B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
- B60R21/23—Inflatable members
- B60R21/231—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
- B60R21/233—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
- B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
- B60R21/23—Inflatable members
- B60R21/231—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
- B60R21/2334—Expansion control features
- B60R21/2338—Tethers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
- B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
- B60R21/23—Inflatable members
- B60R21/231—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
- B60R21/2334—Expansion control features
- B60R21/2338—Tethers
- B60R2021/23382—Internal tether means
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Air Bags (AREA)
Abstract
An air bag (10) mounted on a steering wheel (6) is constrained by an arrangement of internal straps 10b to 10e to expand asymmetrically in order to ensure adequate protection for the drivers face and torso against impacting the wheel (6). In an alternative embodiment only the lower straps 10b, c are provided. <IMAGE>
Description
Automotive Air Bag Safety Device The present invention concerns the
provision of an air bag safety device for use in protecting the driver of a vehicle from injurious impact with the vehicle steering wheel in the event of very abrupt deceleration of the vehicle caused by a collision.
As shown in figures 6 and 7, the conventional air bag safety device consists of an air bag 1 or 4 centrally mounted on the steering wheel and adapted to rapidly inflate, in response to detected rapid deceleration.
Figure 6 shows one form of conventional air bag 1 which inflates to a shape determined exclusively by the skin of the bag. This shape is very approximately spherical. With this first conventional air bag, the lower part of the bag does not sufficiently cushion the chest of the driver 3 to protect against impact with the lower part of the steering wheel 2.
In an attempt to deal with this problem. Japanese Uti.Lity model Publication 61-11084 proposes an air bag similar to that shown in figure 7, which differs from the prior art of figure 6 in that an array of equal length straps 5, are provided so that each strap has one end secured to the inner surface of the bag adjacent the steering wheel 2, and the other end to the opposite inner surface of the bag. The ends of the straps 5 are secured to points on the circumference of notional concentric circles. It will readily be appreciated that this form of bag inflates to an oblate spheroid shape as shown in figure 7. However, although this form of air bag sufficiently protects the chest region of the driver 3 inadequate protection is provided for the drivers face.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an air bag device which alleviates the disadvantages of the aformentioned prior art.
According to the present invention there is provided an air bag safety device mounted on a steering wheel of a motor vehicle comprising an air bag, at least one strap, the strap having one end secured to an inner surface of the skin of the bag opposite the steering wheel, and the other end secured adjacent the steering wheel to constrain inflation of the bag, and said strap being arranged so that upon inflation of the bag into a space between the steering wheel and the driver, an upper portion of the bag expands to a volume greater than the lower portion.
By virtue of the present invention the strap or straps are arranged to ensure that the bag expands asymmetrically so that adequate cushioning effect is provided between the steering wheel and the chest of the driver and the steering wheel and face of the driver.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention straps are disposed in both the upper and the lower portions of the air bag, the upper strap having a greater length than the lower strap. Alternatively, short straps can be provided 1 only in the lower portion of the bag.
Embodiments of the air bag device constructed in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings; wherein, Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an air bag of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of the air bag; Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a motor vehicle provided with an air-bag unit; Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an inflated air bag in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of the inflated air bag of a second embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to Fig. 3, numeral 6 designates a steering wheel of a motor vehicle. An air bag according to the present invention is folded and mounted in a central portion of the steering wheel 6 together with an inflator (not shown) and covered by a cover 7. Provided in appropriate portions of the vehicle are a control unit 8 and a plurality of g-sensors 9 acceleration sensors connected to the control unit 8 for sensing a shock at a collision of the vehicle. The control unit 8 is electrically connected to the inflator through a relay system (not shown).
The air bag is rapidly inflated between the steering wheel 6 and the driver 3 by the inflator when a shock is sensed.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, an inflated air bag 10 according to the present invention has a circular gas inlet 10a formed in the centre thereof and four straps 10b to 10e. One end of each strap 10b to 10e, is secured to an inner surface of the bag adjacent the steering wheel 2. The other end of each strap 10b to 10e, is secured to the opposite inner surface of the bag 10.
Ends of the straps 10b to 10e are concentrically disposed around, and secured to, a periphery of the inlet 10a at regular intervals. A pair of left and right straps 10b and 10c are disposed in a lower portion of the air bag 10 and a pair of left and right straps 10d and 10e are disposed in an upper portion. Each of the lower straps 10b and 10c is short so that the air bag 10 is inflated to expand below the rim of the steering wheel near the chest of the driver 3 as shown in Fig. 4.
The upper straps 10d and 10e are longer than the lower straps 10b and 10c and arranged such that the upper portion of the air bag 10 can inflate near to the face of the driver 3.
In operation, when the g-sensors 9 detect a collision of the vehicle, the inflator is actuated in accordance with a signal from the control unit 8 to generate gas. The gas enters the air bag 10 through the inlet 10a, causing the air bag 10 to inflate toward the driver 3. Constrained by the lower short straps 10b and 10c, the lower f portion of the air bag 10 immediately inflates towards the lower rim of the steering wheel 6 and eventually overlies and projects beyond the lower rim. The upper portion of the air bag is largely inflated to a greater volume than the lower portion and expands near to the face of the driver in accordance with the upper long straps 10d and 10e.
When the driver is thrown forwards during a collision, the lower portion of the air bag 10 cushions the driver, thereby preventing the chest of the driver from colliding with the lower portion of the steering wheel 6. Further, the upper portion of the air bag sufficiently cushions the head of the driver.
Fig. 5 shows another embodiment of the air bag of the present invention. An air bag 10' has two lower short straps 10b and 10c but no long straps.
Operation of the second embodiment of the device is substantially similar to that of the first embodiment.
Claims (8)
1. An air bag safety device mounted on a steering wheel of a motor vehicle comprising an air bag, at least one strap, the strap having one end secured to an inner surface of the skin of the bag opposite the steering wheel and the other end secured adjacent the steering wheel to constrain inflation of the bag, and said strap being arranged so that upon inflation of the bag into a space between the steering wheel and the driver an upper portion of the bag expands to a volume greater than the lower portion.
2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the lower portion of the bag expands to a position between the lower rim of the steering wheel and the driver.
3. A device according to claim 2 wherein the lower portion of the bag expands to below the rim of the steering wheel.
4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the strap is disposed in a lower portion of the bag.
5. A device according to anyone of the preceding claims having a long strap to constrain expansion of the upper portion of the bag.
-I
6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims having a plurality of short straps in the lower portion of the bag.
7. A device according to claim 5 having a-plurality of long straps.
8. An air bag device as herein described with reference to the accompanying figures 1 to 5.
Published 1991 at 17he Patent Office. State House. 66/71 Highliolbom, London WCIR47?. Further copicsrnay be obtained from Sales Branch, Unit 6. Nine Mile Point, Cwnifielinfach. Cross Keys. Newport. NP1 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques lid. St Mary Cray, Kent.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP10468889U JPH0343057U (en) | 1989-09-06 | 1989-09-06 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9019516D0 GB9019516D0 (en) | 1990-10-24 |
| GB2237248A true GB2237248A (en) | 1991-05-01 |
Family
ID=14387409
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9019516A Withdrawn GB2237248A (en) | 1989-09-06 | 1990-09-06 | Vehicle air bag construction |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPH0343057U (en) |
| DE (1) | DE4028344A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2237248A (en) |
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2283464A (en) * | 1993-11-05 | 1995-05-10 | Takata Corp | Airbag which inflates towards waist of vehicle occupant |
| US5558365A (en) * | 1992-12-18 | 1996-09-24 | Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki Seisakusho | Tethered air bag |
| US6334625B1 (en) | 1997-06-23 | 2002-01-01 | Takata-Petri Ag | Flame protection device for air bags in air bag modules |
| US8899618B2 (en) | 2010-06-30 | 2014-12-02 | Takata-Petri Ag | Gas bag arrangements for a steering wheel of a motor vehicle |
| CN108202689A (en) * | 2016-12-19 | 2018-06-26 | 现代自动车株式会社 | For the preceding air bag of vehicle |
| US10414370B2 (en) | 2017-06-15 | 2019-09-17 | Autoliv Asp, Inc. | Driver airbag for oblique and frontal impacts |
| US11370378B2 (en) | 2017-03-29 | 2022-06-28 | Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. | Steering wheel airbag |
Families Citing this family (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE4430412C1 (en) * | 1994-08-26 | 1995-10-12 | Porsche Ag | Side impact protection system for occupant of vehicle |
| DE29607302U1 (en) * | 1996-04-12 | 1996-07-04 | Petri Ag | Airbag module |
| DE19625395A1 (en) * | 1996-06-25 | 1998-01-02 | Berger Johann | Vehicle airbag production |
| DE29807424U1 (en) | 1998-04-23 | 1998-08-27 | Trw Repa Gmbh | Knee protection device for vehicle occupants |
| US7367586B2 (en) | 2005-05-09 | 2008-05-06 | Ford Global Technologies, Llc | Airbag restraint for automotive vehicle |
| JP5572597B2 (en) * | 2011-06-30 | 2014-08-13 | 富士重工業株式会社 | Crew protection device |
| DE102020004801A1 (en) | 2020-08-07 | 2022-02-10 | Daimler Ag | Airbag device for a motor vehicle, and motor vehicle |
| JP7024844B2 (en) * | 2020-11-04 | 2022-02-24 | 豊田合成株式会社 | Airbag for steering wheel |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3784225A (en) * | 1972-10-02 | 1974-01-08 | Gen Motors Corp | Occupant restraint system |
| GB1375807A (en) * | 1972-07-04 | 1974-11-27 | ||
| GB1438032A (en) * | 1973-02-13 | 1976-06-03 | ||
| US4300894A (en) * | 1979-12-03 | 1981-11-17 | General Motors Corporation | Method of making L-shaped inflatable restraint cushion |
| US4474390A (en) * | 1982-03-19 | 1984-10-02 | Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft | Gas cushion on passenger side for motor vehicles, especially passenger motor vehicles |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE2150257A1 (en) * | 1971-10-08 | 1973-04-12 | Daimler Benz Ag | INFLATABLE GAS CUSHION TO PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS OF VEHICLES, IN PARTICULAR OF MOTOR VEHICLES |
| DE2552815A1 (en) * | 1975-11-25 | 1977-05-26 | Phoenix Gummiwerke Ag | INFLATABLE IMPACT PROTECTION BELLOWS FOR THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES |
| JPH0534285Y2 (en) * | 1987-02-05 | 1993-08-31 |
-
1989
- 1989-09-06 JP JP10468889U patent/JPH0343057U/ja active Pending
-
1990
- 1990-09-06 DE DE19904028344 patent/DE4028344A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1990-09-06 GB GB9019516A patent/GB2237248A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1375807A (en) * | 1972-07-04 | 1974-11-27 | ||
| US3784225A (en) * | 1972-10-02 | 1974-01-08 | Gen Motors Corp | Occupant restraint system |
| GB1438032A (en) * | 1973-02-13 | 1976-06-03 | ||
| US4300894A (en) * | 1979-12-03 | 1981-11-17 | General Motors Corporation | Method of making L-shaped inflatable restraint cushion |
| US4474390A (en) * | 1982-03-19 | 1984-10-02 | Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft | Gas cushion on passenger side for motor vehicles, especially passenger motor vehicles |
Cited By (12)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5558365A (en) * | 1992-12-18 | 1996-09-24 | Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki Seisakusho | Tethered air bag |
| GB2283464A (en) * | 1993-11-05 | 1995-05-10 | Takata Corp | Airbag which inflates towards waist of vehicle occupant |
| GB2283464B (en) * | 1993-11-05 | 1997-09-10 | Takata Corp | Air bag device |
| US6334625B1 (en) | 1997-06-23 | 2002-01-01 | Takata-Petri Ag | Flame protection device for air bags in air bag modules |
| US8899618B2 (en) | 2010-06-30 | 2014-12-02 | Takata-Petri Ag | Gas bag arrangements for a steering wheel of a motor vehicle |
| EP2588347B1 (en) | 2010-06-30 | 2017-05-03 | Takata AG | Airbag arrangements for a steering wheel of a motor vehicle |
| CN108202689A (en) * | 2016-12-19 | 2018-06-26 | 现代自动车株式会社 | For the preceding air bag of vehicle |
| KR20180071437A (en) * | 2016-12-19 | 2018-06-28 | 현대자동차주식회사 | Front airbag for vehicle |
| CN108202689B (en) * | 2016-12-19 | 2022-02-18 | 现代自动车株式会社 | Front airbag for vehicle |
| KR102635925B1 (en) * | 2016-12-19 | 2024-02-13 | 현대자동차주식회사 | Front airbag for vehicle |
| US11370378B2 (en) | 2017-03-29 | 2022-06-28 | Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. | Steering wheel airbag |
| US10414370B2 (en) | 2017-06-15 | 2019-09-17 | Autoliv Asp, Inc. | Driver airbag for oblique and frontal impacts |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE4028344A1 (en) | 1991-04-25 |
| GB9019516D0 (en) | 1990-10-24 |
| JPH0343057U (en) | 1991-04-23 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |