GB2272868A

GB2272868A - Air bag gas generator mounting.

Info

Publication number: GB2272868A
Application number: GB9322324A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Takayasu Zushi; Motonobu Kitagawa; Kazuhiko Yamakawa; Masato Kuretake; Yoshimi Yoshida; Sawayo Uda
Original assignee: Takata Corp
Current assignee: Takata Corp
Priority date: 1992-11-30
Filing date: 1993-10-29
Publication date: 1994-06-01
Also published as: GB9322324D0; DE4338234A1; JPH06156180A

Abstract

A wall 40 of a gas generating agent chamber is formed integrally with retainer 10A. The welded joint at 42a avoids use of bolts, hence simplifying and quickening assembly. Several embodiments of this type of joint are disclosed, for both driver and passenger type bags (steering wheel or dashboard mountings). The joint at 42a may use screws or rivets. <IMAGE>

Description

1 2272868 S P E C I F I C A T 1 0 N

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

Air Bag Device BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an air bag device mounted in a vehicle for protecting an occupant by extending its air bag in an emergency of the vehi cle.

Description of the Related Art

In an air bag device mounted in a steering column or instrument panel in front of a seat of an automobile, the occupant is protected in an emergency such as a collision of the automobile by extending the air 'bag abruptly with the pressure of gas injected from a gas generator called the inflater.

Fig. 5 is a section showing one example of an air bag device for a driver according to the prior art. Reference numeral 10 designates an air bag holding member called the retainer, and an inflater 14 is fitted in a central opening (or inflater mounting hole) 12 of the retainer 10.

1 An air bag 16 is formed with an inlet 18 for receiving the leading end of the inflater 14, and the inlet 18 is arranged on the peripheral edge of the mounting hole 12. The air bag 16 has its inlet 18 clamped at its peripheral portion between a holding ring (or doubling plate) 20 and the peripheral edge of the mounting hole 12.

The air bag 16 is so folded as to be extended and is covered with a module cover 22. This module cover 22 is torn off by the pressure of the air bag 16 being extended by the gas injected from the inflater 14.

The air bag 16 and the inflater 14 are fixed on the retainer 10 by inserting stud bolts 28 of the holding ring 20 into both the bolt holes of the retainer 10 and the bolt holes of the flanged portion of the inflater 14 and by fastening corresponding nuts 30.

In the air bag device of the prior art, the work for mounting the inflater 14 is troublesome, because the numerous stud bolts 28 of the holding ring 20 have to be inserted into the bolt holes of the air bag 16, the retainer 10 and the inflater 14 before the nuts 30 are fastened.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

2 "v 1 An object of the present invention is to solve the above-specified problem of the prior art and to provide an air bag device which can be easily as sembled.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air bag device comprising: a folded air bag; a receptacle confining the air bag; and gas generating means for extending said air bag, wherein the gas generating means includes: a gas gen erating agent chamber formed integrally as a portion of the receptacle; a gas generating agent filled in the chamber; and a gas passage for establishing the communication of the chamber with the inside of the air bag in the receptacle.

According to the air bag device of the present invention, the inflater is made integral with a membei such as the retainer or the container. When the air bag device is to.be-assembled, the inflater need not be mounted by means of bolts so that the assembly can be simplified.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a section showing a first embodiment of the presentinvention; Fig. 2 is a section showing a second embodiment; 3 1 Fig. 3 is a section showing a third embodiment; Fig. 4 is a section showing a fourth embodiment; Fig. 5 Is a section showing an air bag device of the prior art;

Fig.

and ment.

Fig. 6 is a section showing a fifth embodiment; Fig. 7 is a section taken along line 7 - 7 in 6; Fig. 8 is a section showing a sixth embodiment; Fig. 9 is a section showing a seventh embodiment; Fig.

is a section showing an eighth embodi DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be described in the following in connection with its embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a section showing an inflater mounting structure of an air bag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, a retainer 10A has its central portion bulged upward into a cup-shaped bulge 40. The bulge 40 is backed by a cover plate 42 which has its flanged portion 42a welded to the retainer 10A. The cover plate 42 and bulge 40 define toge- 4 1 ther a chamber (i.e., a gas generating agent chamber) which is charged with a gas generating agent 44.

An igniter 46 is mounted in the cover plate 42. The bulge 40 is formed in its side periphery with gas injection holes 48, which are covered with filters 50 disposed along the inner periphery of the bulge 40. When the gas generating agent 44 is ignited by the igniter 46, the gas is injected through the injection holes 48 so that the air bag 16 is extended into the vehicle cabin while tearing out the module cover 22. The air bag 16 is mounted on the retainer 10A by means of a hold ring 20, stud bolts 28 and nuts 30. The filter 50 filters out the fine particles (or particulates) of the gas.

Fig. 2 is a section showing a second embodiment. In the embodiment, a retainer 10B has its central portion flattened, and this flattened central portion is backed by a cup-shaped cover plate 52 to define a gas generating agent chamber. The cover plate 52 has its flanged portion 52a welded to the retainer 10B. The gas generating agent 44 in its chamber is ignited by the igniter 46 mounted in the cover plate 52, so that the gas is injected through gas injection holes 56 formed in the central portion of the retainer 10B, to extend the air bag 16. Reference numeral 58 desig- 1 nates a filter.

Fig. 3 shows a third embodiment, in which a retainer 10C has its central portion bulged downward to form a cup-shaped recess 60. This recess 60 is charged with the gas generating agent 44, which can also be ignited by the igniter 46. To the peripheral edge of the recess 60, there is welded a flanged portion 62a of a cover plate 62. The gas is injected through gas injection holes 63 formed in the cover plate 62, to extend the air bag 16.

Fig. 4 shows a fourth embodiment, in which a retainer 10D has its central portion recessed to form a cup-shaped recess 64. The recess 64 is covered with a cover plate 66 of a flat plate. The cover plate 66 is formed with gas injection holes 68 and has its peripheral edge welded to the retainer 10D.

According to the constructions thus made, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the air bag devices can be simply assembled without using the bolts for mounting the inflater.

The cover plates are welded to the retainer in the foregoing embodiments but may be fixed by means of screws or rivets.

The foregoing embodiments are directed to the air bag device for a driver, but the present invention may 6 be employed in a similar inflater mounting structure in an air bag device for a passenger.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the back of an air bag device according to such an embodiment, and Fig. 7 is a section taken along line 7 - 7 in Fig. 6.

An air bag 72 is folded and confined in a boxshaped container 70 which has its front face opened but covered with a lid 74. In order to extend the air bag 72,the container 70 has its back side gas generating agent chamber charged with the gas generating agent 44. The gas generating agent chamber is formed by bulging the back of the container 70 inward to form a cup-shaped bulge 76 and by welding the flanged portion 78a of a cover plate 78 to the container back side of the bulge 76. The cover plate 78 is equipped with the igniter 46. Numeral 80 designates a filter, and numeral 82 designates gas injection holes.

The structure of Fig. 7 is identical to that of Fig. 1, but the present invention can form a gas generating mechanism on the back of the container by any of the structures of Figs. 8 to 10.

In the structure of Fig. 8, a cover plate 78A is attached to the inner side of a container 70A. Numeral 82A designates gas injection holes.

In the structure of Fig. 9, a container 70B is 7 flattened and backed by a cover plate 78B. Numeral 82B designates gas injection holes.

In the structure of Fig. 10, a container 70C is bulged backward to form a cup-shaped portion, which is covered with a cover plate 78C. The cover plate 78C is formed with gas injection holes 82C.

As has been described hereinbefore, according to the inflater mounting structure of the present invention, the inflater is integral with the retainer or the container so that the air bag device can be assembled remarkably easily and promptly.

8 1

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An air bag device comprising: a folded air bag; a receptacle confining said air bag; and gas generating means for extending said air bag, wherein said gas generating means includes: a gas generating agent chamber formed integrally as a portion of said receptacle; a gas generating agent filled in said chamber; and a gas passage for establishing the communication of said chamber with the inside of said air bag in said receptacle.

2. An air bag device for a. driver according to claim 1, further comprising a retainer forming a part of said gas generating means.

3. An air bag device for a driver according to claim 2, wherein said retainer has its central portion bulged inward of said air bag device to form a bulge, and wherein said bulge is formed with said gas passage, further comprising a cover plate mounted on-the back of said bulge of said retainer to define together 9 with said retainer a space for said gas generating agent chamber.

4. An air bag device for a driver according to claim 2, wherein said retainer has its central portion flattened and formed with said gas passage, further comprising a cup-shaped cover plate mounted on the back of the central portion of said retainer to define together with said retainer a space for said gas generating agent chamber.

1

5. An air bag device for a driver according to claim 2, wherein said retainer has its central portion bulged outward of said air bag device.

further comprising a cover plate mounted on the inner side of the central portion of said retainer and formed with said gas passage, to define together with said retainer a space for said gas generating agent chamber.

6. An air bag device for a passenger accord- ing to claim 1, further comprising a container forming a part of said gas generating means.

1 z

7. An air bag device for a passenger accord ing to claim 6, wherein said container has its back central por tion bulged inward of said air bag device to form a bulge, and wherein said bulge Is formed with said gas passage,further comprising a cover plate mounted on the back of the bulge of said container to define together with said container a space for said gas generating agent chamber.

1

8. An air bag device for a passenger accord ing to claim 6, wherein said container has its back central por tion flattened and formed with said gas passage, further comprising a cup-shaped cover plate mounted on the outer side of the central portion of said container to define together with said container a space for said gas generating agent chamber.

9. An air bag device for a ing to claim 6, wherein said container has its back central portion flattened, passenger accord- further comprising a cup-shaped cover plate mounted on the inner side of the central portion of said container and formed with said gas passage, to define together with said container a space for said gas generating agent chamber.

1

10. An air bag device for a passenger according to claim 6,. wherein said container has its back central portion bulged outward of said air bag device, further comprising a cover plate covering the inner side of the central portion of said container and formed with said gas passage, to define together with said container a space for said gas generating agent chamber.

11. An air bag device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying description and Figure 1; or Figure 2; or Figure 3; or Figure 4; or Figures 6 and 7; or Figure 8; or Figure 9; or Figure 10 of the drawings.

12 1