The present invention discloses a multiple-chamber airbag structure where the airbag design has at least a stiff lower section to reduce the chest velocity and a soft upper section to meet the HIC requirements. Although stowed and deployed as a unitary airbag, the present invention includes separate chambers, which allows for independent gas inflation and stiffness control with venting.

The present invention discloses a multiple-chamber airbag structure where the airbag design has at least a stiff lower section to reduce the chest velocity and a soft upper section to meet the HIC requirements. Although stowed and deployed as a unitary airbag, the present invention includes separate chambers, which allows for independent gas inflation and stiffness control with venting.

A seat airbag apparatus for a vehicle and a method of controlling the operation thereof, includes side cushions deployed from the seatback, front cushions configured to be deployed from the side cushions, and inflators for the side cushions and inflators for the front cushions. The deployment operation of the side cushions and the deployment operation of the front cushions are respectively controlled depending on a normal seating mode and a relax mode of an occupant and a side collision and a front collision of the vehicle.

A seat airbag apparatus for a vehicle and a method of controlling the operation thereof, includes side cushions deployed from the seatback, front cushions configured to be deployed from the side cushions, and inflators for the side cushions and inflators for the front cushions. The deployment operation of the side cushions and the deployment operation of the front cushions are respectively controlled depending on a normal seating mode and a relax mode of an occupant and a side collision and a front collision of the vehicle.

There is provided an airbag in which there are fewer restrictions in a place for setting a tension member and a place for setting a vent hole. Airbag (10) of the present invention has bag-shaped airbag main body (20), tension member (30, 30a, 30b) disposed inside airbag main body (20), and vent hole (50) provided in airbag main body (20). In two-dimensional view in which an inner side of inflated and deployed airbag main body (20) is viewed from a direction orthogonal to vent hole (50) via vent hole (50), tension member (30, 30a, 30b) has overlapping portion (35) disposed at a position overlapping vent hole (50), and a dimension of at least a part of overlapping portion (35) in an orthogonal direction is smaller than a gap of a portion of vent hole (50), which corresponds to overlapping portion (35), in the orthogonal direction.

There is provided an airbag in which there are fewer restrictions in a place for setting a tension member and a place for setting a vent hole. Airbag (10) of the present invention has bag-shaped airbag main body (20), tension member (30, 30a, 30b) disposed inside airbag main body (20), and vent hole (50) provided in airbag main body (20). In two-dimensional view in which an inner side of inflated and deployed airbag main body (20) is viewed from a direction orthogonal to vent hole (50) via vent hole (50), tension member (30, 30a, 30b) has overlapping portion (35) disposed at a position overlapping vent hole (50), and a dimension of at least a part of overlapping portion (35) in an orthogonal direction is smaller than a gap of a portion of vent hole (50), which corresponds to overlapping portion (35), in the orthogonal direction.

A method of manufacturing an airbag includes fixing a first reinforcement panel to a first main panel at a first edge of the first main panel. The method includes fixing a second reinforcement panel to a second main panel at a second edge of the second main panel. The method includes overlaying the first main panel on the second main panel with the first reinforcement panel aligned with the second reinforcement panel and the first edge aligned with the second edge. The method includes fixing the first main panel to the second main panel along the first edge and the second edge. The method includes creating a vent by cutting both the first reinforcement panel and the second reinforcement panel along a cut line to form the vent.

In one aspect, an apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes a frontal curtain airbag. The airbag has overlying panels that are interconnected. The airbag is deployable a deployed condition in which the airbag spans across a width of a windshield opening of the vehicle. A restraining panel is separate from and extends widthwise over the panels of the airbag. The restraining panel is connected to the airbag and has a width configured to cause opposing end portions of the deployed airbag to be bent toward one another and into a curved configuration. Pressurization in the deploying airbag tensions the restraining panel widthwise. The tensioned restraining panel maintains the bend in the deploying airbag so that an effective airbag depth is measured between the restraining panel and the airbag.

In one aspect, an apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes a frontal curtain airbag. The airbag has overlying panels that are interconnected. The airbag is deployable a deployed condition in which the airbag spans across a width of a windshield opening of the vehicle. A restraining panel is separate from and extends widthwise over the panels of the airbag. The restraining panel is connected to the airbag and has a width configured to cause opposing end portions of the deployed airbag to be bent toward one another and into a curved configuration. Pressurization in the deploying airbag tensions the restraining panel widthwise. The tensioned restraining panel maintains the bend in the deploying airbag so that an effective airbag depth is measured between the restraining panel and the airbag.

An airbag includes a U-shaped chamber, a head-impact chamber, and an uninflatable panel. The U-shaped chamber has a first side leg, a second side leg, and a top extending from the first side leg to the second side leg. The head-impact chamber is disposed between the first side leg and the second side leg. The uninflatable panel extends from the first leg to the second leg adjacent the head-impact chamber.