An airbag includes at least one panel defining an interior of the airbag, a divider positioned in the interior so as to divide the interior into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, and at least one tethering mechanism positioned within the lower chamber. The at least one tether mechanism is structured and attached to the at least one panel so as to restrict movement of a portion of the at least one panel during airbag inflation such that a first recess is formed along an exterior surface of the airbag when the airbag is inflated.

An airbag includes an internal pressure adjusting mechanism, including: a tether arranged in a bag part; a long side part; and a short side part; and adjusting an exhaust of the inflation gas: to be in an exhaust mode in which the exhaust is facilitated when the tether is loosened; and to be in an exhaust suppression mode in which the exhaust is suppressed when the tether is stretched. In a state where the tether is loosened during the exhaust mode, facing edge parts of the long side part and the short side part are separable. In a state where the tether is stretched during the exhaust suppression mode, the facing edge part of the long side part and a root side part are inflated around the short side part and a leading edge side part contacts a back surface side of the short side part.

In a vehicle having a display mounted forward of a passenger seat on a dashboard and angled toward a driver seat adjacent the passenger seat, the display is moveable from the angled position to a position flush with the dashboard, and an airbag system is configured to deploy an airbag cushion that displaces the display from the angled position to the position flush with the dashboard to ensure that the airbag cushion has an adequate backup or support surface.

Problem: To provide an airbag apparatus which can appropriately control the amount of gas discharged from a vent hole.

Resolution means: An active vent mechanism includes: a first vent hole formed in an airbag; a patch capable of releasing and closing a vent hole in accordance with the internal pressure of the airbag, with a portion of the patch coupled to the outer surface of the airbag; a coupling member having one end coupled to the patch, with the other end entering the airbag and coupled to the airbag; an opening provided in the vicinity of the first vent hole, with a portion of the patch or a portion of the coupling member penetrating through the opening; a substantially cylindrical regulating member into which the coupling member is inserted inside the airbag (wherein the airbag regulating member has: a first end coupled to the inner surface of the airbag so as to surround the opening inside the airbag; and a second end coupled to the coupling member in the sealed state); and a releasing means for reducing the tension of the coupling member.

In addition, when the airbag is fully deployed, the patch is operable so as to block the first vent hole via the tension of the coupling member, while when the releasing means reduces the tension of the coupling member, the patch is operable so as to be separated from the outer surface of the airbag and thereby induce discharge from the first vent hole.

The invention relates to an airbag for a vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising an airbag panel (16) defining an inflatable airbag volume as well as including a front panel portion (18) and a rear panel portion (20), a tether (22) extending in the interior of the airbag (14) across the inflatable airbag volume, a discharge orifice (24) which is formed in the rear panel portion (20) of the airbag panel (16), as well as a first closing tab (26) and a second closing tab (28) for closing the discharge orifice (24), wherein the tether (22) extends from a first tether end (32) tightly connected to the front panel portion (18) in the direction of the discharge orifice (24) to an opposite second tether end (34), wherein the first closing tab (26) extends from a first tab end (36) tightly connected to the rear panel portion (20) to a second tab end (38) tightly connected to the second tether end (34), wherein the second closing tab (28) is fastened on the rear panel portion (20) adjacent to the discharge orifice (24), and wherein the two closing tabs (26, 28) are coupled by a connection releasable when a vehicle occupant (30) impacts on the inflated airbag (10).

An airbag apparatus including: a first chamber connected to an inflator; a second chamber connected to the rear of the first chamber and supported by the first chamber, supporting the head of a passenger in case of an oblique collision of a vehicle, and having a first passage through which gas of the first chamber is introduced; a third chamber connected to the rear of the first chamber and supported by the first chamber, disposed at one side of the second chamber, and supporting the head of the passenger in a head-on collision of the vehicle; a connection tether connecting the second and third chambers to limit separation between the second and third chambers; and a shut-off valve closing the first passage to block gas of the second chamber from being discharged to the first chamber through the first passage, when the first chamber is completely deployed.

A vehicle airbag system includes an airbag having a cushioning surface configured to be contacted by a user to cushion the user after inflation of the airbag. The airbag also includes at least one cushioning surface positioning vent coupled to the cushioning surface. The at least one cushioning surface positioning vent is actuatable to direct a flow of gas exiting an interior of the airbag so as to produce a reaction force which moves the cushioning surface in a predetermined direction.

An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle comprises an airbag having a primary chamber and a secondary chamber. The primary chamber has a stored condition and is inflatable to a deployed condition to cover a portion of the vehicle. The secondary chamber has a stored condition and is inflatable to a deployed condition to cover portions of the vehicle left uncovered by the primary chamber. At least one passive vent provides fluid communication between the primary and secondary chambers. At least one active vent is actuatable to provide fluid communication between the primary and secondary chambers. An inflator is actuatable to provide inflation fluid to the primary chamber. The at least one passive vent directs inflation fluid from the primary chamber into the secondary chamber. The at least one active vent is actuatable to direct inflation fluid from the primary chamber to the secondary chamber.

An airbag apparatus may include: a first chamber connected to an inflator, and supporting the head of a passenger in case of a head-on collision of a vehicle; a second chamber connected to one side of the first chamber, and suppressing the head of the passenger from moving in a diagonal direction in case of an oblique collision of the vehicle; a communication tube formed on the first chamber to introduce gas of the first chamber into the second chamber, and having a tightening channel formed along the circumference thereof; and a valve tether including: a tether ring installed through the inside of the tightening channel; and a tether puller connected to the tether ring to pull the tether ring in one direction, and closing the communication tube by pulling the tether ring when the first chamber is completely deployed.

An airbag having an exhaust hole and an opening/closing control device configured to control opening and closing of the exhaust hole are provided. The airbag includes a bag body, and a discharge portion having the exhaust hole, the discharge portion is configured to maintain a blocked state of the exhaust hole by being drawn into the bag body at the time of inflation of the bag body in a state where connection between a connection member and the opening/closing control device is maintained, and to be inflated by protruding from the bag body at the time of inflation of the bag body in a state where the connection between the connection member and the opening/closing control device is released to open the exhaust hole. A dummy inflation portion inflated to partially protrude from the bag body is formed at a position approximately symmetrical to the discharge portion. A volume of the dummy inflation portion at the time of inflating completion is set to be smaller than a volume of the discharge portion in a state where the exhaust hole is open at the time of inflation.