An airbag, in particular a front airbag, includes an outer wall having a front wall and a rear wall (18, 24) and a tether (16) as well as an electrically actuatable activation unit (26) for releasing the tether (16). The tether (16) includes plural tether portions (30, 32) connected to each other via a first tear seam (36). A tension means (40) is coupled to the tether (16) so that it destroys the first tear seam (36) when the activation unit (26) is not actuated.

PROBLEM:

To provide a side airbag device that can be stored compactly.

RESOLUTION MEANS

The present invention is an airbag device to be stowed in a vehicle seat, comprising:

an airbag cushion that restrains an occupant by expanding and deploying;
an inflator arranged on the inner side of the seat frame which supplies expansion gas to the airbag cushion; and
a cover member made of a ductile material that melts and shrinks under heat and pressure to retain the airbag cushion. The airbag cushion includes a rear chamber section where the inflator is stowed, and a front chamber section that extends forward from the rear chamber section that is arranged outside of the seat frame when stowed. The cover member is then configured to heat and pressurize the region corresponding to the front chamber section of the airbag cushion, thereby pressurizing and retaining the relevant section of the airbag cushion.

PROBLEM:

To provide a side airbag device that can be stored compactly.

RESOLUTION MEANS

The present invention is an airbag device to be stowed in a vehicle seat, comprising:

an airbag cushion that restrains an occupant by expanding and deploying;
an inflator arranged on the inner side of the seat frame which supplies expansion gas to the airbag cushion; and
a cover member made of a ductile material that melts and shrinks under heat and pressure to retain the airbag cushion. The airbag cushion includes a rear chamber section where the inflator is stowed, and a front chamber section that extends forward from the rear chamber section that is arranged outside of the seat frame when stowed. The cover member is then configured to heat and pressurize the region corresponding to the front chamber section of the airbag cushion, thereby pressurizing and retaining the relevant section of the airbag cushion.

An airbag module including a first casing enclosing a first gas space, a first inflator and a control device for controlling ventilation of the first gas space or the shape of the first casing. The control device includes a second casing (42) enclosing a second gas space and a gas source. The second gas space is bordered by a permanent edge connection, and further includes a control element such as a strap (60), whose first end is connected to the first casing and whose second end is sewn to the second casing (42) by a tear seam (49), and is decoupled from the second casing (42) upon filling of the second gas space. The tear seam (49) touches or intersects the edge connection at two points so that the tear seam divides the second gas space into two regions (43a, 43b).

An airbag module including a first casing enclosing a first gas space, a first inflator and a control device for controlling ventilation of the first gas space or the shape of the first casing. The control device includes a second casing (42) enclosing a second gas space and a gas source. The second gas space is bordered by a permanent edge connection, and further includes a control element such as a strap (60), whose first end is connected to the first casing and whose second end is sewn to the second casing (42) by a tear seam (49), and is decoupled from the second casing (42) upon filling of the second gas space. The tear seam (49) touches or intersects the edge connection at two points so that the tear seam divides the second gas space into two regions (43a, 43b).

An airbag, in particular a front airbag, includes an outer wall having a front wall and a rear wall (18, 24) and a tether (16) as well as an electrically actuatable activation unit (26) for releasing the tether (16). The tether (16) includes plural tether portions (30, 32) connected to each other via a first tear seam (36). A tension means (40) is coupled to the tether (16) so that is destroys the first tear seam (36) when the activation unit (26) is not actuated.

An airbag, in particular a front airbag, includes an outer wall having a front wall and a rear wall (18, 24) and a tether (16) as well as an electrically actuatable activation unit (26) for releasing the tether (16). The tether (16) includes plural tether portions (30, 32) connected to each other via a first tear seam (36). A tension means (40) is coupled to the tether (16) so that is destroys the first tear seam (36) when the activation unit (26) is not actuated.

A steering wheel includes a steering wheel body including at least two insertion openings, and an airbag module including at least two hooks inserted into the insertion openings. The hooks are held by wires so that the airbag module is supported by the steering wheel body. Either the at least two hooks or the at least two insertion holes are provided with adjustment ribs which come into contact with the other ones of the at least two hooks and the at least two openings, thereby regulating the positions of the other ones, so as to receive the weight of the airbag module applied to the steering wheel body. Accordingly, a decrease in positioning performance of the airbag module is prevented, so as to regulate the position of the airbag module in the steering wheel body with high accuracy.

Multi-chamber airbag systems for use in aircraft and other vehicles are described herein. In some embodiments, an occupant restraint system includes a multi-chamber airbag that deploys from an occupant restraint (e.g., a lap seat belt) in an aircraft. The multi-chamber airbag can include a first portion that inflates generally upward in front of the occupant's torso, and a second portion that inflates in front of the first portion. The first portion and/or the second portion can include multiple chambers (e.g., generally cylindrical-shaped chambers) that, when inflated, provide the airbag with a shape and/or contact surfaces which can help to maintain the position of the airbag between the occupant and a strike object or hazard. In other embodiments, multi-chamber airbags configured in accordance with the present disclosure can me mounted to a structure (e.g., a monument, console, seat back, etc.) positioned generally in front of the occupant. The structure-mounted airbag can deploy generally toward the occupant in the event of a vehicle impact or other potentially harmful event to protect the occupant from impact injury.

An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle. The module includes an airbag formed by connected first and second panels, wherein the airbag includes first and second inflatable chambers. The module also includes an inflator for providing inflation gas for the airbag. The first and second inflatable chambers are fluidly connected by a gas flow passage. The first and second panels are connected together along a volume controlling seam located in the second chamber. The seam is configured to give way during inflation of the airbag to thereby allow the second chamber to completely inflate.