A throat and fill tube protection device for an inflatable airbag includes a first portion, a second portion and an overlapping region. The first portion is a generally Y-shaped portion with a first arm and a second arm connected at a base. The first arm defines an inlet for receiving an inflator. The second arm defines a first channel for directing a first portion of the inflation gases in a first direction. The second portion defines a second channel for directing a second portion of the inflation gases in a second direction. The second direction is generally opposite the first direction. The overlapping region is cooperatively defined by first and second overlapping areas of the first and second portions, respectively.

To contribute to stabilizing the restraining of a head portion. When an air bag inflates and expands in a side airbag device for a vehicle, a rear bag portion accommodating an inflator inflates and expands earlier than and at a higher pressure than a front bag portion. The front bag portion, that is low pressure and inflates and expands later, can be supported by the rear bag portion that is high pressure, and the front bag portion does not shake greatly. Moreover, the flow of gas from the rear bag portion that is high pressure to the front bag portion that is low pressure can be regulated by the upper and lower communication ports formed in a tether. Due to the above, the expansion behavior of the front bag portion can be stabilized, which can therefore contribute to the restraining of the head portion by the front bag portion.

To contribute to stabilizing the restraining of a head portion. When an air bag inflates and expands in a side airbag device for a vehicle, a rear bag portion accommodating an inflator inflates and expands earlier than and at a higher pressure than a front bag portion. The front bag portion, that is low pressure and inflates and expands later, can be supported by the rear bag portion that is high pressure, and the front bag portion does not shake greatly. Moreover, the flow of gas from the rear bag portion that is high pressure to the front bag portion that is low pressure can be regulated by the upper and lower communication ports formed in a tether. Due to the above, the expansion behavior of the front bag portion can be stabilized, which can therefore contribute to the restraining of the head portion by the front bag portion.

A curtain airbag device of the present invention includes an airbag body including a bend-facilitating portion which is formed of a non-inflating portion of the airbag body in at least one chamber disposed at a lower end portion of the airbag body and which facilitates bending of the airbag body during inflation and deployment of the airbag body. In the curtain airbag device, the chamber including the bend-facilitating portion includes a passage for distributing the gas such that the gas comes around the bend-facilitating portion in one direction.

A curtain airbag device of the present invention includes an airbag body including a bend-facilitating portion which is formed of a non-inflating portion of the airbag body in at least one chamber disposed at a lower end portion of the airbag body and which facilitates bending of the airbag body during inflation and deployment of the airbag body. In the curtain airbag device, the chamber including the bend-facilitating portion includes a passage for distributing the gas such that the gas comes around the bend-facilitating portion in one direction.

[Object]. An object is to suitably control the deployment shape of an airbag, thereby improving the occupant restraining performance. Another object is to reduce damage to an occupant located close to a steering wheel or an instrument panel. [Solving Means]. An airbag device according to the present invention includes: a gas generator that generates expansion gas; an airbag that expands and deploys due to the expansion gas to restrain an occupant; and a diffuser disposed inside the airbag to control a flow of the expansion gas. Given that a direction toward the occupant is a first direction, the diffuser includes a receiving surface disposed between the gas generator and the airbag in the first direction to receive the expansion gas discharged from the gas generator; and a plurality of band-like connecting members having one end connected to an edge of the receiving surface and the other end directly or indirectly connected to the gas generator.

[Object]. An object is to suitably control the deployment shape of an airbag, thereby improving the occupant restraining performance. Another object is to reduce damage to an occupant located close to a steering wheel or an instrument panel. [Solving Means]. An airbag device according to the present invention includes: a gas generator that generates expansion gas; an airbag that expands and deploys due to the expansion gas to restrain an occupant; and a diffuser disposed inside the airbag to control a flow of the expansion gas. Given that a direction toward the occupant is a first direction, the diffuser includes a receiving surface disposed between the gas generator and the airbag in the first direction to receive the expansion gas discharged from the gas generator; and a plurality of band-like connecting members having one end connected to an edge of the receiving surface and the other end directly or indirectly connected to the gas generator.

An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle. The module includes an airbag and an inflator for providing inflation gas for the airbag. A diffuser is positioned in the airbag and configured to direct the flow of inflation gas into the airbag. The diffuser includes a main panel and a deflector panel connected together. The diffuser is configured to provide for first and second flow paths for inflation gas to exit diffuser and flow into the cushion. The main panel is folded along a fold line to create two folded portions and the deflector panel is located within the connected folded portions. The deflector panel is located in the first flow path and extends beyond the folded portions of the main panel. The extending portion of the deflector panel forces the inflation gas to change direction.

A vehicle side airbag device including: inflator that operates to generate gas; airbag that is provided at side section of seatback of vehicle seat, that inflates and deploys using gas generated by the inflator, that protects occupant from at least head to abdominal region, and in which, in inflated and deployed state, rearward sloping portion configured by location at lower end side of front edge portion of the airbag extends diagonally toward vehicle upper rear on progression from lower end toward upper end of the rearward sloping portion; and flow regulating section that is provided at lower section of the airbag, and that ejects gas generated by the inflator from upper ejection opening toward upper section side of the airbag, and from lower ejection opening along lower edge portion of the airbag toward rearward sloping portion side.

A vehicle side airbag device including: inflator that operates to generate gas; airbag that is provided at side section of seatback of vehicle seat, that inflates and deploys using gas generated by the inflator, that protects occupant from at least head to abdominal region, and in which, in inflated and deployed state, rearward sloping portion configured by location at lower end side of front edge portion of the airbag extends diagonally toward vehicle upper rear on progression from lower end toward upper end of the rearward sloping portion; and flow regulating section that is provided at lower section of the airbag, and that ejects gas generated by the inflator from upper ejection opening toward upper section side of the airbag, and from lower ejection opening along lower edge portion of the airbag toward rearward sloping portion side.