[PROBLEM]

To provide an airbag device that can reliably expand and deploy.

[MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM]

The present invention is an airbag device mounted on one side of a vehicle seat in which both ends of a seat-shaped cushion that are opposed in horizontal and longitudinal directions during expansion and deployment are respectively bent a plurality of times and formed into molded parts R1, R2, and is provided with a first holding member 43 that holds the first molded part R1 on one end of either of the ends at least until the start of expansion and deployment and a second holding member 44 that holds the second molded part R2 on the other end at least until the start of expansion and deployment.

[Problem] To provide a side airbag apparatus capable of quickly and properly restraining a passenger in the initial stage of deploying an airbag, along with a passenger protection apparatus including this side airbag apparatus. [Resolution means] The airbag employed in the present invention includes: a first chamber (C1) which houses the inflator and is deployed outside in the vehicle width direction of the frame side wall part; a second chamber (C2) which is deployed inside in the vehicle width direction of the frame side wall part; and a gas guide (100) arranged so as to surround the inflator inside the first chamber. In addition, the first chamber (C1) is deployed such that at least a portion thereof, as seen from the vehicle side, overlaps the frame side wall part. A first inner vent is formed at the boundary part between the gas guide and the first chamber, with gas introduced from the gas guide to the first chamber via this first inner vent. Moreover, a second inner vent is formed at the boundary part between the gas guide and the second chamber, with gas introduced from the gas guide to the second chamber via this second inner vent.

The present invention is an airbag device mounted on one side of a vehicle seat in which both ends of a seat-shaped cushion that are opposed in horizontal and longitudinal directions during expansion and deployment are respectively bent a plurality of times and formed into molded parts R1, R2, and is provided with a first holding member 43 that holds the first molded part R1 on one end of either of the ends at least until the start of expansion and deployment and a second holding member 44 that holds the second molded part R2 on the other end at least until the start of expansion and deployment.

An active vent mechanism for an airbag apparatus that includes a first vent hole formed in an airbag and a patch capable of releasing and closing the first vent hole. A portion of the patch is coupled to the outer surface of the airbag. The airbag apparatus includes a coupling member having one end coupled to the patch and the other end entering the airbag and coupled to the airbag. A portion of the patch or a portion of the coupling member penetrates through an opening in the vicinity of the first vent hole. The airbag apparatus includes a substantially cylindrical regulating member into which the coupling member is inserted inside the airbag. The 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 a sealed state.

An airbag arrangement comprising a flap, which closes a passage opening for an airbag, a hinge section along a side of the flap, an chute wall, which is connected to the flap via the hinge section; and a material web, which is partially arranged in the flap and partially in the chute wall, and transverses the hinge section, wherein the material web is molded into the chute wall and is anchored in the material of the chute wall.

[Problem] To provide a side airbag apparatus capable of quickly and properly restraining a passenger in the initial stage of deploying an airbag, along with a passenger protection apparatus including this side airbag apparatus.

[Resolution means] The airbag employed in the present invention includes: a first chamber (C1) which houses the inflator and is deployed outside in the vehicle width direction of the frame side wall part; a second chamber (C2) which is deployed inside in the vehicle width direction of the frame side wall part; and a gas guide (100) arranged so as to surround the inflator inside the first chamber. In addition, the first chamber (C1) is deployed such that at least a portion thereof, as seen from the vehicle side, overlaps the frame side wall part. A first inner vent is formed at the boundary part between the gas guide and the first chamber, with gas introduced from the gas guide to the first chamber via this first inner vent. Moreover, a second inner vent is formed at the boundary part between the gas guide and the second chamber, with gas introduced from the gas guide to the second chamber via this second inner vent.

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.

A method of forming an airbag cushion (10, 10A) has the steps of providing placing the cushion in a vacuum bag (20) and evacuating the air shrinking the airbag cushion (10, 10A) to a compacted size; conforming the airbag cushion to a predetermined shape; placing the airbag cushion (10, 10A) in a high temperature environment between +50 C. to +140 for a predetermined time to thermally set the fabric material (120) to maintain the compacted airbag cushion (10, 10A) to the predetermined shape; and releasing the vacuum and removing the thermally set airbag cushion (10, 10A) from the vacuum bag (20).

The present disclosure relates to a method of producing a composite skin-foam-carrier component for a motor vehicle, including the steps of injection-molding a carrier having one or more airbag flaps delimited by a hinge area and by a predefined tear line, wherein a raised contour with a groove-shaped cross-section is created along a segment of the tear line, producing a foam layer between a skin and the injection-molded carrier, producing gaps in the raised contour by guiding a tool over the raised contour after the production of the foam layer, and removing a portion of the raised contour. The present disclosure also relates to a composite skin-foam-carrier component for a motor vehicle.

The present disclosure relates to a method of producing a composite skin-foam-carrier component for a motor vehicle, including the steps of injection-molding a carrier having one or more airbag flaps delimited by a hinge area and by a predefined tear line, wherein a raised contour with a groove-shaped cross-section is created along a segment of the tear line, producing a foam layer between a skin and the injection-molded carrier, producing gaps in the raised contour by guiding a tool over the raised contour after the production of the foam layer, and removing a portion of the raised contour. The present disclosure also relates to a composite skin-foam-carrier component for a motor vehicle.