Airbag device for vehicle

Abstract

An airbag device for a vehicle includes a gas supply portion, an airbag body, and a low pressure portion. When a vehicle collision occurs, the gas supply portion injects gas into an airbag body. The airbag body has a single-chamber structure. When the airbag body receives the gas from the gas supply portion, the airbag body is inflated and deployed toward an occupant to restrain the shoulders of the occupant. The low-pressure portion is provided in the same area of the airbag body, which faces the occupant when the airbag body is inflated and deployed, to protect the occupant's head. When the airbag body is inflated and deployed, the low-pressure portion is inflated such that the pressure in the low-pressure portion is lower than the pressure in the airbag body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and/or further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of example embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals are used to represent like elements and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan sectional view showing a deployed passenger-side airbag device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the deployed passenger-side airbag device, shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the main part of the passenger-side airbag device according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing a low-pressure portion according to a modified example, which corresponds to FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing the main part of an airbag device for a vehicle according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. An airbag device for a vehicle, comprising: a gas supply portion that injects gas when a vehicle collision occurs;an airbag body, having a single-chamber structure, that is inflated and deployed toward an occupant to restrain at least both shoulders of the occupant, when the airbag body receives the gas from the gas supply portion; anda low-pressure portion provided in an area of the airbag that faces the occupant when the airbag body is inflated and deployed, to protect a head of the occupant, wherein the low-pressure portion is inflated such that pressure in the low-pressure portion is lower than pressure in the airbag body when the airbag body is inflated and deployed.

2. The airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the low-pressure portion is provided in the airbag body at a substantially middle position in a bag width direction, and the low-pressure portion extends in a bag height direction.

3. The airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a communication portion is provided in the low-pressure portion so that the low-pressure portion receives the gas from the airbag body after the airbag body is inflated and deployed.

4. The airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein an entire peripheral portion of the low-pressure portion is sewn to, or adheres to the airbag body.

5. The airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the communication portion is at least one communication hole that extends through the low-pressure portion in a thickness direction.

6. The airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the communication portion is a gas inlet formed by separating a predetermined area in a peripheral portion of the low-pressure portion from the airbag body.

7. The airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the communication portion is the gas inlet formed at each of an upper end and a lower end of the low-pressure portion, by sewing only both side portions in the peripheral portion of the low-pressure portion to the airbag body, or by causing only the both side portions to adhere to the airbag body.

8. The airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the gas inlet formed at each of the upper end and the lower end of the low-pressure portion is narrower than a general portion of the lower-pressure portion.

9. The airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a vent hole is formed in the low-pressure portion, and the vent hole provides communication between an area inside the low-pressure portion and an area outside the airbag body.

10. The airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 9, wherein a vent hole is formed in a lower area of the low-pressure portion.

11. An airbag device for a vehicle, comprising: a gas supply means that injects gas when a vehicle collision occurs;an airbag body having a single-chamber structure, that is inflated and deployed toward an occupant to restrain at least both shoulders of the occupant when the airbag body receives the gas from the gas supply means; anda low-pressure portion provided in an area of the airbag that faces the occupant when the airbag body is inflated and deployed, to protect a head of the occupant, wherein the low-pressure portion is inflated such that pressure in the low-pressure portion is lower than pressure in the airbag body, when the airbag body is inflated and deployed.