Side airbag apparatus

Abstract

An airbag includes a seam, which divides the airbag into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. An inner tube is provided inside the airbag such that openings are each located in one of the chambers. An inflator is inserted in the inner tube such that gas blown out from a gas port is oriented toward the lower chamber. A gap formed between an outer circumferential surface of the inflator and an inner circumferential surface of the inner tube during inflation and deployment of the airbag connects the upper chamber to the lower chamber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, together with objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description of the presently preferred embodiments together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a side airbag apparatus in a state where an airbag is inflated and deployed in a passenger compartment;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the inflated and deployed airbag;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 illustrating the airbag in a folded state;

FIG. 5 is a graph showing changes of the internal pressures of the chambers;

FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating a conventional side airbag apparatus in a state where an airbag is inflated and deployed; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the conventional airbag in an inflated and deployed state.

Claims

1. A side airbag apparatus, which inflates and deploys an airbag between a side of a vehicle and an occupant by gas blown out from a gas port of an inflator, the apparatus comprising: a partition, which divides the inside of the airbag into an upper chamber and a lower chamber; andan inner tube located inside the airbag such that opening ends of the inner tube are each located in one of the chambers,wherein the inflator is disposed in the inner tube such that gas blown out from the gas port is oriented toward one of the chambers, a gap formed between an outer circumferential surface of the inflator and an inner circumferential surface of the inner tube during inflation and deployment of the airbag connects the upper chamber to the lower chamber.

2. The side airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gas port is formed at an end of the inflator, and the inflator is disposed in the inner tube such that the end is located in one of the chambers.

3. The side airbag apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the end of the inflator at which the gas port is formed is offset toward an inner part of one of the chambers in the inner tube.

4. The side airbag apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the airbag is accommodated in a folded state to close the gap between the outer circumferential surface of the inflator and the inner circumferential surface of the inner tube.

5. The side airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inflator is disposed in the inner tube such that gas blown out from the gas port is oriented toward the lower chamber.