Side airbag apparatus

摘要

An inflation portion of an airbag main body is divided into a first inflation chamber, a second inflation chamber in front of and adjacent to the first inflation chamber with a vertical partition in between, and a third inflation chamber below the first inflation chamber with a lateral partition in between. The vertical partition has a pressure regulator valve. Before the first inflation chamber restrains an occupant, the pressure regulator valve restricts flow of inflation gas from the first inflation chamber to the second inflation chamber. When the first inflation chamber restrains the occupant, the pressure regulator valve opens in response to a change in the tensed state of the vertical partition due to the applied external force generated by the restraint, thereby cancelling the restraint. The lateral partition has a check valve, which restricts flow of inflation gas from the third inflation chamber to the first inflation chamber.

主权项

1. A side airbag apparatus comprising:
an airbag main body including an inflation portion, wherein the inflation portion is inflated by inflation gas supplied thereto in response to an impact applied to a side of a vehicle seat of a vehicle, the airbag main body is deployed forward on the side of the vehicle seat, and wherein the inflation portion includes:
a first inflation chamber, which is deployed and inflated by being supplied with the inflation gas;a second inflation chamber, which is located in front of and adjacent to the first inflation chamber;a vertical partition, which separates the first inflation chamber and the second inflation chamber from each other;a third inflation chamber, which is adjacent to and located above or below the first inflation chamber, wherein the third inflation chamber is deployed and inflated by the inflation gas with an internal pressure that is higher than the inflation pressure of the first inflation chamber; anda lateral partition, which separates the first inflation chamber and the third inflation chamber from each other,wherein the vertical partition and the lateral partition each have an opening; a pressure regulator valve provided in the vertical partition, wherein when the first inflation chamber is inflated before starting restraining an occupant, the pressure regulator valve is closed to restrict the inflation gas from flowing from the first inflation chamber to the second inflation chamber through the opening, and when the first inflation chamber restrains the occupant, the pressure regulator valve opens in response to a change in the tensed state of the vertical partition due to an applied external force generated by the restraint, thereby cancelling the restraint, and a check valve provided in the lateral partition to restrict flow of the inflation gas from the third inflation chamber to the first inflation chamber, wherein the vertical partition is formed by a fabric piece and the lateral partition is formed by another fabric piece, wherein the vertical partition and the lateral partition are joined to the airbag main body, respectively, and the vertical partition is joined to the lateral partition, thereby forming the first inflation chamber, the second inflation chamber, and the third inflation chamber, wherein the lateral partition is formed by folding a single fabric piece in half along a folding line set at a center portion thereof to be overlaid onto itself in a widthwise direction of the vehicle, the single fabric piece being the another fabric piece, or the lateral partition is formed of two fabric pieces divided along the folding line, the two fabric pieces including the another fabric piece, and thereby the lateral partition comprises two fabric portions, wherein the two fabric portions are joined by an inner joint portion located at peripheries thereof, and wherein the lateral partition has an opening and a check valve, the opening of the lateral partition is formed by a disjoined part where the inner joint portion is not provided, and the check valve configured to restrict the flow of inflation gas at the opening of the lateral partition.