Patent ID: 6474680
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A side air bag apparatus of a vehicle comprising:an air bag main body adapted to be mounted along an inner side of a vehicle cabin from a vehicle rear pillar to a side roof rail in a folded state and capable of being deployed downward; an inflator having an upper end that is adapted to be mounted to the vehicle rear pillar such that a longitudinal axis of the inflator is substantially aligned along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle rear pillar and that is adapted to inject a gas into and inflate the air bag main body such that the air bag main body unfolds downward wherein the upper end of the inflator is adapted to be mounted such that it has a position that is lower than a top of a vehicle seat back; and a gas communication member extending from the upper end of the inflator to the air bag main body that is, during a side collision, adapted to introduce the gas from the inflator into the air bag main body and that is capable of being deformed when impacted by an external force related to the side collision, wherein the gas communication member has a converging portion at a proximal end adjacent the upper end of the inflator and a diverging portion at a distal end adjacent the air bag main body defining a necked portion of substantially constant cross-section therebetween.