Patent ID: 7931297
Filing Date: 2011-04-26
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. An airbag comprising: an openable-closable vent hole; and a covering member that covers the openable-closable vent hole, wherein the openable-closable vent hole is provided in a face of the airbag in an inflated state opposite a near-occupant face thereof or in a side face of the airbag, wherein a connecting member is routed in the inside of the airbag, the connecting member connecting the near-occupant face of the airbag in the inflated state and the covering member and connecting a lower portion of the airbag in the inflated state and the covering member, wherein, when the airbag is inflated, the covering member is prevented by the connecting member from moving toward the outside of the airbag and overlies the openable-closable vent hole, whereby the openable-closable vent hole closes or slightly opens, wherein, in both cases where an occupant comes into contact with the near-occupant face of the inflated airbag and causes the near-occupant face to retract inward of the airbag, and where an object comes into contact with the lower portion of the airbag and causes the lower portion to retract inward of the airbag, the connecting member loosens and the covering member moves away from the openable-closable vent hole because of gas pressure inside the airbag, whereby the openable-closable vent hole opens or significantly opens, wherein the covering member covers the openable-closable vent hole from the outside of the airbag, wherein the covering member has at least one fixed end thereof connected to the airbag, and a free end thereof not connected to the airbag, wherein the airbag is provided with first and second constantly open vent holes in respective regions that are near the free end of the covering member and are not covered with the covering member, the regions being at different positions along the periphery of the openable-closable vent hole, wherein the connecting member includes wherein the upper connecting member is connected to a portion of the free end of the covering member, the portion being near the first constantly open vent hole, wherein the lower connecting member is connected to another portion of the free end of the covering member, the portion being near the second constantly open vent hole, wherein, when the airbag is inflated, the upper connecting member and the lower connecting member pull the free end of the covering member in a direction away from the fixed end, causing the covering member to be under tension along the outer surface of the airbag and to overlie the openable-closable vent hole, whereby the openable-closable vent hole closes or slightly opens, wherein, if the occupant comes into contact with the near-occupant face of the inflated airbag and causes the near-occupant face to retract inward of the airbag, the upper connecting member loosens and the portion of the free end of the covering member near the first constantly open vent hole is turned up toward the outside of the airbag because of the gas pressure inside the airbag, whereby the openable-closable vent hole opens or significantly opens, and wherein, if the object comes into contact with the lower portion of the inflated airbag and causes the lower portion to retract inward of the airbag, the lower connecting member loosens and the portion of the free end of the covering member near the second constantly open vent hole is turned up toward the outside of the airbag because of the gas pressure inside the airbag, whereby the openable-closable vent hole opens or significantly opens.