Patent ID: 6619690
Filing Date: 2003-09-16
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An air bag apparatus, comprising:a moveable lid disposed in a folded state adjacent an interior upper edge of a vehicle window and adjacent an upper portion of a pillar; an air bag attached to the interior of the vehicle body, the air bag being arranged to push against and open the lid as the air bag deploys, the air bag including a lower edge, an upper edge, and an attachment portion disposed at the upper edge for attachment to the vehicle body, the air bag initially has flat, unexpanded unfolded orientation that is folded in a bellows fashion in a substantially vertical direction from the lower edge toward the upper edge, the air bag being folded so that the lower edge approaches the upper edge and the attachment portion is attached to the vehicle body so that the air bag is housed behind the lid, a portion of a lower end of the lid being retained by a portion of the interior trim on the pillar, and a portion of the air bag adjacent the lower end of the lid providing a focused and intensified force against the lid upon deployment, the intensified force being larger than forces provided against the lid by remaining portions of the air bag upon deployment, wherein the portion of the air bag providing the focused and intensified force is twisted from the remaining portions of the air bag so that a lower end side of the twisted portion is directed toward the vehicle's inner side, the lower end side including the lower edge.