Airbag apparatus

[Problem] To provide an airbag apparatus in which the injury value of a passenger can be efficiently suppressed in an emergency.[Resolution Means] A typical configuration of an airbag apparatus 100 according to the present invention includes: an inflator 118 which is installed in a vehicle so as to be capable of supplying gas; an inner bag 112 which is expanded from in front of a seat utilizing the gas; and an outer bag 110 to which the gas is supplied from the inflator 118 or via the inner bag 112 and expanded so as to surround the inner bag 112. The outer bag 110 includes an opening 116 which exposes the inner bag 112 towards the seat 104, wherein the inner bag 112 has a more elongated shape in the anteroposterior direction of the vehicle than in the width direction of the vehicle, and the inner bag 112 further includes a restraining part 114 which is exposed on the recessed surface from the opening 116 to the seat side.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an airbag apparatus which restrains passengers in the event of an emergency.

BACKGROUND

Airbag devices have generally become standard equipment in vehicles in recent years. An airbag apparatus is a safety apparatus which is operated in the event of an emergency such as a vehicle collision, catching and protecting passengers utilizing an airbag cushion which expands and deploys by gas pressure. There are various types of airbag devices depending on the installation site and application. For example, in order to mainly protect passengers in the front seat from impact in the anteroposterior direction, a front airbag is provided in the center of the steering wheel in the driver seat, while a passenger airbag is provided in the instrument panel and peripheral part thereof in the vicinity of the passenger seat. In addition, in order to protect each passenger from a side face collision and subsequent rollover in the anteroposterior row, a curtain airbag which expands and deploys along the side window is provided in the vicinity of the ceiling of the wall part, while a side airbag which expands and deploys immediately beside the passenger is provided on the side part of a seat.

The inside of airbag cushions of various airbag apparatuses may be sectioned into multiple spaces in accordance with the object and installation environment. For example, in the passenger protection apparatus (front airbag) described in Patent Document 1, an airbag cushion is configured by a central gas bag1in the center along with an outer peripheral gas bag3disposed on the periphery thereof. The configuration of Patent Document 1 states that the restraining surface restraining a passenger is flatly expanded to give a wide area, thereby enabling the passenger to be assuredly caught.

RELATED ART DOCUMENTS

Patent Documents

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Current airbag apparatuses are also required to respond to irregular collisions or impacts such as so-called oblique collisions, for example, in which the impact is applied to a vehicle obliquely in the anteroposterior direction. During an oblique collision, a passenger enters an airbag cushion present in front of their seat at an irregular angle such as in the oblique direction. In this case, once the head of the passenger contacts the airbag cushion in front of the seat, rotation about the neck may occur when seen from above. Because such rotation of the head may induce an increase in the injury value of the passenger in terms of the structure of the human body, there has been a demand for the effective prevention thereof.

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

The present invention has been created in view of such a problem, and an object thereof is to provide an airbag apparatus in which the injury value of a passenger can be efficiently suppressed in an emergency.

Means for Solving the Problem

In order to solve the problem described above, a typical configuration of an airbag apparatus according to the present invention includes: an inflator which is installed in a vehicle so as to be capable of supplying gas; an inner bag which is expanded from in front of a seat utilizing the gas; and an outer bag to which the gas is supplied from the inflator or via the inner bag and expanded so as to surround the inner bag. Herein, the outer bag includes an opening which exposes the inner bag towards the seat, the inner bag has a more elongated shape in the anteroposterior direction of the vehicle than in the width direction of the vehicle, and the inner bag further includes a restraining part which is exposed on the recessed surface from the opening to the seat side.

The inner bag and the outer bag which are airbag cushions of this airbag apparatus are expanded by the pressure of the gas received from the same single inflator and therefore have equal internal pressure. However, when the base cloth of both the inner bag and the outer bag is viewed as a curved surface, because the outer shape of the inner bag is smaller than the outer shape of the outer bag, the curvature radius of the inner bag at any position of both regions is smaller than that of the outer bag. Further, the inner bag has an elongated shape in the anteroposterior direction of the vehicle, wherein the restraining part at the rear end on the seat side (that is, on the rear side of the vehicle) serves as the recessed surface. That is, the restraining part is a region having a particularly small curvature radius throughout the entire region of the inner bag. Consequently, the restraining part is a region having particularly low tension and low rigidity throughout the airbag cushion. This restraining part can more flexibly catch a passenger by, for example, absorbing the rotation of the head and better suppressing the injury value of the passenger.

The opening of the outer bag may be rimmed by a designated expansion part of this outer bag on the seat side of this outer bag, wherein the designated expansion part may include: an upper expansion part forming the upper edge of the opening; a lower expansion part forming the lower edge of the opening; a left expansion part forming the left edge of the opening; and a right expansion part forming the right edge of the opening. With a configuration of continuously surrounding the inner bag in which the expansion part of the outer bag is exposed, the expansion part of the outer bag, together with the inner bag, can restrain the passenger.

The upper expansion part can restrain the region from the forehead to the upper part of a passenger who is seated normally in the seat. This configuration allows the passenger to be suitably protected.

The lower expansion part can restrain the chest of a passenger who is seated normally in the seat. This configuration also allows the passenger to be suitably protected.

The left expansion part and the right expansion part can restrain the shoulders and temporal region of a passenger who is seated normally in the seat. This configuration also allows the passenger to be suitably protected.

The range from the outermost region of the left expansion part to the outermost region of the right expansion part in the width direction of the vehicle in the outer bag may be of a size which can restrain the upper body of the passenger, while the opening may be of a size in the width direction of the vehicle which can house the head in the upper body. According to this configuration as well, the restraining part of the inner bag can flexibly restrain the head of the passenger with low rigidity, while the outer bag can sufficiently restrain, with high rigidity, the shoulders, chest, etc. which are solid and heavy in the body of the passenger.

The passenger may be an adult male or an adult female having an average physique or larger. These individuals having a certain degree of physique can be sufficiently restrained by the abovementioned inner bag and outer bag.

The base cloth configuring the restraining part of the inner bag may have a lower tension than the base cloth configuring the outer bag. This configuration allows the passenger to be more flexibly caught.

In the airbag apparatus, the size of the opening in the width direction of the vehicle may be wider than the width of the head of the passenger but narrower than the width of the shoulders of this passenger. According to this configuration as well, the restraining part can flexibly restrain the head of the passenger with low rigidity, while the outer bag can sufficiently restrain, with high rigidity, the shoulders, chest, etc. which are solid and heavy in the body of the passenger.

In the airbag apparatus, the size of the opening in the width direction of the vehicle may be smaller than the maximum size of the inner bag in the width direction of the vehicle. According to this configuration, the region of the inner bag having the maximum size in the width direction of the vehicle is surrounded by the outer bag, with only the restraining part serving as the rear end exposed from the opening. Consequently, even when a load is applied from the passenger to the restraining part, the inner bag can restrain the passenger without changing their posture.

The opening may be provided in the central region obtained by dividing the outer bag into three equal portions in the width direction of the vehicle. This configuration can also restrain the head of the passenger with the central restraining part, in addition to restraining the shoulders, chest, etc. of the passenger with the outer bag.

An edge of the opening on both sides in the width direction of the vehicle, as viewed from the rear of the vehicle, may draw a recessed curve towards the other edge. Because it is difficult to spread this opening in the width direction of the vehicle, the restraining part of the inner bag can be sufficiently surrounded and supported.

Effects of the Invention

The present invention allows an airbag apparatus to be provided in which the injury value of a passenger can be efficiently suppressed in an emergency.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Preferred embodiments according to the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the appended drawings. The dimensions, materials, other specific numerical values, etc. indicated in such embodiments are mere exemplifications for ease of understanding of the invention and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise noted. Note that in the present specification and drawings, elements having substantially identical functions and configurations are labeled with identical symbols in order to omit redundant descriptions along with the illustration of elements not directly related to the present invention.

FIG. 1is a view illustrating the outline of an airbag apparatus100according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 1(a)is a view illustrating a vehicle prior to the operation of the airbag apparatus100. InFIG. 1(a)and other drawings, the anteroposterior direction of the vehicle is indicated by arrows F (Forward) and B (Back), respectively, the left and right in the width direction of the vehicle are respectively indicated by arrows L (Left) and R (Right), and the vertical direction of the vehicle is indicated by arrows U (up) and D (down), respectively.

In the present embodiment, the airbag apparatus100is implemented as a passenger bag for a passenger seat (seat104on the right in the front row) in a vehicle with the steering wheel on the left side. Hereinafter, in order to provide descriptions assuming the seat104on the right in the front row, for example, the outside of the vehicle in the width direction of the vehicle means the right of the vehicle, while the inside of the vehicle in the width direction of the vehicle means the left of the vehicle.

An airbag cushion (hereinafter, a cushion108(seeFIG. 1(b)) of the airbag apparatus100is housed in a housing part106provided in an instrument panel102. The housing part106is installed in the vehicle in front of the seat104, with, in addition to the cushion108, an inflator118(seeFIG. 2(a)) serving as a gas generator also housed in the housing part106.

FIG. 1(b)is a view illustrating a vehicle after the operation of the airbag apparatus100inFIG. 1(a). The cushion108is bag shaped and formed by overlapping and sewing; alternatively, multiple base cloths (configuring the surface thereof) are adhered and overlapped or formed by spinning and weaving using an OPW (one-piece woven), etc.

The cushion108in the present embodiment has a so-called double structure including two regions consisting of an outer bag110(outside) and an inner bag112(inside) which are roughly divided. The inner bag112is configured so as to be expanded such that the periphery thereof is surrounded by the outer bag110, with a restraining part114at the rear of the vehicle side exposed from an opening116of the outer bag110.

FIG. 2is a view illustrating a cushion108during expansion and deployment ofFIG. 1(b)in each direction.FIG. 2(a)is an A-A cross sectional view of the cushion108inFIG. 1(b). As illustrated inFIG. 2(a), the inner bag112is provided in a bag shape independent of the outer bag110and is expanded such that the periphery thereof is surrounded by the outer bag110from in front of the seat104(seeFIG. 1(b)) of the vehicle.

A portion of the inflator118is inserted into the inner bag112. The inflator118is operated upon receiving a detection signal of an impact sent from a sensor (not illustrated), so as to supply gas from the inner bag108first. The inner bag112and the outer bag110start to expand by the gas from the inflator118, after which the expansion pressure thereof cleaves a cover107(seeFIG. 1(a)), etc., and then expands and deploys towards the seat104so as to restrain the passenger from the front of the vehicle.

The inflator118is disc shaped, with a portion thereof inserted into the inner bag112, and installed inside the housing part106(seeFIG. 1(a)) of the vehicle. Exemplary currently prevailing inflators include: a type which is filled with a gas generating agent and burns the agent to generate gas; a type which is filled with compressed gas and supplies gas without generating heat; or a hybrid type which utilizes both combustion gas and compressed gas; etc. Any type can be used for the inflator118.

An inner vent122serving as the gas passage is provided in the inner bag112. The inner vent122discharges the gas from the inner bag112, then supplies the gas to the outer bag110. In this manner, the cushion108according to the present embodiment is configured such that the inner bag112is expanded prior to the outer bag110.

The outer bag110is a region shaping the contour of the cushion108other than the central inner bag112. The outer bag110is connected to the inner vent122, the gas is supplied to the outer bag110via the inner bag112, and the outer bag110is expanded so as to surround the inner bag112. The opening116which exposes the inner bag112towards the seat104(seeFIG. 1(b)) is provided in the outer bag110. Note that the gas may be supplied directly from the inflator118, not via the inner bag112, such that the outer bag110may be expanded and deployed. For example, a configuration may be such that the outer bag110and the inner bag112are integrated in the vicinity of the inflator118, while the gas from the inflator118is simultaneously supplied.

The restraining part114which restrains the head126of a passenger124(seeFIG. 4(b), etc.) in the inner bag112is exposed from the opening116. The cushion108restrains the head126of a passenger124mainly with the restraining part114of the inner bag112, in addition to restraining the shoulders128and the chest130of the passenger124utilizing the surface on the seat side of the outer bag110.

In the present embodiment, a structure in which the base cloth configuring the restraining part114has relatively lower tension than the base cloth configuring the outer bag110is achieved such that the injury value of the passenger124(seeFIG. 4(b), etc.) can be efficiently suppressed in the event of an emergency. Hereinafter, this airbag apparatus100will be further described, focusing on the configuration of the restraining part114.

The inner bag112and the outer bag110are expanded by the pressure of the gas received from the same single inflator118and therefore have equal internal pressure. However, when the base cloth of both the inner bag112and the outer bag110is viewed as a curved surface, because the outer shape of the inner bag112is smaller than the outer shape of the outer bag110, the curvature radius of the inner bag112at any position of both regions is smaller than that of the outer bag110. Consequently, when the inner bag112and the outer bag110are compared, the inner bag112has a base cloth with lower tension, leading to decreased rigidity.

The length of the inner bag112in the anteroposterior direction of the vehicle length is longer than the length thereof in the width direction of the vehicle. That is, the inner bag112has an elongated shape in the anteroposterior direction of the vehicle. The inner bag112inFIG. 2(a)is schematically illustrated and, as viewed from above the vehicle, has a shape close to an ellipse with the long axis in the anteroposterior direction of the vehicle. However, the inner bag112is not limited as long as it has a long shape in the anteroposterior direction of the vehicle. For example, various shapes such as a shape close to a rectangle and an irregular shape long in the anteroposterior direction of the vehicle can be appropriately employed.

The restraining part114serving as the rear end of the inner bag112is a surface which is recessed and curved on the seat side (lower side inFIG. 2(a)). Assuming that the inner bag112has a long shape in the anteroposterior direction of the vehicle, the restraining part114is the region having the smallest curvature radius in the inner bag112. As a result, the restraining part114is a flexible region having particularly low tension and low rigidity throughout the entire cushion108. Consequently, the restraining part114can more flexibly catch the passenger124(seeFIG. 4(b), etc.)

In this airbag apparatus100, the size W1of the opening116in the width direction of the vehicle is smaller than the maximum size W2of the inner bag112in the width direction of the vehicle. According to this configuration, the region of the inner bag112having the maximum size in the width direction of the vehicle is surrounded by the outer bag110, with only the restraining part114serving as the rear end exposed from the opening116. Consequently, even when a load is applied from the passenger124(seeFIG. 4(b), etc.) to the restraining part114, the inner bag112can restrain the passenger124without change of posture.

FIG. 2(b)is a view when the cushion108inFIG. 2(a)is viewed from the opposing rear side of the vehicle (lower side inFIG. 2(a)). As illustrated inFIG. 2(b), the opening116is provided in a slightly elongated shape in the vertical direction of the vehicle. While the opening116illustrated inFIG. 2(b)has a rectangular shape with round corners, the shape of the opening116is not limited, and for example, an opening having a shape close to a circle may be employed.

The opening116is provided in the central region E2of three regions E1to E3obtained by dividing the outer bag110into three equal portions in the width direction of the vehicle. According to this configuration, the cushion108can restrain the head126of the passenger124(seeFIG. 4(b), etc.) with the restraining part114, in addition to restraining the shoulders128, the chest130, etc. of the passenger124with the outer bag110.

On the seat104side of the outer bag110, the opening116is rimmed by a designated expansion part of the outer bag110. Specifically, the upper edge of the opening116is formed by an upper expansion part108a, while the lower edge of the opening116is formed by a lower expansion part108b. Moreover, the left edge of the opening116is formed by a left expansion part108c, while the right edge of the opening116is formed by a right expansion part108d. As described above, the outer bag110is configured such that each expansion part continuously surrounds the up, down, right, and left parts of the exposed inner bag114, on the seat104side of the cushion108, that is, within the range in which the passenger124(in the figure) seated in the seat104can contact the cushion108.

Here, the image of a figure assumed to be the passenger124(seeFIG. 3) with the head126illustrated inFIG. 2(b)will be described. The passenger124is illustrated so as to include any of an AM50 dummy or an AM95 dummy of HybridIII or a Thor dummy, which are human body dummies for testing front face collisions of an automobile. The AM50 dummy is a human body dummy imitating a person having a body height of 175 cm, a seating height of 88 cm, and a body weight of appropriately 78 kg as an American adult male model having an average physique. The AM95 dummy is a human body dummy imitating a person having a body height of 183 cm, a seating height of 94 cm, and a body weight of appropriately 101 kg as an American adult male model having a large physique. The Thor dummy is a human body dummy which has been developed as the successor to the HybridIII dummy, with only males having an average physique as models. These human body dummies are created based on the standards of NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).

The expansion part of the outer bag110according to the present embodiment (seeFIG. 2(b)) can restrain the passenger124(seeFIG. 3, etc.) together with the inner bag114. For example, the upper expansion part108acan restrain the region from the forehead to the upper part in the head126of the passenger124who is seated normally in the seat104. Moreover, the lower expansion part108bcan restrain the chest130of the passenger124who is seated normally in the seat104. The left expansion part108cand the right expansion part108dcan restrain the shoulders128and the temporal region of the passenger124who is seated normally in the seat104. These configurations allow the passenger124to be suitably protected.

The outer bag110inFIG. 2(b)can sufficiently restrain each region of an adult female having an average physique or larger, in addition to an adult male having an average physique and an adult male having a large physique which are assumed to be the passenger124. However, in the case of a small female passenger, the head140may be only restrained with the inner bag114, and may not reach the upper expansion part108a. Note that one example of a small female is AF05 in the abovementioned HybridIII dummy. AF05 is a human body dummy imitating a person having a body height of 145 cm, a seating height of 79 cm, and a body weight of appropriately 45 kg as a female model having a small physique.

FIG. 3is a B-B cross sectional view of the cushion108inFIG. 1(b).FIG. 3also schematically illustrates the cushion108, etc., but does not limit the size relationship and positional relationship of the cushion108and the passenger124.

As mentioned above, the inner bag112has a long shape in the anteroposterior direction of the vehicle. As viewed from the width direction of the vehicle, regarding the shape of the inner bag112, the size in the vertical direction of the vehicle gradually increases from the instrument panel102towards the seat104at the rear of the vehicle. However, regarding the inner bag112, the size in the anteroposterior direction of the vehicle is set to be roughly larger than the size in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

The cushion108is expanded and deployed so as to fill the space between the passenger124of the seat104and the instrument panel102and windshield120. This prevents the passenger124from colliding with the instrument panel102, etc. Moreover, a collision of the passenger on the windshield120is prevented, while the passenger124is prevented from being thrown outside the vehicle.

Here, inFIG. 3, exemplary passengers124include a dummy doll. If the size of this airbag apparatus100is defined based on the body of the passenger124, for example, it can be determined based on AM95 of the dummy doll (corresponding to large American adult males (American males 95%, 95% of smaller males)).

FIG. 4is a view illustrating the cushion108ofFIG. 3in a different direction.FIG. 4(a)is a view corresponding to a C-C cross section of the cushion108inFIG. 3.

In the present embodiment, the range from the outermost region of the left expansion part108cto the outermost region of the right expansion part108din the width direction of the vehicle in the outer bag110is set to be of a size W3in the width direction of the vehicle which can restrain the upper body of the passenger124. In addition, the size W1of the opening116in the width direction of the vehicle can house the head126in the upper body. In other words, the size W1of the opening116in the width direction of the vehicle is wider than the width of the head126of the passenger124but narrower than the width of the shoulders128of the passenger124. According to these configurations, in the cushion108, the restraining part114of the inner bag112can flexibly restrain the head126of the passenger124with low rigidity, while the outer bag110can sufficiently restrain, with high rigidity, the shoulders128, the chest130, etc. which are solid and heavy in the body of the passenger124.

FIG. 4(b)is a view illustrating a state in which the cushion108inFIG. 4(a)restrains a passenger124. Here, a phenomenon presumed to be during an oblique collision is illustrated. The passenger124slightly obliquely enters the cushion108upon an oblique collision.

As mentioned above, the restraining part114of the inner bag112can more flexibly catch the head126because the tension of the base cloth is set to be lower than that of the base cloth of the outer bag110. In addition, the outer bag110widely restrains portions including the shoulders128and the chest130of the passenger124, etc., in addition to the head126of the passenger.

The inner bag112and the outer bag110are connected via the inner vent122. Therefore, upon restraining the head126with the inner bag112, gas can be discharged from the inner bag112so as to more flexibly receive the head126, with the gas being supplied to the outer bag110so as to more sufficiently catch the shoulders128, etc.

Here, if only a single set cushion is present in front of the passenger124, when the head126of the obliquely moving passenger124contacts the cushion, the friction between the head126and the cushion may generate a difference between the motion of the head126and that of the shoulders128, in addition to generating a clockwise rotation force (rotation force of turning around to the left and right with the cervical spine serving as the axis) in the head126with the neck serving as the axis as seen from above the vehicle with respect to the shoulders128, etc. When such a rotation is generated in the head126, the injury value of the passenger124tends to be high.

With that, in the present embodiment, the head126of the passenger124is configured to contact the restraining part114of the inner bag112having low rigidity so as to be flexibly restrained. In addition, the shoulders128, the chest130, etc. which are solid and heavy in the body are sufficiently restrained utilizing the restraining part114as well as the outer bag110having high rigidity. These minimize the rotation of the head126to the shoulders128of the passenger124, in addition to aligning and restraining the motion of the head126with the motion of the shoulders128. In this manner, in the present embodiment, the rotation of the head126of the passenger124can be significantly decreased or negated, while the angle speed of the head126can be decreased so as to suppress the injury value of the passenger124caused by the rotation of the head126.

According to the configuration of the present embodiment, not only upon an oblique collision, but also upon a normal collision in the anteroposterior direction of the vehicle, a high passenger restraint performance can be restrained so as to suppress the injury value and movement of the passenger124.

Note that in the foregoing, with reference toFIG. 4(b), exemplary rotations generated in the head126include clockwise rotations. However, depending on the circumstances in the event of an emergency, for example, the passenger124may move obliquely forward on the vehicle interior side, with a counterclockwise rotation potentially generated in the head126with the neck serving as the center as viewed from above. This counterclockwise rotation can be decreased or negated by the cushion108of the present embodiment, while the angle speed of the head126can be reduced. That is, the airbag apparatus100according to the present embodiment can obtain the same effects in a passenger124who moves in any width direction of the vehicle.

Modified Example 1

FIG. 5is a view illustrating Modified Example 1 of the cushion108illustrated inFIG. 1(b), etc. Hereinafter, the same components as described above are labeled with the same symbols, with the descriptions thereof omitted. Moreover, the same names as the components described above shall have the same functions unless otherwise indicated even when labeled with different symbols.

In a cushion200illustrated inFIG. 5(a), the portion (inner base cloth206) configuring the inside of the opening116in the base cloth configuring an outer bag202is expanded so as to protrude towards the seat104(seeFIG. 1(b)). In particular, the inner base cloth206is linearly expanded along the vertical direction of the vehicle on left and right sides of the opening116in the width direction of the vehicle.

FIG. 5(b)is a D-D cross sectional view inFIG. 5(a). With the inner bag112, etc. regarded as the center, the outer bag202is roughly divided and configured to include: an outer base cloth204forming the outer surface (outside); and the inner base cloth206contacting the inner bag112inside the opening116. The outer base cloth204is expanded as a curved surface, with the opening116provided within a designated range on the seat side. This opening116serves as the boundary between the outer base cloth204and the inner base cloth206, with the inner base cloth206expanded such that a portion thereof protrudes from the opening116to the seat side. The portion protruding from the opening116of the inner base cloth206has a base cloth with low tension and is therefore effective in flexibly catching the passenger124(seeFIG. 5(c)) and suppressing the injury value.

In the outer base cloth204and the inner base cloth206of the outer bag202, when both base cloths upon expansion are viewed as a curved surface, the inner base cloth206present inside has a roughly smaller curvature radius than the outer base cloth204present outside. Generally, the pressure and curvature radius affect the tension of the base cloth. Because the outer bag202is expanded by the pressure of gas received from one inflator118, the inner base cloth206has a base cloth with lower tension than the outer base cloth204in accordance with the size relationship of the curvature radius. As a result, the outer bag202according to the present embodiment is configured such that the inner base cloth206having low tension protrudes.

FIG. 5(c)is a view illustrating a state in which the cushion200inFIG. 5(b)restrains the passenger124. The passenger124slightly obliquely enters the cushion200upon an oblique collision. The inner base cloth206which is expanded along the edge of the opening116is present at a position slightly biased to the left and right in the width direction of the vehicle with respect to the front of the seat104. Consequently, when the passenger124moves from the seat104in the oblique direction, the passenger124also contacts the inner base cloth206. At this time, because the inner base cloth206protrudes to the seat side (lower side inFIG. 5(c)) and the tension thereof is set to be lower than that of the outer base cloth204, the head126(including the vicinity of the temporal region) can be more flexibly caught.

In this cushion200, the inner bag112and the inner base cloth206restrain the head126of the passenger124, while the outer base cloth204restrains the shoulders128, the chest130, etc. of the passenger124. These actions allow the cushion200to better align the motion of the head126of the passenger124with the motion of the shoulders128, etc. thereof, in addition to enabling any rotation (including the rotation of turning around the head126to the left and right with respect to the shoulders128and the rotation involving tilting the head126vertically and horizontally) to be minimized for restraint. In this manner, the cushion200can significantly suppress the injury value of the passenger124.

Modified Example 2

FIG. 6is a view illustrating Modified Example 2 of the cushion108illustrated inFIG. 1(b), etc. In this cushion220, as viewed from the rear of the vehicle, each of the edges222a,222bon both sides of an opening222in the width direction of the vehicle is shaped to draw a recessed curve towards the other edge. It is difficult to spread the opening222having the edges222a,222bof this shape in the width direction of the vehicle. Consequently, the opening222can sufficiently surround and support the restraining part of the inner bag112.

Preferred examples of the present invention were described above while referring to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments described above are preferred examples of the present invention, and other embodiments can be implemented or performed by various methods. In particular, unless described otherwise in the specification of the present application, the invention is not restricted to the shape, size, configurational disposition, and the like of parts illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, expressions and terms used in the specification of the present application are used for providing a description, and the invention is not limited thereto, unless specifically described otherwise.

Therefore, it is obvious that a person with ordinary skill in the art can conceive of various changed examples or modified examples within the scope described in the scope of the claims, which is understood to naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention can be used in an airbag apparatus which restrains passengers in the event of an emergency.

REFERENCE NUMERALS