Patent Description:
Airbag apparatuses have become standard equipment in most recent vehicles. An airbag apparatus is a safety apparatus which is operated in the event of an emergency such as a vehicle collision, and receives and protects passengers utilizing an airbag cushion which expands and deploys by gas pressure. Various kinds of airbag apparatuses are used depending on the installation position and application thereof. 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 the 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.

Airbag cushions of various airbag apparatuses may be shaped in accordance with the parts of the body so as to be capable of efficiently restraining the passenger. For example, a first extension 14a and a second extension 14b for protecting the head of a passenger are provided in an airbag body <NUM> described in <FIG> of Patent Document <NUM>. The configuration of Patent Document <NUM> indicates that even the side of the head can be covered and protected by the first extension 14a, etc..

Generic <CIT> shows an airbag apparatus according to the preamble of claim <NUM>, comprising a bag shaped cushion which is configured to be installed in a vehicle and to expand and deploy in front of a seat from the front towards the rear of the vehicle. The cushion comprises a front restraining part which restrains the head of a passenger from the front of a vehicle and at least one protrusion part which is provided beside the front restraining part in the width direction of the vehicle and is capable of protruding and expanding further towards the rear of the vehicle than the front restraining part. The airbag apparatus further comprises at least one inner tether having a rear end which is connected to the front restraining part and to which tension is applied to pull the front restraining part towards the front of the vehicle, and an outer tether having a rear end connected to the protrusion part and to which tension is applied to pull the protrusion part towards the front of the vehicle.

Current airbags are also required to respond to irregular collisions or impacts such as a so-called oblique collision, 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, the effective prevention thereof has been requested.

The abovementioned Patent Document <NUM> describes that the utilization of a first extension 14a and a second extension 14b allows the head of the passenger to be protected even when the head is shifted in the width direction of the vehicle during the occurrence of an impact on the vehicle. Unfortunately, with reference to <FIG>, etc. the first extension 14a, etc. are not so thick in the width direction of the vehicle, preventing the shape thereof from being maintained upon restraining the head of the passenger during an oblique collision.

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

In order to solve the abovementioned problem, a typical configuration of an airbag apparatus according to the present invention includes: a bag shaped cushion which is installed in a vehicle and expands and deploys from in front of a seat, wherein the cushion includes: a front restraining part which restrains the head of a passenger from the front of a vehicle; and.

According to the abovementioned configuration, when the outer tether is drawn to the inner tether side, force towards the inner tether side is applied to the protrusion part, improving the restraining force of the temporal region of the head of the passenger with the protrusion part. Therefore, for example, the abovementioned protrusion part can absorb the rotation of the head of the passenger, thereby efficiently suppressing the injury value of the passenger.

The application of tension to the inner tether is completed prior to applying tension to the outer tether. This configuration allows force towards the inner tether to be effectively applied to the outer tether.

The cushion expands from the front towards the rear of the vehicle, wherein the outer tether is connected to the protrusion part further to the rear of the vehicle than the inner tether. This configuration allows tension to the inner tether to be applied prior to applying tension to the outer tether, making it possible to efficiently pull the outer tether towards the inner tether side.

The outer tether may be connected to the base on the inner tether side of the protrusion part. This outer tether can also effectively apply force towards the inner tether to the protrusion part.

The outer tether may be connected to the tip of the protrusion part. This outer tether can also effectively apply force towards the inner tether to the protrusion part.

The outer tether may be connected to the side part of the protrusion part on the inner tether side. This outer tether can also effectively apply force towards the inner tether to the protrusion part.

The other end of the inner tether may be connected to the part facing the front restraining part inside the cushion, wherein the other end of the outer tether may be connected to the part facing the protrusion part inside the cushion. This configuration enables the inner tether and the outer tether to efficiently pull the front restraining part and the protrusion part.

The protrusion part may be provided on both sides of the front restraining part in the width direction of the vehicle. This configuration enables the absorption of the head of the passenger on both sides in the width direction of the vehicle.

The region of the front restraining part between the two adjacent tethers included in the inner tether or the outer tether may be inflated towards the rear of the vehicle. The inflated part has a decreased curvature radius, thereby suppressing the tension of a base cloth. Therefore, the head of the passenger can be flexibly received, while the rotation of the head can also be efficiently suppressed.

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

Airbag apparatus, <NUM>. Instrument panel, <NUM>. Seat, <NUM>. Housing part, <NUM>. Cover, <NUM>. Cushion, <NUM>. Inflator, <NUM>. Windshield, <NUM>. Base, <NUM>, <NUM>. Protrusion part, <NUM>, <NUM>. Tip of the protrusion part, <NUM>. Front restraining part, <NUM>, <NUM>. Inner tether, <NUM>, <NUM>. Outer tether, <NUM>. One end of the inner tether, <NUM>. Other end of the inner tether, <NUM>. One end of the outer tether, <NUM>. Other end of the outer tether, <NUM> Base of the protrusion part, <NUM>. Passenger, <NUM>. Head, <NUM>. Temporal region of the head, <NUM>, <NUM>. Force applied to the protrusion part, <NUM>. Rotation of the head, 158a to 158c. lnflated region, <NUM>. Cushion of Modified Example <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Inner tether, <NUM>. Rear end of the inner tether, <NUM>. Cushion of Modified Example <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Inner tether, <NUM>. Cushion of Modified Example <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Outer tether, <NUM>, <NUM>. Rear end of the outer tether, <NUM>. Cushion of Modified Example <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Outer tether, <NUM>, <NUM>. Rear end of the outer tether, <NUM>, <NUM>. Side part of the protrusion part, <NUM>. Cushion of Modified Example <NUM>, <NUM>. Cushion of Modified Example <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Outer tether, <NUM>. Cushion of Modified Example <NUM>, <NUM>. Inner tether, <NUM>. Cushion of Modified Example <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Inner tether, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Inflated region, <NUM>. Cushion of Modified Example <NUM>, <NUM>. Curtain airbag.

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 to omit redundant descriptions along with the illustration of elements not directly related to the present invention.

<FIG> is a view illustrating the outline of an airbag apparatus <NUM>. <FIG> is a view illustrating a vehicle prior to the operation of the airbag apparatus <NUM>. In <FIG> 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 apparatus <NUM> is implemented as a passenger bag for a passenger seat (seat <NUM> on 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 seat <NUM> on 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 cushion <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the airbag apparatus <NUM> is housed in a housing part <NUM> provided in an instrument panel <NUM>. The housing part <NUM> is installed at the front of the vehicle of the seat <NUM>, while, in addition to the cushion <NUM>, an inflator <NUM> (see <FIG>) serving as a gas generator is also housed in the housing part <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a vehicle after the operation of the airbag apparatus <NUM> in <FIG>. The cushion <NUM> is normally housed in the housing part <NUM> (see <FIG>), in addition to expanding and deploying from in front of the seat <NUM>. The cushion <NUM> is 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..

<FIG> is a view illustrating a cushion <NUM> during expansion and deployment of <FIG> in each direction. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating the cushion <NUM> in <FIG> when seen from the lower left side at the rear of the vehicle. The cushion <NUM> according to the present embodiment roughly has: a base <NUM>; and two protrusion parts <NUM>, <NUM> provided on the rear of the vehicle of the base <NUM>.

The base <NUM> is a part occupying the majority of the cushion <NUM>. The face of the base <NUM> on the rear of the vehicle serves as a front restraining part <NUM>, restraining the head <NUM> of a passenger <NUM> (see <FIG>) from the front of the vehicle. The protrusion parts <NUM>, <NUM> are provided on both sides of the front restraining part <NUM> in the width direction of the vehicle and protrude and expand further towards the rear of the vehicle than the front restraining part <NUM>, mainly restraining the temporal region of the head <NUM> of the passenger <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating the cushion <NUM> in <FIG> when seen from the inside of the vehicle. The base <NUM> expands and deploys from the housing part <NUM> (see <FIG>) towards the rear of the vehicle so as to be embedded between the upper surface of the instrument panel <NUM> and the windshield <NUM>. The protrusion parts <NUM>, <NUM> are provided slightly above the rear of the vehicle of the base <NUM> so as to protrude from the base <NUM> in a shape close to a rectangle.

<FIG> is a cross sectional view of the cushion <NUM> in <FIG>. <FIG> is an A-A cross sectional view of the cushion <NUM> in <FIG>. Two kinds of tethers consisting of inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> and outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> are provided in the cushion <NUM> according to the present embodiment. The inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> and the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> are members for maintaining the shape of the cushion <NUM> by pulling each part of the cushion <NUM>, wherein tension is applied to both the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> and the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> as the cushion <NUM> expands and deploys. The inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> and the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> can be provided utilizing the same material as the base cloth forming the cushion <NUM>.

<FIG> is a B-B cross sectional view of the cushion <NUM> in <FIG>. The inner tether <NUM> representing the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> is illustrated in <FIG>. Because the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> are of the same configuration, the inner tether <NUM> is typically referred to.

The inner tether <NUM> is provided so as to gradually spread from the front to the rear of the vehicle, with one end <NUM> thereof bonded to the front restraining part <NUM>. The other end <NUM> of the inner tether <NUM> is the part facing the front restraining part <NUM> inside the cushion <NUM> and is specifically connected to the bottom part on the front of the vehicle contacting the instrument panel <NUM> (see <FIG>). This configuration enables the inner tether <NUM> to efficiently pull the front restraining part <NUM> towards the front of the vehicle as the cushion <NUM> expands and deploys. This inner tether <NUM> can regulate the position of the front restraining part <NUM>, in addition to improving the passenger restraining force at the front restraining part <NUM>.

<FIG> is a C-C cross sectional view of the cushion in <FIG>. The outer tether <NUM> representing the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> is illustrated in <FIG>. Because the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> are of the same configuration, the outer tether <NUM> is typically referred to.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the outer tether <NUM> is also provided so as to gradually spread from the front to the rear of the vehicle, with one end <NUM> thereof connected to a base <NUM> of the protrusion part <NUM> on the inner tether side. The other end <NUM> of the outer tether <NUM> is the part facing the protrusion part <NUM> inside the cushion <NUM> and is connected to the bottom part on the front of the vehicle contacting the instrument panel <NUM> (see <FIG>). This configuration allows the outer tether <NUM> to efficiently pull the protrusion part <NUM> as the cushion <NUM> expands and deploys, making it possible to maintain the shape protruding towards the rear of the vehicle of the protrusion part <NUM>.

Once again in reference to <FIG>. A portion of the inflator <NUM> is inserted into the cushion <NUM>. The inflator <NUM> is operated upon receiving a detection signal of an impact from a sensor (not illustrated), so as to supply gas to the cushion <NUM>. The cushion <NUM> starts to expand by the gas from the inflator <NUM>, after which the expansion pressure thereof cleaves a cover <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the housing part <NUM>, etc., and then expands and deploys towards the seat <NUM> so as to restrain the passenger from the front of the vehicle.

The inflator <NUM> is disc shaped, with a portion thereof inserted into the base <NUM>, and fixed to a rigid part of the vehicle, such as a cross beam, inside the housing part <NUM> (see <FIG>). 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 supply gas without generating heat; or a hybrid type which utilizes both combustion gas and compressed gas; etc. Any type of the inflator <NUM> can be utilized.

The inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> and the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> according to the present embodiment can maintain the shape of each part of the cushion <NUM>, in addition to further improving the passenger restraining force of the protrusion parts <NUM>, <NUM> when force towards the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> side is applied to the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> during expansion and deployment. The process by which the cushion <NUM> restrains the passenger <NUM> will hereinafter be described with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>.

<FIG> and <FIG> are views illustrating a process in which the cushion <NUM> in <FIG> restrains a passenger <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the cushion <NUM> is housed in the vehicle in front of the passenger <NUM> occupying the seat <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, when an impact occurs on the vehicle, an operation signal is transmitted from a sensor (not illustrated) to the airbag apparatus <NUM>, after which the cushion <NUM> cleaves the cover <NUM> (see <FIG>) so as to expand and deploy. In addition, as illustrated in <FIG>, the base <NUM> of the cushion <NUM> expands, while the protrusion parts <NUM>, <NUM> of the cushion <NUM> expands from both sides of the front restraining part <NUM> in the width direction of the vehicle.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the cushion <NUM> expands from the front towards the rear of the vehicle so as to restrain the head <NUM> of the passenger <NUM> with the front restraining part <NUM>. However, in an oblique collision, the passenger <NUM> may move from the seat <NUM> towards the front of the vehicle, in addition to moving obliquely to the front of the inside of the vehicle. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the protrusion parts <NUM>, <NUM> are provided so as to protrude from both sides of the front restraining part <NUM> in the width direction of the vehicle towards the rear of the vehicle.

<FIG> is a view in which the passenger <NUM> in <FIG> has further entered the cushion <NUM> side. As illustrated in <FIG>, for example, if the passenger <NUM> moves towards the left front, the cushion <NUM> restrains the head <NUM> of the passenger <NUM> with the front restraining part <NUM> from the front of the vehicle, in addition to restraining the head <NUM> of the passenger <NUM> with the protrusion part <NUM> from the temporal region of the head <NUM> side.

As has been described with reference to <FIG>, in the present embodiment, when tension is applied to the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> so as to pull the front restraining part <NUM> towards the front of the vehicle, the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> are also pulled to the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> side via the front restraining part <NUM>, with the force towards the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> side applied to the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM>. In addition, because the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to the bases <NUM>, <NUM> of the protrusion part <NUM> on the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> side, the force towards the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> side is also applied to the protrusion parts <NUM>, <NUM> pulled by the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM>. Consequently, force <NUM>, <NUM> is respectively applied to the protrusion parts <NUM>, <NUM> in <FIG> in the direction narrowing the interval therebetween, such that the protrusion parts <NUM>, <NUM> can restrain the head <NUM> of the passenger <NUM> in such a motion so as to enclose the head <NUM> from both sides thereof. This operation enables the protrusion parts <NUM>, <NUM> to exert high passenger restraining force on the head <NUM> of the passenger <NUM>.

Here, during an oblique collision, etc., when the head <NUM> of the passenger <NUM> which moves towards the oblique front contacts the cushion <NUM> at the front of the seat <NUM>, the head <NUM> may experience clockwise rotary force (rotation <NUM> indicated by arrows) about the neck when seen from above. The rotation <NUM> of the head <NUM> in this way has been found to easily increase the injury value of the passenger <NUM>. However, in the present embodiment, the front restraining part <NUM> and the protrusion part <NUM> can positively restrain the range from the front of the head <NUM> to the temporal region of the head <NUM>, decreasing or negating and absorbing the rotation <NUM> arising in the head <NUM>. This configuration can decrease the angular speed of the head <NUM> of the rotation <NUM> of the passenger <NUM>, in addition to suppressing the injury value of the head <NUM> caused by the rotation <NUM>.

Once again in reference to <FIG>. In the cushion <NUM> according to the present embodiment, in the front restraining part <NUM>, the region 158b between the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> or regions 158a, 158c between the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> and the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> is/are curved and inflated towards the rear of the vehicle.

Generally, the pressure and the curvature radius affect the tension of the base cloth. The cushion <NUM> expands by means of the pressure of the gas received from one inflator <NUM>. Therefore, in accordance with the large/small relation of the curvature radius, the case in which regions 158a to 158c in which the front restraining part <NUM> inflated between each tether is formed exhibits a lower tension of the base cloth than the case in which the overall front restraining part <NUM> uniformly expands. In this way, the front restraining part <NUM> according to the present embodiment has the tension suppressed and can flexibly receive the head <NUM> of the passenger <NUM>, in addition to efficiently suppressing the rotation <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the head <NUM>.

<FIG> are views illustrating modified examples of the cushion <NUM> in <FIG>, etc, wherein <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> show embodiments according to the invention. 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.

<FIG> is a view illustrating Modified Example <NUM> of the cushion <NUM> corresponding to <FIG>. In a cushion <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> are configured to be slightly shorter than the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> at the front of the vehicle. Specifically, upon completion of the expansion and deployment of the cushion <NUM>, for example, the length of the inner tether <NUM> is set to be shorter than the outer tether <NUM> by approximately the length D1, such that the rear end <NUM> of the inner tether <NUM> is connected to the front restraining part <NUM> more to the front of the vehicle than the rear end <NUM> of the outer tether <NUM>. In other words, upon completion of the expansion and deployment of the cushion <NUM>, the length of the outer tether <NUM> is set to be longer than the inner tether <NUM> by approximately the length D1, such that the rear end <NUM> of the outer tether <NUM> is connected to the base <NUM> of the protrusion part <NUM> more to the rear of the vehicle than the rear end <NUM> of the inner tether <NUM>.

With the abovementioned configuration, when the cushion <NUM> expands and deploys from the front towards the rear of the vehicle, the application of tension to the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> is completed prior to applying tension to the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM>. As a result, the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> can be efficiently drawn to the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> side, while force towards the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> side can be efficiently applied to the protrusion parts <NUM>, <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating Modified Example <NUM> of the cushion <NUM> corresponding to <FIG>. In a cushion <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, compared with the cushion <NUM> in <FIG>, inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> are set to be further shorter than the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> by approximately the length D2 (D2>D1). Therefore, the application of tension to the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> may be earlier than applying tension to the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM>, making it possible to efficiently draw the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM>. In this way, the lengths of the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> and the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> can be appropriately set taking the force applied to the protrusion parts <NUM>, <NUM> into consideration.

<FIG> is a view illustrating Modified Example <NUM> of the cushion <NUM> corresponding to <FIG>. In the cushion <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> are configured to be longer than the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM>. In addition, the rear ends <NUM>, <NUM> of the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to the tips <NUM>, <NUM> of the protrusion parts <NUM>, <NUM> at the rear of the vehicle. These outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> can also effectively apply force towards the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> side to the protrusion parts <NUM>, <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating Modified Example <NUM> of the cushion <NUM> corresponding to <FIG>. Also in the cushion <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> are longer than the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM>, wherein the rear ends <NUM>, <NUM> of the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to the side parts <NUM>, <NUM> of the protrusion parts <NUM>, <NUM> on the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> side. These outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> can also effectively apply force towards the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> side to the protrusion parts <NUM>, <NUM>. Specifically, the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> allow the tips <NUM>, <NUM> of the protrusion parts <NUM>, <NUM> to be positioned more inwardly so as to suitably restrain the head <NUM> of the passenger <NUM> (see <FIG>).

<FIG> is a view illustrating Modified Example <NUM> of the cushion <NUM> corresponding to <FIG>. In a cushion <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> and the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> are installed together. In this way, the number of outer tethers provided at one protrusion part can be appropriately set.

<FIG> is a view illustrating Modified Example <NUM> of the cushion <NUM> corresponding to <FIG>. In the cushion <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to the central parts of the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM>. Because the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> are directly fixed to the rigid part of the vehicle, such as a cross beam, the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> are indirectly fixed to the cross beam, etc. via the inner tethers.

As mentioned above, the front of the vehicle of the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> and the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> may be directly or indirectly fixed to the rigid part of the vehicle such as the cross beam. As a result, the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> and the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> can efficiently pull the front restraining part <NUM> and the protrusion parts <NUM>, <NUM> towards the front of the vehicle.

As a further modified example of the cushion <NUM>, the cushion <NUM> is fixed to the cross beam, etc. in the vicinity of the inflator <NUM>. Therefore, if the front ends of the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> are not directly fixed to the cross beam, they are indirectly fixed to the cross beam also when bonded to the base cloth in the vicinity of the inflator <NUM> of the base <NUM>. In this example as well, the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> can pull the front restraining part <NUM>, while the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> can pull the protrusion parts <NUM>, <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating Modified Example <NUM> of the cushion <NUM> corresponding to <FIG>. In the cushion <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, only one inner tether <NUM> is provided. Only the inner tether <NUM> can also draw the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM>. In this way, the number of provided inner tethers can be appropriately set.

<FIG> is a view illustrating Modified Example <NUM> of the cushion <NUM> corresponding to <FIG>. In the cushion <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged not in the width direction of the vehicle but rather in the vertical direction of the vehicle. In this way, multiple inner tethers can be provided not only in the width direction of the vehicle but also in the vertical direction of the vehicle. These inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> can also pull the front restraining part <NUM> so as to apply force towards the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> to the outer tethers <NUM>, <NUM> (see <FIG>).

Moreover, in the cushion <NUM>, an inflated region <NUM> is formed between the inner tether <NUM> and the inner tether <NUM>, while inflated regions <NUM>, <NUM> are formed on both the upper and lower sides. As has been described with reference to <FIG>, the case in which the front restraining part <NUM> is sectioned and inflated between each tether exhibits a lower tension of the base cloth than the case in which the overall front restraining part <NUM> uniformly expands. The inflated regions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> provided in the vertical direction of the vehicle can also flexibly receive the head <NUM> of the passenger <NUM> (see <FIG>), in addition to efficiently suppressing the rotation <NUM> of the head <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating Modified Example <NUM> of the cushion <NUM> corresponding to <FIG>. As in the cushion <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, only one protrusion part <NUM> can be provided. For example, in the case of a passenger bag provided on the right in the width direction of the vehicle as illustrated in <FIG>, a curtain airbag <NUM> may be provided to the immediate left. In this case, even when the protrusion part <NUM> and the outer tether <NUM> are provided only to the left of the cushion <NUM> in the width direction of the vehicle (inside of the vehicle), and the protrusion part <NUM> (see <FIG>) is omitted to the right in the width direction of the vehicle to implement a restraint using the curtain airbag <NUM>, the injury value of the passenger <NUM> (see <FIG>) towards the inside of the vehicle during an oblique collision can be efficiently suppressed to implement restraint.

In this way, the protrusion part <NUM> and the outer tether <NUM> can be provided on either side of a cushion <NUM> in the width direction of the vehicle to suppress the injury value of the passenger. Moreover, as long as the shape of the base <NUM> of the cushion <NUM> is maintained, the inner tethers <NUM>, <NUM> can be provided on only one side of the front restraining part <NUM> in the width direction of the vehicle together with the outer tether <NUM>.

While the preferred embodiments according to the present invention have been thus described in detail with reference to the appended drawings, needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the examples according to the present invention. Those skilled in the art may clearly consider various modified examples or correction examples within the scope of the Patent Claims, which are also naturally understood to belong within the technical scope of the present invention.

Claim 1:
An airbag apparatus, comprising a bag shaped cushion (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) which is configured to be installed in a vehicle and to expand and deploy in front of a seat (<NUM>) from the front towards the rear of the vehicle;
the cushion (<NUM>) comprising:
a front restraining part (<NUM>) which restrains the head of a passenger from the front of a vehicle; and
at least one protrusion part (<NUM>, <NUM>) which is provided beside the front restraining part (<NUM>) in the width direction of the vehicle and is capable of protruding and expanding further towards the rear of the vehicle than the front restraining part (<NUM>);
the airbag apparatus further comprising, inside the cushion (<NUM>):
at least one inner tether (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) having a rear end (<NUM>) which is connected to the front restraining part (<NUM>) and to which tension is applied to pull the front restraining part (<NUM>) towards the front of the vehicle; and
an outer tether (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) having a rear end (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) connected to the protrusion part and to which tension is applied to pull the protrusion part (<NUM>, <NUM>) towards the front of the vehicle;
wherein when tension is applied to the inner tether (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), so as to pull the front restraining part (<NUM>) towards the front of the vehicle, the outer tether (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is also pulled to the inner tether (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) side via the front restraining part (<NUM>), with the force towards the inner tether (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) side applied to the outer tether (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>),
characterized in that upon completion of the expansion and deployment of the cushion (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), the length of the inner tether (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is set to be shorter than the outer tether (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) such that the rear end (<NUM>) of the inner tether (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is positioned closer to the front of the vehicle than the rear end (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) of the outer tether, such that the application of tension to the inner tether (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is completed prior to applying tension to the outer tether (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>).