Mazda Motor Corporation

Haruhiro Inada

Hisao Muramoto

Masafumi Sakakida

Yasunori Iwamoto

Isao Hirashima

Shigefumi Kohno

Toshiyuki Manabe

Yoshio Oda

Kazuhiro Ushijima

Masahiro Matsunaga

Toshiaki Kuroda

A vehicle air bag apparatus which includes an air bag module having an air bag, an inflator for filling the air bag with gas and an ignitor for driving the inflator. The vehicle air bag apparatus is supported inside of an opening formed in an instrument panel of a vehicle. The vehicle air bag apparatus also includes an air bag lid for closing the opening during non-operating status of the vehicle air bag apparatus, a hinge member for supporting the air bag lid openably and closeably in correspondence to the opening in the instrument panel, and a projection member formed integrally with the rear surface of the air bag lid. The projection member extends toward, and is fixed to, the air bag module. The projection member holds the air bag lid so as to close the opening and reinforces the air bag lid from the rear surface. The projection member includes portions of lower ridigity in which rigidity of a part furthest from the hinge member is the lowest. Upon expansion of the air bag, the portions of lower rigidity break so that the air bag lid no longer acts to close the opening in the instrument panel.

Vehicle air bag apparatus

An air bag device for an automotive vehicle which comprises a reaction can disposed in a dashboard of the vehicle and a ring frame attached inside a portion of the reaction can. The air bag device also includes an air bag having a distal portion, a fixed portion disposed between the reaction can and the ring frame and a protruding portion which extends outside of the reaction can. The protruding portion has a stiffness greater than he distal portion of the air bag, whereby the distal portion of the air bag is substantially prevented from being disposed between the reaction can and the ring frame. A method for attaching the air bag to the reaction can is also disclosed.

Air bag device for an automotive vehicle

An air bag assembly may have curved air bag lids that are reliably opened and that are more stiffly supported. A member which connects the lids to a casing is formed of a plastically deformable member having a bent portion. This member supports the lids on the casing with considerable stiffness. When the air bag inflates, the bent portion is plastically deformed to extend outwardly of the instrument panel. As the lids open, the member does not restrict movement to rotate about a center point.

Air bag installation

An automobile air bag device has an air bag disposed inside an instrument panel structure, having an opening through which the air bag, while inflating, projects out of the instrument panel structure when the automotive vehicle is subjected to a collision. The opening is closed, thereby covering the air bag, by a two-part air bag lid, mounted on the vehicle, which includes upper and lower lids. A connecting member, formed with a breakable line, is attached to a back of the two-part air bag lid so as to join the upper and lower lids into a single two-part lid. The connecting member is broken and separated, by inflation of the air bag, into two parts, so as to allow the upper and lower lids to open upwards and downwards, respectively. The air bag is thereby allowed to unfold and project out of the instrument panel structure.

Air bag device for automobile

An air bag system includes an instrument panel provided with an opening in the vicinity of a passenger's seat. An air bag unit is disposed in the opening and provided with an air bag and a casing for receiving the air bag, and a lid device is disposed at a rear end of the casing for covering the opening. At least a pair of belt members, spaced transversely and in a mirror image relationship with regard to a vertical center line for connecting the lid device with the instrument panel, are provided. One end of the belt member is mounted on the lid device at a position offset from a transverse center line of the lid device. When the air bag inflated, the lid device is swung about a transverse axis so as to be opened smoothly.

Air bag system for vehicle

An apparatus and method for installing an air bag module for an air bag system equipped in an automotive vehicle for preventing injuries to passengers in a passenger compartment of the automotive vehicle. The system includes an air bag module located to face a passenger in the passenger compartment, a controller mounted to the body of the automotive vehicle for controlling the air bag module and an electrical harness wire for transmitting signals for controlling the module. This harness wire is connected at one end to the air bag module and at the other end to the controller. A flexible temporary holding band for connecting the air bag module is detachably mounted on a hook provided in the passenger compartment. The length of the temporary holding band is determined to be short enough so that the harness wire is still loose even when the temporary holding band is put under strain.

Growing community of inventors

Hiroshima, Japan

Haruhiro Inada