Head-protecting airbag and head-protecting airbag device

Abstract

A head-protecting airbag and a head-protecting airbag device that exhibit a gentle change in internal pressure of chambers and facilitate the adjustment of the internal pressure of a primary chamber. In the event of a side impact or rollover of a vehicle, a gas generator is activated to supply gas into a primary chamber, which is thus inflated. The airbag expands downward like a curtain and inflates between vehicle occupants and an in-vehicle lateral surface. If the cushion cells, upon receiving the head of an occupant, exhibit an internal pressure higher than a predetermined value, gas flows into a secondary chamber through the air-permeable panel.

1 . A head-protecting airbag comprising: 
 a primary chamber; and    a secondary chamber,    wherein the primary chamber is separated from the secondary chamber by an air-permeable panel, and    wherein the primary chamber and the secondary chamber are each defined by a first panel, a second panel, and the air-permeable panel.    
   
   
       2 . The head-protecting airbag according to  claim 1 , wherein the head-protecting airbag is configured to be inflatable over an in-vehicle lateral surface.  
   
   
       3 . The head-protecting airbag according to  claim 1 , wherein the primary chamber is configured to be inflated by gas discharged from a gas generator.  
   
   
       4 . The head-protecting airbag according to  claim 1 , wherein the secondary chamber is configured to be inflated by gas transferred from the primary chamber.  
   
   
       5 . The head-protecting airbag according to  claim 1 , wherein the secondary chamber is configured to be inflated by gas passing through the air-permeable panel.  
   
   
       6 . The head-protecting airbag according to  claim 1 , wherein the air-permeable panel is disposed between the first panel and the second panel.  
   
   
       7 . The head-protecting airbag according to  claim 1 , wherein the primary chamber includes a pair of cells formed by a connection between the air-permeable panel and the first panel and a connection between the air-permeable panel and the second panel.  
   
   
       8 . The head-protecting airbag according to  claim 1 , wherein the primary chamber is disposed above the secondary chamber upon inflation.  
   
   
       9 . The head-protecting airbag according to  claim 1 , wherein the first panel is configured to be adjacent to a vehicle body and the second panel is configured to be adjacent to a vehicle cabin.  
   
   
       10 . The head-protecting airbag according to  claim 1 , wherein the air-permeable panel is configured so that air flows through the surfaces of the air-permeable panel that face the primary and secondary chambers.  
   
   
       11 . A head-protecting airbag device comprising: 
 an airbag, wherein the airbag includes a primary chamber, a secondary chamber, and an air-permeable panel separating the primary chamber and the secondary chamber; and    a gas generating apparatus configured to generate gas to inflate the airbag,    wherein the primary chamber and the secondary chamber are each defined by a first panel and a second panel.    
   
   
       12 . The head protecting airbag according to  claim 11 , wherein the air-permeable panel is configured so that air flows through the surfaces of the air-permeable panel that face the primary and secondary chambers.  
   
   
       13 . An airbag for a vehicle comprising: 
 a cabin side panel;    a body side panel; and    an air permeable panel positioned between the cabin side panel and the body side panel to thereby form a primary chamber bounded by the body side panel, the cabin side panel, and the air permeable panel and a secondary chamber bounded by the body side panel, the cabin side panel, and the air permeable panel.    
   
   
       14 . The airbag for a vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein the primary chamber is positioned above the secondary chamber.  
   
   
       15 . The airbag for a vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein the air-permeable panel is configured so that air flows through the surfaces of the air-permeable panel that face the primary and secondary chambers.