Air bag system for automotive passenger seat

Abstract

An air bag system for protecting a passenger seated on the front passenger seat of a vehicle. In an initial stage, the air bag is inflated mildly. In the subsequent stage, the bag is inflated also mildly. The directivity of produced gas can be reduced. The air bag can be inflated mildly while maintaining a large area. The air bag system comprises an inflator, the aforementioned air bag being folded, and a diffuser mounted about the inflator. The air bag is placed in a side-by-side relation to the inflator and located behind the inflator. The diffuser is provided with numerous holes for supplying the gas. The diffuser acts to regulate flow of the gas from the inflator.

1 . An air bag system for use in a vehicle, comprising: 
 an air bag case having an opening on its top side;    an inflator disposed inside said air bag case and having an outer surface;    a folded air bag arranged in a side-by-side relation to said inflator and located behind said inflator inside said air bag case;    a diffuser mounted between said inflator and said opening in said air bag case and provided with a plurality of gas supply holes, said diffuser acting to regulate flow of a gas from said inflator; and    a space created between the outer surface of said inflator and said diffuser at least when the gas is produced from said inflator.