Appeal No. 2005-2656
Application No. 09/805,586
Even while the lower chamber 51 is being deployed, the gas G1
continues to be blown from the discharge ports. Therefore, the
mainstream of the gas G1 hits the inner surface of the air bag 50 in the
vehicle front side of the lower chamber 28. The gas G1 is reflected by the
inner surface of the air bag 50 and directed to the vehicle rear side of the
lower chamber 51, while substantially completely inflating the lower
chamber 51.
Gas G2 deflected to the vehicle rear side of the lower chamber 51
hits the inner surface of the vehicle rear side of the air bag 50. Since the
lower chamber 51 is completely inflated, however, the gas G2 passes the
communication hole 54. The gas G2, immediately before passing the
communication hole 54, has a momentum to flow to the vehicle rear side
of the air bag 50. Therefore, the gas G2 is reflected by the inner surface
of the vehicle rear side of the air bag 50 while passing the communication
hole 54. After having passed the communication hole 54, gas G3 is
reflected by the inner surface of the vehicle rear side of the air bag 50.
Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 12(c), the gas G3 is then directed toward
the vehicle front side of the upper chamber 52.
As shown in FIG. 11(b), the gas G3 flowing towards the vehicle
front side of the upper chamber 52 is reflected by the inner surface of the
vehicle front side of the upper chamber 52, before gas G4 flows toward
the vehicle rear side of the upper chamber 52. The flow of gas G3, G4
causes the upper chamber 52 to be substantially completely inflated, as
shown in FIG. 12(d).
A part of the gas G4 passes the communication hole 56 via the tear
seam 57 and flows from the vehicle front side of the air bag 50 into the
upper rear chamber 53, inflating and deploying a part of the upper rear
chamber 53 toward the vehicle rear upper side. At this time, the upper
part of the upper chamber 52 is deployed above the seat belt X, and a part
of the upper rear chamber 53 turns above the seat belt X and deploys.
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 11(c) and FIG. 12(e), the upper
chamber 52 and a part of the upper rear chamber 53 are substantially
completely deployed. When the internal pressure of the chambers 52 and
53 reaches a specified pressure, the tear seam 57 starts tearing from the
side of the communication hole 56 due to the pressure. After the tear
seam is entirely torn, the remaining part of the upper rear chamber 53 is
deployed toward the vehicle rear side. The upper chamber 52 and the
upper rear chamber 53 are combined into one, and the upper rear
chamber 53 is substantially completely deployed. Since the remaining
part of the upper rear chamber 53 is deployed avoiding, or deployed
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