High pressure air bag inflation system
First Claim
1. An inflatable air bag system comprising:
- an inflatable cushion element for inflated deployment over a surface to be covered;
a gas storage receptacle comprising a substantially gas impermeable sealed enclosure containing a volume of pressurized inflation gas disposed therein; and
an activatable gas release mechanism for rapidly discharging the inflation gas from the gas storage receptacle and into the inflatable cushion element, whereby the inflatable cushion element is deployed in covering relation over the surface to be covered.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inflatable air bag system having an inflatable curtain-like cushion element for inflated deployment away from a storage position along the roof rail portion of the vehicle frame to provide coverage over an expanded region of the vehicle interior. The cushion element is inflated by the rapid introduction of a substantially inert gas such as helium from an elongate gas storage receptacle extending at least partially along the roof rail portion of the vehicle frame. The gas storage receptacle serves as a profiling and stiffening support member for the cushion element in the storage position extending along the roof rail. The inflation gas may be discharged directly into an interior portion of the cushion element so as to promote rapid expansion and deployment of the cushion element over centralized regions of the surface to be covered.
4 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An inflatable air bag system comprising:
- an inflatable cushion element for inflated deployment over a surface to be covered;
a gas storage receptacle comprising a substantially gas impermeable sealed enclosure containing a volume of pressurized inflation gas disposed therein; and
an activatable gas release mechanism for rapidly discharging the inflation gas from the gas storage receptacle and into the inflatable cushion element, whereby the inflatable cushion element is deployed in covering relation over the surface to be covered. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
- an inflatable cushion element for inflated deployment over a surface to be covered;
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16. An inflatable air bag system comprising:
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an inflatable cushion element for inflated deployment over an interior surface of a vehicle passenger compartment from a storage position extending at least partially along the length of the vehicle passenger compartment adjacent the roof of the vehicle;
a gas storage receptacle comprising a substantially gas impermeable sealed enclosure containing a volume of pressurized inflation gas disposed therein, the gas storage receptacle being of substantially elongate configuration and extending at least partially along the length of the vehicle passenger compartment adjacent the roof of the vehicle; and
an activatable gas release mechanism for puncturing the sealed enclosure upon activation such that the pressurized inflation gas is released from the gas storage receptacle and into the inflatable cushion element without substantially elevating the temperature of the inflation gas, whereby the inflatable cushion element is deployed in covering relation over the interior surface to be covered.
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26. An inflatable air bag system comprising:
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an inflatable cushion element of substantially curtain-like construction for inflated deployment over an interior side surface of a vehicle passenger compartment from a storage position extending at least partially along the length of the vehicle passenger compartment adjacent the roof of the vehicle;
a gas storage receptacle comprising a substantially gas impermeable sealed enclosure of substantially solid wall elongate tubular construction containing a volume of pressurized helium gas disposed therein, the gas storage receptacle extending at least partially along the length of the vehicle passenger compartment in substantially parallel alignment with the storage position of the inflatable cushion element adjacent the roof of the vehicle; and
an activatable gas release mechanism for puncturing the sealed enclosure upon activation such that the pressurized inflation gas is released from the gas storage receptacle and into the inflatable cushion element at an interior location disposed along the length of the inflatable cushion element, whereby the inflatable cushion element is deployed in covering relation over the interior surface to be covered.
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Specification