Dual depth airbag

• US 20020185845A1
• Filed: 06/11/2001
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Thomas, Scott David, Viano, David Charles
• Granted Patent: US 6,616,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/729
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26094 characterised by fluid flow controlling valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/276 with means to vent the inflation fluid source, e.g. in case of overpressure B60R21/30 takes precedence; venting means on inflatable member walls B60R21/239

Abstract

An air restraint system has an airbag which is deployable between an instrument panel and an occupant seat within an automotive vehicle. The airbag includes first and second air chambers which are separated to restrict flow therebetween by a single panel member. The first and second chambers of the airbag are selectively pressurizable with a gaseous fluid which is distributed from an inflator through a plurality of passages, and the flow therein is controlled by a valve member. The valve member is operable to distribute the pressurized fluid to one chamber, both of the chambers of the airbag or to the atmosphere.

Claims

1. An air bag restraint system comprising:

an inflator source for supplying a flow of pressurized gaseous fluid;

passage means operatively connected with said inflator source for distributing said flow of pressurized gaseous fluid;

an air restraint having first and second expansible air chambers, each of said first and second expansible air chambers being separately operatively connected with said passage means;

a panel member integral with and separating said first and second expansible air chambers, said panel member restricting gaseous flow between said chambers; and

a control mechanism for selectively distributing said flow of pressurized gaseous fluid to one or both of said first and second expansible air chambers.

2. The air bag restraint system defined in claim 1 further comprising:

said passage means having first and second passages connected between said control mechanism and said first and second air chambers, respectively; and

said control mechanism comprising a valve assembly having means for controlling the distribution of said flow of pressurized gaseous fluid to said first and second passages individually or in concert.

3. The airbag restraint system defined in claim 1 further comprising:

said passage means comprising a single passage connected with said inflator source; and

said control mechanism including a valve member disposed between said passage and said first and second air chambers for selectively distributing the flow of pressurized gaseous fluid in said passage between said first and second air chambers.

4. The airbag restraint system defined in claim 1 further comprising:

said passage means comprising a single passage connected with said inflator source; and

said control mechanism including a valve means disposed in said passage for selectively distributing the flow of pressurized gaseous fluid in said passage between one of said first and second air chambers and atmosphere.

5. The airbag restraint system defined in claim 1 further comprising:

said control mechanism including a valve member disposed between said inflator source and said first and second air chambers for selectively distributing the flow of pressurized gaseous fluid in said passage between one of said first and second air chambers and atmosphere or to both of said air chambers.

6. An air bag restraint system comprising:

an inflator source for supplying a flow of pressurized gaseous fluid;

passage means operatively connected with said inflator source for distributing said flow of pressurized gaseous fluid;

an air restraint having first and second expansible air chambers, each of said first and second expansible air chambers being separately operatively connected with said passage means; and

a control mechanism for selectively distributing said flow of pressurized gaseous fluid simultaneously to both of said first and second expansible air chambers or simultaneously to one of said chambers and atmosphere.

7. An air bag restraint system comprising:

an inflator source for supplying a flow of pressurized gaseous fluid;

passage means operatively connected with said inflator source for distributing said flow of pressurized gaseous fluid;

an air restraint having at least one expansible air chamber operatively connected with said passage means; and

a control mechanism for selectively distributing said flow of pressurized gaseous fluid from said inflator source to said expansible air chamber or simultaneously to said expansible air chamber and atmosphere.

8. The air bag restraint system defined in claim 7 further wherein:

said control mechanism includes a selectively actuatable valve means for selectively controlling the distribution of said flow of pressurized gaseous fluid partially to atmosphere upstream of said at least one expansible air chamber.