Occupant-to-occupant air bag system

• US 20040188988A1
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Walczak, Charles S.E., Wipasuramonton, Pongdet P., Salmo, Shakir M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,222,877 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0048 Head
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23161 specially adapted for protecting at least two passengers, e.g. preventing them from hitting each other
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/214 in roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

An air bag assembly (80) configured to deploy in a generally vertical direction from the roof of a vehicle, comprising: an air bag (100) having at least one inflatable chamber (110, 112) defined by a material so configured, the inflatable chamber including a top (top end) and an opposite bottom (bottom end); first mounting elements (192, 196) for mounting the air bag to a mounting surface such as the roof of the vehicle and for providing, proximate the top end of the inflatable chamber, a wide and stable base portion from which the air bag extends; an external tether enveloping the material forming the inflatable chamber and positioned on opposing sides of the inflatable chamber, the external tether connected to the air bag proximate the bottom end of the chamber and including respective tether ends connected to the first mounting elements.

Claims

1. An air bag (100) configured to deploy in a generally vertical direction, comprising:

at least one inflatable chamber (110;

112) defined by a flexible cushion;

first mounting means (180 and 196) proximate a fixed first end of the inflatable chamber for providing, in cooperation with other portions of the air bag, a stable base from which the air bag extends as the air bag inflates;

directing means operatively connected to the first mounting means and to a portion of the cushion remote from the first mounting means for reducing any tendency of the air bag to move laterally during and after inflation.

2. The air bag as defined in claim 1 wherein the first mounting means includes:

a mounting first panel of material secured to one side of the air bag and a second mounting panel of material secured to an opposite side of the air bag; and

a mounting member located at an apex of each of the first and second mounting panels for mounting the first and second mounting panels to an adjacent portion of a vehicle.

3. The air bag as defined in claim 2 wherein the mounting member is adapted to mount to a roof rail portion of the vehicle.

4. An air bag assembly (80) configured to deploy in a generally vertical direction, comprising:

an air bag (100) having at least one inflatable chamber (110, 112) defined by a material so configured, the chamber including a first end and an opposite second end;

first mounting means (180, 196) for mounting the air bag to a mounting surface and for providing, proximate the first end of the inflatable chamber, a wide and stable base from which the air bag extends as the air bag inflates;

external tether enveloping the material forming the inflatable chamber on opposing sides thereof, the external tether connected to the air bag proximate the second end of the chamber and including respective tether ends connected to the first mounting means.

5. The assembly as defined in claim 4 further including an internal tether (140) linking sides of the inflatable chamber in a zigzag configuration.

6. The assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein the internal tether (140) creates a plurality of generally horizontally extending partially enclosed chambers vertically stacked one on another.

7. The assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein each chamber is open at its respective sides.

8. The assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein the size of each partially enclosed volume decreases in placement from the first end to the second end of the inflatable chamber.

9. The assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein the internal tether has a common wall for each adjacent volume.

10. The assembly as defined by claim 5 wherein the first mounting means includes a first piece of material secured to a respective side of the material forming the inflatable chamber and one of a mounting bracket (196), fabric and strap for securing the air bag to the mounting surface.

11. The assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein the first piece of material includes a triangularly shaped panel secured at its base to a respective side of the inflatable cushion.

12. The assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein the tether ends are connected to one of the first piece of material and the mounting bracket.

13. The assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein the first mounting means and the external tether are configured such that when the inflatable chamber is inflating the external tether is placed in tension.

14. The assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein the inflatable chamber is arranged so that when inflated the inflatable chamber is in a plane that is also co-linear with a centerline of the vehicle and positioned between adjacent occupant seating positions.

15. The assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein the inflatable chamber is arranged so that when inflated the inflatable chamber is in a plane that is perpendicular to a centerline of the vehicle and located in front of one or more seating positions.

16. The assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein each side of the air bag is folded into a respective accordion fold, and wherein each accordion fold is spaced from the other.

17. The assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein the first mounting means comprises two spaced members wherein the spacing therebetween is in the range of 10 to 20 cm and wherein when the air bag is inflated the top of the air bag presses against an inner surface of the roof, between the two spaced members.

18. The assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein the air bag is configured to inflate generally along the centerline of the vehicle.

19. The assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein the air bag is configured to inflate generally perpendicular to the centerline of the vehicle.

20. The assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein the air bag is configured to inflate out of a door of a convertible vehicle.