Air bag module diffuser

• US 20040222621A1
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Thomas, David E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,871,872 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/740
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2171 specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid

Abstract

An air bag module comprises an air bag having an interior cavity. The air bag has an air bag opening in communication with the interior cavity. The air bag module has an air bag inflator with an outlet for inflating the air bag. At least one vane extends from the air bag opening into the interior cavity of the air bag.

Claims

1. An air bag module, comprising:

an air bag having an interior cavity;

at least one air bag opening in communication with said interior cavity;

an air bag inflator having an outlet for inflating said air bag; and

at least one vane extending from about said air bag opening into said interior cavity.

2. The air bag module of claim 1 wherein said outlet is disposed to direct an inflation gas along a first direction and said at least one vane is disposed to direct the inflation gas along a second direction transverse to said first direction.

3. The air bag module of claim 1 wherein said at least one vane is adjacent to said at least one air bag opening.

4. The air bag module of claim 1 wherein said at least one vane has a vane dimension smaller than an opening dimension of said at least one air bag opening.

5. The air bag module of claim 4 wherein said vane dimension comprises a vane width and said opening dimension comprises an opening width, said vane width smaller than said opening width.

6. The air bag module of claim 1 wherein said at least one vane comprise a plurality of vanes and said at least one air bag opening comprises a plurality of air bag openings, each of said plurality of vanes adjacent to each of said plurality of air bag openings.

7. The air bag module of claim 6 including a support holding said plurality of vanes and defining said plurality of air bag openings.

8. The air bag module of claim 7 wherein said support is attached to said air bag.

9. The air bag module of claim 7 wherein said support comprises a planar member.

10. The air bag module of claim 7 including at least pressure relief hole on said support spaced between said outlet and said interior cavity, said at least pressure relief hole in communication with said interior cavity.

11. An air bag module, comprising:

an air bag having an interior cavity;

at least one air bag opening in communication with said interior cavity

an air bag inflator having an outlet for inflating said air bag, said outlet disposed to direct an inflation gas along a first direction; and

at least one vane extending into said interior cavity and adjacent to said at least one air bag opening, said at least one vane disposed to direct the inflation gas along a second direction transverse to said first direction.

12. The air bag module of claim 11 wherein said at least one vane has a vane dimension and said at least one air bag has an opening dimension, said vane dimension smaller than said opening dimension.

13. The air bag module of claim 12 wherein said vane dimension comprises a vane width and said opening dimension comprises an opening width, said vane width smaller than said opening width.

14. The air bag module of claim 11 wherein said at least one vane comprises a plurality of vanes and said at least one air bag opening comprises a plurality of air bag openings, each of said plurality of vanes adjacent to each of said plurality of air bag openings.

15. The air bag module of claim 14 including a support holding said plurality of vanes and defining said plurality of air bag openings.

16. The air bag module of claim 15 wherein said support is attached to said air bag.

17. The air bag module of claim 15 wherein said support comprises a planar member.

18. The air bag module of claim 15 including at least pressure relief hole on said support spaced between said outlet and said interior cavity, said at least pressure relief hole in communication with said support.

19. A method of manufacturing an air bag, comprising the steps of:

placing a vane adjacent to an air bag opening on a support;

extending the vane into an interior cavity of an air bag; and

attaching the air bag around the support.

20. The method of manufacturing the air bag of claim 19 wherein the air bag opening has an opening dimension and the vane has a vane dimension wherein the vane dimension is smaller than the opening dimension.