Apparatus and Methods for Passive Restraint

• US 20080164681A1
• Filed: 01/08/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Faurecia Interior Systems
• Original Assignee: Faurecia Interior Systems
• Inventors: Nuthalapati, Rao N.
• Application Number:
  US11/620,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20080164681A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/734
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0055 Pelvis
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0407 using gas or liquid as energy absorbing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21525 the lid being fixed on the bag, or forming part of the bag wall, or the bag itself being used as wall liner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0428 associated with the side doors or panels, e.g. displaced towards the occupants in case of a side collision

Abstract

A passive restraint system for a vehicle is disclosed that may include a bolster having a first surface fixed with respect to a structural component of the vehicle and a second surface forming a portion of interior trim of the vehicle; and an inflator for expanding the bolster and moving the inner surface of the bolster toward a passenger compartment of the vehicle, upon activation of the passive restraint system.

Claims

1. A passive restraint system for a vehicle, comprising:

a bolster having a first surface fixed with respect to a structural component of the vehicle and a second surface forming a portion of interior trim of the vehicle; and

an inflator for expanding the bolster and moving an inner surface of the bolster toward a passenger compartment of the vehicle, upon activation of the passive restraint system.

2. The passive restraint system of claim 1 wherein the passive restraint system is reusable after the activation.

3. The passive restraint system of claim 1 wherein the bolster includes plastic.

4. The passive restraint system of claim 1 wherein the bolster includes polypropylene.

5. The passive restraint system of claim 1 wherein material of the bolster has a thickness of about 2 to 3 millimeters.

6. The passive restraint system of claim 1 wherein the inflator is operable to expand the bolster employing a pressure less than about 100 Kilopascals (Kpa).

7. The passive restraint system of claim 1 wherein the inflator is operable to expand the bolster employing a pressure between about 80 Kpa and about 90 Kpa.

8. The passive restraint system of claim 1 wherein the inflator comprises a pyrotechnic. of an event triggering the activation of the passive restraint system.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising setting an operating pressure of the inflator to adjust a period by which the expanding step leads or lags an activation of at least one other passive restraint system.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising setting an operating pressure of the inflator to less than about 100 Kpa.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising setting an operating pressure of the inflator to between about 80 and 90 Kpa.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising re-setting the bolster after the expansion such that the passive restraint may be available for a subsequent activation.