BAG-IN-BAG SAFETY RESTRAINT WITH DIRECTIONAL INFLATION
First Claim
1. An air bag system for deploying from within a structural element of a vehicle comprising:
- an inflator providing inflation gas in response to an activation signal;
a main bag in a folded condition configured for storage in an internal region behind a covering of the structural element, wherein the main bag has a distal end configured to rupture a tear seam in the covering; and
a shielding bag disposed over the inflator and having a projection body extending away from the inflator to a remote edge within the main bag, wherein the projection body is substantially continuous in a direction of the main bag except for at least one gas passage at the remote edge for coupling inflation gas from the inflator to the main bag, wherein the projection body extends tangentially with respect to the inflator, wherein the main bag has a folded portion disposed laterally against a first substantially planar surface of the projection body closest to the inflator, and wherein the main bag folded portion has a fold proximate to the gas passage so that inflation of the main bag begins with the unfolding of the fold in a manner that displaces the main bag toward the tear seam.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air bag system deploys from within a structural element of a vehicle. A main bag is configured for storage in a folded condition in an internal region behind a covering of the structural element, wherein the main bag has a distal end configured to rupture a tear seam in the covering. A shielding bag is disposed over an inflator and has a projection body extending away from the inflator to a remote edge within the main bag. The projection body is substantially continuous in the direction of the main bag except for at least one gas passage at the remote edge for coupling inflation gas from the inflator to the main bag. The main bag has a fold proximate to the gas passage so that inflation of the main bag begins with the unfolding of the fold in a manner that displaces the main bag toward the tear seam.
42 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An air bag system for deploying from within a structural element of a vehicle comprising:
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an inflator providing inflation gas in response to an activation signal; a main bag in a folded condition configured for storage in an internal region behind a covering of the structural element, wherein the main bag has a distal end configured to rupture a tear seam in the covering; and a shielding bag disposed over the inflator and having a projection body extending away from the inflator to a remote edge within the main bag, wherein the projection body is substantially continuous in a direction of the main bag except for at least one gas passage at the remote edge for coupling inflation gas from the inflator to the main bag, wherein the projection body extends tangentially with respect to the inflator, wherein the main bag has a folded portion disposed laterally against a first substantially planar surface of the projection body closest to the inflator, and wherein the main bag folded portion has a fold proximate to the gas passage so that inflation of the main bag begins with the unfolding of the fold in a manner that displaces the main bag toward the tear seam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A passenger vehicle comprising:
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a passenger seat comprising a frame, seat foam, and a covering, wherein the passenger seat has an internal cavity receiving an air bag system for deploying through a tear seam in the covering, wherein the air bag system comprises; an inflator providing inflation gas in response to an activation signal triggered by a crash event; a main bag in a folded condition and having a distal end configured to rupture the tear seam in the covering; and a shielding bag disposed over the inflator and having a projection body extending away from the inflator to a remote edge within the main bag, wherein the projection body is substantially continuous in a direction of the main bag except for at least one gas passage at the remote edge for coupling inflation gas from the inflator to the main bag, wherein the projection body extends tangentially with respect to the inflator, wherein the main bag has a folded portion disposed laterally against a first substantially planar surface of the projection body closest to the inflator, and wherein the folded portion has a fold proximate to the gas passage so that inflation of the main bag begins with the unfolding of the fold in a manner that displaces the main bag toward the tear seam. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An air bag within a vehicle seat, comprising:
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an inflator; a main bag inside the seat with a distal end for rupturing a seam in the seat; and a shielding bag over the inflator having a body projecting tangentially from the inflator to an edge with an opening delivering inflation gas to the main bag, the main bag having a fold proximate the opening that unfolds to displace the main bag toward the seam.
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Specification