INFLATABLE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CUSHION

• US 3,727,942 A
• Filed: 05/03/1971
• Issued: 04/17/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gary L. Arntson, Rom Rasmussen
• Original Assignee: Gary L. Arntson, Rom Rasmussen
• Inventors: Arntson, Gary L., Rasmussen, Rom
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/139,638
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB,15B,87R,87A 5/348,349 180/78 267/117,118,142 74/552
• US Class Current: 280/731
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• 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

Abstract

A vehicle body includes a steering column mounting a conventional steering wheel having a hub portion and a rim portion joined to the hub portion by spokes. A conventional gas generating device is mounted on the hub portion. An inflatable cushion includes a generally frusto-conically shaped inner wall mounted on the hub around the gas generator and merging into a generally arcuate cross section side wall which merges into the outer wall of the cushion. The outer wall is intended to be engaged by the driver. A tubular porous member extends from the inner wall around the gas generator to the outer wall to provide for diffusion of the generated gas and to also limit the movement of the outer wall with respect to the inner wall to provide in the former a depression of generally shallow concave cross section.

Claims

1. An inflatable occupant restraint cushion comprising in combination, an inner wall, an outer annular wall joined to the inner wall to define a pressure fluid receiving cavity therewith and being movable relative to the inner wall upon receipt of pressure fluid within the cavity, inflatable means within the cavity inter-connecting the inner wall and the central portion of the outer wall to limit the movement of the central portion of the outer wall relative to the peripheral portion bounding the central portion and provide the outer wall with a central depression of generally outwardly opening concave cross section, and means communicating the cavity and the inflatable means to each other for inflation of both from a common source of pressure fluid.

2. An inflatable occupant restraint cushion comprises in combination, an inner wall, an outer annular wall joined to the inner wall to define a pressure fluid receiving cavity therewith and being movable relative to the inner wall upon receipt of pressure fluid within the cavity, an inner inflatable member coaxially related to the inner wall and inter-connecting the inner wall and the central portion of the outer wall to limit the movement of the central portion of the outer wall relative to the peripheral portion thereof and provide the outer wall with a central depression of generally outwardly opening concave cross section, means communicating the inner inflatable member with a source of pressure fluid, and means communicating the inner member with the cavity for inflation of the cushion from the inner member.

3. In combination with the vehicle body including a source of pressure fluid, a steering column mounting a steering wheel having a hub and a rim located in spaced relationship thereto, an inflatable occupant restraint cushion including an inner wall of generally frusto-conical shape projecting from the hub outwardly of the rim, means mounting the inner wall adjacent the inner end thereof to the hub of the steering wheel, an outer wall closing the outer end of the inner wall and cooperating therewith to define a pressure fluid receiving cavity, an inner inflatable member enclosed within the inner and outer walls and inter-connecting the inner eNd of the inner wall and the central portion of the outer wall to limit movement of the central portion of the outer wall relative to the peripheral portion thereof and provide the outer wall with a central depression of generally outwardly opening concave cross section, means communicating the source of pressure fluid with the inner inflatable member adjacent the inner end of the inner wall, and means communicating the inner inflatable member with the cavity to inflate the cushion and the inner member from a common source.

4. The combination recited in claim 3 wherein the inner inflatable member is of generally tubular shape.