VEHICLE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An inflatable gas bag assembly, disposed in a vehicle having a front and rear seat assembly, comprising:
- a manifold extending transversely across the roof of said vehicle and disposed in the roof of said vehicle above and behind the front seat assembly;
an inflatable gas bag in a non-inflated condition stored in a coil-like configuration about said manifold and in communication with said manifold;
a gas generator means connected to the roof rail of said vehicle in communication with said manifold, said gas generator means comprising two gas generators connected, approximately normally, to said manifold at each end of said manifold to generate gas to inflate said gas bag upon collision of said vehicle, said gas generators each taken from a class consisting of (1) a combustible material ignited upon collision of said vehicle to produce a volume of generated gas sufficient to inflate said gas bag and (2) a hybrid gas generator employing stored, pressurized gas and gas generated by the combustion of a combustible material ignited upon collision of said vehicle to inflate said inflatable gas bag.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle safety assembly for passengers seated in the rear seat assembly of a vehicle passenger compartment. The assembly includes an inflatable bag which is stored in a non-inflated condition above and behind the front seat of the vehicle for limiting forward movement of the rear seat assembly passengers. The assembly includes gas generating means disposed along the roof rail of the vehicle in communication with manifold means disposed across the roof of the vehicle above the rear seat assembly. In turn, the manifold means is in communication with the inflatable bag which is disposed about the manifold in a coil-like fashion. Upon impact or collision of the vehicle the gas generating means is triggered with the resultant inflation of the inflatable gas bag.
39 Citations
2 Claims
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1. An inflatable gas bag assembly, disposed in a vehicle having a front and rear seat assembly, comprising:
- a manifold extending transversely across the roof of said vehicle and disposed in the roof of said vehicle above and behind the front seat assembly;
an inflatable gas bag in a non-inflated condition stored in a coil-like configuration about said manifold and in communication with said manifold;
a gas generator means connected to the roof rail of said vehicle in communication with said manifold, said gas generator means comprising two gas generators connected, approximately normally, to said manifold at each end of said manifold to generate gas to inflate said gas bag upon collision of said vehicle, said gas generators each taken from a class consisting of (1) a combustible material ignited upon collision of said vehicle to produce a volume of generated gas sufficient to inflate said gas bag and (2) a hybrid gas generator employing stored, pressurized gas and gas generated by the combustion of a combustible material ignited upon collision of said vehicle to inflate said inflatable gas bag.
- a manifold extending transversely across the roof of said vehicle and disposed in the roof of said vehicle above and behind the front seat assembly;
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2. An assembly, in accordance with claim 1, wherein said manifold comprises a diffuser having a rectangular cross-section.
Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeRobert L. Stephenson
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Original AssigneeRobert L. Stephenson
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InventorsStephenson, Robert L.
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Primary Examiner(s)Friaglia, Leo
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Assistant Examiner(s)Silverstrim, John P.
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Application NumberUS05/132,856Time in Patent Office767 DaysField of Search280/15AB,15B 23/281US Class Current280/730.1CPC Class CodesB60R 2021/0004 Frontal collisionB60R 2021/2617 Curtain bag nozzlesB60R 21/214 in roof panelsB60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploy...
