CRASH PROTECTION BAG AND INFLATION EQUIPMENT AND COMPONENTS THEREOF

• US 3,840,246 A
• Filed: 03/30/1970
• Issued: 10/08/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald R. Poole, Duane A. Williams, Foy Mccullough Jr, Lincoln B. Katter
• Original Assignee: Donald R. Poole, Duane A. Williams, Foy Mccullough Jr, Lincoln B. Katter
• Inventors: Williams, Duane A., Katter, Lincoln B., Poole, Donald R., McCullough, Foy Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Application Number:
  US05/023,735
• Time in Patent Office: 1,653 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB 102/39 89/1R 52/2 137/525.3 244/31 116/124
• US Class Current: 280/738
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23115 with inflatable support compartments creating an internal suction volume
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23 Inflatable members B60R21/18 takes precedence; connection to inflation fluid source retainers B60R21/217
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2646 the reacting substances being supported by the inflatable member walls, or by a flexible support within it
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/30 with means to draw ambient air into the flow line and mix such air with the inflation fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/04 for producing gas under pressure generators of inflation fluid especially adapted for vehicle air bags B60R21/26
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7885 Multiple slit

Abstract

An inflatable bag is located in a vehicle forwardly of an occupant. Solid propellant thrusters or thrusters powered by a stored or generated fluid are used for deploying the bag. Ambient air may be admitted into the bag during inflation, through either openings in the bag wall or openings in a vehicle wall to which the bag is secured. In either case the openings are provided with check valves for preventing or at least decreasing outward flow of the inflation fluid from the bag.

Claims

1. A fabric wall and a thruster connected to said wall, said thruster having an outlet opening directed away from said wall, and a source of motive fluid for discharging from said thruster through said outlet opening, to produce a reaction force for positively moving said wall, said fabric wall including openings therein through which ambient air may pass during movement of the wall, with at least some of the openings being closely adjacent the thruster so that the ambient air flowing therethrough is influenced by the low pressure created by the thruster gas stream.

2. In combination, a support member, an object to be moved away from said support member means interconnecting said member and said object but permitting a predetermined amount of movement, and a thruster connected to said object for cAusing its movement, said thruster having an outlet opening directed away from said object, and said thruster being initially supported by the support member, and a source of motive fluid for discharging from said thruster through said outlet opening, to produce a reaction force for moving said object away from the support member, said thruster including a chamber containing a body of solid propellant, an electrical ignition element having two electrical contacts disposed towards said support member and a propellant igniting portion in igniting proximity with the solid propellant, and wherein said support member includes two electrical terminals which are in contact with the electrical contacts of the thruster when the thruster is on the support, and from which the ignition element receives electrical energy for its operation.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said support member includes spring retainers for initially, but releasably, connecting the thruster to the support member.

4. An inflatable bag member having a fabric wall, and a plurality of thrusters connected to said wall, said thrusters each having an outlet opening directed to discharge into said bag, and a source of motive fluid for discharging from each said thruster through its outlet opening, to produce a reaction force for moving the bag wall from a relaxed condition towards a distended condition;

and support wall means comprising a plurality of spaced apart support members for the thrusters defining cavities between them, whereby the bag wall may be folded and stored in said cavities when the thrusters are on the supports.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the bag is folded into radial folds, said folds are in said cavities, and said thrusters are on the supports.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the bag wall includes openings spaced from the thrusters for admitting ambient air during thruster operation and bag wall movement.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said bag wall includes check valves for said openings, adapted to open inwardly of the bag and close against pressure within the bag.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said check valves comprise flaps in said wall which are free to swing inwardly from the bag wall, and a pervious member connected to said wall and overlying the flaps on the outer side of the bag, for substantially restraining the flaps against outward swinging movement.

9. An inflatable bag member having a fabric wall connected to a support, means for moving the bag wall from a relaxed condition adjacent said support towards a distended condition, said bag wall including openings therein for admitting ambient air by ram effect during bag wall movement, said bag wall including check valves for said openings, adapted to open inwardly of the bag and close against pressure within the bag, said check valves comprising flaps in said wall which are free to swing inwardly from the bag wall, a pervious member connected to said wall and overlying the flaps on the outer side of the bag, for substantially restraining the flaps against outward swinging movement.

10. In a bag deployment system, a thruster support member, and a thruster connected to said bag releasably mounted on said support member, said thruster including a chamber containing a body of solid propellant, an electrical ignition element having two electrical contacts disposed towards said support member and a propellant igniting portion in series between said contacts, and in igniting proximity with the solid propellant, said support member including two electrical terminals which are in contact with the electrical contacts of the thruster when the thruster is on the support, and from which the ignition element receives electrical energy for its operation.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said support member includes spring retainers for initially, but releasably, connecting the thruster to the support member.

12. A vehicle safety device for Protecting an occupant of a vehicle during a collision comprising an inflatable bag having a collapsed inoperative condition and a distended operative condition in which it is disposed for receiving the impact of the occupant thereagainst during the collision, said inflatable bag having a fabric wall, bag deployment means for moving the bag wall from its inoperative towards its operative condition, said bag wall including openings therein for admitting ambient air during bag wall movement, and check valves for said openings, adapted to open inwardly of the bag and close against pressure within the bag, said check valves comprising flaps in said wall which are free to swing inwardly from the bag wall, and a pervious member connected to said wall and overlying the flaps on the outer side of the bag, for substantially retaining the flaps against outward swinging movement.