Vehicle passenger safety assembly

• US 3,895,823 A
• Filed: 11/20/1973
• Issued: 07/22/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert L. Stephenson
• Original Assignee: Robert L. Stephenson
• Inventors: Stephenson, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schonberg, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/417,657
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB,15B,87R 74/492
• US Class Current: 280/731
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2035 using modules containing inflator, bag and cover attachable to the steering wheel as a complete sub-unit steering wheel covers with tear lines B60R21/21656; assembling of modules B60R21/217
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20834 Hand wheels

Abstract

A vehicle passenger safety assembly for restraining the driver of a vehicle in the event of a collision of said vehicle. The assembly, connected to the steering wheel of the vehicle, includes an inflatable gas bag which is stored in a folded, noninflated condition in communication with a gas generating means. The gas generating means comprises a combustible material ignited upon impact or collision of the vehicle to generate a large volume of gas. The generated gas flows into a manifold means, in communication with the inflatable bag. The bag is thereby inflated to restrain the driver against his seat.

Claims

1. A safety assembly, disposed in a vehicle, comprising:

a pyrotechnic gas generator means as sole source of inflating gas, said gas generator means being located centrally of the steering wheel of said vehicle and spaced upwardly from the hub thereof;

a manifold means connected to and in communication with said gas generator means;

an inflatable gas bag connected about and in communication with said manifold means; and

connecting means to connect said generator means, said manifold means and said inflatable gas bag together and solely to the spokes of the steering wheel of said vehicle.

2. An assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said manifold means comprises:

a diffuser disposed parallel to said gas generating means; and

a conduit normal to and in communication with said diffuser and said gas generating means.

3. A safety assembly disposed in a vehicle, comprising:

a pyrotechnic gas generator means as sole source of inflating gas;

a manifold means connected about and in communication with said gas generator means, said manifold means including a diffuser disposed above and parallel to said gas generator means and communicating therewith through a conduit;

an inflatable bag connected about and in communication with said manifold means; and

connecting means to connect said generator means, said manifold means and said inflatable gas bag together and solely to the spokes of the steering wheel of said vehicle, said connecting means comprising (1) a bag retainer disposed below said inflatable bag and above said gas generator means, the lower edge portion of said inflatable bag being entrapped between said bag retainer and said diffuser, said retainer being provided with a plurality of arms extending to each of the spokes of said steering wheel, (2) first fastener means to fasten together said manifold means and being adapted to extend through said diffuser, said inflatable gas bag, said retainer and said gas generator means and (3) second fastener means connecting each of said arms of said bag retainer to each of said spokes of said steering wheel.

4. A safety assembly disposed on the steering wheel of a vehicle comprising:

a pyrotechnic gas generator means as sole source of inflating gas, said gas generator means being located centrally of the steering wheel of said vehicle and spaced upwardly from the hub thereof;

a manifold means connected to and communicating with the outlet of said gas generator means, said manifold means including a diffuser disposed above and parallel to said gas generator means and communicating therewith through a conduit;

an inflatable gas bag disposed about and in communication with said diffuser; and

a gas bag retainer, provided with a plurality of arms, connected at one end to said diffuser and said gas generator means and at the other end, by each of its arms, solely to each of the spokes of said steering wheel, whereby said gas generator, diffuser and manifold means are connected together and solely to said steering wheel.

5. An assembly, in accordance with claim 4, wherein said pyrotechnic gas generator means comprises:

a combustible material disposed in a combustion compartment;

an ignition means disposed upstream of, and in communication with, said combustible material to ignite said combustible material; and

an outlet means disposed downstream of, and in communication with, said combustion chamber.

6. An assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein said outlet means includes pressure sensitive means responsive to the pressure in said combustion chamber whereby said product gas resulting from the combustion of said combustible material exits into said conduit, in communication with said diffuser, at a predetermined pressure level.

7. An assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein said diffuser comprises:

an outer housing provided with a plurality of holes;

an inner housing provided with a plurality of holes;

at least one spacer, separating said inner and outer housings and defining a hollow chamber; and

fastener means connecting said inner and outer housings together.