Energy absorption arrangement in vehicle passenger restraint system

• US 3,900,210 A
• Filed: 11/10/1972
• Issued: 08/19/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John J. Sack, Thomas E. Lohr
• Original Assignee: John J. Sack, Thomas E. Lohr
• Inventors: Lohr, Thomas E., Sack, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Application Number:
  US05/305,383
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB 55/380 244/145
• US Class Current: 280/729
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23332 using independent bags, one within the other
• 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: F42D 5/055 Silencing means for blasting operations

Abstract

This invention relates to energy absorption in a passenger restraint system as a result of the use of an expansible barrier contained within the passenger restraint bag. More specifically, this invention relates to the introduction of an energy absorbing elastic bag or other barrier material within the air bag which is utilized to restrain forward motion of a passenger within a motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A restraint system comprising an outer bag adapted to be filled with an inflating gas, said outer bag being composed of nylon and being stretchable over its original inflated volume, an energy absorbing elastic knitted inner bag having apertures therein and located within said outer bag, means for passing said inflating gas through said apertures and into said outer bag to stretch said inner bag in the range of at least 50-100 percent of its volume without bursting said inner bag

2. Restraint system of claim 1, said inner bag being formed of nylon.

3. Method of lowering the sound level of the inflation of a restraint system having an outer bag adapted to be filled with an inflating gas, said outer bag being composed of nylon and being stretchable over its original inflated volume, and an energy absorbing elastic knitted inner bag having apertures therein, said inner bag being of smaller dimension and more elastic than said outer bag, comprising the steps of circulating at least a portion of said inflating gas against said inner bag within said outer bag to stretch said inner bag in the range of at least 50-100 percent of its volume without bursting said inner bag and thereby absorb energy of said gas and to cause said inner bag on filling to conform to the shape of said outer bag, and passing said inflating gas through said apertures during stretching of said inner bag.