Two stage inflation system
First Claim
1. In a vehicle having an occupant location and having structure spaced from said location, a crash restraint apparatus for protecting an occupant in said location from impact with said structure, said apparatus comprising:
- a. an inflatable having a first collapsed position, a second full inflated position so that is provides a protective cushion to an occupant positioned further from said structure in said occupant location, and a third intermediate position wherein the inflatable is inflated to an intermediate volume sufficient to protectively engage an occupant closer to said structure in said occupant location,b. an aspirating inflating apparatus comprising;
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Accused Products
Abstract
A crash restraint apparatus comprising a bag which is inflated to its protective position by an aspirating inflating device, with a two stage compressed gas source to supply aspirating gas to the inflating device. The two stage gas source comprises a high pressure container having a first chamber with a less restricted outlet opening to supply high flow rate aspirating gas during an initial inflation phase, and a second chamber having a more restricted outlet to supply lower flow rate aspirating gas during a later inflation phase. With the passenger in the normal position resting against the back of the car seat, the bag will inflate to its fully inflated position. In the event an occupant is at a forward position adjacent the bag, during the initial inflating phase the bag is inflated to an intermediate position where it inflates around the occupant but does not move him rearwardly to any appreciable extent. Thereafter, during the later inflating phase the flow of inflating gas is desirably no greater or less than the outflow of inflating gas through vent means for gas pressure in the bag, and at most only moderately greater than the outflow of gas from the bag, so that the passenger is not hurled rearwardly by too rapid inflation of the bag.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. In a vehicle having an occupant location and having structure spaced from said location, a crash restraint apparatus for protecting an occupant in said location from impact with said structure, said apparatus comprising:
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a. an inflatable having a first collapsed position, a second full inflated position so that is provides a protective cushion to an occupant positioned further from said structure in said occupant location, and a third intermediate position wherein the inflatable is inflated to an intermediate volume sufficient to protectively engage an occupant closer to said structure in said occupant location, b. an aspirating inflating apparatus comprising; - View Dependent Claims (3, 6, 8, 11, 13)
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2. means defining an aspirating passageway leading into said inflatable, andaspirating means arranged to direct aspirating gas into said passageway to inflate the inflatable,
c. vent means operatively associated with said inflatable to permit outflow of gas from said inflatable, d. gas supply means to supply an initial amount of aspirating gas to said aspirating means at a higher flow rate sufficient to quickly inflate the inflatable only to a volume at its intermediate position, and to supply a later amount of aspirating gas at a lower flow rate to said aspirating means, such that with said occupant in said position further from said structure so as to permit unobstructed inflation of the inflatable, the inflatable becomes inflated to its full inflated position, and with said occupant in said position closer to said structure so as to exert a back pressure on the inflatable, the lower flow rate of aspirating gas is such relative the vent means that the inflatable is at most inflated at a moderate rate.
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12. A fluid supply for use with an occupant restraint system of the type including a confinement having a collapsed inoperative condition and an expanded operative condition for restraining movement of an occupant of a vehicle during a collision and means for directing gas into the confinement, the fluid supply comprising:
- a pressure vessel including means defining an outlet passage for communicating with the gas directing means, a primary pressure chamber in fluid communication with the outlet passage, a secondary pressure chamber, and means defining an orifice passage in fluid communication with the primary chamber and the secondary chamber to enable fluid to flow from the secondary chamber to the outlet passage via the primary chamber during expansion of the confinement and having an effective cross-sectional area that is less than the effective cross-sectional area of the outlet passage;
means sealing the outlet passage; and
means operative in response to the collision of the vehicle to disable the sealing means.
- a pressure vessel including means defining an outlet passage for communicating with the gas directing means, a primary pressure chamber in fluid communication with the outlet passage, a secondary pressure chamber, and means defining an orifice passage in fluid communication with the primary chamber and the secondary chamber to enable fluid to flow from the secondary chamber to the outlet passage via the primary chamber during expansion of the confinement and having an effective cross-sectional area that is less than the effective cross-sectional area of the outlet passage;
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14. In an occupant carrying vehicle having an interior with an occupant carrying location and structure spaced from said location, a method of inflating a crash restraint having a unitary inflatable compartment for protecting an occupant in said location from impact with said structure, said method comprising:
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a. directing an initial higher flow of inflating gas into said inflatable compartment to inflate the inflatable compartment only to an intermediate volume sufficient to substantially inflate the inflatable to a position to protectively engage an occupant at said location in a position closer to said inflatable, b. then directing a later lower flow of inflating gas into said inflatable compartment and simultaneously venting said inflatable compartment such that the net volume of said inflatable compartment at most increases at a moderate rate, and c. the method being further characterized in that said inflating gas is directed into said inflatable compartment by directing an aspirating gas into said inflatable compartment so as to draw aspirated air into said inflatable compartment with said aspirating gas. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 21, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35)
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15. In an occupant carrying vehicle having an interior with an occupant carrying location and structure spaced from said location, a method of inflating a crash restraint inflatable having a unitary inflatable compartment for protecting an occupant in said location from impact with said structure, said method comprising:
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a. directing an initial higher flow of inflating gas into said inflatable compartment to inflate the inflatable compartment to an intermediate volume sufficient to substantially inflate the inflatable to a position to protectively engage an occupant at said location in a position closer to said inflatable, b. then directing a later lower flow of inflating gas into said inflatable compartment and simultaneously venting said inflatable compartment such that the net volume of said inflatable compartment at most increases at a moderate rate, and c. said method being further characterized in that the initial higher flow of inflating gas is accomplished by directing an aspirating gas at a relatively high flow rate into said inflatable compartment so as to draw aspirated air into said inflatable compartment, said later lower flow of inflating gas being accomplished by directing aspirating gas at a lower flow into the inflatable compartment so as to draw aspirated air into the inflatable compartment at a lower rate.
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19. In a vehicle having an occupant location and having structure spaced from said location, a crash restraint apparatus for protecting an occupant in said location from impact with said structure, where the occupant may be in a rearward position spaced from said structure or in an out-of-place position closer to said structure, said apparatus comprising:
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a. an inflatable having a unitary inflatable compartment which has; 1. a first collapsed position, 2. a second intermediate inflated position in which the inflatable is inflated partially to a volume sufficient to protectively engage the occupant in said forward position proximate said structure, and 3. a third fully inflated position in which the inflatable is inflated to a position to provide a protective cushion for the occupant in said rearward position further from said structure, b. an inflating device for said inflatable compartment comprising; - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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20. first means to deliver a higher rate of flow of inflating gas into said inflatable compartment of a volume sufficient only to partially inflate the inflatable compartment to its intermediate position, andsecond means to deliver a lower rate of flow of inflating gas into said inflatable compartment after said high flow of inflating gas, said lower rate of flow being no greater than that sufficient to increase the net volume of the inflatable compartment at a moderate rate.
- 28. said second passage means being substantially the only flow passage between said second and first chambers.
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29. In an occupant carrying vehicle having an interior with an occupant carrying location and structure spaced from said location, a method of inflating a crash restraint inflatable having a unitary inflatable compartment for protecting an occupant in said location from impact with said structure, where the occupant may be in a rearward position spaced from said structure or in an out-of-place position closer to said structure, and in which said inflatable has:
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a. a first collapsed position, b. a second intermediate inflated position in which the inflatable is partially inflated to a volume sufficient to protectively engage the occupant in a forward position closer to said structure, and c. a third fully inflated position in which the inflatable is inflated to a position to provide a protective cushion for the occupant in said rearward position further from said structure, said method comprising; a. directing an initial higher flow of inflating gas into said inflatable compartment to rapidly inflate the inflatable compartment to an intermediate volume sufficient to substantially inflate the inflatable to said intermediate position, and b. then directing a later lower flow of inflating gas into said inflatable compartment and simultaneously venting said inflatable compartment such that with a forwardly positioned occupant exerting a back pressure on said inflatable in said intermediate position, the net volume of said inflatable compartment at most increases at a moderate rate as said inflatable moves toward said third position.
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Specification