Safety bag inflation apparatus with extendible guard member against contact of bag with heated gas generator

• US 4,068,862 A
• Filed: 10/10/1975
• Issued: 01/17/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kato, Masayoshi, Nagaoka, Tadahiko, Murakami, Takuzi, Ishi, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/621,603
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728-743, 102/39, 9/316
• US Class Current: 280/740
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide 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

Abstract

A gas generator including a combustible composition is covered with a guard member, which is adapted in shape to the gas generator and has slits, notches or folds aranged such that the member is locally extended outwards upon actuation of the gas generator to prevent contact of the bag with the heated gas generator.

Claims

1. A safety apparatus comprising:

a gas generator including a housing with a plurality of gas outlets formed in a wall thereof, a combustible gas-generating composition disposed in said housing, and a heat-absorbing material disposed in said housing between said gas generating composition and said outlets;

an inflatable bag folded and arranged such that said housing extends into said bag, the mouth of said bag being in a fixed position with respect to said housing, so that said bag is inflated when a gas is discharged from said outlets; and

a guard member fixedly arranged between said housing and said bag, said guard member having a hollow shape generally similar to and slightly larger than the exterior of said housing, a plurality of slits formed in a wall of said guard member overlying said outlets, said slits being separated by portions of said guard member which expanded outwardly, enlarging said slits, when gases are discharged from said outlets.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said walls are generally cylindrical.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a portion of the space between said housing and said guard member is filled with a heat-insulating material, said outlets opening into the remaining portion of said space.

4. Safety apparatus comprising:

a gas generator including a housing with a plurality of gas outlets formed in a wall thereof, a combustible gas generating composition disposed in said housing, and a heat-absorbing material disposed in said housing between said gas-generating composition and said outlet;

an inflatable bag folded and arranged such that said housing extends into said bag, the mouth of said bag being in a fixed position with respect to said housing, so that said bag is inflated when a gas is discharged from said outlets; and

a guard member fixedly arranged between said housing and said bag, said guard member having a hollow shape generally similar to and slightly larger than the exterior of said housing, a plurality of notches formed in a wall of said guard member overlying said outlets, said notches being separated by portions of said guard member which expand outwardly, ripping said guard member along said notches, when gases are discharged from said outlets.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said walls are generally cylindrical.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein a portion of the space between said housing and said guard member is filled with a heat insulating material, said outlets opening into the remaining portion of said space.