Gas column type air bag system

• US 4,076,277 A
• Filed: 12/03/1975
• Issued: 02/28/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arakawa Autobody Company Limited, Nippon Soken, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Arakawa Autobody Company Limited, Nippon Soken, Inc.
• Inventors: Takei, Toshihiro, Kuwakado, Satosi, Kasagi, Takao
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/637,184
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 280/738, 280/729, 280/743
• US Class Current: 280/738
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23115 with inflatable support compartments creating an internal suction volume
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration

Abstract

A gas column type air bag system of the type in which an air bag includes a main gas column with a relatively large volume when inflated and a plurality of auxiliary gas columns with a relatively small volume when inflated, branched from the main column and extended toward a passenger, thereby rapidly expanding the air bag to inflate in case of a collision. The ratios both in volume and length among the air bag and the main and auxiliary gas columns are so selected that the air bag may be almost instantaneously expanded to the full by the inflation of the main and auxiliary columns and may be securely maintained in the desired stable inflated shape. The inflated main column serves as a knee restraining pad. The high pressure gas requirement for inflating the air bag may be considerably reduced as compared with the conventional systems.

Claims

1. A gas column air bag system for restraining an occupant in a vehicle having a compartment, upon collision of the vehicle compartment, comprising:

a gas source for supplying a high pressure gas in case of said collision;

inflatable bag means adapted for being mounted in said compartment said bag means having a bag wall;

means defining a first gas column provided inside said inflatable bag means for expansion by the high pressure gas from said gas source and adapted to be mounted in said compartment said first gas column being expansible to a relatively large volume and effective to restrain when expanded, the knees of the occupant;

means defining a second gas column of relatively large diameter extending from a substantially axially central portion of said first gas column and having an outer end, said second gas column being expansible within said inflatable bag means toward the occupant concurrently with said first gas column; and

four third gas columns extending from the outer end of said second gas column in four diverging directions and having diameters smaller than the diameter of said second gas column, each said third gas column having an outer end jointed in each corner portion of the bag wall and being expansible concurrently with said first and second gas columns; and

means for drawing air in said compartment of the vehicle into the interior of said bag means when said bag is expanded by said columns, thereby enabling said bag means to restrain the torso of the occupant.

2. A gas column type air bag system as defined in claim 1, wherein said second gas column has a conical outer end, and from this conical outer end are branched said third gas columns.

3. A gas column air bag system for restraining an occupant in a vehicle having an interior compartment, upon a collision of the vehicle compartment comprising:

a gas source for supplying a high pressure gas in case of said collision;

inflatable bag means adapted for being mounted in said compartment said bag means having a bag wall;

a knee gas column provided inside said inflatable bag means for expansion by the high pressure gas from said gas source and adapted to be mounted in said compartment said knee gas column being expansible to a relatively large volume and effective to restrain, when expanded, the knees of the occupant; and

a main torso gas column branched from a substantially axially central portion of said knee gas column and having a predetermined diameter and a conical outer end, said main gas column being expansible within said inflatable bag means toward the occupant concurrently with said knee gas column;

a plurality of auxiliary torso gas columns extending divergently outwardly from the conical outer end of said main gas column for concurrent expansion therewith, each auxiliary gas column having a diameter of 1/1.5 to 1/2.5 of the diameter of said main gas column and an outer end connected to each corner portion of said bag wall of said inflatable bag means; and

means for drawing air in said compartment into the interior of said bag means that when said bag means is expanded by said columns, thereby enabling said inflatable bag means to restrain the torso of the occupant.