Inflatable restraint system

• US 4,332,398 A
• Filed: 07/11/1980
• Issued: 06/01/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Smith, George R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mar, Michael
• Application Number:
  US06/167,410
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730, 280/732, 280/736, 280/742, 280/740, 280/741
• US Class Current: 280/732
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards

Abstract

An inflatable restraint system having a gas flow-control device that houses an inflator-diffuser combination and that is formed with an elongated horizontally orientated nozzle combined with a pair of retarder members for providing a controlled deployment of the restraint cushion.

Claims

1. An inflatable restraint system for a motor vehicle comprising, in combination:

a support housing adapted to be fixedly secured to said motor vehicle;

a diffuser mounted in said support housing and having a plurality of slots formed therein;

an inflator positioned in said diffuser for providing a pressurized gas which is adapted to flow through said slots in said diffuser; and

opening formed in said support housing;

a pair of retarder members mounted in said support housing adjacent said opening;

a flow-control device for receiving said gas flowing through said slots in said diffuser and having a body portion terminating with an elongated nozzle which extends between said pair of retarder members and registers with said opening; and

a restraint cushion made of a flexible material enclosing said diffuser and said flow-control device, with a major portion of said restraint cushion being folded to one side of said pair of retarder members and with portions of said restraint cushion being pressed into engagement with said body portion of said flow-control device by said pair of retarder members so that initially the gas flow emanating from said diffuser during inflation is directed by said nozzle against a small portion of the total restraint cushion and thereby causes said major portion of said restraint cushion to be gradually deployed through said opening in said support housing.

2. An inflatable restraint system for a motor vehicle comprising, in combination:

a support housing adapted to be fixedly secured to said motor vehicle;

a diffuser mounted in said support housing and having a plurality of slots formed therein;

an inflator positioned in said diffuser for providing a pressurized gas which is adapted to flow through said slots in said diffuser;

an elongated, horizontally orientated opening formed in said support housing;

a pair of elongated, horizontally orientated retarder members mounted in said support housing adjacent said opening;

a flow-control device for receiving said gas flowing through said slots in said diffuser and having a body portion terminating with an elongated nozzle which extends between said pair of retarder members and registers with said opening; and

a restraint cushion made of a flexible material enclosing said diffuser and said flow-control device, with a major portion of said restraint cushion being folded to one side of said pair of retarder members and with portions of said restraint cushion being pressed into engagement with said body portion of said flow-control device by said pair of retarder members so that initially the gas flow emanating from said diffuser during inflation is directed by said nozzle against a small portion of the total restraint cushion and thereby causes said major portion of said restraint cushion to be gradually deployed through said opening in said support housing.

3. An inflatable restraint system for the instrument panel of a motor vehicle comprising, in combination:

a support housing adapted to be fixedly secured to said instrument panel;

a diffuser mounted in said support housing and having a plurality of slots formed therein;

an inflator positioned in said diffuser for providing a pressurized gas which is adapted to flow through said slots in said diffuser;

an elongated opening formed in said support housing;

a cover normally closing said opening and adapted to swing to an open position;

upper and lower elongated retarder members made of an elastomeric material and mounted in said support housing adjacent said opening;

a flow-control device for receiving the gas flowing through said slots in said diffuser and having a body portion terminating with an elongated nozzle which extends between said upper and lower retarder members and registers with said opening; and

a restraint cushion made of a flexible material enclosing said diffuser and said flow-control device, with portions of said restraint cushion being pressed into engagement with said body portion of said flow-control device adjacent said nozzle by said upper and lower retarder members so that the gas flow emanating from said diffuser during inflation is directed by said nozzle against said restraint cushion and said restraint cushion is gradually deployed through said opening in said support housing.