Occupant restraint system

• US 4,989,895 A
• Filed: 04/19/1990
• Issued: 02/05/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Horsch, John D., Miller, Gregory A., Pearson, Jeffery L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FERRITER, KARIN L
• Application Number:
  US07/511,364
• Time in Patent Office: 292 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728, 280/730, 280/731, 280/, 280/737, 280/739, 280/739, 280/743, 280/741, 280/777, 280/736
• US Class Current: 280/731
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2037 the module or a major component thereof being yieldably mounted, e.g. for actuating the horn switch or for protecting the driver in a non-deployment situation horn switches integrated in steering wheel covers with tear lines B60R21/21658
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/276 with means to vent the inflation fluid source, e.g. in case of overpressure B60R21/30 takes precedence; venting means on inflatable member walls B60R21/239

Abstract

An occupant restraint system includes a module having a support provided with openings therethrough which are normally closed by rupturable diaphragms when the pressure within the cushion exceeds a predetermined limit, the reaction force on the module moves the diaphragms into engagement with rupture pins to rupture the diaphragms and vent the cushion to ambient through the support.

Claims

1. In a vehicle, a modular occupant restraint for a vehicle occupant comprising, a support, a source of pressure fluid mounted to the support, a folded occupant restraint cushion mounted to the support in communication with the source of pressure fluid, the pressure fluid inflating the cushion and deploying the cushion relative to the support for engagement by the vehicle occupant, an enclosure for the source of pressure fluid and cushion mounted to the support, rupturable vent means in the support in communication with the cushion and ambient, the support, source, cushion and enclosure providing a module, means mounting the module on the vehicle for movement relative thereto upon the application of a predetermined force to the module, and means rupturing the vent means to communicate the cushion with ambient through the support upon the application of the predetermined force to the module resulting from the engagement of the deploying cushion by the vehicle occupant.

2. In a vehicle, an occupant restraint for a vehicle occupant comprising, a support, a source of pressure fluid mounted to the support, a folded occupant restraint cushion mounted to the support in communication with the source of pressure fluid, the pressure fluid inflating the cushion and deploying the cushion relative to the support for engagement by the vehicle occupant, rupturable vent means in the support in communication with the cushion and ambient, energy absorbing means mounting the support on the vehicle for movement relative thereto upon the application of a predetermined force to the support, and means rupturing the vent means to communicate the cushion with ambient through the support upon the application of the predetermined force to the support resulting from the engagement of the deploying cushion by the vehicle occupant.

3. The combination comprising, a vehicle steering wheel including an upwardly opening hub portion, a modular occupant restraint including, a support, a source of pressure fluid mounted to the support, a folded occupant restraint cushion mounted to the support in communication with the source of pressure fluid for inflation of the cushion and deployment of the cushion relative to the support for engagement by a vehicle occupant, rupturable vent means in the support in communication with the cushion and the hub portion, means mounting the support over the opening of the hub portion of the steering wheel for movement relative thereto upon the application of a predetermined force to the support, and means rupturing the vent means to communicate the cushion with the hub portion upon the application of the predetermined force to the support resulting from the engagement of the cushion by a vehicle occupant.

4. In a vehicle, an occupant restraint for a vehicle occupant comprising, a support having openings therethrough, a source of pressure fluid mounted to the support, a folded occupant restraint cushion mounted to the support in communication with the source of pressure fluid and the support openings, the pressure fluid inflating the cushion and deploying the cushion relative to the support for engagement by the vehicle occupant, rupturable means closing the support openings to block communication of the cushion with ambient through the support openings, means mounting the support on the vehicle for movement relative thereto upon the application of a predetermined force to the support, and means rupturing the rupturable means to communicate the cushion with ambient through the support openings, upon the application of the predetermined force to the support resulting from the engagement of the deploying cushion by the vehicle occupant.

5. In a vehicle, an occupant restraint for a vehicle occupant comprising, a support having at least one opening therethrough, a source of pressure fluid mounted to the support, a folded occupant restraint cushion mounted to the support in communication with the source of pressure fluid and the support openings, the pressure fluid inflating the cushion and deploying the cushion relative to the support for engagement by the vehicle occupant, a diaphragm of rupturable material closing the opening in the support and blocking communication of the cushion with ambient through the support opening, means mounting the support on the vehicle for movement relative thereto upon the application of a predetermined force to the support, and means rupturing the diaphragm to communicate the cushion with ambient through the support opening upon the application of the predetermined force to the support resulting from the engagement of the deploying cushion by the vehicle occupant.

6. The combination recited in claim 5 including sealing means sealing the diaphragm to the support around the opening therethrough.

7. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein the support is generally rectangularly shaped and includes a pair of vent openings arranged on opposite sides of a central opening therein receiving the source of pressure fluid, each vent opening being closed by a diaphragm of rupturable material.

8. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein the support has at least a pair of openings arranged symmetrically of the support and source of pressure fluid, and sealing means are provided to seal the diaphragms to the support adjacent each of the openings.

9. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein the rupturing means is fixed to the vehicle and is engageable by the diaphragm to rupture the diaphragm.

10. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein the mounting means for the support includes energy absorbing means to set the predetermined force required to move the support relative to the vehicle.

11. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein the rupturing means is fixed to the vehicle in spaced relationship to the diaphragm, and the mounting means for the support includes collapsible energy absorbing means requiring a predetermined force to collapse.