Gas deflection device for an air bag assembly
First Claim
1. A vehicle air bag assembly comprising a container, a folded air bag disposed in said container, an inflator disposed at least partially in said container, and a deflector disposed within said container;
- said inflator being adapted to discharge a gas flow which forces said air bag and said deflector through a portion of said container to form a deployment opening to inflate said air bag;
said air bag being designed to be inflated to a predetermined geometric form for restraining a vehicle occupant who is pitched forward during a vehicle collision, said predetermined geometric form including a torso-contact area which is disposed at a predicted location of the torso of said vehicle occupant while being pitched forward during a vehicle collision;
said deflector being disposed within said air bag when said air bag is inflated and defining at least part of a deflection channel which includes an upstream end and an open downstream end, said deflection channel being shaped to redirect the gas flow towards said torso-contact area;
said upstream end being partially defined by a portion of said deflector which extends from said deployment opening when said air bag is inflated.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A deflector is incorporated in a passenger-side air bag assembly which is adapted to be mounted in either the upper portion of a dashboard or the middle portion of a dashboard. The vehicle air bag assembly includes a container, a folded air bag disposed in the container, and an inflator disposed at least partially in the container. Prior to the deployment of the air bag assembly, the deflector is also disposed within the container. The inflator is adapted to discharge a gas flow which forces the air bag and the deflector through a portion of the container to form a deployment opening and which flows within the air bag through the deployment opening to inflate the air bag. The air bag is designed to be inflated to a predetermined geometric form for restraining a vehicle occupant who is pitched forward during a vehicle collision. This predetermined geometric form includes a torso-contact area which is disposed at a predicted location of the torso of the vehicle occupant while being pitched forward during a vehicle collision. The deflector is preferably made of the same material as the air bag and is disposed within the air bag when the air bag is inflated. When the air bag is inflated, the deflector defines at least part of a deflection channel which includes an upstream end communicating with the deployment opening inside the air bag and an open downstream end. The deflection channel is shaped to redirect the gas flow towards the torso-contact area of the air bag.
76 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A vehicle air bag assembly comprising a container, a folded air bag disposed in said container, an inflator disposed at least partially in said container, and a deflector disposed within said container;
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said inflator being adapted to discharge a gas flow which forces said air bag and said deflector through a portion of said container to form a deployment opening to inflate said air bag; said air bag being designed to be inflated to a predetermined geometric form for restraining a vehicle occupant who is pitched forward during a vehicle collision, said predetermined geometric form including a torso-contact area which is disposed at a predicted location of the torso of said vehicle occupant while being pitched forward during a vehicle collision; said deflector being disposed within said air bag when said air bag is inflated and defining at least part of a deflection channel which includes an upstream end and an open downstream end, said deflection channel being shaped to redirect the gas flow towards said torso-contact area; said upstream end being partially defined by a portion of said deflector which extends from said deployment opening when said air bag is inflated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A vehicle air bag assembly comprising a container, a folded air bag disposed in said container, an inflator disposed at least partially in said container, and a deflector disposed within said container;
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said inflator being adapted to discharge a gas flow which forces said air bag and aid deflector through a portion of said container to form a deployment opening and which flows within said air bag through said deployment opening to inflate said air bag; said air bag being designed to be inflated to a predetermined geometric form for retraining a vehicle occupant who is pitched forward during a vehicle collision, said predetermined geometric form including a torso-contact area which is disposed at a predicted location of the torso of aid vehicle occupant while being pitched forward during a vehicle collision; said deflector being disposed within said air bag when said air bag is inflated and defining at least part of a deflection channel which includes an upstream end and an open downstream end, said deflection channel being shaped to redirect the gas flow towards said torso-contact area; said deflector including a first deflection panel designed to define partially said downstream end of said deflection channel and to extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of said deployment opening when said air bag is inflated. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In combination, a vehicle and an air bag assembly;
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said vehicle including a windshield and a dashboard which has an upper portion extending at an acute angle to said windshield and a middle portion extending downwardly from said upper portion; said air bag assembly being coupled to said dashboard on the passenger-side of said vehicle; said air bag assembly comprising a container, a folded air bag disposed in said container, an inflator disposed at least partially in said container, and a deflector disposed within said container; said container including a cover incorporated into said dashboard; said inflator being adapted to discharge a gas flow which forces said air bag and said deflector through a portion of said cover to form a deployment opening and which flows within said air bag through said deployment opening to inflate said air bag; said air bag assembly being arranged relative to said vehicle such that the gas flow through said deployment opening flows in an angularly upward direction; said air bag being designed to be inflated to a predetermined geometric form for restraining a vehicle occupant who is pitched forward during a vehicle collision, said predetermined geometric form including a torso-contact area which is disposed at a predicted location of the torso of said vehicle occupant while being pitched forward during a vehicle collision; said deflector being disposed within said air bag when said air bag is inflated and defining at least part of a deflection channel within said air bag, said deflection channel being shaped to redirect the gas flow towards said torso-contact area. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A vehicle air bag assembly comprising a container, a folded air bag disposed in said container, an inflator disposed at least partially in said container, and a deflector disposed within sid container;
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said inflator being adapted to discharge a gas flow which forces said air bag and said deflector through a portion of said container to form a deployment opening and which flows within said air bag through said deployment opening to inflate said air bag; said air bag being designed to be inflated to a predetermined geometric form for restraining a vehicle occupant who is pitched forward during a vehicle collision, said predetermined geometric form including a torso-contact area which is disposed at a predicted location of the torso of said vehicle occupant while being pitched forward during a vehicle collision; said defector being disposed within said air bag when said air bag is inflated and defining at least part of a deflection channel which includes an upstream end and an open downstream end, said deflection channel being shaped to redirect the gas flow towards said torso-contact area; said deflection channel being defined partially by said air bag; said deflector consisting essentially of a curved deflection panel.
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Specification