Folded air bag
First Claim
1. An inflatable air bag for, when inflated by an inflator assembly, restraining an occupant of a vehicle,said air bag having a deflated, folded condition and an inflated, unfolded condition for restraining a vehicle occupant,said air bag having an inflation fluid receiving opening for receiving inflation fluid from the inflator assembly to inflate said air bag,said air bag when in the folded condition having a plurality of folded portions disposed in a stack adjacent to the inflator assembly, said folded portions including means for moving an out of position occupant sideways in the vehicle prior to full inflation of said air bag, said means for moving an out of position occupant comprising a first flap portion of said air bag and means for connecting said first flap portion of said air bag for sideways pivotal movement relative to the stack during inflation of said air bag to move said first flap portion of said air bag sideways in the vehicle across a lateral centerline of the stack with sufficient force to move an out of position vehicle occupant sideways during inflation of said air bag,said first flap portion being disposed in an outer portion of the stack furthest from the inflator assembly and closest to the occupant,said air bag having a first portion which is the first portion of said air bag to inflate into the unfolded condition for restraining a vehicle occupant, said first lap portion comprising said first portion,said air bag having surfaces defining a first inflation fluid flow path extending from the inflation fluid receiving opening to said first flap portion of said air bag, said surfaces defining said first inflation fluid flow path and defining only one 180°
- directional change for said inflation fluid as said air bag is inflated from the deflated, folded condition into the unfolded condition.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inflatable air bag for restraining an occupant of a vehicle has a deflated, folded condition and an inflated, unfolded condition. When in the folded condition, the air bag has a plurality of folded portions disposed in a stack adjacent to an inflator assembly. A first folded portion is disposed in an outer portion of the stack furthest from the inflator assembly and closest to the occupant. As the air bag inflates, the first folded portion pivots and moves sideways as it moves outwardly from the stack to contact the vehicle occupant. The first folded portion directs the vehicle occupant off to one side of the inflating air bag, and the remainder of the air bag inflates off to the side of the vehicle occupant. As a result, the vehicle occupant does not receive the full force of the inflating air bag.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. An inflatable air bag for, when inflated by an inflator assembly, restraining an occupant of a vehicle,
said air bag having a deflated, folded condition and an inflated, unfolded condition for restraining a vehicle occupant, said air bag having an inflation fluid receiving opening for receiving inflation fluid from the inflator assembly to inflate said air bag, said air bag when in the folded condition having a plurality of folded portions disposed in a stack adjacent to the inflator assembly, said folded portions including means for moving an out of position occupant sideways in the vehicle prior to full inflation of said air bag, said means for moving an out of position occupant comprising a first flap portion of said air bag and means for connecting said first flap portion of said air bag for sideways pivotal movement relative to the stack during inflation of said air bag to move said first flap portion of said air bag sideways in the vehicle across a lateral centerline of the stack with sufficient force to move an out of position vehicle occupant sideways during inflation of said air bag, said first flap portion being disposed in an outer portion of the stack furthest from the inflator assembly and closest to the occupant, said air bag having a first portion which is the first portion of said air bag to inflate into the unfolded condition for restraining a vehicle occupant, said first lap portion comprising said first portion, said air bag having surfaces defining a first inflation fluid flow path extending from the inflation fluid receiving opening to said first flap portion of said air bag, said surfaces defining said first inflation fluid flow path and defining only one 180° - directional change for said inflation fluid as said air bag is inflated from the deflated, folded condition into the unfolded condition.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An inflatable air bag for, when inflated by an inflator assembly, restraining an occupant of a vehicle,
said air bag having a deflated, folded condition and an inflated, unfolded condition for restraining a vehicle occupant, said air bag having an inflation fluid receiving opening for receiving inflation fluid from the inflator assembly to inflate said air bag, said air bag when in the folded condition having a plurality of folded portions disposed in a stack adjacent to the inflator assembly, said folded portions including means for moving an out of position occupant sideways in the vehicle prior to full inflation of said air bag, said means for moving an out of position occupant comprising a first flap portion of said air bag and means for connecting said first flap portion of said air bag for pivotal movement relative to the stack during inflation of said air bag to move said first flap portion of said air bag sideways in the vehicle with sufficient force to move an out of position vehicle occupant sideways during inflation of said air bag, said first flap portion being disposed in an outer portion of the stack furthest from the inflator assembly and closest to the occupant, said air bag having a first portion which is the first portion of said air bag to inflate into the unfolded condition for restraining a vehicle occupant, said first flap portion comprising said first portion, said air bag having surfaces defining a first inflation fluid flow path extending from the inflation fluid receiving opening to said first flap portion of said air bag, said surfaces defining said first inflation fluid flow path and defining only one 180° - directional change for said inflation fluid as said air bag is inflated from the deflated, folded condition into the unfolded condition;
said plurality of folded portions including a second flap portion disposed in the stack closer to the inflator assembly than said first flap portion and further from the occupant than said first flap portion when said air bag is in the folded condition, said air bag having surfaces defining a second inflation fluid flow path extending from the inflation fluid receiving opening to said second flap portion of said air bag and defining only one 180°
directional change for said inflation fluid as said air bag is inflated from the deflated, folded condition. - View Dependent Claims (5)
- directional change for said inflation fluid as said air bag is inflated from the deflated, folded condition into the unfolded condition;
Specification