Air bag having double-wall construction

• US 5,338,061 A
• Filed: 04/08/1992
• Issued: 08/16/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries Limited
• Inventors: Nelson, Steven R., Swiderski, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): BASINGER, SHERMAN D
• Application Number:
  US07/865,311
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728, 280/729, 280/738, 280/743
• US Class Current: 280/729
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23115 with inflatable support compartments creating an internal suction volume
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder

Abstract

An air bag for use in connection with a gas generator is provided. The air bag is of a double-wall construction. The air bag is fitted to the housing of a gas generator and a gas jet opening for allowing the air bag to communicate with the housing is provided. A gas generated by the gas generator due to an impact is charged into the air bag. The air bag has a double-wall structure including a first air bag and a second air bag having a greater capacity than the first air bag disposed about and attached to the first air bag. The first air bag constitutes an air storage chamber which receives air from the atmosphere through an air intake path and stores the air. A gas storage chamber is formed between the first and second air bags which receives a combustion gas from the gas jet opening and temporarily stores the combustion gas. The air intake path is typically a hollow path between the atmosphere and the air storage chamber. The first air bag has an opening therein which establishes communication between the gas storage chamber and the air storage chamber.

Claims

1. An air bag for use in connection with a gas generator comprising:

a first air bag attached to a gas generator, the first air bag forming an air storage chamber;

a second air bag disposed about the first air bag and coacting with said gas generator to form a gas storage chamber substantially enveloping the first air bag;

an air intake path connecting the first and second air bags, the air intake path extending from the second air bag through the first air bag for communicating the air storage chamber with the exterior of the second air bag;

at least one aperture in the first air bag for communicating the gas storage chamber with the air storage chamber

wherein, gas generated by the gas generator is introduced into the gas storage chamber to inflate the second air bag which pulls the first air bag into an inflated position causing ambient air to be pulled from the exterior of the second air bag through the air intake path and into the air storage chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the air intake path comprises a tube extending between the first and second air bags.

3. An air bag for use in connection with a gas generator comprising:

a first air bag attached to a gas generator forming an air storage chamber therein;

a second air bag disposed about the first air bag and coacting with said gas generator to form a gas storage chamber substantially enveloping the first air bag;

an air intake path connecting the first and second air bags, the air intake path extending between the first and second air bags to communicate the air storage chamber of the first air bag with the atmosphere on the exterior of the second air bag;

at least one aperture in the first air bag for communicating the gas storage chamber with the air storage chamber;

wherein, upon impact, a gas produced by a gas generator is introduced into the gas storage chamber to inflate the second air bag which causes the first air bag to be pulled into an inflated position and causes air from the atmosphere to be pulled into the air storage chamber to inflate the air bag.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the air intake path comprises a tube extending through the gas storage chamber between the first air bag and the second air bag.

5. An air bag for use in connection with a gas generator comprising:

a first air bag attached to a gas generator and forming an air storage chamber therein;

a second air bag attached to said gas generator and disposed about the first air bag;

a plurality of ribs extending between the first air bag and the second air bag to attach the first air bag to the second air bag;

a plurality of gas storage chambers formed between the first air bag, the second air bag and adjacent ribs;

at least one air intake path communicating the air storage chamber within the first air bag with the atmosphere on the exterior of the second air bag;

at least one aperture in the first air bag to provide communication between the gas storage chambers and the air storage chamber;

wherein, upon impact, a gas produced by a gas generator, is introduced into the longitudinal gas storage chambers to inflate the second air bag which causes the first air bag to be pulled into an inflated position causing air from the atmosphere to be pulled into the air storage chamber to inflate the air bag.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising at least one aperture between each gas storage chamber and the air storage chamber to allow gas to flow from the gas storage chambers to the air storage chamber.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the air intake path comprises a tube extending between the first air bag and the second air bag.