Inflatable occupant restraint device

• US 5,480,184 A
• Filed: 03/23/1994
• Issued: 01/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William A. Young
• Original Assignee: William A. Young
• Inventors: Young, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US08/216,565
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 280/731, 280/729, 280/728 R, 280/743 R, 280/730 R, 280/750, 280/751, 280/753, 280/728 B
• US Class Current: 280/731
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0407 using gas or liquid as energy absorbing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21525 the lid being fixed on the bag, or forming part of the bag wall, or the bag itself being used as wall liner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/05 associated with the steering wheel, steering hand lever or steering column yieldable steering columns B62D1/18
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• 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 21/23 Inflatable members B60R21/18 takes precedence; connection to inflation fluid source retainers B60R21/217

Abstract

An occupant restraining device which includes a dual reusable airbag system with one airbag adjacent to the other. One airbag is inflated prior to installation providing continuous impact protection for the occupant, the other airbag, being generally U-shaped, is inflated upon impact of the vehicle and when inflated provides front and side protection of the occupant.

Claims

1. A steering wheel safety device for providing occupant protection from impact of a vehicle, comprising:

a) a restraining device including reusable first and second inflatable members;

b) said first inflatable member when inflated having a size positionable entirely within an inside periphery of a wheel handle of a steering wheel assembly and spaced therefrom;

c) said first and second inflatable members each having their central axis coincident with the central axis of the steering wheel assembly;

d) said first inflatable member when inflated having at least portions thereof extending laterally of its central axis beyond the lateral extension of said second inflatable member from its central axis when uninflated;

e) said second inflatable member when inflated extending laterally beyond the lateral extension of said first inflatable member when inflated and extending outside of the periphery of said wheel handle of said steering wheel assembly;

f) valve means for maintaining said first inflatable member inflated when positioned on said steering wheel assembly during normal driving operation thereby functioning as a pre-inflated head impact cushion;

g) means associated with said second inflatable member for permitting said second inflatable member to be inflated upon impact;

h) whereby when said restraining device is positioned in a vehicle, said first inflatable member provides a continuous protective interposition for a vehicle occupant and a damping device for said occupant when said second inflatable member is inflated on impact.

2. A safety device as in claim 1, and wherein:

a) said steering wheel assembly including a central cavity;

b) said steering wheel assembly having a stored position wherein said second inflatable member is disposed within said central cavity when uninflated.

3. A safety device as in claim 2, and further comprising:

a) a retaining ring attached to said steering assembly;

b) a releasable retaining member attached to said second inflatable member; and

c) said releasable retaining member positioned between said retaining ring and said second inflatable member to secure said second inflatable member within said central cavity when said restraining device is in said stored position.

4. A safety device as in claim 3, wherein:

a) said first inflatable member is removably attached to said releasable retaining member.

5. A safety device as in claim 4, and further comprising:

a) hook and loop fastener for removably attaching said first inflatable member to said releasable retaining member.

6. A safety device as in claim 1, and further including:

a) housing means removably disposed within said central cavity for retaining said second inflatable member and said means for inflating said second inflatable member.

7. A safety device as in claim 6, wherein:

a) said restraining device is movable relative to said steering assembly for actuating a horn.

8. A safety device as in claim 7, and further comprising:

a) a retaining ring attached to said housing;

b) a releasable retaining member attached to said second inflatable member; and

c) said releasable retaining member positioned between said retaining ring and said second inflatable member to secure said second inflatable member within said housing when said restraining device is in the stored position.

9. A safety device as in claim 8, wherein:

a) said first inflatable member is removably attached to said releasable retaining member.

10. A safety device as in claim 1, and further comprising:

a) means for manually inflating said first inflatable member.

11. A safety device as in claim 1, wherein:

a) said first inflatable member having a non-abrasive external surface.

12. A safety device as in claim 1, wherein:

a) said second inflatable member is generally U-shaped.

13. A steering wheel safety device for providing occupant protection from impact of a vehicle, comprising:

a) a restraining device including reusable first and second inflatable members, said first inflatable member adapted to be releasably secured to said second inflatable member so that when secured, their respective central axes are coaxially aligned;

b) said first and second inflatable members each having their central axis coincident with the central axis of a steering wheel assembly;

c) said first inflatable member when inflated extending laterally of its central axis beyond the lateral extension of said second inflatable member from its central axis when uninflated and positionable entirely within the inside periphery of the wheel handle of the steering wheel assembly and spaced therefrom;

d) said second inflatable member when inflated having at least portions thereof extending laterally beyond the lateral extension of said first inflatable member when inflated and extending outside of the periphery of said wheel handle of said steering wheel assembly;

e) a valve for maintaining said first inflatable member inflated when positioned on said steering wheel assembly during normal driving operation thereby functioning as a pre-inflated head impact cushion;

g) an inflation device associated with said second inflatable member for permitting said second inflatable member to be inflated upon impact;

h) whereby when said restraining device is positioned in a vehicle, said first inflatable member provides a continuous protective interposition for a vehicle occupant and, upon inflation of said second inflatable member, a damping device positively positioned relative to the steering wheel and the vehicle driver occupant.

14. A safety device as in claim 13, and wherein:

a) said steering wheel assembly including a central cavity;

b) said steering wheel assembly having a stored position wherein said second inflatable member is disposed within said central cavity when uninflated.

15. A safety device as in claim 14, and further comprising:

a) a retaining ring attached to said steering assembly;

b) a releasable retaining member attached to said second inflatable member; and

c) said releasable retaining member positioned between said retaining ring and said second inflatable member to secure said second inflatable member within said central cavity when said restraining device is in said stored position.

16. A safety device as in claim 15, wherein:

a) said first and second inflatable members are releasably secured together with a hook and loop fastener device.

17. A safety device as in claim 13, and further including:

a) housing means removably disposed within said central cavity for retaining said second inflatable member and said inflation device.

18. A safety device as in claim 13, and further comprising:

a) means for manually inflating said first inflatable member.

19. A safety device as in claim 13, and wherein:

a) said first inflatable member having a non-abrasive external surface.

20. A safety device as in claim 13, and wherein:

a) said second inflatable member having a generally U-shape when inflated.