Flow regulating air bag valve
First Claim
1. An improved air cushion restraint system for a motor vehicle occupant with provision for mounting to a pressurized gas source for inflation thereof, the system comprising:
- an air bag formed from a flexible membrane having an inflation chamber engageable in fluid communication with the pressurized gas source, and a gas flow-regulating valve comprising;
an outer membrane portion provided in said air bag membrane, said outer membrane portion having at least one aspiration aperture;
an inner membrane portion provided beneath said outer membrane portion about spaced apart locations substantially proximately spanning said aperture, said outer membrane portion being larger than said inner membrane portion as measured in at least one direction such that a pucker is formed between said inner and outer membrane portions while joined together in a reduced stress membrane state;
a gas flow path providing fluid communication between the inflation chamber and said pucker for directing inflation gases from the inflation chamber past said inner membrane and into said pucker for expulsion through said aspiration aperture; and
means for extending said inner membrane portion in response to a threshold impact energy imparted to said air bag which increases gas pressure in the inflation chamber to increase the size of said inner membrane as measured in said at least one direction so that said inner and outer membranes are brought together in nested engagement so as to dissipate said pucker and flow restrict said aperture.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved air cushion restraint system utilizes a gas flow-regulating valve having an inner membrane, an outer membrane, a pucker formed therebetween, and a flow passage from the air bag inflation chamber to the pucker for expulsion through an outer membrane aperture. The inner membrane is extensible in response to occupant impact with the air bag which exceeds a threshold value such that the inner membrane extends in response to such load where it is brought into nested engagement with the outer membrane pucker which flow restricts the aperture and stiffens the air bag.
133 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An improved air cushion restraint system for a motor vehicle occupant with provision for mounting to a pressurized gas source for inflation thereof, the system comprising:
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an air bag formed from a flexible membrane having an inflation chamber engageable in fluid communication with the pressurized gas source, and a gas flow-regulating valve comprising; an outer membrane portion provided in said air bag membrane, said outer membrane portion having at least one aspiration aperture; an inner membrane portion provided beneath said outer membrane portion about spaced apart locations substantially proximately spanning said aperture, said outer membrane portion being larger than said inner membrane portion as measured in at least one direction such that a pucker is formed between said inner and outer membrane portions while joined together in a reduced stress membrane state; a gas flow path providing fluid communication between the inflation chamber and said pucker for directing inflation gases from the inflation chamber past said inner membrane and into said pucker for expulsion through said aspiration aperture; and means for extending said inner membrane portion in response to a threshold impact energy imparted to said air bag which increases gas pressure in the inflation chamber to increase the size of said inner membrane as measured in said at least one direction so that said inner and outer membranes are brought together in nested engagement so as to dissipate said pucker and flow restrict said aperture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An improved air cushion restraint system for a motor vehicle occupant with provision for mounting to a pressurized gas source for inflation thereof, the system comprising:
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an air bag formed from a flexible membrane having an inflation chamber engageable in fluid communication with the pressurized gas source, and a gas flow-regulating valve comprising; an outer membrane portion provided in said air bag membrane, said outer membrane portion having at least one aspiration aperture; an inner membrane portion provided beneath said outer membrane portion in communication with said inflation chamber, said outer membrane portion being larger than said inner membrane portion as measured in at least one direction, said inner membrane portion affixed to said outer membrane portion along at least one location such that a pucker is formed between said inner and outer membrane portions while joined together in a reduced stress membrane state; a gas flow path providing fluid communication between the inflation chamber and said pucker directing gas from said inflation chamber past said inner membrane and into said pucker for expulsion through said aperture; and means for extending said inner membrane portion in response to said air bag internal pressure exceeding a threshold value such that said valve brings together said inner and outer membranes in nested engagement so as to dissipate said pucker and flow restrict said aperture. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. An improved air bag gas flow-regulating valve for use in an air bag formed from a flexible membrane having an inflation chamber engageable in fluid communication with a pressurized gas source for inflation thereof, the improvement comprising:
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an outer membrane portion for contiguous edge communication with an air bag membrane, said outer membrane portion having at least one aspiration aperture; an inner membrane portion provided beneath said outer membrane portion for communication with the air bag inflation chamber; said outer membrane portion being larger than said inner membrane portion as measured in at least one direction such that a pucker is formed by said outer membrane portion in relation with said inner membrane portion having at least one aspiration aperture; a gas flow path providing fluid communication between the inflation chamber and said pucker for directing inflation gases from the inflation chamber past said inner membrane and into said pucker for expulsion through said aspiration aperture; and means for extending said inner membrane portion in response to a threshold pressure within the inflation chamber resulting from occupant impact energy imparted to said air bag such that said inner and outer membranes are brought together in nested engagement so as to flow restrict said aperture. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification