Partitioned multi-cell air bag
First Claim
1. An air bag for cushioning an occupant in a motor vehicle when rapidly inflated with gas said air bag being formed of thin, flexible sheet material having a unitary inlet at a forward end for receiving gas from a single source of gas and a rearwardly facing cushioning surface for engaging the vehicle occupant when the air bag is inflated, a flexible internal wall dividing said inlet into upper and lower inlet sections extending between said inlet and said cushioning surface for dividing said air bag into an upper chamber adapted for engaging the occupant'"'"'s head and a lower chamber adapted for engaging the occupant below the head, and an open vent formed in said sheet material of said upper chamber spaced away from said inlet for reducing the inflation pressure of said upper chamber relative to said lower chamber.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A new and improved multi-cell, partitioned, air bag for cushioning engagement with an occupant in a motor vehicle when the air bag is rapidly inflated with gas. The air bag is formed of thin, flexible, pervious sheet material having an inlet for receiving gas at a forward end and a rearwardly facing cushioning surface formed for engaging the vehicle occupant when the air bag is inflated. A flexible, internal wall or partition extends between the inlet and the cushioning surface for dividing the air bag into an upper or head cushioning cell or chamber adapted for engaging the occupant'"'"'s head and a lower, or torso cushioning cell or chamber adapted for cushioning the occupant'"'"'s torso. Vents are provided for reducing the inflation pressure in the upper chamber relative to the lower or torso chamber to reduce or prevent head injury and abrasion yet provide a desired level of energy absorption for cushioning the occupant'"'"'s torso.
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Citations
16 Claims
- 1. An air bag for cushioning an occupant in a motor vehicle when rapidly inflated with gas said air bag being formed of thin, flexible sheet material having a unitary inlet at a forward end for receiving gas from a single source of gas and a rearwardly facing cushioning surface for engaging the vehicle occupant when the air bag is inflated, a flexible internal wall dividing said inlet into upper and lower inlet sections extending between said inlet and said cushioning surface for dividing said air bag into an upper chamber adapted for engaging the occupant'"'"'s head and a lower chamber adapted for engaging the occupant below the head, and an open vent formed in said sheet material of said upper chamber spaced away from said inlet for reducing the inflation pressure of said upper chamber relative to said lower chamber.
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8. An inflatable air bag formed of thin, flexible sheet material adapted for cushioning restraint of an occupant in a motor vehicle, comprising:
a unitary inlet at a forward end for receiving inflation gas from a single source of gas, and a generally rearwardly facing cushioning surface established during rapid gas inflation including an upper portion for cushioning an occupant above the body and a lower portion for cushioning an occupant below the head, an internal divider wall dividing said inlet into upper and lower inlet sections and extending between said inlet and said cushioning surface for dividing gas flow through said inlet into separate upper and lower chambers, and an open vent formed in said sheet material away from said inlet in said chamber for reducing the inflation in pressure relative to the lower chamber for providing a softer cushioning effect for the head of the vehicle occupant. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An inflatable air bag formed of thin, flexible, pervious sheet material adapted to be rapidly inflated with gas from a single source through a unitary inlet at a forward end to provide cushioning restraint at an opposite end surface for engaging a vehicle occupant, comprising:
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a first cushioning chamber adapted to be supplied with gas from said inlet to provide soft cushioning at a relatively low pressure; a separate, second cushioning chamber adapted to be supplied with gas from said inlet to provide firmer cushioning at a relatively high pressure; divider means separating said inlet into separate inlet sections in direct communication with said first and second cushioning chambers for restricting gas flow therebetween during rapid inflation with gas from said inlet, said divider means extending between said inlet and said opposite end surface for dividing the flow of inflation gas from said inlet between said first and second compartments; and an open vent formed in said sheet material of said first cushioning chamber away from said inlet for reducing the inflation pressure therein below that in said second cushioning chamber. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification