Seat mounted air bag module
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus comprising:
- a seat in which the vehicle occupant sits;
an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint mounted in said seat, said inflatable restraint having a deflated condition stored in said seat and having an inflated, occupant protecting condition extending out of said seat;
an inflator mounted in said seat at a location spaced apart from said inflatable restraint, said inflator being actuatable to direct inflation fluid under pressure into said inflatable restraint to inflate said inflatable restraint; and
wall means for defining in said seat an inflation fluid passage extending between said inflator and said inflatable restraint for directing inflation fluid from said inflator to said inflatable restraint upon actuation of said inflator;
said wall means having a first condition when said inflator is not actuated in which said inflation fluid passage has a first effective cross-sectional flow area;
said wall means being expandable, upon actuation of said inflator, from the first condition to a second condition in which said inflation fluid passage has a second effective cross-sectional flow area which is greater than said first effective cross-sectional flow area, said seat including a seat frame member extending through said inflation fluid passage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air bag module (10) is mounted in a vehicle seat (12). The module (10) includes an inflator (14) and a folded air bag (12) which is spaced apart from the inflator. An expandable throat (150) defines an inflation fluid passage (151) extending between the inflator (14) and the air bag (12). The throat (150) expands, upon actuation of the inflator (14), to increase the effective cross-sectional flow area of the inflation fluid passage by at least 20% and, preferably, by 50% to 100% or more. At least one wall (154) of the throat (100) moves under pressure from inflation fluid from the inflator (14) to expand the throat.
25 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus comprising:
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a seat in which the vehicle occupant sits; an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint mounted in said seat, said inflatable restraint having a deflated condition stored in said seat and having an inflated, occupant protecting condition extending out of said seat; an inflator mounted in said seat at a location spaced apart from said inflatable restraint, said inflator being actuatable to direct inflation fluid under pressure into said inflatable restraint to inflate said inflatable restraint; and wall means for defining in said seat an inflation fluid passage extending between said inflator and said inflatable restraint for directing inflation fluid from said inflator to said inflatable restraint upon actuation of said inflator; said wall means having a first condition when said inflator is not actuated in which said inflation fluid passage has a first effective cross-sectional flow area; said wall means being expandable, upon actuation of said inflator, from the first condition to a second condition in which said inflation fluid passage has a second effective cross-sectional flow area which is greater than said first effective cross-sectional flow area, said seat including a seat frame member extending through said inflation fluid passage.
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2. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus comprising:
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a seat in which the vehicle occupant sits; an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint mounted in said seat, said inflatable restraint having a deflated condition stored in said seat and having an inflated, occupant protecting condition extending out of said seat; an inflator mounted in said seat at a location spaced apart from said inflatable restraint, said inflator being actuatable to direct inflation fluid under pressure into said inflatable restraint to inflate said inflatable restraint; and wall means for defining in said seat an inflation fluid passage extending between said inflator and said inflatable restraint for directing inflation fluid from said inflator to said inflatable restraint upon actuation of said inflator; said wall means having a first condition when said inflator is not actuated in which said inflation fluid passage has a first effective cross-sectional flow area; said wall means being expandable, upon actuation of said inflator, from the first condition to a second condition in which said inflation fluid passage has a second effective cross-sectional flow area which is greater than said first effective cross-sectional flow area, said wall means comprising a first wall, a second wall, and means for connecting said second wall with said first wall for sliding movement relative to said first wall to increase the effective cross-sectional flow area of said inflation fluid passage upon actuation of said inflator.
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3. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus comprising:
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a seat in which the vehicle occupant sits; an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint mounted in said seat, said inflatable restraint having a deflated condition stored in said seat and having an inflated, occupant protecting condition extending out of said seat; an inflator mounted in said seat at a location spaced apart from said inflatable restraint, said inflator being actuatable to direct inflation fluid under pressure into said inflatable restraint to inflate said inflatable restraint; and wall means for defining in said seat an inflation fluid passage extending between said inflator and said inflatable restraint for directing inflation fluid from said inflator to said inflatable restraint upon actuation of said inflator; said wall means having a first condition when said inflator is not actuated in which said inflation fluid passage has a first effective cross-sectional flow area; said wall means being expandable, upon actuation of said inflator, from the first condition to a second condition in which said inflation fluid passage has a second effective cross-sectional flow area which is greater than said first effective cross-sectional flow area, said wall means including a flexible first wall having opposite first and second side portions and a central portion and a flexible second wall having opposite first and second side portions and a central portion, said first side portion of said first wall being connected with said first side portion of said second wall, said second side portion of said first wall being connected with said second side portion of said second wall, said central portion of said first wall being disposed adjacent to said central portion of said second wall, said central portion of said first wall being spaced apart from said central portion of said second wall by a first distance prior to actuation of said inflator, said central portion of said first wall moving away from said central portion of said second wall upon actuation of said inflator to enlarge the effective cross-sectional flow area of said inflation fluid passage.
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4. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus comprising:
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a seat in which the vehicle occupant sits; a folded inflatable vehicle occupant restraint mounted in said seat, said inflatable restraint having a deflated condition stored in said seat and having an inflated, occupant protecting condition extending out of said seat between the occupant and the side of the vehicle; an inflator mounted in said seat at a location spaced laterally apart from said inflatable restraint, said inflator being actuatable in response to an impact of a predetermined magnitude to the side of the vehicle to direct inflation fluid under pressure into said inflatable restraint to inflate said inflatable restraint; and wall means for defining in said seat an inflation fluid passage extending between said inflator and said inflatable restraint for directing inflation fluid from said inflator to said inflatable restraint upon actuation of said inflator; said wall means having a first condition when said inflator is not actuated in which said inflation fluid passage has a first effective cross-sectional flow area; said wall means being movable due to the force of the inflation fluid acting on said wall means, upon actuation of said inflator, from the first condition to a second condition in which said inflation fluid passage has a second effective cross-sectional flow area which is greater than said first effective cross-sectional flow area. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification