Side impact head air bag
First Claim
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1. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint which, when inflated, helps protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a side impact to the vehicle of a magnitude sufficient to require protection of the vehicle occupant, said inflatable restraint having a deflated condition and an inflated condition; and
an inflator for, when actuated, supplying inflation fluid to said inflatable restraint to inflate said inflatable restraint from the deflated condition to the inflated condition;
said inflatable restraint having a body portion and having an inflation fluid directing channel portion extending into said body portion;
said body portion of said inflatable restraint having inner and outer end portions;
said channel portion of said inflatable restraint being connected with said inflator to receive inflation fluid from said inflator;
said channel portion having a terminal outlet which is disposed intermediate said inner and outer end portions of said body portion;
said channel portion directing inflation fluid to flow in a first direction from said inflator to said terminal outlet of said channel portion and into said body portion to inflate said body portion;
said outer end portion of said body portion being disposed in the path of fluid flow from said terminal outlet of said channel portion, said outer end portion of said body portion having surface portions which change the direction of inflation fluid flowing from said terminal outlet of said channel portion from the first direction to a second direction, opposite to said first direction, to inflate said body portion of said inflatable restraint.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A side impact head air bag (50), when inflated, has a C-shaped body portion (160) which includes side sections (172, 174) and an end section (176). A channel portion (170) of the air bag (50) extends into the body portion (160) and has a terminal outlet (202) disposed between an inflation fluid inlet (200) and an outer end portion (190) of the body portion. The side sections (172, 174) are folded under the channel portion (170) and the air bag (50) is thereafter rolled into a compact shape when deflated. The channel portion (170) unrolls and inflates before the body portion (160) inflates.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint which, when inflated, helps protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a side impact to the vehicle of a magnitude sufficient to require protection of the vehicle occupant, said inflatable restraint having a deflated condition and an inflated condition; and an inflator for, when actuated, supplying inflation fluid to said inflatable restraint to inflate said inflatable restraint from the deflated condition to the inflated condition; said inflatable restraint having a body portion and having an inflation fluid directing channel portion extending into said body portion; said body portion of said inflatable restraint having inner and outer end portions; said channel portion of said inflatable restraint being connected with said inflator to receive inflation fluid from said inflator; said channel portion having a terminal outlet which is disposed intermediate said inner and outer end portions of said body portion; said channel portion directing inflation fluid to flow in a first direction from said inflator to said terminal outlet of said channel portion and into said body portion to inflate said body portion; said outer end portion of said body portion being disposed in the path of fluid flow from said terminal outlet of said channel portion, said outer end portion of said body portion having surface portions which change the direction of inflation fluid flowing from said terminal outlet of said channel portion from the first direction to a second direction, opposite to said first direction, to inflate said body portion of said inflatable restraint. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint which, when inflated, helps protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a side impact to the vehicle of a magnitude sufficient to require protection of the vehicle occupant, said inflatable restraint having a deflated condition and an inflated condition; and an inflator for, when actuated, supplying inflation fluid to said inflatable restraint to inflate said inflatable restraint from the deflated condition to the inflated condition; said inflatable restraint having a body portion and an inflation fluid directing channel portion extending into said body portion; said body portion of said inflatable restraint having a C-shaped configuration, when inflated, including (i) an upper side section having a closed inner end portion and an open outer end portion, (ii) a lower side section having a closed inner end portion and an open outer end portion, and (iii) an end section extending between said outer end portions of said upper and lower side sections and establishing fluid communication between said outer end portions of said upper and lower side sections; said channel portion of said inflatable restraint being disposed intermediate said upper and lower side sections of said body portion, said channel portion blocking fluid flow between said inner end portions of said upper and lower side sections; said channel portion having an inlet connected with said inflator to receive inflation fluid from said inflator; said channel portion having a terminal outlet into said end section of said body portion for directing inflation fluid from said inflator into said body portion to inflate said body portion. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint which, when inflated, helps protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a side impact to the vehicle of a magnitude sufficient to require protection of the vehicle occupant, said inflatable restraint having a deflated condition and an inflated condition; and an inflator for, when actuated, supplying inflation fluid to said inflatable restraint to inflate said inflatable restraint from the deflated condition to the inflated condition; said inflatable restraint having a body portion and having an inflation fluid directing channel portion extending into said body portion to direct inflation fluid into said body portion; said body portion of said inflatable restraint, when inflated, having an inner end portion located between said inflator and an outer end portion of said body portion; said channel portion of said inflatable restraint being connected with said inflator to receive inflation fluid from said inflator; said channel portion having a terminal outlet which is disposed intermediate said inner and outer end portions of said body portion for directing inflation fluid from said inflator into said body portion to inflate said body portion; said body portion of said inflatable restraint comprising a pair of flaps having edges which are connected with said channel portion of said inflatable restraint, said flaps being folded to lie adjacent to said channel portion when said inflatable restraint is in the deflated condition to resist flow of inflation fluid into said flaps, said flaps unfolding away from said channel portion when said inflatable restraint is inflated; said channel portion and said folded flaps being rolled into a compact shape disposed adjacent to said inflator to resist flow of inflation fluid into said channel portion and into said folded flaps thereby to reduce the speed of the deployment of said inflatable restraint and to reduce the impact to the head and neck of an out of position vehicle occupant, said channel portion of said inflatable restraint and said flaps unrolling as said channel portion inflates, said flaps unfolding and inflating after said channel portion of said inflatable restraint unrolls and inflates.
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16. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint which, when inflated, helps protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a side impact to the vehicle of a magnitude sufficient to require protection of the vehicle occupant, said inflatable restraint having a deflated condition and an inflated condition; and an inflator for, when actuated, supplying inflation fluid to said inflatable restraint to inflate said inflatable restraint from the deflated condition to the inflated condition; said inflatable restraint having a body portion and having an inflation fluid directing channel portion extending into said body portion to direct inflation fluid into said body portion; said body portion of said inflatable restraint, when inflated, having an inner end portion located between said inflator and an outer end portion of said body portion; said channel portion of said inflatable restraint being connected with said inflator to receive inflation fluid from said inflator; said channel portion having a terminal outlet which is disposed intermediate said inner and outer end portions of said body portion for directing inflation fluid from said inflator into said body portion to inflate said body portion; said body portion of said inflatable restraint comprising a pair of flaps having edges which are connected with said channel portion of said inflatable restraint, said flaps being folded to lie adjacent to said channel portion when said inflatable restraint is in the deflated condition, said flaps unfolding away from said channel portion when said inflatable restraint is inflated. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint which, when inflated, helps protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a side impact to the vehicle of a magnitude sufficient to require protection of the vehicle occupant, said inflatable restraint having a deflated condition and an inflated condition; and an inflator for, when actuated, supplying inflation fluid to said inflatable restraint to inflate said inflatable restraint from the deflated condition to the inflated condition; said inflatable restraint having a body portion and having an inflation fluid directing channel portion extending into said body portion to direct inflation fluid into said body portion; said body portion of said inflatable restraint, when inflated, having an inner end portion located between said inflator and an outer end portion of said body portion; said channel portion of said inflatable restraint being connected with said inflator to receive inflation fluid from said inflator; said channel portion having a terminal outlet which is disposed intermediate said inner and outer end portions of said body portion for directing inflation fluid from said inflator into said body portion to inflate said body portion; said channel portion being tubular in configuration, said inflatable restraint comprising first and second layers of fabric material and two spaced apart stitching sections which join said first and second layers and which define between them said channel portion of said inflatable restraint, each one of said stitching sections defining an edge of said body portion of said inflatable restraint.
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20. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint having a deflated condition and an inflated condition, said inflatable restraint, when inflated, helping to protect a vehicle occupant in the event of an impact to a side of the vehicle, the impact being of a magnitude sufficient to require protection of the vehicle occupant, said inflatable restraint inflating into a space between the vehicle occupant and a side of the vehicle; and an inflator for, when actuated, supplying inflation fluid to said inflatable restraint to inflate said inflatable restraint from the deflated condition to the inflated condition; said inflatable restraint having a body portion and having an inflation fluid directing channel portion extending into said body portion to direct inflation fluid into said body portion; said body portion of said inflatable restraint, when inflated, having an inner end portion located between said inflator and an outer end portion of said body portion; said channel portion of said inflatable restraint being connected with said inflator to receive inflation fluid from said inflator; said channel portion having a terminal outlet which is disposed intermediate said inner and outer end portions of said body portion for directing inflation fluid from said inflator into said body portion to inflate said body portion. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint which, when inflated, helps protect a vehicle occupant in the event of an impact to the vehicle of a magnitude sufficient to require protection of the vehicle occupant, said inflatable restraint having a deflated condition and an inflated condition; and an inflator for, when actuated, supplying inflation fluid to said inflatable restraint to inflate said inflatable restraint from the deflated condition to the inflated condition; said inflatable restraint having a body portion and having an inflation fluid directing channel portion extending said body portion to direct inflation fluid into said body portion; said inflatable restraint comprising first and second layers of fabric material and two spaced apart stitching sections which join said first and second layers and which define between them said channel portion of said inflatable restraint; said body portion of said inflatable restraint, when inflated, having an inner end portion located between said inflator and an outer end portion of said body portion; said channel portion of said inflatable restraint being connected with said inflator to receive inflation fluid from said inflator; said channel portion having a terminal outlet which is disposed intermediate said inner and outer end portions of said body portion for directing inflation fluid from said inflator into said body portion to inflate said body portion. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint having a deflated condition and an inflated condition, said inflatable restraint, when inflated, helping to protect a vehicle occupant in the event of an impact to a side of the vehicle, the impact being of a magnitude sufficient to require protection of the vehicle occupant, said inflatable restraint inflating into a space between the vehicle occupant and a side of the vehicle; and an inflator for, when actuated, supplying inflation fluid to said inflatable restraint to inflate said inflatable restraint from the deflated condition to the inflated condition; said inflatable restraint having a body portion and having an inflation fluid directing channel portion extending into said body portion; said body portion of said inflatable restraint having inner and outer end portions; said channel portion of said inflatable restraint being connected with said inflator to receive inflation fluid from said inflator; said channel portion having a terminal outlet which is disposed intermediate said inner and outer end portions of said body portion; said channel portion directing inflation fluid to flow in a first direction from said inflator to said terminal outlet of said channel portion and into said body portion to inflate said body portion; said outer end portion of said body portion being disposed in the path of fluid flow from said terminal outlet of said channel portion, said outer end portion of said body portion having surface portions which change the direction of inflation fluid flowing from said terminal outlet of said channel portion from the first direction to a second direction, opposite to said first direction, to inflate said body portion of said inflatable restraint. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint having a deflated condition and an inflated condition, said inflatable restraint, when inflated, helping to protect a vehicle occupant in the event of an impact to a side of the vehicle, the impact being of a magnitude sufficient to require protection of the vehicle occupant, said inflatable restraint inflating into a space between the vehicle occupant and a side of the vehicle; and an inflator for, when actuated, supplying inflation fluid to said inflatable restraint to inflate said inflatable restraint from the deflated condition to the inflated condition; said inflatable restraint having a body portion and an inflation fluid directing channel portion extending into said body portion; said body portion of said inflatable restraint having a C-shaped configuration, when inflated, including (i) an upper side section having a closed inner end portion and an open outer end portion, (ii) a lower side section having a closed inner end portion and an open outer end portion, and (iii) an end section extending between said outer end portions of said upper and lower side sections and establishing fluid communication between said outer end portions of said upper and lower side sections; said channel portion of said inflatable restraint being disposed intermediate said upper and lower side sections of said body portion, said channel portion blocking fluid flow between said inner end portions of said upper and lower side sections; said channel portion having an inlet connected with said inflator to receive inflation fluid from said inflator; said channel portion having a terminal outlet into said end section of said body portion for directing inflation fluid from said inflator into said body portion to inflate said body portion. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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Specification