Inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and method of inflating the device

• US 5,697,641 A
• Filed: 05/14/1996
• Issued: 12/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: McGee, Robert F., Maurer, Steven W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Application Number:
  US08/649,130
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/743.1, 280/739, 280/729, 280/728.1, 280/736, 280/730.1
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14), such as an air bag, includes first and second inflatable structures (72,74). The first inflatable structure (72) has an inflated location between the occupant'"'"'s thorax and a side portion (20) of the vehicle. A second inflatable structure (74) has an inflated location between the occupant'"'"'s head and the side portion (20) of the vehicle. A valve (80) increases the pressure of inflation fluid in the second inflatable structure (74) in response to engagement of the occupant'"'"'s thorax with the first inflatable structure (72) prior to subsequent engagement of the occupant'"'"'s head with the second inflatable structure (74). The valve (80) has an open condition permitting inflation fluid to flow from the first inflatable structure (72) to the second inflatable structure (74) under the influence of pressure in the first inflatable structure (72), and has a closed condition blocking the inflation fluid from flowing back from the second inflatable structure (74) to the first inflatable structure (72) under the influence of the pressure in the second inflatable structure (74).

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a first inflatable structure having an inflated location between a vehicle occupant'"'"'s thorax and a side portion of a vehicle;

a second inflatable structure having an inflated location between the occupant'"'"'s head and the side portion of the vehicle; and

valve means for increasing the pressure of inflation fluid in said second inflatable structure in response to engagement of the occupant'"'"'s thorax with said first inflatable structure prior to subsequent engagement of the occupant'"'"'s head with said second inflatable structure;

said valve means having an open condition permitting said inflation fluid to flow through said valve means from said first inflatable structure to said second inflatable structure under the influence of pressure in said first inflatable structure, said valve means having a closed condition blocking said inflation fluid from flowing back through said valve means from said second inflatable structure to said first inflatable structure under the influence of pressure in said second inflatable structure;

said valve means responding to pressure by remaining in said open condition while said pressure in said first inflatable structure is greater than said pressure in said second inflatable structure, and by switching to said closed condition when said pressure in said second inflatable structure is increased above said pressure in said first inflatable structure;

said valve means comprises a panel of air bag material in a folded configuration defining an opening and a flap in the shape of a loop extending over said opening, said flap being movable into a collapsed condition blocking said opening.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second inflatable structures are contiguous sections of an inflatable air bag panel structure.

3. Apparatus comprising:

first inflatable means for inflating between a vehicle occupant'"'"'s thorax and a side portion of a vehicle so as to become contracted between the occupant'"'"'s thorax and the side portion of the vehicle;

second inflatable means for inflating between the occupant'"'"'s head and the side portion of the vehicle; and

valve means for increasing the pressure of inflation fluid in said second inflatable means to an increased level in response to said contraction of said first inflatable means, said pressure being increased by a flow of said inflation fluid from said first inflatable means to said second inflatable means through said valve means;

said valve means sustaining pressure in said second inflatable means for a period of time by blocking a reverse flow of said inflation fluid through said valve means;

said valve means comprising a panel of air bag material in a folded configuration defining an opening and a flap in the shape of a loop extending over said opening, said flap being movable into a collapsed condition blocking said opening.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said first and second inflatable structures are contiguous sections of an inflatable air bag panel structure.