Aspiration-type air bag inflation apparatus
First Claim
1. Apparatus for inflating a vehicle air bag and for reducing the inflation rate of the air bag in the event an occupant of the vehicle engages the air bag before it is fully inflated, comprising:
- gas generating means for producing an inflation gas in response to a predetermined impact to the vehicle,aspiration means operatively connected to said gas generating means and to the air bag, said aspiration means comprising an ambient air inlet, a mixing chamber in communication with said air inlet, and nozzle means in communication with said gas generating means and said mixing chamber for directing inflation gas into said mixing chamber to aspirate ambient air through said air inlet into said mixing chamber so that a mixture of ambient air and generated inflation gas is created to inflate the air bag, and further wherein said aspiration means comprises an inner section and an outer section in telescoping relation with said inner section, said inner section being in communication with said gas generating means and including said ambient air inlet and said nozzle means, and said outer section including said mixing chamber and being in communication with the air bag, said outer section being movable by pressure from said inflation gas in said mixing chamber from a closed position wherein said outer section covers the ambient air inlet in said inner section to an open position wherein said outer section exposes the ambient air inlet in said inner section,whereby upon engagement of the air bag by a vehicle occupant before it is fully inflated, a back pressure is created in said mixing chamber to reduce the flow of aspirated air into said mixing chamber and reduce the inflation rate of the air bag, thereby preventing continued rapid inflation of the air bag and possible serious injury to the occupant.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for inflating a vehicle air bag and for reducing the inflation rate of the air bag in the event that an occupant of the vehicle engages the air bag before it is fully inflated, including a gas generating unit for producing an inflation gas in response to a predetermined impact to the vehicle, and an aspiration unit operatively connected to the gas generating unit and to the air bag. The aspiration unit includes an ambient air inlet, a mixing chamber in communication with the air inlet, and one or more nozzles in communication with the gas generating unit and the mixing chamber for directing inflation gas into the mixing chamber to aspirate ambient air through the air inlet into the mixing chamber so that a mixture of ambient air and generated inflation gas is created for the inflation of the air bag. Upon engagement of the air bag by the vehicle occupant before it is fully inflated, a back pressure is created in the mixing chamber to reduce or terminate the flow of aspirated air and generated inflation gas into the mixing chamber and thus to reduce the inflation rate of the air bag, thereby preventing continued rapid inflation of the air bag and possible serious injury to the occupant.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. Apparatus for inflating a vehicle air bag and for reducing the inflation rate of the air bag in the event an occupant of the vehicle engages the air bag before it is fully inflated, comprising:
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gas generating means for producing an inflation gas in response to a predetermined impact to the vehicle, aspiration means operatively connected to said gas generating means and to the air bag, said aspiration means comprising an ambient air inlet, a mixing chamber in communication with said air inlet, and nozzle means in communication with said gas generating means and said mixing chamber for directing inflation gas into said mixing chamber to aspirate ambient air through said air inlet into said mixing chamber so that a mixture of ambient air and generated inflation gas is created to inflate the air bag, and further wherein said aspiration means comprises an inner section and an outer section in telescoping relation with said inner section, said inner section being in communication with said gas generating means and including said ambient air inlet and said nozzle means, and said outer section including said mixing chamber and being in communication with the air bag, said outer section being movable by pressure from said inflation gas in said mixing chamber from a closed position wherein said outer section covers the ambient air inlet in said inner section to an open position wherein said outer section exposes the ambient air inlet in said inner section, whereby upon engagement of the air bag by a vehicle occupant before it is fully inflated, a back pressure is created in said mixing chamber to reduce the flow of aspirated air into said mixing chamber and reduce the inflation rate of the air bag, thereby preventing continued rapid inflation of the air bag and possible serious injury to the occupant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification