Airbag cushion and mounting therefor
First Claim
1. An airbag cushion comprising:
- a. a deployment tube having an inner end and an outer end,b. a cushion-shaping enclosure connected to the outer end of the deployment tube and having a periphery, andc. a boundary wall adapted to define an aspirated-air air chamber surrounding the deployment tube and having an outer end connected to the periphery of the cushion-shaping enclosure and an inner end surrounding the inner end of the deployment tube,wherein the cushion-shaping enclosure comprises an outer panel portion and an inner panel portion, the portions being coextensive and both having peripheries and the peripheries being joined together and wherein the boundary wall comprises a first panel portion having a central opening comprising the inner end of the boundary wall and having opposite ends, the opposite ends being joined to opposite ends of the cushion-shaping enclosure.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag cushion has a deployment tube connected at its inner end to a backing plate securing an inflator and at its outer end to a cushion-shaping enclosure. The periphery of the cushion-shaping enclosure is attached there about to a boundary wall which extends inward to the backing plate at a location surrounding the inner end of the deployment tube. The boundary wall defines an aspirated-air chamber surrounding the tube. As the tube and cushion-shaping enclosure are inflated, the enclosure pulls the boundary wall out of the canister creating a vacuum in the aspirated-air chamber. A one-way valve in the backing plate passes aspirated air into the aspirated-air chamber. A port connects the cushion-shaping enclosure to the aspirated-air chamber to pressurize the aspirated-air chamber at the end of inflation. The one-way valve blocks escape of the pressure.
32 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An airbag cushion comprising:
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a. a deployment tube having an inner end and an outer end, b. a cushion-shaping enclosure connected to the outer end of the deployment tube and having a periphery, and c. a boundary wall adapted to define an aspirated-air air chamber surrounding the deployment tube and having an outer end connected to the periphery of the cushion-shaping enclosure and an inner end surrounding the inner end of the deployment tube, wherein the cushion-shaping enclosure comprises an outer panel portion and an inner panel portion, the portions being coextensive and both having peripheries and the peripheries being joined together and wherein the boundary wall comprises a first panel portion having a central opening comprising the inner end of the boundary wall and having opposite ends, the opposite ends being joined to opposite ends of the cushion-shaping enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An airbag cushion comprising:
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a. a central deployment tube having an inner end and an outer end, the inner and adapted to be connected to mounting means, b. first panel portion having opposite sidle margins and opposite ends and a central opening, c. an outer panel portion having opposite side margins and opposite ends secured to the opposite ends of the first panel, respectively, d. an inner panel having a perimeter and secured at its perimeter to the opposite side margins and opposite ends of the outer panel, the inner panel having an opening connected about the outer end of the deployment tube to thereby define with the outer panel a cushion-shaping enclosure, e. side panels secured to the side margins of both the first panel portion and the outer panel portion and defining with the first panel portion a boundary wall a the central opening in the first panel portion defining the inner end of the boundary wall and adapted to be attached to the mounting means at a location laterally outward from the inner end of the deployment tube, the boundary wall and the inner panel defining an aspirated-air chamber surrounding the deployment tube, f. the inner panel being formed with at least one vent from the cushion-shaping enclosure into the aspirated-air chamber at a location remote from the outer end of the deployment tube. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An airbag cushion and mounting assembly comprising:
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a. a deployment tube having an inner end and an outer end, b. a cushion-shaping enclosure connected to the outer end of the deployment tube and having a periphery c. a boundary wall defining an aspirated-air chamber surrounding the deployment tube and having an outer end connected to the periphery of the cushion-shaping enclosure and an inner end, d vent means between the cushion-shaping enclosure and the aspirated-air chamber, and e. mounting means securing an airbag inflator and connecting the inner end of the deployment tube about the airbag inflator, said mounting means having a one-way valve, the inner end of the boundary wall connected to the mounting means around the one-way valve, the valve permitting ambient air into the aspirated-air chamber but blocking escapee, and wherein the boundary wall comprises a first panel portion having a central opening comprising the inner end of the boundary wall and having side margins and opposite ends, the opposite ends of the first panel portion being secured to the cushion-shaping enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An airbag cushion and mounting assembly comprising:
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a. a deployment tube having an inner end and an outer end, b. a cushion-shaping enclosure connected to the outer end of the deployment tube and having a periphery, c. a boundary wall defining an aspirated-air chamber surrounding the deployment tube and having an outer end connected to the periphery of the cushion-shaping enclosure and an inner end, d. vent means in the cushion-shaping enclosure into the aspirated-air chamber, and e. mounting means securing an airbag inflator and connecting the inner end of the deployment tube about the airbag inflator, said mounting means having a one-way valve, the inner end of the boundary wall connected to the mounting means around the one-way valve, the valve permitting ambient air into the aspirated-air chamber but blocking escape, and wherein the cushion-shaping enclosure comprises an outer panel portion and an inner panel portion, the outer and inner panel portions being peripherally joined and held contiguous in localized areas by a plurality of spaced parallel lines of stitching disposed transversely of the cushion-shaping enclosure, each of said parallel lines being discontinuous in a central zone of the cushion-shaping enclosure so that when inflated, the cushion-shaping enclosure is partly defined by a plurality of fluid-filled pockets. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification