Air bag module

• US 5,913,536 A
• Filed: 02/07/1996
• Issued: 06/22/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1996
• 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: Brown, Louis R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US08/598,165
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: 280/782.2, 280/728.1, 280/729, 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2173 the module or part thereof being movably mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence

Abstract

An air bag module (80) mounted in a vehicle seat back (22) includes a single air bag (90) which has a thorax portion (110), a neck portion (120), and a head portion (100). The head portion (100) of the air bag (90) is mounted on a support tube (260) for sliding movement relative to an inflator (240). Upon actuation of the inflator (240), the thorax portion (110) of the air bag (90) inflates first, in a forward direction out of the seat back (22). The head portion (100) of the air bag (90), and the support tube (260), move upward out of the top of the seat back (22). The head portion (100) then inflates in a forward direction after the thorax portion (110) inflates, into a position to protect the head of the occupant. The neck portion (120) of the air bag (90), when inflated, has a relatively small width as compared to the head portion (100) and the thorax portion (110).

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle in the event of a side impact to the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device for, when inflated, helping to protect the vehicle occupant, said inflatable device having a deflated, folded condition and an inflated condition;

an inflator for, when actuated, supplying inflation fluid to said inflatable device to inflate said inflatable device;

said inflatable device having a thorax portion for receiving inflation fluid from said inflator and a head portion;

a support for said head portion of said inflatable device when said inflatable device is in the deflated condition; and

means for mounting said support and said head portion of said inflatable device for movement from a first position in a first direction away from said thorax portion of said inflatable device to a second position from which said head portion inflates in a second direction into a position to help protect the vehicle occupant.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first direction is an upward direction in the vehicle and said second direction is a forward direction in the vehicle.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a seat for supporting an occupant of the vehicle in a seated position in the vehicle, said seat including a seat bottom portion and a seat back, said apparatus further comprising means for mounting said inflator and said inflatable device and said support in said vehicle seat back with said inflatable device in the deflated condition.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said thorax portion of said inflatable device inflates in about 10 milliseconds after actuation of said inflator, said support moving from the first position to the second position at about 10 to 20 milliseconds after actuation of said inflator.

5. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle in the event of a side impact to the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device for, when inflated, helping to protect the vehicle occupant, said inflatable device having a deflated, folded condition and an inflated condition;

an inflator for, when actuated, supplying inflation fluid to said inflatable device to inflate said inflatable device;

said inflatable device having a thorax portion for receiving inflation fluid from said inflator and a head portion;

a support for said head portion of said inflatable device when said inflatable device is in the deflated condition; and

means for mounting said support and said head portion of said inflatable device for movement from a first position in a first direction away from said thorax portion of said inflatable device to a second position from which said head portion inflates in a second direction into a position to help protect the vehicle occupant;

further comprising a seat for supporting an occupant of the vehicle in a seated position in the vehicle, said seat including a seat bottom portion and a seat back, said apparatus further comprising means for mounting said inflator and said inflatable device and said support in said vehicle seat back with said inflatable device in the deflated condition; and

wherein said support is supported for movement from a first position which is inside of said seat back to a second position which is outside of said seat back in response to actuation of said inflator.

6. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle in the event of a side impact to the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device for, when inflated, helping to protect the vehicle occupant, said inflatable device having a deflated, folded condition and an inflated condition;

an inflator for, when actuated, supplying inflation fluid to said inflatable device to inflate said inflatable device;

said inflatable device having a thorax portion for receiving inflation fluid from said inflator and a head portion;

a support for said head portion of said inflatable device when said inflatable device is in the deflated condition; and

means for mounting said support and said head portion of said inflatable device for movement from a first position in a first direction away from said thorax portion of said inflatable device to a second position from which said head portion inflates in a second direction into a position to help protect the vehicle occupant;

wherein said support is disposed inside said inflatable device.

7. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle in the event of a side impact to the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device for, when inflated, helping to protect the vehicle occupant, said inflatable device having a deflated, folded condition and an inflated condition;

an inflator for, when actuated, supplying inflation fluid to said inflatable device to inflate said inflatable device;

said inflatable device having a thorax portion for receiving inflation fluid from said inflator and a head portion;

a support for said head portion of said inflatable device when said inflatable device is in the deflated condition; and

means for mounting said support and said head portion of said inflatable device for movement from a first position in a first direction away from said thorax portion of said inflatable device to a second position from which said head portion inflates in a second direction into a position to help protect the vehicle occupant;

wherein said support is mounted on said inflator for sliding movement relative to said inflator.

8. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle in the event of a side impact to the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

a seat for supporting an occupant of the vehicle in a seated position in the vehicle, said seat including a seat bottom portion and a seat back;

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device for, when inflated, helping to protect the vehicle occupant, said inflatable device defining a single inflation fluid volume and having a deflated, folded condition and an inflated condition;

said inflatable device having a thorax portion which is inflatable into a position to help protect the thorax of the vehicle occupant and a head portion which is inflatable into a position to help protect the head of the vehicle occupant;

an inflator for, when actuated, supplying inflation fluid to said inflatable device to inflate said inflatable device; and

means for mounting said inflator and said inflatable device in said vehicle seat back with said thorax portion and said head portion in the folded condition;

said head portion of said inflatable device unfolding and inflating from said vehicle seat back after said thorax portion of said inflatable device unfolds and inflates from said vehicle seat back;

each one of said head portion and said thorax portion of said inflatable device when inflated having a width as measured in a generally forward direction of the vehicle;

said inflatable device further comprising a neck portion of said inflatable device which extends between said head portion and said thorax portion and which connects said head portion in fluid communication with said thorax portion, said neck portion of said inflatable device when inflated having a relatively small width as compared to the widths of said head portion and said thorax portion as measured in said generally forward direction of the vehicle;

said inflator including a first section disposed within said thorax portion of said inflatable device and a second section disposed within said neck portion and said head portion of said inflatable device, said first section of said inflator including inflation fluid outlet means disposed within said thorax portion of said inflatable device for directing inflation fluid from said inflator into said thorax portion of said thorax portion of said inflatable device, said second section of said inflator being free of inflation fluid outlets.