Air-bag arrangement
First Claim
1. An air-bag unit, the air-bag unit comprising a support plate;
- an air-bag, the air-bag having an aperture therein, the portion of the air-bag surrounding the aperture being located adjacent a predetermined region of the support plate;
an element incorporating a flange, the flange being located adjacent the portion of the air-bag defining the aperture so that said portion of the air-bag is positioned between the flange and the support plate; and
a gas diffuser, the gas diffuser, together with, said flange, defining a diffusion chamber;
the gas diffuser having a portion located adjacent said flange, the gas diffuser portion being associated with a plurality of elongate connector elements which extend through the flange and through the portion of the air-bag surrounding the aperture therein, and through the support plate, the connecting elements being configured so that the distance between the portion of the diffuser and the support plate is variable, but restricted;
the air-bag unit further comprising a source of gas adapted to be activated in response to a predetermined signal to supply gas to the diffusion chamber, the arrangement being such that, in use, the portion of the diffuser and the flange move apart in response to an increase of gas pressure within the diffusion chamber, with the flange and the support plate being biased towards each other to grip said portion of the air-bag, the arrangement also being such that, in use, a gas flow path exists between the diffusion chamber and the interior of the air-bag.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An air-bag unit comprises a support plate (2) having an aperture (4) in it, and an air-bag (14) which also has an aperture (16) formed in it. A gas generator (7) has a radially outwardly extending flange (8) which is located so that a region (15) of the air-bag (14) surrounding the aperture (16) formed therein is trapped between the flange (8) and the support plate (2). A gas diffuser (10) is provided which, together with the flange (8) defines a diffusion chamber (18), the arrangement being such that in use of the device, gas from the gas generator (8) is injected into the diffusion chamber (18). A plurality of elongate connector elements (17) extend from a part of the gas diffuser (10) through the flange (8) and through the region (15) of the air-bag surrounding the aperture, also passing through apertures formed in the plate (2) so that the distance between the said portion of the diffuser (10) and the support plate is variable. In use, the diffuser (10) and flange (8) move apart and the air-bag is firmly gripped between the flange (8) and the plate (2).
27 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An air-bag unit, the air-bag unit comprising a support plate;
- an air-bag, the air-bag having an aperture therein, the portion of the air-bag surrounding the aperture being located adjacent a predetermined region of the support plate;
an element incorporating a flange, the flange being located adjacent the portion of the air-bag defining the aperture so that said portion of the air-bag is positioned between the flange and the support plate; and
a gas diffuser, the gas diffuser, together with, said flange, defining a diffusion chamber;
the gas diffuser having a portion located adjacent said flange, the gas diffuser portion being associated with a plurality of elongate connector elements which extend through the flange and through the portion of the air-bag surrounding the aperture therein, and through the support plate, the connecting elements being configured so that the distance between the portion of the diffuser and the support plate is variable, but restricted;
the air-bag unit further comprising a source of gas adapted to be activated in response to a predetermined signal to supply gas to the diffusion chamber, the arrangement being such that, in use, the portion of the diffuser and the flange move apart in response to an increase of gas pressure within the diffusion chamber, with the flange and the support plate being biased towards each other to grip said portion of the air-bag, the arrangement also being such that, in use, a gas flow path exists between the diffusion chamber and the interior of the air-bag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- an air-bag, the air-bag having an aperture therein, the portion of the air-bag surrounding the aperture being located adjacent a predetermined region of the support plate;
Specification