Air bag module with deployment door

• US 6,189,916 B1
• Filed: 12/15/1998
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1998
• 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: Sutherland, Daniel R., Bowers, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US09/211,194
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/730.1, 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 280/732
• US Class Current: 280/728.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/215 characterised by the covers for the inflatable member B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/216 comprising tether means for limitation of cover motion during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2176 the air bag components being completely enclosed in a soft or semi-rigid housing or cover

Abstract

A vehicle occupant safety apparatus (10) for mounting in a portion (20) of a vehicle includes a module (12). The module (12) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (30), an inflation fluid source (32), a cover (40) for the vehicle occupant protection device and the inflation fluid source, and bolts (38) for mounting the module in the vehicle portion. The module cover (40) encloses the inflation fluid source (32) and the protection device (30) when the protection device is in a deflated condition. The module cover (40) is made from a material which is flexible and wrapped around the vehicle occupant protection device (30) and the inflation fluid source (32). The apparatus also includes a deployment door (14), and tabs (90) (104) for releasably mounting the deployment door on the vehicle portion (20) for movement relative to the vehicle portion upon inflation of the protection device (30). The apparatus (10) also includes a flexible tether (16) connecting the deployment door (14) with the module (12) for limiting movement of the deployment door away from the module beyond a predetermined distance upon inflation of the protection device (30).

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for mounting in a portion of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

a module including an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, an inflation fluid source, a cover for said vehicle occupant protection device and said inflation fluid source, and means for mounting said module in the vehicle portion;

said vehicle occupant protection device being inflatable from a deflated condition to an inflated condition to help protect an occupant of a vehicle;

said inflation fluid source being actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating said protection device;

said module cover enclosing said inflation fluid source and said protection device when said protection device is in the deflated condition;

said module cover being made from a material which is flexible and wrapped around said vehicle occupant protection device and said inflation fluid source;

a deployment door;

means for releasably mounting said deployment door on the vehicle portion for movement relative to the vehicle portion upon inflation of said protection device; and

a flexible member connecting said deployment door with said module for limiting movement of said deployment door away from said module beyond a predetermined distance upon inflation of said protection device,

said means for mounting said module comprising a mounting member which projects through said flexible cover, said flexible member being connected to said mounting member and to said deployment door.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mounting member is a bolt for securing said module in a seat of a vehicle.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mounting member is a bolt for securing said module in an instrument panel of a vehicle.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible member comprises a tether.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said tether is connected between said deployment door and said module.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mounting means secures said module to a seat frame member of a seat of the vehicle, said deployment door being mounted to a soft outer portion of the seat spaced apart from the seat frame member.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said inflation fluid source comprises an inflator in a diffuser, said protection device being wrapped around said inflation fluid source and enclosed in said module cover.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said module cover is made from a material which is sufficiently flexible or deformable that said module is not perceived by an occupant of the vehicle as being a hard or rigid object when said module is mounted in the vehicle portion.