Mounting bracket for seat mounted air bag
First Claim
1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a seat for the occupant and a vehicle side structure, said apparatus comprising:
- an air bag module including an air bag inflatable into a position between the occupant and the vehicle side structure; and
a bracket for supporting said air bag module on the vehicle seat, said bracket comprising;
a first bracket portion connectable to a seat frame;
a second bracket portion connectable to said module; and
a hinge disposed intermediate said first and second bracket portions and interconnecting said first and second bracket portions to enable said second bracket portion to pivot relative to said first bracket portion during inflation of said air bag to affect a direction in which said air bag deploys from said vehicle seat.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (26) having a seat (24) for the occupant and a vehicle side structure (28) comprises an air bag module (22) including an air bag (70) inflatable into a position between the occupant and the vehicle side structure. The apparatus (10) also comprises a bracket (20) for supporting the air bag module (22) on the vehicle seat (24). The bracket (20) comprises a first bracket portion (90) connectable to the seat frame (50), and a second bracket portion (100) for mounting the module (22). The bracket (20) includes a hinge (120) disposed intermediate the first and second bracket portions (90, 100) and interconnecting the first and second bracket portions. The hinge (120) enables the second bracket portion (100) to pivot relative to the first bracket portion (90) during inflation of the air bag (70) to affect the direction in which the air bag deploys from the vehicle seat (24).
33 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a seat for the occupant and a vehicle side structure, said apparatus comprising:
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an air bag module including an air bag inflatable into a position between the occupant and the vehicle side structure; and
a bracket for supporting said air bag module on the vehicle seat, said bracket comprising;
a first bracket portion connectable to a seat frame;
a second bracket portion connectable to said module; and
a hinge disposed intermediate said first and second bracket portions and interconnecting said first and second bracket portions to enable said second bracket portion to pivot relative to said first bracket portion during inflation of said air bag to affect a direction in which said air bag deploys from said vehicle seat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a seat for the occupant and a vehicle side structure, said apparatus comprising:
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an air bag module including an air bag inflatable into a position between the occupant and the vehicle side structure and an actuatable inflator for inflating said air bag; and
a bracket for supporting said air bag module on the vehicle seat, said bracket comprising a first bracket portion connectable to the seat frame, a second bracket portion connectable to said module, and means for enabling said second bracket portion to pivot relative to said first bracket portion in response to actuation of said inflator to affect the direction in which said air bag deploys from said vehicle seat. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification