Stored gas inflator assembly
First Claim
1. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a side structure in the event of a side impact to the vehicle or a vehicle rollover, said safety apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and having an inflated condition in which said protection device is inflated between the vehicle occupant and the vehicle side structure; and
an inflator assembly for directing inflation fluid for at least five seconds from said inflator assembly into said protection device to inflate said protection device and maintain said protection device in said inflated condition for at least five seconds, said inflator assembly comprising at least one container containing stored inflation fluid under pressure, said inflator assembly being free from pyrotechnic material for generating gas for inflating said protection device.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A safety apparatus (12) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a side structure (16) comprises an inflatable protection device (14) having an inflated condition disposed between the vehicle occupant and the side structure. The safety apparatus (12) also comprises an inflator assembly (10) for inflating the protection device (14) and for maintaining the protection device in the inflated condition for at least five seconds. The inflator assembly (10) includes at least one container (30) having gas (52) stored under pressure. In a preferred embodiment, the inflator assembly (10) comprises a primary outlet passage (70) connected with the container for releasing inflation fluid (52) from the inflator assembly at a relatively high rate over a relatively short period of time. The inflator assembly (10) also preferably has a secondary outlet passage (90) connected with the container for releasing inflation fluid from the inflator assembly at a relatively low rate for about five to ten seconds.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a side structure in the event of a side impact to the vehicle or a vehicle rollover, said safety apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and having an inflated condition in which said protection device is inflated between the vehicle occupant and the vehicle side structure; and
an inflator assembly for directing inflation fluid for at least five seconds from said inflator assembly into said protection device to inflate said protection device and maintain said protection device in said inflated condition for at least five seconds, said inflator assembly comprising at least one container containing stored inflation fluid under pressure, said inflator assembly being free from pyrotechnic material for generating gas for inflating said protection device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
first output means connected with said at least one container for releasing inflation fluid from said inflator assembly at a relatively high rate over a relatively short period of time; and
second output means connected with said at least one container for releasing inflation fluid from said inflator assembly at a relatively low rate for a relatively long period of time; and
an openable portion for releasing inflation fluid to flow from said container through said first and second output means.
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12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said relatively long period of time is about five to ten seconds.
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13. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said inflator assembly further comprises means for releasing fluid at a first predetermined flow rate for a first period of time and at a second predetermined flow rate for a second predetermined period of time, and wherein said second predetermined flow rate is selected to be a flow rate which is sufficient only to replace pressure lost through leakage from or cooling of said protection device.
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14. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the side structure of the vehicle includes side windows, said apparatus including a support structure for helping to connect said protection device adjacent the vehicle side structure above the side windows, said support structure comprising a fill tube.
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15. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a fill tube for delivering said inflation fluid from said inflator assembly to said protection device, said fill tube having a portion located in said protection device.
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16. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a side structure including side windows in the event of a side impact to the vehicle or a vehicle rollover, said safety apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and having an inflated condition in which said protection device is inflated between the vehicle occupant and the vehicle side structure;
an inflator assembly for providing inflation fluid for at least five seconds to inflate said protection device and maintain said protection device in said inflated condition for at least five seconds, said inflator assembly comprising at least one container containing stored inflation fluid under pressure, said inflator assembly being free from pyrotechnic material for generating gas for inflating said protection device;
a conduit for delivering said inflation fluid from said inflator assembly to said protection device; and
a support structure for helping to connect said protection device adjacent the vehicle side structure above the side windows, said support structure comprising a fill tube for delivering said inflation fluid from said inflator assembly to said protection device, said fill tube having a portion located in said protection device.
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17. A stored gas inflator assembly actuatable to direct inflation fluid into an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device for an extended period of time, said inflator assembly comprising:
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a container for containing inflation fluid under pressure;
first output means connected with said container for releasing inflation fluid from said inflator assembly at a relatively high rate over a relatively short period of time; and
second output means connected with said container for releasing inflation fluid from said inflator assembly at a relatively low rate over a relatively long period of time; and
a single openable portion connected with said container for releasing inflation fluid to flow from said container to said first and second output means. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a side structure in the event of a side impact to the vehicle or a vehicle rollover, said safety apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and having an inflated condition in which said protection device is inflated between the vehicle occupant and the vehicle side structure; and
an inflator assembly for providing inflation fluid for at least five seconds to inflate said protection device, said inflator assembly including a single container containing inflation fluid under pressure, said container having a single burst disk rupturable to release inflation fluid to flow out of said container, said inflator assembly being free from pyrotechnic material for generating gas for inflating said protection device. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
second output means connected with said container for releasing inflation fluid from said inflator assembly at a relatively low rate over a relatively long period of time when said burst disk is ruptured.
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27. Apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein said relatively long period of time is at least five seconds.
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28. A stored gas inflator assembly actuatable to direct inflation fluid into an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device for an extended period of time, said inflator assembly comprising:
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a container for containing inflation fluid under pressure;
first output means connected with said container for releasing inflation fluid from said inflator assembly at a relatively high rate; and
second output means connects with said container for releasing inflation fluid from said inflator assembly at a relatively low rate, said inflation fluid being released to flow through said first and second output means when an openable portion is opened, said first output means closing to block flow of said inflation fluid through said first output means when inflation fluid pressure in said container drops below a predetermined level, said inflation fluid continuing to flow through said second output means after said inflation fluid pressure in said container drops below said predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification