Arrangements and methods for inflatable device formation of inflation gas

• US 6,254,129 B1
• Filed: 08/02/2000
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ward, Michael J., Green, David J., Rink, Karl K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, J. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZEENDER, FLORIAN M
• Application Number:
  US09/632,022
• Time in Patent Office: 335 Days
• Field of Search: 280/737, 280/741, 280/735, 280/736, 280/728.1, 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/742, 280/743.1, 422/164, 422/166
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26029 Ignitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26094 characterised by fluid flow controlling valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/264 using instantaneous generation of gas, e.g. pyrotechnic B60R21/268 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 23/008 Tagging additives
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 33/00 Compositions containing particulate metal, alloy, boron, silicon, selenium or tellurium with at least one oxygen supplying material which is either a metal oxide or a salt, organic or inorganic, capable of yielding a metal oxide
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/04 by auto-decomposition of single substances

Abstract

Inflatable device inflation assemblies wherein a gas source material is released from an inflator apparatus into an inflatable device wherein the gas source material may, such as upon actuation of an initiator device situated within the inflatable device, dissociate or otherwise form gaseous products for the inflation of the inflatable device. An inflatable restraint system is also provided which includes a plurality of inflatable devices each operatively joined with a chamber which contains a dissociative gas source material. The system includes at least one first initiator effective upon actuation to initiate dissociation of the gas source material within a selected one of the plurality of inflatable devices. A method for inflating an inflatable device is also provided wherein a quantity of at least one gas source material is released into the inflatable device and which gas source material, when initiated, undergoes dissociation to form dissociation products including at least one gaseous dissociation product.

Claims

1. An inflatable restraint system comprising:

a chamber which contains at least one gas source material, which material, when initiated, dissociates to form dissociation products including at least one gaseous dissociation product,

opening means actuatable to open said chamber whereby at least a portion of the at least one gas source material can be expelled from said chamber;

a plurality of inflatable devices each operatively joined with said chamber whereby, upon opening of said chamber, at least a portion of the at least one gas source material expelled from said chamber is passed into the interior of at least a first selected one of said plurality of inflatable devices;

at least one first initiator effective, upon actuation, to initiate dissociation of the at least one gas source material within the first selected one of said plurality of inflatable devices; and

at least one second initiator effective, upon actuation, to initiate dissociation of the at least one gas source material within a second selected one of said plurality of inflatable devices to form dissociation products including the at least one gaseous dissociation product.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one gas source material comprises nitrous oxide.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one second initiator and the at least one first initiator differ in at least one design characteristic selected from the group consisting of size, energy output and geometry.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of inflatable devices operatively joined with said chamber are for the protection of a single vehicle occupant.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of inflatable devices operatively joined with said chamber is positioned remote from said chamber.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of inflatable devices comprises at least one curtain inflatable device.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of inflatable devices comprises at least one carpet inflatable device.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of inflatable devices comprises at least one driver side inflatable device.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of inflatable devices comprises at least one passenger side inflatable device.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of inflatable devices comprises at least one side impact inflatable device.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of inflatable devices comprises at least one curtain inflatable device and at least one side impact inflatable device.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of inflatable devices comprises at least one driver side inflatable device and at least one passenger side inflatable device.

13. An inflatable restraint system comprising:

a chamber having contents including at least a quantity of nitrous oxide,

opening means actuatable to open said chamber whereby at least a portion of the quantity of nitrous oxide can be released from said chamber;

a plurality of inflatable devices each operatively joined with said chamber whereby, upon opening of said chamber, the portion of the quantity of nitrous oxide released from said chamber is passed into the interior of at least a first selected one of said plurality of inflatable devices;

at least one first actuatable initiator situated within the first selected one of said plurality of inflatable devices, said first initiator effective, upon actuation, to initiate dissociation within the first selected one of said plurality of inflatable devices of at least a portion of the quantity of nitrous oxide released from said chamber that comes into contact with said first initiator to form dissociation products which include at least one gaseous dissociation product; and

at least one second actuatable initiator situated within a second selected one of said plurality of inflatable devices, said second initiator effective, upon actuation, to initiate dissociation of at least a portion of the quantity of nitrous oxide within the second selected one of said plurality of inflatable devices to form dissociation products including the at least one gaseous dissociation product.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of inflatable devices comprises at least one driver side inflatable device.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of inflatable devices comprises at least one passenger side inflatable device.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of inflatable devices comprises at least one side impact inflatable device.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of inflatable devices comprises at least one curtain inflatable device.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of inflatable devices comprises at least one carpet inflatable device.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein each of the plurality of inflatable devices operatively joined with said chamber are for the protection of a single vehicle occupant.

20. The system of claim 13 wherein at least one of the plurality of inflatable devices is positioned remote from said chamber.

21. The system of claim 13 wherein the at least one second actuatable initiator and the at least one first actuatable initiator differ in at least one design characteristic selected from the group consisting of size, energy output and geometry.

22. The system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of inflatable devices comprises at least one curtain inflatable device and at least one side impact inflatable device.

23. The system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of inflatable devices comprises at least one driver side inflatable device and at least one passenger side inflatable device.