Variable profile air bag restraint

• US 6,390,501 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2000
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated), GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated), General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Thomas, Scott David, Greib, Gary R., Wolanin, Michael John
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US09/672,409
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.1, 280/743.2, 280/739, 280/740, 280/742, 280/736, 280/735, 280/732
• US Class Current: 280/743.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01538 for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01554 Seat position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2171 specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/276 with means to vent the inflation fluid source, e.g. in case of overpressure B60R21/30 takes precedence; venting means on inflatable member walls B60R21/239

Abstract

An air bag assembly for cushioning restraint of an occupant in a vehicle during an impact event. The air bag assembly includes an inflator activatable to discharge inflation gas upon the occurrence of predetermined vehicle conditions and an air bag cushion in fluid communication with the inflator such that upon discharge of inflation gas from the inflator the air bag cushion is inflated to a deployed state from a location of deployment in substantially opposing relation to the occupant. One or more profile restraining tether elements extend from locations on the air bag cushion to a releasable anchor structure so as to shorten the operative length of the profile restraining tether elements. An actuation mechanism activatable in response to a signal from a sensor measuring occupant conditions is used to release the tether elements from the releasable anchor thereby extending the operative profile of the air bag cushion upon the occurrence of predetermined occupant conditions.

Claims

1. An air bag assembly for cushioning restraint of an occupant in a vehicle during an impact event, the air bag assembly comprising:

an inflator activatable to discharge inflation gas upon the occurrence of predetermined vehicle conditions;

an air bag cushion in fluid communication with the inflator such that upon discharge of inflation gas from the inflator the air bag cushion is inflated to a deployed state from a location of deployment in substantially opposing relation to the occupant;

one or more profile restraining tether elements extending from locations on the air bag cushion to a releasable anchor structure so as to shorten the operative length of the profile restraining tether elements, and

an actuation mechanism activatable based upon measurements from one or more sensors measuring conditions of the occupant during activation of the inflator to release the profile restraining tether elements from the releasable anchor structure upon the occurrence of predetermined occupant conditions thereby extending the operative profile of the air bag cushion, wherein the air bag assembly further comprises an actuatable variable inflation device to control the amount of inflation gas discharged into the air bag cushion and wherein the actuatable variable inflation device comprises a moveable member alignable with a vent opening within a housing in which the inflator is disposed, the moveable member being moveable relative to the vent opening upon activation of the actuation mechanism thereby adjusting the effective venting area of the vent opening during deployment of the air bag cushion.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the moveable member is moveable relative to the vent opening upon activation of the actuation mechanism thereby closing the vent opening during deployment of the air bag cushion.

3. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the moveable member is moveable relative to the vent opening upon activation of the actuation mechanism thereby opening the vent opening during deployment of the air bag cushion.

4. An air bag assembly for cushioning restraint of an occupant in a vehicle during an impact event, the air bag assembly comprising:

an inflator activatable to discharge inflation gas upon the occurrence of predetermined vehicle conditions;

an air bag cushion in fluid communication with the inflator such that upon discharge of inflation gas from the inflator the air bag cushion is inflated to a deployed state from a location of deployment in substantially opposing relation to the occupant;

one or more profile restraining tether elements extending from locations on the air bag cushion to a releasable anchor structure so as to shorten the operative length of the profile restraining tether elements, the releasable anchor structure including a moveable retaining pin holding the profile restraining tether elements in place; and

an actuation mechanism comprising a moveable plunger and a pyrotechnic initiator activatable during activation of the inflator, wherein the moveable plunger is operatively connected to the retaining pin such that upon activation of the initiator, the initiator generates pressure against the plunger moving the plunger away from the initiator such that the retaining pin is moved relative to the profile restraining tether elements thereby releasing the profile restraining tether elements from the releasable anchor structure.

5. The invention according to claim 4, wherein the profile restraining tether elements are releasably anchored to the retaining pin by a ring extending over the retaining pin.

6. The invention according to claim 5, wherein a mooring line is attached to the retaining ring thereby limiting movement of the retaining ring subsequent to the release of the profile restraining tether elements from the releasable anchor structure.

7. The invention according to claim 4, wherein the air bag assembly further comprises an actuatable variable inflation device to control the amount of inflation gas discharged into the air bag cushion.

8. The invention according to claim 7, wherein the actuatable variable inflation device comprises a moveable member alignable with a vent opening within a housing in which the inflator is disposed, the moveable member being moveable relative to the vent opening upon activation of the actuation mechanism thereby closing the vent opening in conjunction with the release of the tether elements to increase the amount of inflation gas discharged into the air bag cushion.

9. The invention according to claim 7, wherein the actuatable variable inflation device is actuated in conjunction with the release of the profile restraining tether elements by means of a single pyrotechnic initiator thereby directing additional inflation gas into the air bag upon release of the profile restraining tether elements.

10. An air bag assembly for cushioning restraint of an occupant in a vehicle during an impact event, the air bag assembly comprising:

an inflator activatable to discharge inflation gas upon the occurrence of predetermined vehicle conditions, the inflator being supported within a housing having a wall including at least one vent opening;

an air bag cushion having an interior surface in fluid communication with the inflator such that upon discharge of inflation gas from the inflator the air bag cushion is inflated to a deployed state from a location of deployment in substantially opposing relation to the occupant,

one or more elongated profile restraining tether elements extending from points on the interior surface of the air bag cushion and releasably anchored to an anchor structure by a moveable retaining pin thereby shortening the operative length of the profile restraining tether elements;

an actuatable variable inflation device to control the amount of inflation gas discharged into the air bag, the actuatable variable inflation device including a pyrotechnic initiator activatable in response to a signal from a sensor measuring the position of the occupant during activation of the inflator and a moveable plunger operatively connected to the retaining pin and to a vent blocking member alignable with the vent opening within the housing such that upon activation of the pyrotechnic initiator, the pyrotechnic initiator generates pressure against the plunger moving the plunger away from the initiator such that the retaining pin is moved relative to the profile restraining tether elements thereby releasing the profile restraining tether elements and such that the vent blocking member at least partially covers the vent opening within the housing thereby directing additional inflation gas into the air bag in conjunction with the release of the profile restraining tether elements.

11. The invention according to claim 10, wherein the sensor measuring the position of the occupant comprises an optical scanner.

12. The invention according to claim 10, wherein the sensor measuring the position of the occupant comprises a position sensor within a seat occupied by the occupant.

13. The invention according to claim 10, wherein the profile restraining tether elements are releasably anchored to the anchor structure by a retaining ring extending over the pin element.

14. The invention according to claim 13, wherein a mooring line is attached to the retaining ring thereby limiting movement of the retaining ring.