Inflatable restraint apparatus

• US 6,457,738 B1
• Filed: 03/19/2001
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Textron Autmotive Company Inc.
• Original Assignee: Textron Autmotive Company Inc.
• Inventors: Gray, John D., Batchelder, Bruce A., Labrie, Craig B., Hersman, Marie J.
• Primary Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US09/812,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20020074776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.3, 280/732, 280/752, 280/728.2, 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/728.1
• US Class Current: 280/728.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2163 with energy absorbing or elastic means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/216 comprising tether means for limitation of cover motion during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2165 characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
• 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

Abstract

An inflatable restraint apparatus for an automotive vehicle includes an air bag deployment door formed in a trim panel. The air bag deployment door outer surface has an area of 5 in² to 35 in², and at least a portion of the perimeter comprises a frangible marginal edge. The frangible marginal edge includes a frangible length, and at least 20% of the frangible length is non-linear. The apparatus also includes an air bag dispenser containing an air bag having a volume of at least 90 liters. The air bag dispenser includes an elongated container having an air bag receptacle containing an air bag and an inflator receptacle containing an inflator.

Claims

1. An inflatable restraint apparatus for an automotive vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

an interior vehicle panel;

an air bag deployment door integrally formed in the vehicle panel, the air bag deployment door having a perimeter, at least a portion of the perimeter defined by a frangible marginal edge;

an air bag dispenser supported behind a door inner surface;

an air bag supported in an air bag receptacle of the air bag dispenser; and

a reaction plate disposed between the air bag and the air bag deployment door, the reation plate connected to the air bag deployment door, wherein the door has a predeployment position before a deployment of the air bag, and the reaction plate returns the door substantially towards the predeployment position after the deployment of the air bag.

2. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the reaction plate material comprises a plastic material.

3. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which the plastic material comprises a thermoset.

4. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which the plastic material comprises a thermoplastic.

5. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which the thermoplastic comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.

6. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the vehicle panel comprises a plastic material and the reaction plate comprises a plastic material;

and

wherein the reaction plate plastic material has a lower glass transition temperature than the vehicle panel plastic material.

7. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the vehicle panel comprises a plastic material and the reaction plate comprises a plastic material;

and

wherein the reaction plate plastic material is more ductile than the vehicle panel plastic material.

8. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the reaction plate is connected to the air bag deployment door by a fastener.

9. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which the fastener is a threaded fastener.

10. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined claim 9 in which the threaded fastener is threaded into a boss, the boss extending inward from the air bag deployment door.

11. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the reaction plate is connected to the air bag deployment door by an adhesive.

12. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the reaction plate is connected to the air bag deployment door by welding.

13. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the reaction plate includes a reaction plate panel portion.

14. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which the reaction plate panel portion moves outward from the dispenser with inflation of the air bag;

and

moves toward the dispenser with deflation of the air bag.

15. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which the reaction plate panel portion is configured to receive the force of air bag deployment from the dispenser and to direct that force against the door inner surface to separate the door from the vehicle panel along the frangible marginal edge of the door.

16. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the reaction plate includes a reaction plate tether portion.

17. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 16 in which the reaction plate tether portion is connected to the vehicle panel.

18. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 17 in which the reaction plate tether portion is connected to the vehicle panel by a fastener.

19. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 18 in which the fastener is a threaded fastener.

20. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 16 in which the reaction plate tether portion is connected to a support structure.

21. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the reaction plate includes a reaction plate panel portion and a reaction plate tether portion.

22. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 21 in which the reaction plate tether portion connects the reaction plate panel portion to the vehicle panel.

23. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 21 in which the reaction plate tether portion connects the reaction plate panel portion to a support structure.

24. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 21 in which the reaction plate tether portion and the reaction plate panel portion are integrally connected.

25. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 21 in which the reaction plate panel portion and the reaction plate tether portion comprise a unitary piece.

26. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the reaction plate includes a marginal outer edge portion having a shape generally identical to and aligned with at least a portion of the frangible marginal edge of the air bag deployment door.

27. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which at least a portion of the reaction plate is disposed adjacent the door inner surface.

28. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the door and vehicle panel comprise a unitary piece.

29. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which a flexible skin covers at least a portion of the vehicle panel in a layered disposition.

30. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which a foam layer covers at least a portion of the vehicle panel.

31. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the frangible marginal edge of the door comprises a region of reduced cross sectional thickness of the vehicle panel.

32. Be An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the frangible marginal edge defines the entire air bag deployment door perimeter.

33. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which at least one rib extends integrally inward from an inner surface of the reaction plate.

34. An inflatable restraint apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the vehicle panel comprises an instrument panel.

35. A method of operating an inflatable restraint apparatus for an automotive vehicle, the method comprising:

providing an interior vehicle panel;

providing an air bag deployment door integrally formed in the vehicle panel, the air bag deployment door having a perimeter, at least a portion of the perimeter defined by a frangible marginal edge;

providing an air bag dispenser supported behind a door inner surface;

providing an air bag supported in an air bag receptacle of the air bag dispenser; and

providing a reaction plate disposed between the air bag and the air bag deployment door;

providing a predeployment position for the air bag deployment door before a deployment of the air bag; and

returning the air bag deployment door towards the predeployment position after the deployment of the air bag, wherein the reaction plate returns the air bag deployment door substantially towards the predeployment position after the deployment of the air bag.

36. The method of operating an inflatable restraint apparatus of claims 35 in which a portion of the reaction plate moves outward from the dispenser with inflation of the air bag;

and

moves toward the dispenser with deflation of the air bag.