Inflatable restraint apparatus

• US 6,533,312 B1
• Filed: 04/18/2000
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Collins & Aikman Holdings SA de CV
• Original Assignee: Textron Autmotive Company Inc.
• Inventors: Batchelder, Bruce A., Labrie, Craig B., Hersman, Marie J., Gray, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US09/551,784
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 280/732, 280/740, 280/752, 280/731
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2163 with energy absorbing or elastic means
• 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 21/2171 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 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 air bag system comprising:

a single elongated container, the elongated container having an outer surface and an inner surface;

the elongated container having an air bag receptacle, the air bag receptacle containing an air bag;

the elongated container having an inflator receptacle, an inflator contained in the inflator receptacle, the inflator having an outer surface and an outlet end portion;

wherein the airbag receptacle and inflator receptacle are partially separated by a collar, the collar comprising a sloped portion that directs a gas from the inflator outlet end portion into the air bag, and an aperture through which the inflator outlet end portion extends.

2. An air bag system as defined in claim 1 wherein the inflator has a longitudinal axis, the inflator longitudinal axis substantially parallel to a direction of air bag inflation.

3. An air bag system as defined in claim 1 wherein the elongated container outer surface is substantially circular.

4. An air bag system as defined in claim 1 wherein the elongated container outer surface is substantially circular and contains at least one flat surface.

5. An air bag system as defined in claim 1 wherein the elongated container outer surface is substantially oval.

6. An air bag system as defined in claim 1 wherein the elongated container outer surface is substantially oval and contains at least one flat surface.

7. An air bag system as defined in claim 1 wherein the elongated container inner surface is substantially circular.

8. An air bag system as defined in claim 1 wherein the elongated container inner surface is substantially circular and contains at least one flat surface.

9. An air bag system as defined in claim 1 wherein the elongated container inner surface is substantially oval.

10. An air bag system as defined in claim 1 wherein the elongated container inner surface is substantially oval and contains at least one flat surface.

11. An air bag system as defined in claim 1 wherein the collar and air bag are fastened together.

12. An air bag system as defined in claim 1 wherein the collar prevents at least a portion of the inflator outer surface from contacting the elongated container inner surface.

13. An air bag system as defined in claim 1 wherein the elongated container outer surface comprises at least one attachment point for attaching the elongated container to a support structure.

14. An air bag system as defined in claim 13 wherein the support structure is a trim panel.

15. An air bag system as defined in claim 14 wherein the elongated container is attached to the trim panel by fasteners.

16. An air bag system as defined in claim 14 wherein the elongated container is attached to the trim panel by welding.

17. An air bag system as defined in claim 13 wherein the support structure is a cross-car beam.

18. An air bag system as defined in claim 1 wherein the elongated container comprises plastic.