Side air bag incorporating inverted T-shaped flow barrier
First Claim
1. An inflatable air bag cushion for expansion within a transportation vehicle in side relation to a vehicle occupant upon introduction of inflation gas from a gas emitting inflator, the air bag cushion comprising:
- a mouth opening for fluid communication with the inflator; and
an inflatable body comprising a pair of substantially opposing surfaces, wherein the inflatable body includes a thorax protection portion and a head protection portion in fluid communication with the thorax protection portion, the thorax protection portion being disposed intermediate the mouth opening and the head protection portion such that upon introduction of inflation gas from the inflator, at least a portion of the inflation gas travels through the thorax protection portion and into the head protection portion and wherein the inflatable body includes a gas blocking barrier structure having a substantially inverted T-shaped geometry adjoining the pair of substantially opposing surfaces across the inflatable body such that upon introduction of the inflation gas from the inflator, the gas blocking barrier structure partially blocks the flow of inflation gas from the thorax protection portion into the head protection portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A side impact air bag cushion which incorporates a flow barrier of inverted T-Shaped geometry at the interior. The flow barrier which may be in the form of a zero length tether includes a base portion and a leg portion extending away from the base portion. The base portion provides a partial barrier between the thorax protection portion of the air bag cushion and the head protection portion. The structure promotes desirable early inflation of the thorax protection portion of the air bag cushion as well as the substantially vertical inflated orientation of the head protection portion.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An inflatable air bag cushion for expansion within a transportation vehicle in side relation to a vehicle occupant upon introduction of inflation gas from a gas emitting inflator, the air bag cushion comprising:
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a mouth opening for fluid communication with the inflator; and
an inflatable body comprising a pair of substantially opposing surfaces, wherein the inflatable body includes a thorax protection portion and a head protection portion in fluid communication with the thorax protection portion, the thorax protection portion being disposed intermediate the mouth opening and the head protection portion such that upon introduction of inflation gas from the inflator, at least a portion of the inflation gas travels through the thorax protection portion and into the head protection portion and wherein the inflatable body includes a gas blocking barrier structure having a substantially inverted T-shaped geometry adjoining the pair of substantially opposing surfaces across the inflatable body such that upon introduction of the inflation gas from the inflator, the gas blocking barrier structure partially blocks the flow of inflation gas from the thorax protection portion into the head protection portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An inflatable air bag cushion for expansion within a transportation vehicle in side relation to a vehicle occupant upon introduction of inflation gas from a gas emitting inflator, the air bag cushion comprising:
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a mouth opening for fluid communication with the inflator; and
an inflatable body comprising an upper boundary distal from the mouth opening, a pair of substantially opposing lateral sides extending away from the upper boundary and a pair of substantially opposing surfaces disposed between the lateral sides, wherein the inflatable body includes a thorax protection portion for inflated deployment adjacent the thorax of the occupant and a head protection portion in fluid communication with the thorax protection portion for inflated deployment adjacent the head of the occupant, the thorax protection portion being disposed at a height below the head protection portion intermediate the mouth opening and the head protection portion such that upon introduction of inflation gas from the inflator, at least a portion of the inflation gas travels through the thorax protection portion and into the head protection portion and wherein the inflatable body includes a gas blocking barrier structure having a substantially inverted T-shaped geometry adjoining the pair of substantially opposing surfaces across the inflatable body, the gas blocking barrier structure including an elongate base portion including a pair of opposing terminal ends each projecting towards one of the lateral sides and an elongate leg portion extending away from the base portion towards the upper boundary, the base portion being disposed substantially between the head protection portion and the thorax protection portion such that upon introduction of the inflation gas from the inflator, the base portion partially blocks the flow of inflation gas from the thorax protection portion into the head protection portion. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An inflatable air bag cushion for expansion within a transportation vehicle in side relation to a vehicle occupant upon introduction of inflation gas from a gas emitting inflator, the air bag cushion comprising:
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a mouth opening for fluid communication with the inflator; and
an inflatable body enclosed by at least one perimeter seam and including an upper boundary distal from the mouth opening, lateral sides extending away from the upper boundary and a pair of substantially opposing surfaces disposed between the lateral sides, wherein the inflatable body includes a thorax protection portion for inflated deployment adjacent the thorax of the occupant and a head protection portion in fluid communication with the thorax protection portion for inflated deployment adjacent the head of the occupant, the thorax protection portion being disposed intermediate the mouth opening and the head protection portion such that upon introduction of inflation gas from the inflator, at least a portion of the inflation gas travels through the thorax protection portion and into the head protection portion and wherein the inflatable body includes a gas blocking barrier structure having a substantially inverted T-shaped geometry and comprising at least one zero length tether adjoining the opposing surfaces across the inflatable body, the gas blocking barrier structure including an elongate base portion including opposing terminal ends projecting towards opposing lateral sides and an elongate leg portion extending away from the base portion towards the upper boundary, the base portion being disposed substantially between the head protection portion and the thorax protection portion such that upon introduction of the inflation gas from the inflator, the base portion partially blocks the flow of inflation gas from the thorax protection portion into the head protection portion and the leg portion adjoins the substantially opposing surfaces within the head protection portion. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification