Variable profile air bag restraint

• US 6,561,545 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2002
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated), General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Greib, Gary R, Thomas, Scott David, Wolanin, Michael John
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US10/095,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20020125706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.1, 280/743.2, 280/739, 280/740, 280/732, 280/735, 280/736, 280/742
• 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;

a housing substantially surrounding the air bag cushion and the inflator prior to inflation of the air bag cushion, wherein the housing includes a venting area comprising at least one vent opening;

at least one profile restraining tether element extending from the air bag cushion to a releasable anchor structure so as to shorten the operative length of said at least one profile restraining tether element, the releasable anchor structure including a moveable retaining pin holding said at least one profile restraining tether element in place;

a moveable vent blocking member selectively moveable relative to said at least one vent opening; and

an actuation mechanism comprising a force generating initiator activatable in response to a signal from a sensing device to selectively move the vent blocking member relative to said at least one vent opening, wherein the vent blocking member is operatively connected to the retaining pin such that upon movement of the vent blocking member the retaining pin is moved relative to said at least one profile restraining tether element thereby releasing said at least one profile restraining tether element from the releasable anchor structure in conjunction with selective adjustment of the venting area across the housing and wherein the air bag assembly further includes a scraping element contacting said at least one profile restraining tether element during movement of the retaining pin to disengage said at least one profile restraining tether element from the retaining pin.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the vent blocking member comprises at least one opening selectively moveable relative to said at least one vent opening upon activation of the initiator.

3. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the vent blocking element comprises a member selectively moveable in blocking relation to said at least one vent opening upon activation of the initiator.

4. The invention according to claim 1, further comprising a mooring line extending between said at least one profile restraining tether element and a point of secure attachment remote from the retaining pin.

5. 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 locution of deployment in substantially opposing relation to the occupant;

a housing substantially surrounding the air bag cushion and the inflator prior to inflation of the air bag cushion, wherein the housing includes a venting area comprising at least one vent opening;

at least one profile restraining tether element extending from the air bag cushion to a releasable anchor structure so as to shorten the operative length of said at least one profile restraining tether element, the releasable anchor structure including a moveable retaining pin holding said at least one profile restraining tether element in place;

a moveable vent blocking member selectively moveable relative to said at least one vent opening; and

an actuation mechanism comprising a single force generating initiator activatable in response to a signal from a sensing device to selectively move the vent blocking member relative to said at least one vent opening, wherein the vent blocking member is operatively connected to the retaining pin such that upon movement of the vent blocking member the retaining pin is moved relative to said at least one profile restraining tether element thereby releasing said at least one profile restraining tether element from the releasable anchor structure in conjunction with selective adjustment of the venting area across the housing and wherein the air bag assembly further includes a scraping element contacting said at least one profile restraining tether element during movement of the retaining pin to disengage said at least one profile restraining tether element from the retaining pin.

6. The invention according to claim 5, further comprising a mooring line extending between said at least one profile restraining tether element and a point of secure attachment remote from the retaining pin.

7. The invention according to claim 5, wherein the vent blocking member comprises at least one opening selectively moveable relative to said at least one vent opening upon activation of the initiator.

8. The invention according to claim 7, further comprising a mooring line extending between said at least one profile restraining tether element and a point of secure attachment remote from the retaining pin.

9. The invention according to claim 5, wherein the vent blocking member comprises a member selectively moveable in blocking relation to said at least one vent opening upon activation of the initiator.

10. The invention according to claim 9, further comprising a mooring line extending between said at least one profile restraining tether element and a point of secure attachment remote from the retaining pin.