Automotive vehicle air bag system

• US 6,669,229 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2001
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Thomas, Scott David
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Toan C
• Application Number:
  US09/813,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20020135164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 280/740, 280/742, 280/743.1, 280/732, 280/736, 280/729
• US Class Current: 280/732
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2165 characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2346 Soft diffusers

Abstract

There is disclosed an air bag system for an automotive vehicle. The air bag system may include one or more of the following: a baffling system, a gas emission direction system, a deployment door guidance system, or a material flap guidance system.

Claims

1. An automotive vehicle air bag system comprising:

an air bag;

an inflator assembly adjacent said air bag for emitting gas into said air bag;

a first baffle secured within said air bag, said baffle dividing said air bag into a first and second compartment, wherein said first compartment receives said gas such that said first compartment substantially inflates prior to substantial inflation of said second compartment for assisting in allowing the air bag to move around an out of position individual that blocks deployment of said air bag;

a flap that is moved toward a seating position for contacting said out of position individual blocking deployment of said air bag and for further assisting in guiding said air bag around said individual;

a gas emission direction system including a rigid gas deflector mounted adjacent said inflator assembly and having one or more walls for directing gas emitted from said inflator assembly toward an opening defined within said deflector; and

a generally tubular elongated flexible gas deflector attached to said rigid gas deflector for receiving gas from the opening of the rigid deflector, said rigid deflector directing gas toward an opening within said flexible deflector, said flexible deflector opening generally located within said first compartment of said air bag.

2. An air bag system as in claim 1, wherein said flap is part of a material flap guidance system wherein said flap is a relatively flexible material draped over said air bag prior to deployment of said air bag such that said air bag moves said flap toward said seating position upon deployment of said air bag.

3. An air bag system as in claim 1, wherein said rigid deflector comprises a first wall, a second wall opposing the first wall and an arcuate side wall adjoining said first and second walls for guiding air in a predetermined direction.

4. An air bag system as in claim 1, further comprising:

a housing for at least partially surrounding said air bag prior to inflation of said air bag wherein said baffle extends from adjacent said housing to an inner surface of said air bag upon inflation of said air bag; and

a releasable device for selectively releasing said baffle thereby assisting in controlling a degree of release of said air bag;

wherein said one or more walls of said rigid deflector includes a first wall, a second wall opposing the first wall and an arcuate side wall adjoining said first and second walls for guiding air in a predetermined direction.

5. An air bag system comprising:

an air bag;

an inflator assembly adjacent said air bag for emitting gas into said air bag; and

a first baffle secured within said air bag, said baffle dividing said air bag into a first and second compartment, wherein;

i) said first compartment receives said gas such that said first compartment substantially inflates prior to substantial inflation of said second compartment for assisting in allowing said air bag to move around an object that blocks deployment of said air bag;

ii) said baffle, upon inflation, has an inverted U-shape in cross-section such that openings are defined in a lower portion of said air bag for allowing said gas to flow from said first compartment to said second compartment; and

iii) said baffle substantially defines said first compartment; and

a gas emission direction system having a generally tubular elongated flexible gas deflector with an opening located within said first compartment of said air bag.

6. An air bag system as in claim 5, further comprising a housing for at least partially surrounding said air bag prior to inflation of said air bag wherein said baffle extends from adjacent said housing to an inner surface of said air bag upon inflation of said air bag.

7. An air bag system as in claim 5, further comprising a releasable device for selectively releasing said baffle thereby assisting in controlling a degree of release of said air bag.

8. An air bag system as in claim 5, further comprising a rigid deflector adjacent said inflator assembly and having a first wall, a second wall opposing the first wall and an arcuate side wall adjoining said first and second walls for guiding air in a predetermined direction.

9. An air bag system as in claim 5, further comprising:

a housing for at least partially surrounding said air bag prior to inflation of said air bag wherein said baffle extends from adjacent said housing to an inner surface of said air bag upon inflation of said air bag;

a releasable device for selectively releasing said baffle thereby assisting in controlling a degree of release of said air bag; and

a rigid deflector adjacent said inflator assembly and having a first wall, a second wall opposing the first wall and an arcuate side wall adjoining said first and second walls for guiding air in a predetermined direction.

10. An automotive vehicle air bag system comprising:

an air bag;

an inflator assembly adjacent said air bag for emitting gas into said air bag;

a first baffle secured within said air bag, said baffle dividing said air bag into a first and second compartment, wherein;

i) said first compartment receives said gas such that said first compartment substantially inflates prior to substantial inflation of said second compartment for assisting in allowing the air bag to move around an object that blocks deployment of said air bag;

ii) said baffle, upon inflation, has an inverted U-shape in cross-section such that openings in a lower portion of said air bag for allowing said gas to flow from the first compartment to the second compartment; and

iii) said baffle substantially defines the first compartment; and

a gas emission direction system including a rigid gas deflector mounted adjacent said inflator assembly and having one or more walls for directing gas emitted from said inflator assembly toward an opening defined within said deflector; and

a generally tubular elongated flexible gas deflector attached to said rigid gas deflector for receiving gas from the opening of the rigid deflector, said rigid deflector directing gas toward an opening within said flexible deflector, said flexible deflector opening generally located within said first air bag; and

a flap that is moved toward a position for contacting said out of position individual blocking deployment of said air bag and for further assisting in guiding said air bag around said individual.

11. An air bag system as in claim 10, wherein said flap is part of a material flap guidance system wherein said flap is a relatively flexible material draped over said air bag prior to deployment of said air bag such that said air bag moves said flap toward said seating position upon deployment of said air bag.

12. An air bag system as in claim 11, further comprising a housing for at least partially surrounding said air bag prior to inflation of said air bag wherein said baffle extends from adjacent said housing to an inner surface of said air bag upon inflation of said air bag.

13. An air bag as in claim 12, further comprising a releasable device for selectively releasing said baffle thereby assisting in controlling a degree of release of said air bag.

14. An air bag system as in claim 10, further comprising a rigid deflector adjacent said inflator assembly and having a first wall, a second wall opposing the first wall and an arcuate side wall adjoining said first and second walls for guiding air in a predetermined direction.