Concentrically disposed airbag system for seatbelts
First Claim
1. An airbag system for use on vehicle seatbelts comprising:
- a tubular inflatable structure having an inflated configuration and an uninflated configuration, wherein in said inflated configuration said tubular inflatable structure comprises a longitudinal central axis, an open end and a closed end, said tubular inflatable structure further having a first seatbelt passageway positioned along said longitudinal central axis;
wherein said open end of said inflatable structure is attached to a housing member, thereby forming a closed system, and wherein said inflatable structure is positioned in the uninflated configuration within said housing member;
said housing member having a second seatbelt passageway in communication with said first seatbelt passageway, said first and second seatbelt passageways being aligned with reference to said longitudinal central axis so that a seatbelt may freely pass through said second seatbelt passageway when said tubular structure is in said uninflated configuration; and
wherein upon a collision event, said tubular structure becomes inflated and extends from said housing member along the length of said seat belt, to an inflated configuration parallel to said longitudinal central axis,, thereby providing an inflated cushion between said seatbelt and a user, so that said tubular structure is positioned in the inflated configuration about an extended length of said seatbelt.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag system for seatbelts including a housing and an elongated one-piece tubular inflatable structure disposed within the housing, where the housing and inflatable structure include a seatbelt passageway so that a seatbelt may pass therethrough unhindered and unaffected during normal seatbelt use, while the inflatable structure remains in an uninflated state. In a collision event, an inflator causes the inflatable structure to unfold, or preferably unroll, and extend from the housing along the seatbelt, so that the inflatable structure surrounds the seatbelt over an extended length thereof to provide a cushion between the seatbelt and an occupant. Such an arrangement may be easily applied to existing seatbelt systems.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. An airbag system for use on vehicle seatbelts comprising:
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a tubular inflatable structure having an inflated configuration and an uninflated configuration, wherein in said inflated configuration said tubular inflatable structure comprises a longitudinal central axis, an open end and a closed end, said tubular inflatable structure further having a first seatbelt passageway positioned along said longitudinal central axis;
wherein said open end of said inflatable structure is attached to a housing member, thereby forming a closed system, and wherein said inflatable structure is positioned in the uninflated configuration within said housing member;
said housing member having a second seatbelt passageway in communication with said first seatbelt passageway, said first and second seatbelt passageways being aligned with reference to said longitudinal central axis so that a seatbelt may freely pass through said second seatbelt passageway when said tubular structure is in said uninflated configuration; and
wherein upon a collision event, said tubular structure becomes inflated and extends from said housing member along the length of said seat belt, to an inflated configuration parallel to said longitudinal central axis,, thereby providing an inflated cushion between said seatbelt and a user, so that said tubular structure is positioned in the inflated configuration about an extended length of said seatbelt. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable structure for use with a seatbelt, said inflatable structure having an open end and a closed end;
a housing connected to said open end of said inflatable structure forming a closed system, said housing having a storage chamber and a gas chamber separated by a wall, said inflatable structure being compactly disposed within said storage chamber and positioned about a seatbelt when said structure is in an uninflated state, so that said seatbelt may function in a normal manner without interference from said inflatable structure in said uninflated state;
wherein said inflatable structure is configured for receiving gas from said gas chamber, said inflatable structure being configured for movement from said storage chamber and along the length of said seatbelt upon inflation, said inflatable structure extending along said seatbelt in an inflated state, surrounding an extended longitudinal length of said seatbelt in slidable relation therewith. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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- 17. In an airbag system for seatbelts, an inflatable structure is provided, said inflatable structure having an inflated position and an uninflated position, wherein said inflatable structure is mounted within a housing in said uninflated position, said housing being operably connected to a seatbelt, said housing having a storage chamber and a gas chamber, said inflatable structure being disposed within said storage chamber in the uninflated position, and wherein said inflatable structure and said housing are positioned around the periphery of a seatbelt in concentric, slidable relation therewith, further wherein said inflatable structure includes an open end configured for attachment to said housing, and a closed end capable of slidable relation along the length of said seatbelt.
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22. An airbag system for passenger restraint for use in combination with en vehicle seatbelts comprising:
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(a) a seatbelt for restraining a passenger, said seatbelt being held in position across the upper body of a passenger and in close association therewith, said seatbelt being held in a longitudinal axis, said axis being positioned generally perpendicular to the direction of travel of said vehicle; and
(b) an integrally formed tubular inflatable structure along said longitudinal axis, said integrally formed tubular inflatable structure having an inner sleeve portion disposed concentrically within an outer sleeve portion; and
said tubular inflatable structure having a first seatbelt passageway extending through said inflatable structure and along said axis, said seatbelt being positioned within said seatbelt passageway;
wherein said longitudinal tubular inflatable structure is disposed for inflation by receiving a gas within said tubular inflatable structure, thereby expanding said inflatable structure so as to extend said inflatable structure along said longitudinal axis.
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23. An airbag system for use on vehicle seatbelts comprising:
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an integrally formed tubular inflatable structure having a longitudinal axis, said integrally formed tubular inflatable structure having an inner sleeve portion disposed concentrically within an outer sleeve portion; and
said tubular inflatable structure having a first seatbelt passageway extending through said inflatable structure and along said axis, wherein said longitudinal tubular inflatable structure is disposed for inflation by receiving a gas within said tubular inflatable structure, thereby expanding said inflatable structure so as to extend said inflatable structure along said axis, wherein said tubular inflatable structure includes an open end, said open end being attached to a housing member forming a closed system, and wherein said inflatable structure is positioned within said housing member in an uninflated state. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. An airbag for use on vehicle seatbelts comprising:
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a longitudinal tubular inflatable structure having an open end and a closed end, and having a seatbelt passageway through a longitudinal axis thereof;
wherein said inflatable structure is formed by providing a tubular structure having a first open end and a second closed end, and partially inverting said first open end by pulling it inwardly toward the second closed end, until said first open end is concentrically disposed within said second closed end, said airbag further including a secondary inflation chamber.
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26. An airbag for use on vehicle seatbelts comprising:
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a longitudinal tubular inflatable structure having an open end and a closed end, and having a seatbelt passageway through a longitudinal axis thereof;
wherein said inflatable structure is formed by providing a tubular structure having a first open end and a second closed end, and partially inverting said first open end by pulling it inwardly toward the second closed end, until said first open end is concentrically disposed within said second closed end, wherein said tubular structure comprises a narrow portion having a first diameter on said first end and a wide portion having a larger diameter than said first diameter on said second end;
wherein said wide portion of said tubular structure includes a protruding section.
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27. Inflatable airbag structure comprising:
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(a) an inflatable structure being capable of expanding to form a first inflated configuration, said first inflated configuration providing a central longitudinal axis, said inflated configuration having an an open passageway through said central longitudinal axis, and (b) a housing member having concentrically arranged chambers around an open passageway through a central portion thereof, said housing member having an innermost gas chamber, said housing member further having a storage chamber positioned concentrically outside the periphery of said gas chamber; and
(c) said inflatable structure being attached to said housing member, said inflatable structure being stored within said storage chamber. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification