Apparatus and method for airbag inflation gas distribution
First Claim
1. A cushion for an inflatable curtain module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from lateral impact, the cushion comprising:
- a first membrane having an interior portion and an outer edge, the interior portion having a mounting surface extending longitudinally along the interior portion;
a second membrane having an interior portion and an outer edge, the outer edges of the first and second membranes being attachable to form at least one inflatable protection zone between the interior portions of the first and second membranes; and
an inflation channel configured to receive pressurized gas from a source of pressurized gas, the inflation channel having a plurality of holes formed therein to permit pressurized gas to escape from the inflation channel into the protection zone, wherein the inflation channel is configured to be attached to the mounting surface such that the protection zone encloses at least a portion of a length of the inflation channel in a longitudinal direction, the inflation channel comprising a conduit configured to direct a flow of pressurized gas along a length of the conduit, a gas outlet extension affixed to the conduit and extending along at least a portion of the length of the conduit, the gas outlet extension having a plurality of holes, wherein the gas outlet extension is configured to receive pressurized gas from the conduit and to disperse the pressurized gas within the cushion via the holes, and wherein the gas outlet extension has a tapered shape selected to substantially prevent pressurized gas from re-entering the conduit through the holes.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a system and method for distributing inflation gases within an airbag cushion. Such a cushion may have one or more protection zones configured to inflate to protect vehicle occupants. An inflation channel maybe enclosed by one or more of the protection zones, and may be attached to a mounting surface within a protection zone. The inflation channel may be connected to an inflator, and may have a plurality of holes along its length, sized or spaced apart in a manner selected to provide a comparatively even flow rate of inflation gas to all parts of the cushion during inflation. Additionally, the inflation channel may have a gas outlet extension along which the holes are disposed; the gas outlet extension may have a tapered shape configured to collapse under external pressure to prevent backflow of inflation gases into the inflation channel. The inflation channel may be easily manufactured in a number of ways, including extrusion of a polymeric workpiece with a slit along its length. The slit may be intermittently closed to form the gas outlet extension with the holes, without the need for punching or drilling.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A cushion for an inflatable curtain module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from lateral impact, the cushion comprising:
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a first membrane having an interior portion and an outer edge, the interior portion having a mounting surface extending longitudinally along the interior portion;
a second membrane having an interior portion and an outer edge, the outer edges of the first and second membranes being attachable to form at least one inflatable protection zone between the interior portions of the first and second membranes; and
an inflation channel configured to receive pressurized gas from a source of pressurized gas, the inflation channel having a plurality of holes formed therein to permit pressurized gas to escape from the inflation channel into the protection zone, wherein the inflation channel is configured to be attached to the mounting surface such that the protection zone encloses at least a portion of a length of the inflation channel in a longitudinal direction, the inflation channel comprising a conduit configured to direct a flow of pressurized gas along a length of the conduit, a gas outlet extension affixed to the conduit and extending along at least a portion of the length of the conduit, the gas outlet extension having a plurality of holes, wherein the gas outlet extension is configured to receive pressurized gas from the conduit and to disperse the pressurized gas within the cushion via the holes, and wherein the gas outlet extension has a tapered shape selected to substantially prevent pressurized gas from re-entering the conduit through the holes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of manufacturing a cushion for an inflatable curtain module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from lateral impact, the method comprising:
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providing a first membrane having an interior portion and an outer edge, the interior portion having a mounting surface extending longitudinally along the interior portion;
providing a second membrane having an interior portion and an outer edge;
providing an inflation channel configured to receive pressurized gas from a source of pressurized gas, the inflation channel having a plurality of holes along a length of the inflation channel in a longitudinal direction to permit escape of the pressurized gas;
attaching the inflation channel to the mounting surface; and
attaching the outer edge of the first membrane to the outer edge of the second membrane to form at least one inflatable protection zone between the interior portions of the first and second membranes, the protection zone enclosing at least a portion of the length of the inflation channel, wherein the cushion is further constructed such that the inflatable channel is not attached to the second membrane. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of manufacturing a cushion for an inflatable curtain module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from lateral impact, the method comprising:
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providing a first membrane having an interior portion and an outer edge, the interior portion having a mounting surface extending longitudinally along the interior portion;
providing a second membrane having an interior portion and an outer edge;
providing an inflation channel configured to receive pressurized gas from a source of pressurized gas, the inflation channel having a plurality of holes along a length of the inflation channel in a longitudinal direction to permit escape of the pressurized gas;
attaching the inflation channel to the mounting surface; and
attaching the outer edge of the first membrane to the outer edge of the second membrane to form at least one inflatable protection zone between the interior portions of the first and second membranes, the protection zone enclosing at least a portion of the length of the inflation channel, wherein the inflation channel comprises a conduit configured to direct a flow of pressurized gas along a length of the conduit, a gas outlet extension affixed to the conduit and extending along at least a portion of the length of the conduit, the gas outlet extension having a plurality of holes, wherein the gas outlet extension is configured to receive pressurized gas from the conduit and to disperse the pressurized gas within the cushion via the holes, and wherein the gas outlet extension has a tapered shape selected to substantially prevent pressurized gas from re-entering the conduit through the holes. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A cushion for an inflatable curtain module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from lateral impact, the cushion comprising:
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a first membrane having an interior portion and an outer edge, the interior portion having a mounting surface extending longitudinally along the interior portion;
a second membrane having an interior portion and an outer edge, the outer edges of the first and second membranes being attachable to form at least one inflatable protection zone between the interior portions of the first and second membranes; and
an inflation channel to receive pressurized gas from a source of pressurized gas, the inflation channel having a plurality of holes formed therein to permit pressurized gas to escape from the inflation channel into the protection zone, wherein the inflation channel is attached to the mounting surface such that the protection zone encloses at least a portion of a length of the inflation channel in a longitudinal direction, the cushion being further configured such that the inflation channel is not attached to the second membrane. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
a conduit configured to direct a flow of pressurized gas along a length of the conduit;
a gas outlet extension affixed to the conduit and extending along at least a portion of the length of the conduit, the gas outlet extension having a plurality of holes, wherein the gas outlet extension is configured to receive pressurized gas from the conduit and to disperse the pressurized gas within the cushion via the holes; and
wherein the gas outlet has a tapered shape selected to substantially prevent pressurized gas from re-entering the conduit through the holes.
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33. The cushion of claim 24, wherein the inflation channel comprises two attachment surfaces along the length of the inflation channel, the attachment surfaces being attached together via a third attachment mechanism applied exclusive of the holes.
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34. A cushion for an inflatable curtain module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from lateral impact, the cushion comprising:
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a first membrane having an interior portion and an outer edge, the interior portion having a mounting surface extending longitudinally along the interior portion;
a second membrane having an interior portion and an outer edge, the outer edges of the first and second membranes being attachable to form two or more inflatable protection zones between the interior portions of the first and second membranes; and
an inflation channel to receive pressurized gas from a source of pressurized gas, the inflation channel having a plurality of holes formed therein to permit pressurized gas to escape from the inflation channel into the protection zone, wherein the inflation channel is attached to the mounting surface such that at least one of the protection zones encloses at least a portion of a length of the inflation channel in a longitudinal direction, the cushion further comprising a connection zone to permit communication of inflation gases between the protection zones, the cushion being further configured such that the inflation channel is not attached to the second membrane. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification