Side-impact, variable thickness vehicular airbag
First Claim
1. A variable thickness vehicular airbag comprising:
- a primary cushion having inner and outer panels joined at their respective outer peripheries, an inlet, and an outlet; and
a contact cushion having an extension panel joined to the outer panel, the extension panel encompassing the outlet such that an inflation fluid entering the primary cushion through the inlet passes into the contact cushion through the outlet, thus inflating the contact cushion;
wherein the contact cushion is positioned on the primary cushion so as to absorb the impact between an occupant and a side of a vehicle during a collision.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A variable thickness vehicular airbag including a primary cushion and a contact cushion. The primary cushion is constructed of a top panel and a bottom panel joined to form a cushion. The contact cushion is joined to one of the panels of the primary cushion. The contact cushion may have an expansion panel and optionally an expansion sleeve. This cushion encompasses an opening in the outer panel and functionally increases the thickness and volume of the primary airbag. This airbag design may be useful in thorax airbags, thorax/pelvic airbags, thorax/head airbags, and inflatable curtain airbags to more effectively absorb the impact of an occupant with a wall of a vehicle during vehicular collisions.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A variable thickness vehicular airbag comprising:
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a primary cushion having inner and outer panels joined at their respective outer peripheries, an inlet, and an outlet; and
a contact cushion having an extension panel joined to the outer panel, the extension panel encompassing the outlet such that an inflation fluid entering the primary cushion through the inlet passes into the contact cushion through the outlet, thus inflating the contact cushion;
wherein the contact cushion is positioned on the primary cushion so as to absorb the impact between an occupant and a side of a vehicle during a collision. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A variable thickness vehicular airbag comprising:
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a primary cushion comprising inner and outer panels joined at their respective outer peripheries, an inlet, and an outlet; and
a contact cushion having an extension panel joined on its outer edge to a first edge of an extension sleeve, wherein the extension sleeve is joined by a second edge to the outer panel of the primary cushion so as to encompass the outlet such that an inflation fluid entering the primary cushion through the inlet passes into the contact cushion through the outlet, thus inflating the contact cushion;
wherein the contact cushion is positioned on the primary cushion to position the primary cushion so as to absorb the impact between an occupant and a side of a vehicle during a collision. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A variable thickness vehicular airbag comprising:
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an inner airbag panel comprising an inlet for allowing rapid inflation of the airbag by an inflation fluid upon activation, and an attachment segment for attaching the airbag to a vehicle surface;
an outer airbag panel comprising a base contact surface and an extensible contact surface;
said base contact surface and said inner airbag panel being attached at their peripheries, said base contact surface comprising an outlet;
wherein said extensible contact surface comprises an extension sleeve and an extension panel, said extension panel being attached on one edge to said outer airbag panel encompassing said outlet, and being attached on an opposing edge to an outer periphery of the contact panel;
wherein the contact cushion is positioned on the primary cushion so that both the primary cushion and the contact cushion absorb the impact between an occupant and a side of a vehicle during a collision. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification