Air bag module diffuser

• US 6,871,872 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Thomas, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Toan C
• Application Number:
  US10/434,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20040222621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 280/732, 280/736, 280/740, 280/742, 280/728.2
• US Class Current: 280/736
• 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 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid

Abstract

An air bag module comprises an air bag having an interior cavity. The air bag has an air bag opening in communication with the interior cavity. The air bag module has an air bag inflator with an outlet for inflating the air bag. At least one vane extends from the air bag opening into the interior cavity of the air bag.

Claims

1. An air bag module, comprising:

an air bag having an interior cavity;

an air bag support, the air bag support having at least one air bag opening in communication with said interior cavity and at least one vane extending from the air bag support and being adjacent to an air bag opening and completely extending into said interior cavity;

an air bag inflator having an outlet for inflating said air bag; and

wherein said outlet is disposed to direct an inflation gas along a first direction and said at least one vane is disposed internal said interior cavity to direct the inflation gas along a second direction transverse to said first direction in the internal cavity of the air bag.

2. The air bag module of claim 1 wherein said at least one vane has a vane dimension smaller than an opening dimension of said at least one air bag opening.

3. The air bag module of claim 2 wherein said vane dimension comprises a vane width and said opening dimension comprises an opening width, said vane width smaller than said opening width.

4. The air bag module of claim 1 wherein said at least one vane comprise a plurality of vanes end said at least one air bag opening comprises a plurality of air bag openings, each of said plurality of vanes adjacent to each of said plurality of air bag openings.

5. The air bag module of claim 4 wherein the including a support has a plurality of vanes and a plurality of air bag openings, each vane being adjacent one of the air bag openings.

6. The air bag module of claim 5 wherein said support is attached to said air bag.

7. The air bag module of claim 5 wherein said support comprises a planar member.

8. The air bag module of claim 5 including at least one pressure relief hole on said support spaced between said outlet and said interior cavity, said at least one pressure relief hole in communication with said interior cavity.

9. An air bag module, comprising:

an air bag having an interior cavity;

an air bag support having a plurality of air bag openings in communication with said interior cavity and a plurality of vanes extending completely into said interior cavity, each vane being adjacent to one air bag opening;

an air bag inflator having an outlet for inflating said air bag, said outlet disposed to direct an inflation gas along a first direction; and

wherein said plurality of vanes are disposed internal said interior cavity to re-direct the inflation gas along a second direction transverse to said first direction.

10. The air bag module of claim 9 wherein said at least one vane has a vane dimension and said at least one air bag has an opening dimension, said vane dimension smaller than said opening dimension.

11. The air bag module of claim 10 wherein said vane dimension comprises a vane width and said opening dimension comprises an opening width, said vane width smaller than said opening width.

12. The air bag module of claim 9 wherein said support is attached to said air bag.

13. The air bag module of claim 9 wherein said support comprises a planar member.

14. The air bag module of claim 9 including at least one pressure relief hole on said support spaced between said outlet and said interior cavity, said at feast one pressure relief hole in communication with said support.

15. A method of manufacturing an air bag, comprising the steps of:

placing a vane adjacent to an air bag opening on a support, wherein the air bag opening has an opening dimension and the vane has a vane dimension wherein the vane dimension is smaller than the opening dimension;

extending the entire vane into an interior cavity of an air bag; and

attaching the air bag around the support.