Frontal air bag system

• US 6,938,918 B2
• Filed: 07/29/1999
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kaiser, Axel, Webber, James Lloyd, Shah, Minoo Jaswantlal, Hopf, Philip Wendel, Viano, David Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): WINNER, TONY H
• Application Number:
  US09/363,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20010040364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,231 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/728.2
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0009 Oblique collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0018 Roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0072 Convertible cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23123 Heat protection panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2612 Gas guiding means, e.g. ducts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

A frontal air bag system for a vehicle including an inflator mounted to vehicle structure and an air bag operatively connected to the inflator and mounted to a pillar of the vehicle. The frontal air bag system also includes a trim molding covering the air bag and mounted to the pillar. The air bag, inflated by the inflator, is extended downward and sideways in front of an occupant seated in the vehicle.

Claims

1. A frontal air bag system for a vehicle comprising:

an inflator adapted to be mounted to a vehicle structure;

a diffuser connected to said inflator and adapted to extend along a pillar of the vehicle;

a frontal air bag operatively connected to said diffuser and adapted to be mounted solely to the pillar; and

a trim molding covering said frontal air bag and adapted to be mounted to the pillar, wherein said frontal air bag is inflated by said inflator via said diffuser to extend downward and sideways directly in front of an occupant seated in the vehicle and said trim molding is displaced during deployment of said frontal air bag.

2. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said air bag is mounted to the pillar on a driver side of the vehicle.

3. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said air bag is mounted to the pillar on a passenger side of the vehicle.

4. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said air bag is either one of a generally circular, rectangular and spherical shape.

5. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said air bag comprises at least one panel to form a specific shape.

6. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said air bag includes a neck portion connected to said at least one panel.

7. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 6

wherein said neck portion is operatively connected to said diffuser.

8. A frontal air bag system for a vehicle comprising:

an inflator adapted to be remotely mounted to vehicle structure;

a diffuser adapted to be connected to said inflator and adapted to extend along a pillar of the vehicle;

a frontal air bag adapted to be mounted solely to the pillar and having at least one panel and a neck portion connected to said at least one panel, said neck portion being operatively connected to said diffuser; and

a trim molding covering said frontal air bag and adapted to be mounted to the pillar, wherein said frontal air bag is inflated by said inflator via said diffuser to extend downward and sideways directly in front of an occupant seated in the vehicle and said trim molding is displaced during deployment of said frontal air bag.

9. A frontal air bag system for a vehicle having a front pillar, comprising:

a frontal air bag mounted to said front pillar of the vehicle; and

wherein said frontal air bag is inflated to extend downward and sideways directly in front of an occupant seated in the vehicle.

10. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 9 including an inflator adapted to be mounted to a vehicle structure and operatively connected to said frontal air bag.

11. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 9 including a trim molding covering said frontal air bag and adapted to be mounted to the pillar, wherein said trim molding is displaced during deployment of said frontal air bag.

12. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said frontal air bag comprises at least one panel to form a specific shape.

13. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said frontal air bag includes a neck portion connected to said at least one panel.

14. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 10 including a diffuser attached to said inflator and said frontal air bag.

15. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 14 wherein said diffuser is a hollow tube having a plurality of apertures at least partially disposed within said frontal air bag.

16. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said inflator is adapted to be remotely located on the vehicle structure from the pillar.

17. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 16 including a diffuser connected to said inflator and extending along the pillar to said frontal air bag.

18. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said frontal air bag is adapted to be mounted to the pillar on a driver side of the vehicle.

19. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said frontal air bag is adapted to be mounted to the pillar on a passenger side of the vehicle.

20. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said frontal air bag is one of a group comprising a generally rectangular, circular, and spherical shape.