Occupant-to-occupant air bag system
First Claim
1. An air bag (100) configured to deploy in a generally vertical direction, comprising:
- at least one inflatable chamber (110;
112) defined by a flexible cushion;
first mounting means (180 and 196) for mounting the air bag to a mounting surface at a roof of a vehicle and for providing, proximate a fixed first end of the inflatable chamber, in cooperation with other portions of the air bag, a base at or near a roof of a vehicle, from which the air bag extends as the air bag inflates;
directing means, operatively connected to the first mounting means and to a portion of the cushion remote from the first mounting means, for reducing a tendency of the air bag to move laterally during and after inflation;
wherein the first mounting means includes;
a first mounting panel of material of triangular shape secured to one side of the air bag and a second mounting panel of material of triangular shape secured to an opposite side of the air bag; and
a mounting member located at an apex of each of the first and second mounting panels for mounting the first and second mounting panels to an adjacent portion of a vehicle.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An air bag assembly (80) configured to deploy in a generally vertical direction from the roof of a vehicle, comprising: an air bag (100) having at least one inflatable chamber (110, 112) defined by a material so configured, the inflatable chamber including a top (top end) and an opposite bottom (bottom end); first mounting elements (192, 196) for mounting the air bag to a mounting surface such as the roof of the vehicle and for providing, proximate the top end of the inflatable chamber, a wide and stable base portion from which the air bag extends; an external tether enveloping the material forming the inflatable chamber and positioned on opposing sides of the inflatable chamber, the external tether connected to the air bag proximate the bottom end of the chamber and including respective tether ends connected to the first mounting elements.
72 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An air bag (100) configured to deploy in a generally vertical direction, comprising:
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at least one inflatable chamber (110;
112) defined by a flexible cushion;first mounting means (180 and 196) for mounting the air bag to a mounting surface at a roof of a vehicle and for providing, proximate a fixed first end of the inflatable chamber, in cooperation with other portions of the air bag, a base at or near a roof of a vehicle, from which the air bag extends as the air bag inflates; directing means, operatively connected to the first mounting means and to a portion of the cushion remote from the first mounting means, for reducing a tendency of the air bag to move laterally during and after inflation; wherein the first mounting means includes; a first mounting panel of material of triangular shape secured to one side of the air bag and a second mounting panel of material of triangular shape secured to an opposite side of the air bag; and a mounting member located at an apex of each of the first and second mounting panels for mounting the first and second mounting panels to an adjacent portion of a vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An air bag assembly (80), comprising:
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an air bag (100) configured to deploy in a generally vertical direction, the air bag having at least one inflatable chamber (110, 112) defined by a material so configured, the chamber including a first end and an opposite second end and a first side and an opposite second side; first mounting means (180, 196) for mounting the air bag to a mounting surface at a roof of a vehicle and for providing, proximate the first end of the inflatable chamber, a base from which the air bag extends as the air bag inflates downwardly; an external tether connected to the air bag proximate the second end of the chamber and including respective tether ends connected to the first mounting means; and an internal tether (140) linking sides of the inflatable chamber in a zigzag configuration, configured so the width of the air bag generally decreases from the first end to the second end, for increasing side-to-side stability of the air bag. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An air bag assembly (80), comprising:
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an air bag (100) configured to deploy in a generally vertical direction, the air bag having at least one inflatable chamber (110, 112) defined by a material so configured, the chamber including a first end and an opposite second end and a first side and an opposite second side; first mounting means (180, 196) for mounting the air bag to a mounting surface at a roof of a vehicle and for providing, proximate the first end of the inflatable chamber, a base from which the air bag extends as the air bag inflates downwardly; an external tether connected to the air bag proximate the second end of the chamber and including respective tether ends connected to the first mounting means; wherein the first mounting means includes a first piece of material secured to a respective side of the material forming the inflatable chamber, the first piece of material being connected to one of a mounting bracket (196) and a piece of fabric, each of which is adapted to be connected to the mounting surface. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An air bag assembly (80), comprising:
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an air bag (100) configured to deploy in a generally vertical direction from a door or side panel of a convertible motor vehicle, the air bag having at least one inflatable chamber (110, 112) defined by a material so configured, the chamber including a first end and an opposite second end and a first side and an opposite second side;
the air bag including an internal tether (140), linking sides of the inflatable chamber;the air bag configured to be mounted to the door or side panel proximate the first end of the inflatable chamber, the air bag also including an external tether connected to the air bag proximate the second end of the chamber and including respective tether ends connected to the door or side panel providing a base from which the air bag extends as the air bag inflates, wherein the air bag is configured to inflate from the door of a convertible vehicle.
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19. An air bag assembly comprising:
an air bag configured to deploy upwardly from a side door or panel of the motor vehicle, the air bag having at least one inflatable chamber, the chamber including an inlet end and a remote end and a first or outer side and an opposite second or inner side;
the air bag also including an external tether, the external tether secured to the remote end and having a first tether portion configured to overlay at least a portion of the outer side and a second tether portion to overlay at least a portion of the inner side, each of the first tether portion and the second tether portion having a respective end adapted to be connected to the motor vehicle at the side door or panel, wherein a length of the first tether portion from its attachment to the vehicle to its connection with the remote end is shorter than a corresponding length of the second tether portion to encourage the upward deployment of the air bag.- View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. An air bag assembly (80), comprising:
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an air bag (100) configured to deploy in a generally vertical direction, the air bag having at least one inflatable chamber (110, 112) defined by a material so configured, the chamber including a first end and an opposite second end and a first side and an opposite second side, the air bag configured to be mounted to a roof of a vehicle, the air bag proximate the first end of the inflatable chamber providing a base from which the air bag extends as the air bag inflates downwardly; an external tether connected to the air bag proximate the second end of the chamber and including respective tether ends configured to be connected to the roof; and an internal tether (140) linking sides of the inflatable chamber in a zigzag configuration. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification