Occupant protection system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An occupant protection system:
- a vehicle seat;
a seat pan for the seat;
an airbag;
a gas generator in the airbag;
a holder for the generator, the holder being secured to the airbag with the holder in the airbag;
a restraining enclosure extending at least partially around the airbag sized to restrict inflation thereof;
an outer housing for the airbag, the restraining enclosure, the gas generator and the holder, with the outer housing being disposed under the seat and integrated with the seat pan so as to be distinct from the restraining enclosure, and configured to allow the airbag to be deployed to exert pressure on the seat thereabove, wherein the airbag is folded, and the restraining enclosure includes one of a bag, a tube and a band that extends at least partially around the folded airbag,aligned apertures in the holder, the airbag, the enclosure, and the outer housing, anda threaded fastening device including an elongate threaded potion for extending through the aligned apertures.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An occupant protection system in which an airbag module can easily be mounted to a seat is provided. A retainer is placed on the inner surface of the lower part of an airbag. Stud bolts projecting downward from the lower surface of the retainer are passed through bolt insertion holes of the airbag, to which first nuts are tightened from the exterior of the airbag through a patch; thus, the airbag is joined to the retainer. A gas generator is joined to the retainer with a bracket. A seat pan has a recess for accommodating the patches and the first nuts when the retainer to which the airbag and the gas generator have been joined in advance is mounted thereto.
48 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An occupant protection system:
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a vehicle seat; a seat pan for the seat; an airbag; a gas generator in the airbag; a holder for the generator, the holder being secured to the airbag with the holder in the airbag; a restraining enclosure extending at least partially around the airbag sized to restrict inflation thereof; an outer housing for the airbag, the restraining enclosure, the gas generator and the holder, with the outer housing being disposed under the seat and integrated with the seat pan so as to be distinct from the restraining enclosure, and configured to allow the airbag to be deployed to exert pressure on the seat thereabove, wherein the airbag is folded, and the restraining enclosure includes one of a bag, a tube and a band that extends at least partially around the folded airbag, aligned apertures in the holder, the airbag, the enclosure, and the outer housing, and a threaded fastening device including an elongate threaded potion for extending through the aligned apertures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An occupant protection system for a vehicle, the occupant protection system comprising:
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a subassembly including a gas generator and an airbag with the gas generator disposed in the airbag; an elongate slit and an aperture in the airbag; a fastening device having an elongate shank for keeping the airbag secured to the gas generator therein prior to vehicle installation; and a foldable cover having an attached portion secured to the airbag with the attached portion having a slit and an aperture aligned with the slit and the aperture of the airbag, and a cover portion for being folded over the attached portion with the cover portion having an aperture to be aligned with the airbag and attached portion apertures for allowing the shank to extend therethrough, the aligned slits of the airbag and the attached portion allowing the gas generator to be inserted in the airbag therethrough with the cover portion then folded onto and secured to the attached portion to cover the aligned slits with the shank extending through the aligned apertures. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for installing an occupant protection system to a vehicle, the method comprising:
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attaching a base portion of a foldable cover to an airbag so that a slit in the attached base portion of the cover is aligned with a slit in the airbag; inserting a gas generator in the airbag through the aligned slits in the cover base portion and airbag; folding a cover portion of the foldable cover onto the attached base portion and securing the cover portion thereto to cover the aligned slits; forming a subassembly with the gas generator and the airbag so that a mounting stud associated with the gas generator extends through an aperture in the airbag and stays projecting exteriorly therefrom during vehicle installation of the subassembly; and securing the subassembly to the vehicle with the projecting mounting stud thereof. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification