Modular inflatable restraint apparatus

• US 7,318,599 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2004
• Issued: 01/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Magdun, Marius
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth; Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROCCA, JOSEPH M
• Application Number:
  US10/914,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20060028000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/736, 280/742, 280/728.1
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/16 Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags protective garments with automatically inflatable shock-absorbing means A41D13/018; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2165 characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening
• 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 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid

Abstract

A modular inflatable restraint apparatus includes an elongated housing defining an open channel, a manifold tube, an air bladder inflator and an inflatable air bladder all positioned within the open channel of the housing when the air bladder is deflated. The air bladder is secured to the manifold tube with an open end of the manifold tube in fluid communication with an interior portion of the air bladder and with an inflation end of the inflator. An elongated cover is mounted to the housing to cover the open channel with the manifold tube, deflated air bladder and inflator positioned therein. The inflator is responsive to an activation signal to inflate the air bladder, and at least a portion of the cover is configured to move away from the open channel to allow deployment of the air bladder from the open channel when the inflator inflates the air bladder.

Claims

1. A modular inflatable restraint apparatus comprising:

an elongated housing defining an open channel between first and second opposing ends thereof,

a manifold tube positioned within the open channel of the housing and having one end secured to the first end of the housing and an opposite open end,

an inflatable air bladder positioned within the open channel of the housing when the air bladder is deflated and secured to the manifold tube between the opposing ends thereof with the open end of the manifold tube in fluid communication with an interior portion of the air bladder,

an inflator positioned within the open channel of the housing and having an inflation end forming an end-to-end coupling with the open end of the manifold tube and an opposite end secured to the second end of the housing, the inflator responsive to an activation signal to inflate the air bladder, and

an elongated cover mounted to the housing to cover the open channel, at least a portion of the cover configured to move away from the open channel to allow deployment of the air bladder from the open channel when the inflator inflates the air bladder.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including:

a first end cap secured to the first end of the housing, and

a second end cap secured to the second end of the housing,

wherein the one end of the manifold tube is secured to the first end cap and the opposite end of the inflator is secured to the second end cap.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first end cap includes a first bracket configured to mount the first end of the housing to a support surface, and wherein the second end cap includes a second bracket configured to mount the second end of the housing to the support surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the air bladder has a first opening to the interior portion of the air bladder from which the one end of the manifold tube extends and a second opening to the interior portion of the air bladder from which the opposite end of the manifold tube extends with at least a section of the manifold tube between the one end and the opposite end thereof in fluid communication with the interior portion of the air bag.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the manifold tube defines a plurality of openings along the portion of the manifold tube between the one end and the opposite end thereof, the plurality of openings each fluidly coupled to the interior portion of the air bladder and to the opposite open end of the manifold tube, the inflator inflating the air bladder through the plurality of openings.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the manifold tube defines an air chamber between the first opposite end thereof and the plurality of holes.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 further including a first sleeve positioned between the manifold tube and the air bladder adjacent to the first opening in the air bladder, the first sleeve extending toward the opposite end of the manifold tube beyond the plurality of openings, the first sleeve shielding the plurality of openings from contact with the air bladder when the air bladder is deflated.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further including a first clamp positioned about the air bladder, the first sleeve and the manifold tube adjacent to the first opening in the air bladder, the first clamp configured to adjustably clamp the air bladder to the manifold tube with the first sleeve facilitating an airtight closure of the first opening of the air bladder about the manifold tube.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further including:

a second sleeve positioned between the manifold tube and the air bladder adjacent to the second opening in the air bladder, and

a second clamp positioned about the air bladder, the second sleeve and the manifold tube adjacent to the second opening in the air bladder, the second clamp configured to adjustably clamp the air bladder to the manifold tube with the second sleeve facilitating an airtight closure of the second opening of the air bladder about the manifold tube.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inflation end of the inflator and the opposite open end of the manifold tube are each complementarily threaded, the inflation end of the inflator received within the opposite open end of the manifold tube and forming an air tight fit therebetween.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for restraining movement of the inflator relative to the open channel of the housing.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further including an impact sensor producing the activation signal upon detection of at least a predefined deceleration level of a vehicle carrying the impact sensor and the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a roll sensor producing the activation signal upon detection of a roll event of a vehicle carrying the roll sensor and the apparatus.

14. A modular inflatable restraint apparatus comprising:

an elongated housing defining an open channel between first and second opposing ends of the housing,

a manifold tube having one end secured to the first end of the housing and an opposite open end, the manifold tube defining at least one opening between the opposing ends thereof in fluid communication with the open end of the manifold tube,

an inflatable air bladder secured to the manifold tube with the at least one opening of the manifold tube in fluid communication with an interior portion of the air bladder,

an inflator having an inflation end forming and end-to-end coupling with the open end of the manifold tube and an opposite end secured to the second end of the housing, the inflator responsive to an activation signal to inflate the air bladder, and

an elongated cover covering the open channel with the manifold tube, the air bladder in a deflated state and the inflator positioned therein.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further including:

a first bracket secured to the first end of the housing, and

a second bracket secured to the second end of the housing, the first and second brackets configured to mount the housing to a support surface.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 further including an impact sensor producing the activation signal upon detection of at least a predefined deceleration level of a vehicle carrying the impact sensor and the apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 further including a roll sensor producing the activation signal upon detection of a roll event of a vehicle carrying the roll sensor and the apparatus.

18. A modular inflatable restraint apparatus comprising:

an elongated housing defining an open channel between first and second opposing ends thereof,

a manifold tube having one end secured to the first end of the housing and an opposite end,

an inflatable air bladder secured to the manifold tube,

an inflator having an inflation end forming and end-to-end coupling with the opposite end of the manifold tube and an opposite end secured to the second end of the housing, the inflator responsive to an activation signal to inflate the air bladder, and

an elongated cover covering the open channel, the cover having one longitudinal side mounted to the housing adjacent to one longitudinal side of the open channel and an opposite longitudinal side mounted to the housing adjacent to an opposite longitudinal side of the open channel, the cover defining a longitudinal seam between the opposing longitudinal sides thereof, the seam responsive to inflation of the air bladder to open and allow deployment of the air bag from the open channel.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the cover is configured to urge the air bladder deployed from the open channel toward one of the opposing longitudinal sides of the open channel when the seam is opened.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 further including:

a first bracket secured to the first end of the housing, and

a second bracket secured to the second end of the housing, the first and second brackets configured to mount the housing to a support surface.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 further including an impact sensor producing the activation signal upon detection of at least a predefined deceleration level of a vehicle carrying the impact sensor and the apparatus.

22. The apparatus of claim 18 further including a roll sensor producing the activation signal upon detection of a roll event of a vehicle carrying the roll sensor and the apparatus.