Vehicle occupant protection system and inflator

• US 7,413,220 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2005
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Itoga, Yasuo, Yoshikawa, Hiromichi, Kumagai, Masayoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bottorff; Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): BECK, KAREN JANE AMORES
• Application Number:
  US11/044,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20050189752A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 280/741, 280/733, 280/729, 280/728.1, 280/730.2, 180/268
• US Class Current: 280/742
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26094 characterised by fluid flow controlling valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2615 for diverting the gas into a plurality of bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/18 the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1952 Transmission of tensioning power by cable; Return motion locking means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1955 Linear actuators

Abstract

An inflator having at least first and second gas outputs and configured to generate gas. The inflator releases the gas through the first gas output with a fist gas flow rats and to release the gas through the second gas output with a second gas flow rate different from the first gas flow rate.

Claims

1. An inflator comprising first, second, and third gas outputs, wherein the inflator is configured to generate gas and to release the gas through the first gas output with a first gas flow rate and to release the gas through the second gas output with a second gas flow rate different from the first gas flow rate, and

wherein the inflator is configured to release the gas through the third gas output with a third gas flow rate, wherein the inflator is configured so that a ratio of the third gas flow to the second gas flow rate is not adjustable, but a ratio of the second gas flow rate to the first gas flow rate is adjustable.

2. The inflator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inflator is configured to release the gas through the first gas output in a first direction and to release the gas through the second gas output in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction.

3. The inflator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inflator is configured to release the gas through the first gas output in a first direction and to release the gas through the second gas output in a second direction substantially the same as the first direction.

4. The inflator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second gas outputs are located at substantially opposite ends of the inflator.

5. The inflator as claimed in claim 1, wherein a ratio of the first gas flow to the second gas flow rate is between 1.5 and 3.0.

6. The inflator as claimed in claim 1, wherein a ratio of the first gas flow to the second gas flow rate is 2.

7. The inflator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a valve mechanism for controlling gas flow out of at least one of the first and second gas outputs.

8. A vehicle occupant protection system, comprising:

an inflator having at least first and second gas outputs, the inflator configured to generate gas and to release the gas through the first gas output with a first gas flow rate and to release the gas through the second gas output with a second gas flow rate different from the first gas flow rate;

a first air bag connected to the first gas output;

a second air bag connected to the second gas output; and

a seat belt configured to restrain a vehicle occupant, wherein the second air bag is a seat belt air bag connected to the seat belt;

wherein the second air bag is connected to the second gas output, and further comprising;

a third air bag connected to the second gas output; and

a seat belt configured to restrain a vehicle occupant and comprising a shoulder belt and a lap belt, wherein the second air bag is a shoulder belt air bag connected to the shoulder belt and the third air bag is a lap belt air bag connected to the lap belt.

9. A vehicle occupant protection system, comprising:

an inflator having at least first and second gas outputs, the inflator configured to generate gas and to release the gas through the first gas output with a first gas flow rate and to release the gas through the second gas output with a second gas flow rate different from the first gas flow rate;

a first air bag connected to the first gas output;

a second air bag connected to the second gas output; and

a seat belt configured to restrain a vehicle occupant, wherein the second air bag is a seat belt air bag connected to the seat belt;

wherein the inflator is configured to release the gas through the first gas output in a first direction and to release the gas through the second gas output in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction.

10. A vehicle occupant protection system, comprising:

an inflator having at least first and second gas outputs, the inflator configured to generate gas and to release the gas through the first gas output with a first gas flow rate and to release the gas through the second gas output with a second gas flow rate different from the first gas flow rate;

a first air bag connected to the first gas output;

a second air bag connected to the second gas output; and

a seat belt configured to restrain a vehicle occupant, wherein the second air bag is a seat belt air bag connected to the seat belt;

wherein the first and second gas outputs are located at substantially opposite ends of the inflator.

11. A vehicle occupant protection system, comprising:

an inflator having at least first and second gas outputs, the inflator configured to generate gas and to release the gas through the first gas output with a first gas flow rate and to release the gas through the second gas output with a second gas flow rate different from the first gas flow rate;

a first air bag connected to the first gas output;

a second air bag connected to the second gas output; and

a seat belt configured to restrain a vehicle occupant, wherein the second air bag is a seat belt air bag connected to the seat belt;

wherein the inflator has a third gas output and is configured to release the gas through the third gas output with a third gas flow rate, wherein the inflator is configured so that a ratio of the third gas flow to at least one of the first and second gas flow rates is adjustable.

12. A vehicle occupant protection system, comprising:

an inflator having at least first and second gas outputs, the inflator configured to generate gas and to release the gas through the first gas output with a first gas flow rate and to release the gas through the second gas output with a second gas flow rate different from the first gas flow rate;

a first air bag connected to the first gas output;

a second air bag connected to the second gas output; and

a seat belt configured to restrain a vehicle occupant, wherein the second air bag is a seat belt air bag connected to the seat belt;

wherein the inflator has a third gas output and is configured to release the gas through the third gas output with a third gas flow rate, wherein the inflator is configured so that a ratio of the third gas flow to the second gas flow rate is not adjustable, but a ratio of the second gas flow rate to the first gas flow rate is adjustable.