Side air bag module
First Claim
1. A side impact restraint system (20) for restraining an occupant comprising:
- an air bag of sufficient length to extend from a seat surface to at least a shoulder of the occupant, the air bag (22), upon inflation, of sufficient height to extend from a vehicle to a location generally adjacent the shoulder of the occupant when seated such that the inflated air bag will lie between the occupant and a side portion of the vehicle;
the air bag (22) including a main panel having a center fold line and a first panel part and a second panel part (24a, 24b) lying on either side of the fold line, the main panel including an insertion aperture (44) generally symmetrically aligned with the center fold line and configured to receive an inflator at a mounting region proximate an interior of the air bag generally along the center fold line of the air bag; and
an internal tether (30) for forming at least one bridge between predetermined regions of each of the first panel part and second panel part such that upon inflation of the air bag these regions are spaced from one another by the internal tether to create a pair of inflatable volumes (36, 38), said internal tether being coupled to portions of the air bag to form an acute angled surface with respect to an intersection of the first panel part and second panel part, the tether extending downwardly in a generally planar manner, from the location of the mounting region for the inflator.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A side impact or rollover protection restraint system (20) is presented having an air bag (22) which upon inflation is of sufficient height to extend from proximate a seat (25) of a vehicle to a location generally adjacent the shoulder of a 95th percentile sized seated occupant such that the inflated air bag will lie between the occupant and a side portion of the vehicle. The air bag including a first and a second panel (24a,24b) of material that are joined together to create a pair of inflatable volumes (36,38) and an internal tether (30) for forming a corresponding bridge between predetermined regions of each of the first and second panel (24a, 24b) such that upon inflation of the air bag these regions are spaced from one another by at least one internal tether, wherein the air bag includes more than one inflatable volume, wherein each volume includes corresponding internal tethers.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A side impact restraint system (20) for restraining an occupant comprising:
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an air bag of sufficient length to extend from a seat surface to at least a shoulder of the occupant, the air bag (22), upon inflation, of sufficient height to extend from a vehicle to a location generally adjacent the shoulder of the occupant when seated such that the inflated air bag will lie between the occupant and a side portion of the vehicle; the air bag (22) including a main panel having a center fold line and a first panel part and a second panel part (24a, 24b) lying on either side of the fold line, the main panel including an insertion aperture (44) generally symmetrically aligned with the center fold line and configured to receive an inflator at a mounting region proximate an interior of the air bag generally along the center fold line of the air bag; and an internal tether (30) for forming at least one bridge between predetermined regions of each of the first panel part and second panel part such that upon inflation of the air bag these regions are spaced from one another by the internal tether to create a pair of inflatable volumes (36, 38), said internal tether being coupled to portions of the air bag to form an acute angled surface with respect to an intersection of the first panel part and second panel part, the tether extending downwardly in a generally planar manner, from the location of the mounting region for the inflator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A side impact restraint system (20) comprising:
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an air bag of sufficient length to extend from a seat surface to at least a shoulder of an occupant, the air bag (22), upon inflation, of sufficient height to extend from a vehicle seat cushion to a location generally adjacent the shoulder of the occupant when seated such that the inflated air bag will lie between the occupant and a side portion of the vehicle; the air bag (22) formed of a single panel folded along a centerline (23) to form first and second panels (24a, 24b) of material that are joined together to create a pair of inflatable volumes (36,38), the panel configured to define an insertion aperture generally along the centerline, to receive an inflator and an exit aperture through which a portion of the inflator may extend, the exit aperture spaced from the insertion aperture, the insertion aperture generally cutting through the centerline, and an internal tether (30) disposed at an acute angle between 45 and 65 degrees between each volume, for forming at least one bridge between predetermined regions of each of the first and second panel such that upon inflation of the air bag these regions are spaced from one another by the tether, the first inflatable volume being placed below the ribs of the occupant, the tether extending downwardly generally from an area of the insertion aperture toward an opposing portion of the air bag. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A side impact restraint system for restraining an occupant comprising:
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an air bag of sufficient length to extend from a seat surface to at least a shoulder of the occupant, the air bag, upon inflation, of sufficient height to extend from a vehicle to a location generally adjacent the shoulder of the occupant when seated such that the inflated air bag will lie between the occupant and a side portion of the vehicle; the air bag including a main panel having a center fold line and a first panel part and a second panel part lying on either side of the fold line, the main panel including an insertion aperture that generally cuts through the center fold line configured to receive an inflator at a mounting region proximate an interior of the air bag generally along the center fold line of the air bag; and an internal tether for forming at least one bridge between predetermined regions of each of a first panel part and second panel part such that upon inflation of the air bag these regions are spaced from one another by the internal tether to create a pair of inflatable volumes. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification