Tension cushion air bag module
First Claim
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1. A tension cushion air bag comprising:
- an outer chamber configured to receive a gas such that the outer chamber has an inflated volume, wherein the outer chamber is formed by a front panel, a rear panel and an inner side panel; and
an inner chamber formed by the front panel, the inner side panel and a front panel patch mounted to the front panel, wherein the inner chamber comprises a non-inflated volume which is formed as a result of the inflated volume of the outer chamber, and wherein when the airbag is inflated the front panel patch is pulled taut across the inner chamber in order to absorb the energy of an occupant,wherein the inner side panel forms a frustrum shape for the inner chamber; and
wherein the front panel patch comprises an elastic material, and further wherein a diameter of the front panel patch in a non-stretched state is less than a length which the front panel patch covers when the tension cushion air bag is deployed.
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Abstract
A tension cushion air bag includes an outer chamber configured to receive a gas such that the outer chamber has an inflated volume. The outer chamber includes a front panel and a rear panel. The tension cushion air bag also includes an inner chamber formed at least in part by the front panel of the outer chamber and at least in part by a front panel patch mounted to the front panel. The inner chamber includes a non-inflated volume which is formed as a result of the inflated volume of the outer chamber.
32 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A tension cushion air bag comprising:
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an outer chamber configured to receive a gas such that the outer chamber has an inflated volume, wherein the outer chamber is formed by a front panel, a rear panel and an inner side panel; and an inner chamber formed by the front panel, the inner side panel and a front panel patch mounted to the front panel, wherein the inner chamber comprises a non-inflated volume which is formed as a result of the inflated volume of the outer chamber, and wherein when the airbag is inflated the front panel patch is pulled taut across the inner chamber in order to absorb the energy of an occupant, wherein the inner side panel forms a frustrum shape for the inner chamber; and wherein the front panel patch comprises an elastic material, and further wherein a diameter of the front panel patch in a non-stretched state is less than a length which the front panel patch covers when the tension cushion air bag is deployed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A tension cushion air bag system for protecting an occupant of a vehicle comprising:
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an air bag comprising; an outer chamber configured to receive a gas such that the outer chamber has an inflated volume, wherein the outer chamber is formed by a front panel and a rear panel and a base panel; an inner chamber formed by the base panel and a front panel patch mounted to the front panel, wherein the inner chamber comprises a non-inflated frustrum shaped volume which is formed as a result of the inflated volume of the outer chamber; and an inflator configured to provide the gas to the outer chamber, wherein the front panel patch comprises an elastic material, and further wherein wherein the base panel forms the outside side wall of the inner chamber and the inside side wall of the outer chamber so that inner chamber is bounded on the sides by the base panel and on a side facing the occupant by the front panel patch. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A tension air bag module for protecting the occupant of a vehicle, comprising:
an airbag including an inflatable outer ring; an inner chamber surrounded by the outer ring; and
a central membrane covering the inner chamber, wherein when the air bag is inflated, gas is only injected into the outer ring such that the air bag expands in a radial direction, and the central membrane is pulled taut across the inner chamber, wherein the central membrane comprises an elastic material, andwherein a base panel forms the outside side wall of the inner chamber and the inside side wall of the outer ring so that inner chamber is bounded on the sides by the base panel and on a side facing the occupant by the central membrane; wherein the inner chamber is frustrum shaped when the air bag is inflated; further wherein a diameter of the central membrane in a non-stretched state is less than a length which the central membrane covers when the tension air bag module is deployed. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
Specification