Active bolster

• US 8,231,138 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2010
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABC Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Salflex Polymers Limited
• Inventors: Sadr, Changize, Totonchian, Ali, Best, Michael, Ciplijauskas, Rimas, Roychoudhury, Raj
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US12/955,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20110133435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/914 Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0407 using gas or liquid as energy absorbing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/132 Roll bars for convertible vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2074 in head rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23146 seat mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23176 specially adapted for foot protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23192 Roof bags, i.e. protecting the occupant in a roll-over situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23519 Resin for coating fabric B60R2021/23514
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2612 Gas guiding means, e.g. ducts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2615 for diverting the gas into a plurality of bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0428 associated with the side doors or panels, e.g. displaced towards the occupants in case of a side collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/13 Roll-over protection electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21 in vehicle side panels, e.g. doors pillar mounted arrangements B60R21/213
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 : in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 : Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23 : Inflatable members B60R21/18 takes precedence; connection to inflation fluid source retainers B60R21/217
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 : specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/235 : characterised by their material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 : characterised by their venting means

Abstract

An active bolster for a vehicle is provided, wherein the bolster comprises an expansible hollow interior that is inflatable and is self-supporting in both an inflated and in an uninflated position. The bolster has an inflator module for inflating the expansible hollow interior. The bolster has an inner wall for projecting inwardly into the vehicle and away from the side of the vehicle on inflation of the expansible hollow interior. The bolster may have a relatively non-expansible component located between a first expansible chamber and a second expansible chamber. The bolster may comprise an outer wall having an attachment portion for attaching the outer wall to a portion of the side of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An inflatable side bolster for mounting on a side of a vehicle, the inflatable side bolster comprising:

an expansible hollow interior comprising a first expansible chamber and a second expansible chamber;

an inflator module for inflating the expansible hollow interior;

an inner wall for projecting inwardly into the vehicle and away from the side of the vehicle on inflation of the expansible hollow interior;

an outer wall located between the expansible hollow interior and the side, the outer wall having i) an attachment portion comprising at least one attachment for attaching the outer wall to a portion of the side of the vehicle, and ii) a peripheral portion bordering the attachment portion; and

,

a relatively non-expansible component located between the first expansible chamber and the second expansible chamber;

wherein the peripheral portion comprises a first peripheral portion and a second peripheral portion and the attachment portion is located between the first peripheral portion and the second peripheral portion;

wherein the first expansible chamber is located above the non-expansible component and the second expansible chamber is located below the non-expansible component;

wherein the outer wall is mountable to the portion of the side by the at least one attachment such that the outer wall remains attached to the portion of the side by the at least one attachment during inflation, and the peripheral portion of the outer wall is free to move relative to the portion of the side of the vehicle to facilitate expansion of the expansible hollow interior during inflation and

wherein the peripheral portion comprises frangible fasteners for attaching the peripheral portion to the side of the vehicle, and the frangible fasteners are released by inflation of the expansible hollow interior.

2. The inflatable side bolster as defined in claim 1 wherein the peripheral portion is operable to move into the vehicle and away from the side of the vehicle during inflation of the expansible hollow interior.

6. The inflatable side bolster as defined in claim 1 wherein

the relatively non-expansible component is part of the expansible hollow interior, and

the inner wall resists stretching at the relatively non-expansible component more than the inner wall resists stretching at the first expansible chamber and the second expansible chamber.

9. The inflatable side bolster as defined in claim 1 further comprising a vent for facilitating deflation of the expansible hollow interior when force is applied to the inner wall, the vent being in fluid communication with the expansible hollow interior.

10. A vehicle door comprising:

a window;

a door body adjacent to the window;

an armrest attached to the door body; and

the inflatable bolster of claim 1;

wherein the relatively non-expansible component of the inflatable bolster is located between the armrest and the door body, and

wherein the first expansible chamber of the inflatable bolster is located above the armrest and the second expansible chamber of the inflatable bolster is located below the armrest.

15. An inflatable side bolster assembly for a side of a vehicle comprising:

the inflatable bolster of claim 1; and

an armrest attached to the inner wall of the inflatable bolster;

wherein

wherein the relatively non-expansible component of the inflatable bolster is located between the armrest and the side of the vehicle, and

wherein the first expansible chamber of the inflatable bolster is located above the armrest and the second expansible chamber of the inflatable bolster is located below the armrest.

3. An inflatable side bolster for mounting on a side of a vehicle, the inflatable side bolster comprising:

an expansible hollow interior comprising a first expansible chamber and a second expansible chamber;

an inflator module for inflating the expansible hollow interior;

an inner wall for projecting inwardly into the vehicle and away from the side of the vehicle on inflation of the expansible hollow interior;

an outer wall located between the expansible hollow interior and the side, the outer wall having i) an attachment portion comprising at least one attachment for attaching the outer wall to a portion of the side of the vehicle, and ii) a peripheral portion bordering the attachment portion; and

,

a relatively non-expansible component located between the first expansible chamber and the second expansible chamber;

wherein the peripheral portion comprises a first peripheral portion and a second peripheral portion and the attachment portion is located between the first peripheral portion and the second peripheral portion;

wherein the first expansible chamber is located above the non-expansible component and the second expansible chamber is located below the non-expansible component;

wherein the outer wall is mountable to the portion of the side by the at least one attachment such that the outer wall remains attached to the portion of the side by the at least one attachment during inflation, and the peripheral portion of the outer wall is free to move relative to the portion of the side of the vehicle to facilitate expansion of the expansible hollow interior during inflation;

wherein the peripheral portion is operable to move into the vehicle and away from the side of the vehicle during inflation of the expansible hollow interior; and

wherein the peripheral portion is pleated to facilitate movement of the peripheral portion relative to the side of the vehicle, and expansion of the expansible hollow interior.

11. A vehicle door comprising:

a window;

a door body adjacent to the window;

an armrest attached to the door body; and

the inflatable bolster of claim 3;

wherein the relatively non-expansible component of the inflatable bolster is located between the armrest and the door body, and

wherein the first expansible chamber of the inflatable bolster is located above the armrest and the second expansible chamber of the inflatable bolster is located below the armrest.

16. An inflatable side bolster assembly for a side of a vehicle comprising:

the inflatable bolster of claim 3; and

an armrest attached to the inner wall of the inflatable bolster;

wherein

wherein the relatively non-expansible component of the inflatable bolster is located between the armrest and the side of the vehicle, and

wherein the first expansible chamber of the inflatable bolster is located above the armrest and the second expansible chamber of the inflatable bolster is located below the armrest.

4. An inflatable side bolster for mounting on a side of a vehicle, the inflatable side bolster comprising:

an expansible hollow interior comprising a first expansible chamber and a second expansible chamber;

an inflator module for inflating the expansible hollow interior;

an inner wall for projecting inwardly into the vehicle and away from the side of the vehicle on inflation of the expansible hollow interior;

an outer wall located between the expansible hollow interior and the side, the outer wall having i) an attachment portion comprising at least one attachment for attaching the outer wall to a portion of the side of the vehicle, and ii) a peripheral portion bordering the attachment portion; and

,

a relatively non-expansible component located between the first expansible chamber and the second expansible chamber;

wherein the peripheral portion comprises a first peripheral portion and a second peripheral portion and the attachment portion is located between the first peripheral portion and the second peripheral portion;

wherein the first expansible chamber is located above the non-expansible component and the second expansible chamber is located below the non-expansible component;

wherein the outer wall is mountable to the portion of the side by the at least one attachment such that the outer wall remains attached to the portion of the side by the at least one attachment during inflation, and the peripheral portion of the outer wall is free to move relative to the portion of the side of the vehicle to facilitate expansion of the expansible hollow interior during inflation;

wherein the hollow interior further comprises i) a first supply conduit for connecting the inflator module to the first expansible chamber, and ii) a second supply conduit for connecting the inflator module to the second expansible chamber; and

wherein the inflator module comprises a shared inflator for inflating both the first expansible chamber and the second expansible chamber, the shared inflator being located outside of the first expansible chamber and the second expansible chamber.

5. The inflatable side bolster as defined in claim 4 wherein the hollow interior further comprises a V-shaped junction for receiving an inflation gas from the shared inflator, and for directing a first selected proportion of the inflation gas to the first supply conduit and a second selected proportion of the inflation gas to the second supply conduit.

12. A vehicle door comprising:

a window;

a door body adjacent to the window;

an armrest attached to the door body; and

the inflatable bolster of claim 4;

wherein the relatively non-expansible component of the inflatable bolster is located between the armrest and the door body, and

wherein the first expansible chamber of the inflatable bolster is located above the armrest and the second expansible chamber of the inflatable bolster is located below the armrest.

17. An inflatable side bolster assembly for a side of a vehicle comprising:

the inflatable bolster of claim 4; and

an armrest attached to the inner wall of the inflatable bolster;

wherein

wherein the relatively non-expansible component of the inflatable bolster is located between the armrest and the side of the vehicle, and

wherein the first expansible chamber of the inflatable bolster is located above the armrest and the second expansible chamber of the inflatable bolster is located below the armrest.

7. An inflatable side bolster for mounting on a side of a vehicle, the inflatable side bolster comprising:

an expansible hollow interior comprising a first expansible chamber and a second expansible chamber;

an inflator module for inflating the expansible hollow interior;

an inner wall for projecting inwardly into the vehicle and away from the side of the vehicle on inflation of the expansible hollow interior;

an outer wall located between the expansible hollow interior and the side, the outer wall having i) an attachment portion comprising at least one attachment for attaching the outer wall to a portion of the side of the vehicle, and ii) a peripheral portion bordering the attachment portion; and

,

a relatively non-expansible component located between the first expansible chamber and the second expansible chamber;

wherein the peripheral portion comprises a first peripheral portion and a second peripheral portion and the attachment portion is located between the first peripheral portion and the second peripheral portion;

wherein the first expansible chamber is located above the non-expansible component and the second expansible chamber is located below the non-expansible component;

wherein the outer wall is mountable to the portion of the side by the at least one attachment such that the outer wall remains attached to the portion of the side by the at least one attachment during inflation, and the peripheral portion of the outer wall is free to move relative to the portion of the side of the vehicle to facilitate expansion of the expansible hollow interior during inflation;

wherein the relatively non-expansible component is part of the expansible hollow interior, and the inner wall resists stretching at the relatively non-expansible component more than the inner wall resists stretching at the first expansible chamber and the second expansible chamber; and

wherein the inner wall is thicker at the relatively non-expansible component than at the first expansible chamber and the second expansible chamber.

13. A vehicle door comprising:

a window;

a door body adjacent to the window;

an armrest attached to the door body; and

the inflatable bolster of claim 7;

wherein the relatively non-expansible component of the inflatable bolster is located between the armrest and the door body, and

wherein the first expansible chamber of the inflatable bolster is located above the armrest and the second expansible chamber of the inflatable bolster is located below the armrest.

18. An inflatable side bolster assembly for a side of a vehicle comprising:

the inflatable bolster of claim 7; and

an armrest attached to the inner wall of the inflatable bolster;

wherein

wherein the relatively non-expansible component of the inflatable bolster is located between the armrest and the side of the vehicle, and

wherein the first expansible chamber of the inflatable bolster is located above the armrest and the second expansible chamber of the inflatable bolster is located below the armrest.

8. An inflatable side bolster for mounting on a side of a vehicle, the inflatable side bolster comprising:

an expansible hollow interior comprising a first expansible chamber and a second expansible chamber;

an inflator module for inflating the expansible hollow interior;

an inner wall for projecting inwardly into the vehicle and away from the side of the vehicle on inflation of the expansible hollow interior;

an outer wall located between the expansible hollow interior and the side, the outer wall having i) an attachment portion comprising at least one attachment for attaching the outer wall to a portion of the side of the vehicle, and ii) a peripheral portion bordering the attachment portion; and

,

a relatively non-expansible component located between the first expansible chamber and the second expansible chamber;

wherein the peripheral portion comprises a first peripheral portion and a second peripheral portion and the attachment portion is located between the first peripheral portion and the second peripheral portion;

wherein the first expansible chamber is located above the non-expansible component and the second expansible chamber is located below the non-expansible component;

wherein the outer wall is mountable to the portion of the side by the at least one attachment such that the outer wall remains attached to the portion of the side by the at least one attachment during inflation, and the peripheral portion of the outer wall is free to move relative to the portion of the side of the vehicle to facilitate expansion of the expansible hollow interior during inflation;

wherein the relatively non-expansible component is part of the expansible hollow interior, the inner wall resists stretching at the relatively non-expansible component more than the inner wall resists stretching at the first expansible chamber and the second expansible chamber; and

wherein the outer wall adjoining the relatively non-expansible component comprises the attachment portion.

14. A vehicle door comprising:

a window;

a door body adjacent to the window;

an armrest attached to the door body; and

the inflatable bolster of claim 8;

wherein the relatively non-expansible component of the inflatable bolster is located between the armrest and the door body, and

wherein the first expansible chamber of the inflatable bolster is located above the armrest and the second expansible chamber of the inflatable bolster is located below the armrest.

19. An inflatable side bolster assembly for a side of a vehicle comprising:

the inflatable bolster of claim 8; and

an armrest attached to the inner wall of the inflatable bolster;

wherein

wherein the relatively non-expansible component of the inflatable bolster is located between the armrest and the side of the vehicle, and

wherein the first expansible chamber of the inflatable bolster is located above the armrest and the second expansible chamber of the inflatable bolster is located below the armrest.