Inflatable bolster

• US 8,544,876 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2009
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ABC Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Salflex Polymers Limited
• Inventors: Best, Michael James, Roychoudhury, Raj S., Ciplijauskas, Rimas, Fana, Babak
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, DREW J
• Application Number:
  US12/937,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20110115201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,631 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/753
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0293 Additional pads or cushions in vehicle compartments, e.g. movably mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/02 Occupant safety arrangements or fittings , e.g. crash pads seat belts with crash pads B60R22/14; removable children's seats having a front guard or barrier B60N2/2839
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/206 in the lower part of dashboards, e.g. for protecting the knees
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1334 Nonself-supporting tubular film or bag [e.g., pouch, envelope, packet, etc.]

Abstract

An inflatable bolster for use in a passenger compartment of a vehicle comprises a hollow body having a first wall having a central area and a circumferential area surrounding the central area, a second wall opposite the first wall, and an air chamber formed between the first and second walls. The inflatable bolster also comprises an inflator for injecting a pressurized fluid into the air chamber which is mounted to the hollow body. The inflatable bolster also comprises a plurality of concentric extension pleats formed in the first wall. The extension pleats extend around a major part of the circumferential area. The extension pleats contact the second wall at a plurality of contact points which are distributed across the second wall. The plurality of contact points is sufficient in number to at least partially suppress audible vibration of the second wall.

Claims

1. An inflatable bolster for use in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the bolster comprising:

a) a hollow body comprising

i. a first wall devised to face a mating surface of the vehicle, the first wall having a central area and a circumferential area surrounding the central area,

ii. a second wall opposite the first wall and devised to face the passenger compartment, and

iii. an air chamber formed between the first and second walls;

b) an inflator for injecting a pressurized fluid into the air chamber, thereby inflating the hollow body, the inflator being in communication with the hollow body; and

c) a plurality of concentric extension pleats formed in the first wall, the extension pleats extending around a major part of the circumferential area, the extension pleats contacting the second wall at a plurality of contact points which are distributed across the second wall, each contact point forming a bond between the first and second walls, the plurality of contact points being sufficient in number to at least partially suppress audible vibration of the second wall.

2. The inflatable bolster of claim 1, wherein the plurality of points form a plurality of contact lines along each extension pleat.

3. The inflatable bolster of claim 1, wherein the extension pleats comprise a depth, the depth creating tack-off.

4. An inflatable bolster for use in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the bolster comprising:

a) a hollow body comprising

i. a first wall devised to face a mating surface of the vehicle, the first wall having a central area and a circumferential area surrounding the central area,

ii. a second wall opposite the first wall and devised to face the passenger compartment, and

iii. an air chamber formed between the first and second walls;

b) an inflator for injecting a pressurized fluid into the air chamber, thereby inflating the hollow body, the inflator being in communication with the hollow body; and

c) a plurality of concentric extension pleats formed in the first wall, the extension pleats extending around a major part of the circumferential area, the extension pleats contacting the second wall at a plurality of contact points which are distributed across the second wall, the plurality of contact points being sufficient in number to at least partially suppress audible vibration of the second wall,

wherein each extension pleat comprises a pair of side walls separated by a bottom wall, the bottom wall comprising a protuberance extending from the bottom wall towards the second wall, the protuberance comprising a one of the plurality of contact points.

5. An inflatable bolster for use in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the bolster comprising:

a) a hollow body comprising

i. a first wall devised to face a mating surface of the vehicle, the first wall having a central area and a circumferential area surrounding the central area,

ii. a second wall opposite the first wall and devised to face the passenger compartment, and

iii. an air chamber formed between the first and second walls;

b) an inflator for injecting a pressurized fluid into the air chamber, thereby inflating the hollow body, the inflator being in communication with the hollow body; and

c) a plurality of concentric extension pleats formed in the first wall, the extension pleats extending around a major part of the circumferential area, the extension pleats contacting the second wall at a plurality of contact points which are distributed across the second wall, the plurality of contact points being sufficient in number to at least partially suppress audible vibration of the second wall,

wherein each extension pleat comprises a plurality of discreet protuberances.