Three-way gas guide
First Claim
1. A gas guide for directing inflation gas within an inflatable cushion, the gas guide comprising:
- a guide sleeve formed of one or more panels to define a void configured to receive inflation gas from an inflator;
an inflator opening into the guide sleeve configured to fluidly couple the void of the guide sleeve to an inflator,a forward opening positioned in a forward portion of the guide sleeve, wherein the forward opening is configured to deliver inflation gas from the void into a forward portion of an inflatable cushion;
a rearward opening positioned in a rearward portion of the guide sleeve, wherein the rearward opening is configured to deliver inflation gas from the void into a rearward portion of an inflatable cushion; and
a downward opening positioned in a lower portion of the guide sleeve, wherein the downward opening is configured to deliver inflation gas from the void downward into a lower portion of an inflatable cushion, wherein an area of the downward opening is at least two times greater than an area of the forward opening or an area of the rearward opening.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Gas guides or airbag assemblies including gas guides are disclosed. The gas guides can direct inflation gas within an inflatable cushion. The gas guides can include a forward opening that delivers inflation gas to a forward portion of an inflatable cushion and a rearward opening that delivers inflation gas to a rearward portion of an inflatable cushion. The gas guides can further include a downward opening that delivers inflation gas downward to a lower portion of an inflatable cushion. The area of the downward opening can be greater than the areas of the forward opening or the rearward opening such that a greater portion of the inflation gas is directed downward into the inflatable cushion.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A gas guide for directing inflation gas within an inflatable cushion, the gas guide comprising:
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a guide sleeve formed of one or more panels to define a void configured to receive inflation gas from an inflator; an inflator opening into the guide sleeve configured to fluidly couple the void of the guide sleeve to an inflator, a forward opening positioned in a forward portion of the guide sleeve, wherein the forward opening is configured to deliver inflation gas from the void into a forward portion of an inflatable cushion; a rearward opening positioned in a rearward portion of the guide sleeve, wherein the rearward opening is configured to deliver inflation gas from the void into a rearward portion of an inflatable cushion; and a downward opening positioned in a lower portion of the guide sleeve, wherein the downward opening is configured to deliver inflation gas from the void downward into a lower portion of an inflatable cushion, wherein an area of the downward opening is at least two times greater than an area of the forward opening or an area of the rearward opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An inflatable curtain airbag assembly, comprising:
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an inflator; and an inflatable curtain airbag, the inflatable curtain airbag comprising; a throat portion in fluid communication with the inflator; and a gas guide in fluid communication with and disposed within at least a portion of the throat portion, wherein the gas guide comprises; a first opening in fluid communication with the inflator; a forward opening disposed in a forward portion of the gas guide; a rearward opening disposed in a rearward portion of the gas guide; and a downward opening disposed in a lower portion of the gas guide at a position between the forward opening and the rearward opening, wherein the downward opening is configured to permit flow of inflation gas from within a void of the gas guide downward into the inflatable curtain airbag, and wherein the size of the downward opening is at least twice the size of the forward opening or the size of the rearward opening. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification