Dual chambered passenger airbag
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An airbag comprising:
- an outer shell defining an interior of the airbag; and
a divider positioned in the interior so as to divide the interior into an upper chamber and a lower chamber upon actuation of the airbag, the divider including a body portion and at least one flap attached to the body portion along an edge of the divider, the divider being attached to the outer shell so as to form a gas-tight seal between the outer shell and the body portion and so as to form a gas flow passage between the at least one flap and the outer shell,wherein the divider slopes in a downward direction starting from a first location which is two-thirds of a distance from a location on the airbag at which the airbag is structured for attachment to a vehicle for receiving inflation gas therein, and proceeding toward a second location at which the divider is attached to the outer shell of the airbag, andwherein said upper chamber is structured to be juxtaposed to a head and thorax of an occupant and said lower chamber is structured to be juxtaposed to the thorax of the occupant when said airbag is fully inflated.
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Abstract
An airbag includes an outer shell defining an interior of the airbag, and a divider positioned in the interior so as to divide the interior into a first chamber and a second chamber. The divider includes a body portion and at least one flap attached to the body portion along an edge. The divider is attached to the outer shell so as to form a gas-tight seal between the outer shell and the body portion and so as to form a gas flow passage between the at least one flap and the outer shell.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An airbag comprising:
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an outer shell defining an interior of the airbag; and a divider positioned in the interior so as to divide the interior into an upper chamber and a lower chamber upon actuation of the airbag, the divider including a body portion and at least one flap attached to the body portion along an edge of the divider, the divider being attached to the outer shell so as to form a gas-tight seal between the outer shell and the body portion and so as to form a gas flow passage between the at least one flap and the outer shell, wherein the divider slopes in a downward direction starting from a first location which is two-thirds of a distance from a location on the airbag at which the airbag is structured for attachment to a vehicle for receiving inflation gas therein, and proceeding toward a second location at which the divider is attached to the outer shell of the airbag, and wherein said upper chamber is structured to be juxtaposed to a head and thorax of an occupant and said lower chamber is structured to be juxtaposed to the thorax of the occupant when said airbag is fully inflated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An airbag comprising:
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an outer shell defining an interior of the airbag, the outer shell defining a mouth of the airbag positioned in a first chamber and through which gas is injected into the airbag; a divider positioned in the interior so as to divide the interior into the first chamber and a second chamber, the divider including a body portion and at least one flap attached to the body portion along an edge, the divider being attached to the outer shell so as to form a gas-tight seal between the outer shell and the body portion and so as to form a gas flow passage between the at least one flap and the outer shell, the at least one flap being structured to restrict gas flow from the second chamber through the passage and into the first chamber; and at least one vent positioned in the first chamber and structured to release the gas from the first chamber to an exterior of the airbag, wherein the divider slopes in a downward direction starting from a first location which is two-thirds of a distance from a location on the airbag at which the airbag is structured for attachment to a vehicle for receiving inflation gas therein, and proceeding toward a second location at which the divider is attached to the outer shell of the airbag, and wherein upon actuation of the airbag said first chamber is adapted to communicate with a head and a thorax of an occupant of an associated vehicle, and, said second chamber is adapted to communicate only with a thorax of an occupant of an associated vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. An airbag comprising:
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an outer shell defining an interior of the airbag; and a divider positioned in the interior so as to divide the interior into a first chamber and a second chamber, a portion of the divider being attached to the outer shell, the portion of the divider including an opening adjacent the outer shell, the portion of the divider being oriented with respect to the outer shell such that movement of a portion of the outer shell in a direction toward the airbag interior causes the outer shell to contact the divider adjacent edges of the opening so as to overlap and cover the opening, so as to restrict a flow of gases between the first and second chambers wherein the airbag is structured such that the divider slopes in a downward direction starting from a first location which is two-thirds of a distance from a location on the airbag at which the bag is structured for attachment to a vehicle for receiving inflation gas therein, and proceeding toward a second location at which the divider is attached to the outer shell of the airbag. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. An airbag comprising:
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an outer shell defining an interior of the airbag; and a divider positioned in the interior so as to divide the interior into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, the divider including a body portion and at least one flap attached to the body portion along an edge of the divider, the divider being attached to the outer shell so as to form a gas-tight seal between the outer shell and the body portion and so as to form a gas flow passage between the at least one flap and the outer shell, wherein a portion of the at least one flap is directly attached to the outer shell so as to form a gas-tight seal between the outer shell and the attached flap portion, and wherein the portion of the at least one flap is structured to extend past an end of the gas flow passage when the divider body portion and the portion of the at least one flap are attached to the airbag outer shell.
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Specification