Vehicle occupant protection system and inflator

• US 20050189752A1
• Filed: 01/28/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kumagai, Masayoshi, Itoga, Yasuo, Yoshikawa, Hiromichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,413,220 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/741
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26094 characterised by fluid flow controlling valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2615 for diverting the gas into a plurality of bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/18 the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1952 Transmission of tensioning power by cable; Return motion locking means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1955 Linear actuators

Abstract

An inflator having at least first and second gas outputs and configured to generate gas. The inflator releases the gas through the first gas output with a fist gas flow rats and to release the gas through the second gas output with a second gas flow rate different from the first gas flow rate.

Claims

1. An inflator having at least first and second gas outputs, wherein the inflator is configured to generate gas and to release the gas through the first gas output with a first gas flow rate and to release the gas through the second gas output with a second gas flow rate different from the first gas flow rate.

2. The inflator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inflator is configured so that a ratio of the first gas flow to the said gas flow ate is adjustable.

3. The inflator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inflator is configured to release the gas through the first gas output in a first direction and to release the gas through the second gas output in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction.

4. The inflator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inflator is configured to release the gas through the first gas output in a first direction and to release the gas through the second gas output in a second direction substantially the same as the first direction.

5. The inflator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second gas output are located at substantially opposite ends of the inflator.

6. The inflator as claimed it claim 1, wherein the inflator has a third gas output and is configured to release the gas through the third gas output with a third gas flow rate, wherein the inflator is configured so that a ratio of the third gas flow to at least one of the first and second gas flow rates is adjustable.

7. The inflator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inflator has a third gas output and is configured to release the gas through the third gas output with a third gas flow rate, wherein the inflator is configured so that a ratio of the third gas flow to the second gas flow rate is not adjustable, but a ratio of the second gas flow rate to the first gas flow rate is adjustable.

8. The inflator as claimed in claim 1, wherein a ratio of the first gas flow to the second gas flow rate is between approximately 1.5 and 3.0.

9. The inflator as claimed in claim 1, wherein a ratio of the first gas flow to the second gas flow rate is approximately 2.

10. A vehicle occupant protection system, comprising:

an inflator having at least first and second gas outputs, the inflator configured to generate gas and to release the gas trough the first gas output with a first gas flow rate and to release the gas through the second gas output with a second gas flow rate different from the first gas flow rate;

a first air bag connected to the first gas output; and

at least one of a second air bag and a seat belt retractor connected to the second gas output.

11. The vehicle occupant protection system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a seat upon which a vehicle occupant may sit wherein the first air bag is connected to the seat.

12. The vehicle occupant protection system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second air bag is connected to the second gas output, and further comprising a seat upon which a vehicle occupant may sit, wherein the first air bag is connected to the seat;

and a seat belt configured to restrain the vehicle occupant wherein the second air bag is connected to the seat belt.

13. The vehicle occupant protection system as claimed in claim 10, comprising the second air bag connected to the second gas output, and further comprising a seat upon which a vehicle occupant may sit wherein the first air bag is connected to a bottom rest portion of the seat and the second air bag is connected to a back rest portion of the seat.

14. The vehicle occupant protection system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second airbag connected to the second gas output, and further comprising a seat belt configured to restrain a vehicle occupant, wherein the second air bag is a seat belt air bag connected to the seat belt.

15. The vehicle occupant protection system as claimed in claim 10, comprising the second air bag connected to the second gas output, and further comprising:

a third air bag connected to the second gas output; and

a seat belt configured to restrain a vehicle occupant and comprising a shoulder belt and a lap belt, wherein the second a bag is a shoulder belt air bag connected to the shoulder belt and the third airbag is a lap belt air bag connected to the lap belt.

16. The vehicle occupant protection system as claimed in claim 10, comprising the seat belt rear connected to the second gas output.

17. The vehicle occupant protection system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the inflator is configured so that a ratio of the first gas flow to the second gas flow rate is adjustable.

18. The vehicle occupant protection system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the inflator is configured to release the gas through the first gas output in a first direction and to release the gas through the second gas output in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction.

19. The vehicle occupant protection system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the inflator is configured to release the gas through the first gas output in a first direction and to release the gas tough the second gas output in a second direction substantially the same as the first direction.

20. The vehicle occupant protection system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first and second gas outputs are located at substantially opposite ends of the inflator.

21. The vehicle occupant protection system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the inflator has a third gas output and is configured to release the gas through the third gas output with a third gas flow rate, wherein the inflator is configured so that a ratio of the third gas flow to at least one of the first and second gas flow rates is adjustable.

22. The vehicle occupant protection system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the inflator has a third gas output and is configured to release the gas through the third gas output with a third gas flow rate, wherein the inflator is configured so that a ratio of the third gas flow to the second gas flow rate is not adjustable, but a ratio of the second gas flow rate to the fist gas flow rate is adjustable.

23. The vehicle occupant protection system as claimed in claim 10, wherein a ratio of the first gas flow to the second gas flow rate is between approximately 1.5 and 3.0.

24. The vehicle occupant protection system as claimed in claim 10, wherein a ratio of the first gas flow to the second gas flow rate is approximately 2.

25. A vehicle occupant protection system comprising:

an inflator having at least first and second gas outputs and a valve mechanisms for controlling gas flow out of one of the first and second gas outputs, the inflator configured it generate gas and to release gas through the first gas output with a first gas flow rate and to release the gas through the second gas output with a second gas flow rate different from the fist gas flow rate;

a fist air bag connected to the first gas output; and

at least one of a second air bag and a seat belt rector connected to the second gas output.