OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM

• US 3,801,126 A
• Filed: 05/19/1972
• Issued: 04/02/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carl M. Savage Jr, John W. Knight IV
• Original Assignee: Carl M. Savage Jr, John W. Knight IV
• Inventors: Knight, John W. IV, Savage, Carl M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schonberg, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rubenstein, Jack D.
• Application Number:
  US05/255,026
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB,15B 180/90
• US Class Current: 280/732
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23161 specially adapted for protecting at least two passengers, e.g. preventing them from hitting each other
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/276 with means to vent the inflation fluid source, e.g. in case of overpressure B60R21/30 takes precedence; venting means on inflatable member walls B60R21/239

Abstract

An occupant restraint system for a vehicle body includes a manifold provided by an elongated shallow trough having flanged walls which define an opening in general alignment with an elongated opening in the upper portion of the instrument panel adjacent the windshield. An oval-shape slotted diffuser seats on the base wall of the trough and is bolted through the trough to brackets on the cowl structure of the body to mount the trough and diffuser in place. One end of the diffuser is closed and the other end communicates with a source of pressure fluid such as a pressure vessel or gas generator. An occupant restraint cushion is of T cross section and includes an elongated tapered umbilical portion having one open side thereof receiving the opening of the trough and secured to the flanged walls thereof. An elongated pillow portion of the cushion communicates with the other open side of the umbilical portion and extends transversely of the umbilical portion. The pillow portion extends peripherally beyond the umbilical portion on all sides. When the cushion is in stored position, it is rolled upon itself and received within the trough. A cover for the opening in the instrument panel has flanges releasably clamped between the flanged walls of the trough and the upper portion of the instrument panel. One or more valves in the walls of the trough close openings which communicate with the interior of the vehicle or with ambient atmosphere. The trough brackets, additional brackets from the cowl structure, and tie bars support a lower knee panel which extends transversely of the vehicle underneath the instrument panel. The knee panel includes a perforated steel base covered with semi-rigid resilient material and an outer decorative covering. When the source of pressure fluid is communicated with the diffuser, the diffuser expands from oval shape toward a round shape and relocates the slots during such change in shape. The pressure fluid flows from the diffuser into the trough and then into the cushion to inflate the cushion. The umbilical portion is projected rearwardly and generally upwardly of the body through the opening in the upper portion of the instrument panel and is located between the windshield and such upper portion. The pillow portion is erected generally vertically of the body rearwardly of the frontal portion of the instrument panel and of the steering wheel. The tapered umbilical portion locates the pillow portion angularly of the frontal portion of the instrument panel so that its right-hand side is located adjacent the right-hand side of the frontal portion of the instrument panel and its left-hand side clears the steering wheel.

Claims

1. The combination comprising, a vehicle body having an instrument panel including a generally transversely extending upper portion having a forward periphery of generally U shape, a generally T-shaped inflatable occupant restraint cushion including an elongate umbilical portion and a pillow portion located laterally of the umbilical portion, and means mounting the umbilical portion on the upper portion of the instrument panel in chordal relationship to the bight portion of the periphery thereof, the umbilical portion having a lesser extent transversely of the body than the upper portion of the instrument panel and extending rearwardly thereof, the pillow portion being located rearwardly of the upper portion of the instrument panel generally vertically of the body and having an extent transversely of the body generally equal to that of the upper portion of the instrument panel.

2. The combination comprising, a vehicle body having an instrument panel including a rearward portion and an upper portion, a generally T-shaped inflatable occupant restraint cushion including an umbilical portion and a pillow portion, means mounting the forward terminus of the umbilical portion on the upper portion of the instrument panel, the umbilical portion extending rearwardly of the upper portion of the instrument panel and having the rearward terminus thereof located angularly to the rearward portion of the instrument panel and secured to the pillow portion, the pillow portion being thus located angularly of the rearward portion of the instrument panel and generally vertically of the body.

3. The combination comprising, a vehicle body having an instrument panel including an upper portion, a rearward portion and a steering wheel located adjacent the rearward portion to one side of the body, a generally T-shaped inflatable occupant restraint cushion including an umbilical portion and a pillow portion, means mounting the forward terminus of the umbilical portion on the upper portion of the instrument panel, the umbilical portion extending rearwardly of the upper portion of the instrument panel and having the rearward terminus thereof located angularly to the rearward portion of the instrument panel and secured to the pillow portion, the pillow portion being thus located angularly of the rearward portion of the instrument panel and rearwardly of the steering wheel generally vertically of the body.

4. The combination comprising, a vehicle body having an instrument panel including a rearward portion and an upper portion having a forward periphery of generally U shape and provided with an opening therein in generally chordal relationship to the bight portion of the periphery thereof, a generally T-shaped inflatable occupant restraint cushion including an umbilical portion and a pillow portion located laterally of the umbilical portion, the cushion being normally deflated and stored within the opening of the upper portion of the instrument panel, and means for inflating the cushion to extend the umbilical portion rearwardly of the body over the upper portion of the instrument panel and locate the pillow portion generally vertically of the body and rearwardly of the upper portion of the instrument panel and the rearward portion of the instrument panel.

5. The combination comprising, a vehicle body having an instrument panel including a rearward portion and an upper portion having a forward periphery of generally U shape and provided with an opening therein in generally chordal relationship to the bight portion of the periphery thereof, a generally T-shaped inflatable occupant restraint cushion including an elongate umbilical portion and a pillow portion located laterally of the umbilical portion, the cushion being normally deflated and stored within the openings of the upper portion of the instrument panel, means for inflating the cushion to extend the umbilical portion rearwardly of the body over the upper portion of the instrument panel and locate the pillow portion generally vertically of the body and rearwardly of the upper portion of the instrument panel and the rearward portion of the instrument panel for engagement by the upper portion of an occupant of the body, and an energy absorbing knee panel mounted on the reaRward portion and located below the pillow portion for engagement by the knees of the occupant.