Pressure limited restraint system
First Claim
1. In an occupant restraint system comprising an inflatable air bag having an open end, an inflator for inflating the air bag with pressure fluid from fluid discharge ports through said open end, and a baseplate for mounting the inflator and closing the air bag open end, pressure limiting means for operatively connecting the inflator discharge ports with the air bag whenever air bag pressure is below a predetermined level and for disconnecting the discharge ports from the air bag when said predetermined pressure level is exceeded, said pressure limiting means comprising a central aperture in the baseplate, the inflator itself, and mounting means mounting the inflator for movement relative to said aperture, the yieldable means biasing the inflator through said central aperture to a first position operatively connecting the inflator discharge ports with the air bag, the inflator being responsive to pressure to oppose said yieldable means and move to a second position disconnecting the discharge ports from the air bag through said central aperture when air bag pressure has reached said predetermined level.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An occupant restraint system comprises an inflatable air bag having an open end which is closed by one side of a base plate having a central circular opening flanked by a plurality of circumferentially-spaced mounting holes. An inflator for the air bag has a cylindrical casing with radial fluid discharge ports for discharging gas. A flange extends radially beyond the casing below the discharge ports and includes four circumferentially-spaced mounting holes which mate with the base plate mounting holes. The inflator acts as a valve to maintain air bag pressure below a predetermined level. This is accomplished by providing guide pins extending through the mated mounting holes. The guide pins carry compression springs which bias the inflator to a first position in which the flange engages the base plate with the discharge ports located above the base plate in operative communication with the air bag. The inflator includes a reaction surface located above the discharge ports which is exposed to air bag pressure. When the force exerted by air bag pressure exceeds a predetermined level, the springs compress and the inflator slides on the pins to a second position in which the discharge ports are located below the base plate out of operative communication with the air bag. Alternatively, the inflator may be supported by a plastically yieldable support which collapses to allow movement of the inflator to the second position.
61 Citations
11 Claims
- 1. In an occupant restraint system comprising an inflatable air bag having an open end, an inflator for inflating the air bag with pressure fluid from fluid discharge ports through said open end, and a baseplate for mounting the inflator and closing the air bag open end, pressure limiting means for operatively connecting the inflator discharge ports with the air bag whenever air bag pressure is below a predetermined level and for disconnecting the discharge ports from the air bag when said predetermined pressure level is exceeded, said pressure limiting means comprising a central aperture in the baseplate, the inflator itself, and mounting means mounting the inflator for movement relative to said aperture, the yieldable means biasing the inflator through said central aperture to a first position operatively connecting the inflator discharge ports with the air bag, the inflator being responsive to pressure to oppose said yieldable means and move to a second position disconnecting the discharge ports from the air bag through said central aperture when air bag pressure has reached said predetermined level.
- 6. In an occupant restraint system comprising an inflatable air bag having an open end, an inflator for inflating the air bag with pressure fluid from fluid discharge ports through said open end, and a base plate closing the air bag open end and having a central opening for receiving the inflator, the improvement comprising mounting means mounting the inflator for movement through said opening between a first position with the discharge ports in operative communication with the air bag and a second position with the discharge ports out of operative communication with the air bag.
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10. An occupant restraint system comprising an inflatable air bag having an open end,
a base plate having one side mounting the air bag to close the air bag open end and having a central circular opening flanked by a plurality of circumferentially-spaced guide pins extending from the other side, an inflator for inflating the air bag and having a cylindrical casing with radial fluid discharge ports for discharging pressure fluid, a flange extending radially beyond the casing below the discharge ports and having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced mounting holes slidably receiving the guide pins, the inflator being slidable through said opening between a first position, in which the flange engages the base plate with the discharge ports located above the base plate in operative communication with the air bag, and a second position, in which the flange disengages the base plate with the discharge ports located below the base plate out of operative communication with the air bag, and compression springs carried by the guide pins and engaging the flange to bias the inflator to first position.
Specification