Automatic venting supplemental inflatable restraint system

• US 5,320,383 A
• Filed: 07/02/1993
• Issued: 06/14/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Kaminski, Richard R., Barszcz, Thomas R., Wooley, Robert G., Lawlis, James M., Chan, Tai L., Sohn, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Application Number:
  US08/084,902
• Time in Patent Office: 347 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728 R, 280/735, 454/75, 244/122 AG, 244/121, 244/122 R
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/017 including arrangements for providing electric power to safety arrangements or their actuating means, e.g. to pyrotechnic fuses or electro-mechanic valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/164 combined with vehicle venting means for reducing or avoiding the passenger compartment overpressure during inflation

Abstract

An apparatus includes a deployable supplemental inflatable restraint, which, after a deployment, vents supplemental inflatable restraint internal contenst to a vehicle passenger compartment, a signal line for sensing deployment of the supplemental inflatable restraint, a command generator for developing a command responsive to the sensed deployment, and an atmosphere control system for providing a flow of fresh air into the vehicle passenger compartment responsive to the developed command.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a motor vehicle climate control system comprising

a microprocessor,

a blower motor,

an air inlet duct,

air ventilation ducts,

a first valve controllable to affect air flow to the air inlet duct, and

a second valve controllable to affect air flow in the air ventilation ducts between a defrost air outlet and a vent air outlet;

means for sensing a sudden deceleration of the vehicle;

means for inflating a supplemental inflatable restraint responsive to the sensed sudden deceleration of the vehicle;

means for deflating the supplemental inflatable restraint after the inflation thereof;

means, activated after deflation of the supplemental inflatable restraint and including the microprocessor, for controlling the first valve to allow air inflow into the air inlet duct;

means, activated after deflation of the supplemental inflatable restraint and including the microprocessor, for controlling the second valve to control air flow to the defrost air outlet and vent air outlet; and

means, activated after deflation of the supplemental inflatable restraint for activating the blower motor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for controlling the second valve directs airflow to the vent air outlet and away from the defrost air outlet after deflation of the supplemental inflatable restraint.