Dual air bag system for occupant restraint
First Claim
1. An inflatable restraint system for use in a vehicle for protecting at least one vehicle occupant from injury during collision or other loss of vehicle control, the system comprising:
- an air bag housing;
at least one air bag securely attached to said air bag housing;
inflating means for inflating said at least one air bag;
a crash sensor being operative with said inflating means for controlling the inflation of said at least one air bag;
deflating means for controlling deflation of said at least one air bag directly in response to cessation of motion of said vehicle; and
motion sensing means for sensing motion of the vehicle, said motion sensing means being operative with said deflating means for controlling the deflation of said at least one air bag;
whereby controlled deflation of said at least one air bag further protects the at least one occupant from injuries which often result from collision or other loss of vehicle control.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inflatable vehicle passenger restraint system has an inner and an outer air bag which are both coupled to a manifold which provides inflation gas produced by a gas generator. When the gas generator is activated, inflation gas quickly inflates the smaller inner air bag and simultaneously inflates the outer air bag at a slightly slower rate, thereby more fully protecting an out of position occupant by filling the outer air bag with a relatively slow fill rate as compared to the inner air bag. The inflatable restraint system preferably includes a control arrangement for controlling the deflation rate of at least one of the inner and outer air bags.
58 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An inflatable restraint system for use in a vehicle for protecting at least one vehicle occupant from injury during collision or other loss of vehicle control, the system comprising:
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an air bag housing; at least one air bag securely attached to said air bag housing; inflating means for inflating said at least one air bag; a crash sensor being operative with said inflating means for controlling the inflation of said at least one air bag; deflating means for controlling deflation of said at least one air bag directly in response to cessation of motion of said vehicle; and motion sensing means for sensing motion of the vehicle, said motion sensing means being operative with said deflating means for controlling the deflation of said at least one air bag; whereby controlled deflation of said at least one air bag further protects the at least one occupant from injuries which often result from collision or other loss of vehicle control. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An inflatable restraint system for use in a vehicle for protecting at least one vehicle occupant from injury during collision or other loss of vehicle control, the system comprising:
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an air bag housing; at least one air bag securely attached to said air bag housing; actuator means for inflating and deflating said at least one air bag; motion sensing means for sensing motion of the vehicle; controller means being operative with said motion sensing means and said actuator means for controlling the inflation and deflation of said at least one air bag such that deflation of said at least one air bag is delayed until cessation of motion of said vehicle; and whereby controlled deflation of said at least one air bag further protects the at least one vehicle occupant from injuries which often result from collision or other loss of vehicle control. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. An inflatable restraint system for use in a vehicle for protecting at least one occupant from injury during collision or other loss of vehicle control, the system comprising:
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a) an air bag housing; b) an inner air bag and an outer air bag, said inner and outer air bags each being securely attached to said air bag housing; c) actuator means for inflating and deflating said inner and outer air bags, said actuator means including; i) a gas generator, ii) a manifold in fluid communication with said gas generator and having a plurality of discharge ports, at least one of said plurality of discharge ports being in fluid communication with said inner air bag, at least one of said plurality of discharge ports being in fluid communication with said outer air bag; d) motion sensing means for sensing motion of the vehicle, said motion sensing means including; i) a crash sensor for generating an air bag inflation signal, and ii) a triaxial accelerometer for detecting acceleration along each of the three orthogonal axes of direction and generating an air bag deflation signal in response thereto; e) controller means being operative with said motion sensing means and said actuator means for inflating said inner and outer air bags in response to said air bag inflation signal and controlling the deflation of at least one air bag in response to said air bag deflation signal; and f) whereby controlled deflation of said at least one air bag further protects the at least one occupant from injuries which often result from collision or other loss of vehicle control. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification