Airbags with internal valves

• US 7,338,069 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2006
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Breed, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan; Ruth
• Application Number:
  US11/423,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20060261579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 280/729, 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/732, 280/742, 280/743.1, 280/739
• US Class Current: 280/729
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• 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 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23192 Roof bags, i.e. protecting the occupant in a roll-over situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23514 coated fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23523 Composite coated fabric B60R2021/23514
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23533 characterised by the manufacturing process
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2395 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/206 in the lower part of dashboards, e.g. for protecting the knees
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/214 in roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• 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 21/235 characterised by their material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

Airbag for a vehicle includes at least one section of material defining a plurality of cells, chambers or compartments, and one-way valves arranged in connection with the material section(s) between the cells to control flow of inflating fluid between the cells. Each valve can lead from a respective first cell to a respective second cell and are preferably designed to close once a predetermined pressure prevails in the second cell to prevent fluid outflow from the respective second cell. The cells may be interconnected such that at least one cell is interposed between and connected to two other cells. A plurality of valves may be arranged between adjacent pairs of the cells, or only a single valve may be arranged between an adjacent pair of cells.

Claims

1. An airbag for a vehicle, comprising:

at least one section of material defining a plurality of interconnected cells, said cells including a row of adjacent, primary cells and a secondary cell extending from each of said primary cells;

at least one one-way valve arranged in connection with said at least one material section and between each of said primary cells and said secondary cell extending from said primary cell to control flow of inflating fluid between said primary and secondary cells.

2. The airbag of claim 1, wherein said at least one valve between each of said primary and secondary cells is arranged to close once a predetermined pressure differential exists between said primary and secondary cells to prevent fluid outflow from said secondary cell to said primary cell.

3. The airbag of claim 1, wherein said at least one valve between each of said primary and secondary cells comprises a plurality of valves.

4. The airbag of claim 1, wherein said cells further include at least one additional cell extending from a respective one of said secondary cells, further comprising at least one one-way valve arranged between said at least one additional cell and said secondary cell from which it extends.

5. The airbag of claim 1, wherein only said primary cells are in direct communication with a source of inflating fluid.

6. The airbag of claim 1, wherein said cells further include additional cells each extending from a respective one of a plurality of said secondary cells, further comprising at least one one-way valve arranged between each of said additional cells and said secondary cell from which it extends.

7. The airbag of claim 1, further comprising an envelope defining an interior in which said cells are arranged.

8. The airbag of claim 7, wherein said envelope is made of film.

9. The airbag of claim 1, wherein said at least one material section comprises a plurality of material sections.

10. A vehicle, comprising:

a headliner or ceiling;

a seat on which an occupant sits below said headliner or ceiling;

said airbag of claim 1, said airbag having a storage position in connection with said headliner or ceiling and a deployed position extending outward from said headliner or ceiling; and

an inflater for inflating said airbag from said storage position to said deployed position, when in said deployed position, said airbag being arranged in a space between the occupant when seated on said seat and a side of the vehicle.

11. The airbag of claim 1, wherein said secondary cells extend in the same direction from said primary cells.

12. An airbag system, comprising:

an inflatable airbag having a plurality of interconnected chambers and arranged to engage part of a vehicle occupant upon inflation, said chambers include a row of primary chambers and at least one secondary chamber extending from each of said primary chambers; and

an inflater arranged to direct inflating fluid directly into said primary chambers of said airbag,

said airbag comprising a plurality of one-way valves each arranged between adjacent ones of said primary and secondary chambers to control flow of inflating fluid from said inflater to all of said chambers to thereby enable said airbag to be inflated.

13. The airbag system of claim 12, wherein said chambers include at least one additional chamber each extending from a respective one of said secondary chambers such that said secondary chamber is arranged entirely between said primary chamber and said at least one additional chamber.

14. The airbag system of claim 13, further comprising at least one one-way valve arranged between said at least one additional chamber and said secondary chamber from which it extends.

15. The airbag system of claim 12, wherein said secondary chambers extend in the same direction from said primary chambers.

16. The airbag system of claim 12, wherein said chambers include at least one additional chamber extending from each of said secondary chambers such that each of said secondary chambers is arranged entirely between said primary chamber from which it extends and said at least one additional chamber extending therefrom.

17. The airbag system of claim 12, further comprising an envelope defining an interior in which said chambers are arranged.

18. The airbag system of claim 12, wherein each of said at least one valve between said primary and secondary chambers is arranged to close once a predetermined pressure differential exists between said primary and secondary chambers to prevent fluid outflow from said secondary chamber to said primary chamber.

19. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a frame including a headliner or ceiling and instrument panel;

an airbag device mounted to said frame and comprising an inflater for providing inflating fluid upon actuation thereof and a compartmentalized airbag having a plurality of compartments in communication with said inflater; and

mounting means for mounting said airbag device to said frame such that said airbag, when inflated, is present in a space between said frame and part of an occupant situated in a seat of the vehicle,

said airbag comprising one-way valves arranged between said compartments to control flow of inflating fluid between said compartments,

said compartments include a row of adjacent, primary airbag compartments and a plurality of additional, secondary airbag compartments, each of said secondary airbag compartments extending from one of said plurality of primary airbag compartments.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein each of said second airbag compartments extends from a respective one of said primary airbag compartments.

21. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein each of said second airbag compartments extends in the same direction from a respective one of said primary airbag compartments.

22. An airbag for a vehicle, comprising:

at least one section of material defining a plurality of cells; and

one-way valves arranged in connection with said at least one material section between said cells to control flow of inflating fluid between said cells,

said cells being said cells including a plurality of first cells in direct communication with a source of inflating fluid, and a plurality of second cells each in communication with a respective one of said first cells via at least one of said valves.

23. An airbag system, comprising:

an inflatable airbag having a plurality of interconnected chambers and arranged to engage part of a vehicle occupant upon inflation, said chambers including primary chambers and secondary chambers; and

an inflater arranged to direct inflating fluid directly into only said primary chambers of said airbag,

said airbag comprising a plurality of one-way valves arranged between adjacent ones of said primary and second chambers to control flow of inflating fluid from said inflater to all of said chambers to thereby enable said airbag to be inflated.

24. A vehicle, comprising:

a headliner or ceiling;

a seat on which an occupant sits below said headliner or ceiling;

an airbag comprising at least one section of material defining at least first, second and third interconnected cells, and at least one one-way valve arranged in connection with said at least one material section and between said first and second cells to control flow of inflating fluid from said first cell to said second cell; and

at least one one-way valve arranged in connection with said at least one material section and between said second and third cells to control flow of inflating fluid from said second cell to said third cell, said airbag having a storage position in connection with said headliner or ceiling and a deployed position extending outward from said headliner or ceiling; and

an inflater for inflating said airbag from said storage position to said deployed position,

when in said deployed position, said airbag being arranged in a space between the occupant when seated on said seat and a side of the vehicle.