Aspirated inflators
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An airbag inflator system for a vehicle, comprising:
- an inflatable, side curtain airbag arranged to be mounted to an upper portion of a frame of a vehicle and to inflate in a generally downward direction from its mounting location to a position along a left or right side of the vehicle;
said side curtain airbag, when uninflated, forming an elongate structure extending above at least a portion of a first window, at least a portion of a second window, and a pillar separating the first and second windows along the left or right side of the vehicle;
a gas releasing system comprising an elongate housing operative for releasing gas which is directed from said housing to an interior of said side curtain airbag, said housing containing a system for generating gas or storing compressed gas that is released to flow into said side curtain airbag in order to inflate said side curtain airbag to protect a first occupant seated next to the first window and a second occupant seated next to the second window in the response to a detected crash involving the vehicle; and
wherein said housing of said gas releasing system is spaced apart from said side curtain airbag,further comprising a tube operatively connecting said housing to said side curtain airbag and through which the released gas from said housing is directed into said side curtain airbag.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Airbag inflator system includes an inflatable airbag, a flexible housing, and a gas generating system for generating gas which is directed from the housing to the interior of the airbag. The housing may be made by an extrusion process to provide it with its flexible cl of plastic. An aspirating structure or nozzle may be arranged between the gas generating system and an interior of the airbag, which nozzle is varied as a function of temperature. The aspirating structure or arrangement enables air from the passenger compartment of the vehicle to mix with the generated gas prior to being directed into the airbag.
80 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An airbag inflator system for a vehicle, comprising:
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an inflatable, side curtain airbag arranged to be mounted to an upper portion of a frame of a vehicle and to inflate in a generally downward direction from its mounting location to a position along a left or right side of the vehicle; said side curtain airbag, when uninflated, forming an elongate structure extending above at least a portion of a first window, at least a portion of a second window, and a pillar separating the first and second windows along the left or right side of the vehicle; a gas releasing system comprising an elongate housing operative for releasing gas which is directed from said housing to an interior of said side curtain airbag, said housing containing a system for generating gas or storing compressed gas that is released to flow into said side curtain airbag in order to inflate said side curtain airbag to protect a first occupant seated next to the first window and a second occupant seated next to the second window in the response to a detected crash involving the vehicle; and wherein said housing of said gas releasing system is spaced apart from said side curtain airbag, further comprising a tube operatively connecting said housing to said side curtain airbag and through which the released gas from said housing is directed into said side curtain airbag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for inflating a side curtain airbag in a vehicle, comprising:
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mounting an inflatable side curtain airbag to an upper portion of a frame of a vehicle, wherein the side curtain airbag, when uninflated, forms an elongate structure extending above at least a portion of a first window, at least a portion of a second window, and a pillar separating the first and second windows along the left or right side of the vehicle; arranging the side curtain airbag to inflate in a generally downward direction from its mounting location to a position along a left or right side of the vehicle; mounting a gas releasing system to the upper portion of a frame of a vehicle, wherein the gas releasing system comprises an elongate housing containing a system for generating gas or storing compressed gas which is directed from the housing to an interior of the side curtain airbag to inflate the side curtain airbag; spacing the elongate housing of the gas releasing system apart from the side curtain airbag; connecting a tube between the housing and the airbag through which the released gas is directed from the housing into the airbag; detecting a crash involving the vehicle using a crash sensor system; and releasing the compressed gas from the housing to inflate the side curtain airbag to protect a first occupant seated next to the first window and a second occupant seated next to the second window in response to the detected crash. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification