Side impact air bag

Claim 2

A dual cushion air bag unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inflator is thrust neutral.

Claim 3

A dual cushion air bag unit as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first portion (21) of said inflator is substantially circular in transverse cross section with said gas outlet ports (40) generally equally spaced around the circumference thereof whereby gas generated by said inflator flows generally radially outwardly from said ports with the production of substantially zero thrust.

Claim 4

A dual cushion air bag unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said dual cushion air bag (22) when inflated forms a broad substantially planar air cushion, wherein in the plane of such inflated dual cushion air bag an opening (30) is provided in the neck portion (38) thereof, wherein said first portion (21) of said inflator (20) is substantially circular in transverse cross section, wherein said inflator includes a second portion with a flange (26) at a position intermediate said first and second portions, said flange encircling said inflator and having a plurality of apertures therein, and further including a retaining ring (28) having a plurality of apertures therein, said apertures in said retaining ring being in alignment with those in said flange, and a plurality of fasteners (32) wherein said retaining ring is inserted through said opening in said neck portion of said dual cushion air bag into the interior thereof in encircling relation to said opening therein and affixed to the fabric thereof with said fasteners extending through the apertures in said retaining ring, through apertures in the fabric of said neck portion, and through the apertures in said flange for securing said first portion of said inflator within said neck portion.

Claim 5

A dual cushion air bag unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said vehicle includes a side panel (10) having a cavity (17) therein, wherein said inflator (20) includes a second portion that is located externally of said neck portion (38) of said dual cushion air bag (22), and further including a mounting plate (16) within the cavity of said side panel, and means (26, 28, 32) for fixedly attaching said second portion of said inflator to said mounting plate within the cavity of said side panel.

Claim 6

A dual cushion air bag unit as claimed in claim 5 wherein said vehicle includes an arm rest (24) and said dual cushion air bag unit is mounted by said mounting means above said arm rest.

Claim 7

A dual cushion air bag unit as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein said upper portion (34) of said dual cushion air bag is compactly folded within the cavity in the side panel of said vehicle, and wherein said lower portion (36) of said dual cushion air bag hangs downwardly in unpressurized state.

Claim 8

A dual cushion air bag unit as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7 further including cover means (42, 46) for said dual cushion air bag unit, said cover means including frangible portions (43) that allow said upper and lower portions (34, 36) of said dual cushion air bag to break out of the cavity in said side panel upon activation of said inflator and deployment of said dual cushion air bag.

Claim 9

A dual cushion air bag unit as claimed in claim 8 wherein said cover means includes a lid portion (42) for said upper portion (34) of said dual cushion air bag, said lid portion having a plurality of tear seams (43) therein, and wherein said cover means includes a padded push out panel (46) for covering the lower portion (36) of said dual cushion air bag.

Claim 10

A dual cushion air bag unit as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 9 further including cover means in the form of a padded push out panel (46) normally retained adjacent said lower portion of said dual cushion air bag but arranged to be pushed out upon deployment of said dual cushion air bag.

Claim 11

A dual cushion air bag unit (18a) as claimed in claim 5 wherein said vehicle includes an arm rest (24) and said dual cushion air bag is mounted by said mounting means behind said arm rest.

Claim 12

A dual cushion air bag unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein both of said upper and lower portions (34, 36) of said air bag are compactly folded within the cavity in the side panel of said vehicle.

Claim 13

A dual cushion air bag unit as claimed in claim 12 further including a housing (50) therefor, said housing being fixedly attached to said second portion of said inflator (20) and mounted by said mounting means within the cavity (17) in said side panel with said upper and lower portions of said dual cushion air bag (34, 36) positioned therein in compactly folded states above and below said inflator respectively.

Claim 14

A dual cushion air bag unit as claimed in claim 13 further including cover means for said housing, said cover means including padded push out panel means associated with said arm rest (24) and hinged upper and lower portions, with said hinged upper portion (52) being deflectable downwardly to allow said upper portion (34) of said dual cushion air bag to deploy therethrough and with said hinged lower portion (54) deflectable upwardly toallow said lower portion (36) of said dual cushion air bag to deploy therethrough.

Claim 15

A dual cushion air bag unit as claimed in claim 14 wherein said housing means (50) includes a first means (51) to channel said upper portion (34) of said dual cushion air bag through said hinged upper portion (52) of said cover means and includes a second means (53) to channel said lower portion of said dual cushion air bag through said hinged lower portion (36) of said cover means (54) upon deployment of said dual cushion air bag.

Claim 16

A dual cushion air bag unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inflator (58) is of the tube type and includes a threaded stud (60, 62) extending therefrom at each end, with said tube-type inflator being located within the neck portion (38) of said dual cushion air bag (22) with said studs protruding outwardly thereof through opposed apertures in the fabric thereof, and further including a bracket (64, 66) provided in association with each of said mounting studs and fixedly attached thereto by bolt means (68, 70).

Claim 17

A dual cushion air bag unit as claimed in claim 16, wherein said vehicle includes a side panel (10) having a cavity (17) therein, and further including means for fixedly attaching each of said brackets to a mounting plate (74) within the cavity of said side panel.

Claim 18

A dual cushion air bag unit as claimed in claim 17 further including cover means (78) for said dual cushion air bag unit, said cover including frangible portions that allow said upper and lower portions of said dual cushion air bag to break out of the cavity in said side panel upon activation of said tube-type inflator (58) and deployment of said dual cushion air bag.

Claim 19

A dual cushion air bag unit as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18 wherein said vehicle includes an arm rest (24) and said dual cushion air bag unit is mounted by said mounting means above said arm rest, wherein said upper portion (34) of said dual cushion air bag is compactly folded within the cavity (17) in the side panel of said vehicle, and wherein said lower portion (36) of said dual cushion air bag hangs downwardly in unpressurized state.

Claim 20

A dual cushion air bag unit as claimed in claim 19 further including cover means (78) for said upper portion (34) of said dual cushion air bag, said cover means including tear seams therein to allow said upper portion to break out upon deployment of said dual cushion air bag, and further including, a padded push out panel (80) normally retained adjacent said lower portion (36) of said dual cushion air bag but arranged to be pushed out upon deployment of said dual cushion air bag.