Patent EP0602785A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0602785A2
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EP
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Diffuser device and incorporation thereof in an inflatable restraint system
Assignee: Morton International LLC
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Filing: 1993-10-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-10-28
Abstract
Abstract A diffuser device (16) for incorporation in an inflatable restraint system includes a face member (52) with side walls (68A, 68B) which are joined by apertured channel portions (73A, 73B) to outer flanges (72A, 72B). The face member has apertures (70) for allowing a through flow of gas and baffles (85) connected to its under side. A thickened edge portion of an air bag can be clamped between the side walls and the flanges thus facilitating installation of the air bag/diffuser sub-assembly into a housing for accommodating an inflator. The invention also includes an air bag restraint system including a housing accommodating such a sub-assembly in which fasteners pass through the housing, an outer flange (72A, 72B) a thickened edge portion of an air bag and a side wall (68A, 68B) of the diffuser (16) to hold the system together and clamp the air bag in place.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry D. Rose
- 👤 Mike J. Ravenberg
- 👤 Donald L. Lauritzen
- 👤 Mark A. Thompson
- 👤 David J. Green
- 👤 Terry R. Davis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 18:11
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/217; B60R21/2171; B60R21/26; B60R21/261
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A diffuser device (16) comprising: a face member (52) having a longitudinal length (66), a peripheral edge (60, 64) defined thereabout, and an integrally formed side wall (68) about at least a portion of said peripheral edge (60, 64); an outer flange (72) oppositely positioned and angularly disposed relative to at least a portion of said side wall (68); and a channel portion (73), bridging said side wall (68) and said oppositely positioned and angularly disposed outer flange (72), adapted to engage a thickened edge (90) of an air bag (14), the diffuser device (16) also comprising gas flow directing means including a plurality of apertures (70) in said face member (52) permitting gas to flow through said face member (52), with the longitudinal length (66) of said face member (52) being generally perpendicular to the direction of gas flow through said face member (52).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
15 words
The diffuser device of Claim 1 fabricated from a single flat pattern of ductile metal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The diffuser device (16) of Claims 1 or 2 for use in a passenger side air bag module assembly wherein the air bag is a passenger side air bag.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The diffuser device of any preceding Claim wherein said gas flow directing means results in uniform distribution of gas flow through said apertures (70) along the longitudinal length (66) of said face member (52).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The diffuser device of any preceding claim for use in an air bag module assembly comprising a hybrid type inflator (20), said gas flow directing means additionally includes at least one baffle (85) formed onto the underside of said face member (52), said baffle (85) serving to redirect gas flow through the device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The diffuser device of any preceding Claim wherein said side wall (68) and outer flange (72) are adapted to be crimped together after said channel portion (73) has engaged the thickened edge (90) of the air bag (14), to secure said diffuser and bag in a single assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The diffuser device of any preceding Claim wherein said face member (52) has an angular cross section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
227 words
A diffuser device (16) fabricated from a single flat pattern for use in a passenger side air bag module assembly having an inflator (20) for which gas redirection is desired, said diffuser device (16) comprising: a face member (52) with an angular cross section and having a topside (54), an underside (56), at least two opposed lateral sides (60), at least two opposed longitudinal sides, with a peripheral edge (60, 64) defined about said lateral and longitudinal sides (64), and having an integrally formed side wall (68) about at least a portion of said peripheral edge (60, 64), said member (52) also comprising gas flow directing means including a plurality of apertures (124, 125, 126) therethrough to permit a gas to flow through the member (52), with the longitudinal length (66) of said face member being generally perpendicular to the direction of gas flow therethrough and with said gas flow directing means also including at least one baffle (85A, 85B) formed onto said underside (56) and serving to redirect gas flow through the member (52); an outer flange (72) oppositely positioned and angularly disposed relative to at least a portion of said side wall (68); and a channel portion (73), bridging said side wall (68) and said oppositely positioned and angularly disposed outer flange (72), adapted to engage a thickened edge (90) of an air bag (14).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The diffuser device of Claim 8 wherein said inflator (20) comprises a hybrid inflator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The diffuser device of Claims 8 or 9 wherein said side wall (68) and outer flange (72) are adapted to be crimped together after said channel portion (73) has engaged the thickened edge (90) of the air bag (14), to secure said diffuser (16) and bag (14) in a single assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The diffuser device of any of Claims 8 to 10 wherein said portion of said peripheral edge (60, 64) having said integrally formed side wall (68) includes at least said two opposed longitudinal sides (64).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The diffuser device of any of Claims 9 to 11 wherein said portion of said peripheral edge (60, 64) having said integrally formed side wall (68) includes at least said two opposed lateral sides (60).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
193 words
For use in an inflatable air bag restraint system for use in a motor vehicle, an air bag/diffuser subassembly (12) comprising: a) a diffuser (16) comprising, i) a face member (52) having a longitudinal length (66), a peripheral edge (60, 64) defined thereabout, and an integrally formed side wall (68) about at least a portion of said peripheral edge (60, 64); ii) an outer flange (72) oppositely positioned and angularly disposed relative to at least a portion of said side wall (68); iii) a channel portion (73) bridging said side wall (68) and said oppositely positioned and angularly disposed outer flange (72), adapted to engage a thickened edge (90) of an air bag (14); and iv) gas flow directing means including a plurality of apertures (70) in said face member (52) permitting gas to flow through said face member (52), with the longitudinal length (66) of said face member being generally perpendicular to the direction of gas flow through said face member; and b) an inflatable air bag (14) having a thickened edge (90) at its opening (92), said thickened edge (90) being engaged by said channel portion (73) of said diffuser (16).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
The air bag/diffuser subassembly (12) of Claim 13 for use in an air bag module assembly comprising a hybrid type inflator (20), said gas flow directing means additionally includes at least one baffle (85) formed onto the underside (56) of said face member (52), said baffle (85) serving to redirect gas flow through the device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
The air bag/diffuser subassembly of Claims 13 or 14 wherein said side wall (68) and outer flange (72) are adapted to be crimped together after said channel portion (73) has engaged the thickened edge (90) of the air bag (14), to secure said diffuser (16) and bag (14) in a single assembly (12).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The air bag/diffuser subassembly (12) of any of Claims 13 to 15 wherein said thickened edge (90) comprises a bead material (93).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The air bag/diffuser subassembly (12) of Claim 16 wherein said bead material (93) is continuous about the gas inlet opening (92) of said air bag (14).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The air bag/diffuser subassembly (12) of Claims 16 or 17 wherein said bead material (93) has a cross sectional shape adapted to facilitate engagement with the channel portion (73) of the diffuser (16).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
235 words
For use in an inflatable air bag restraint system for use in a motor vehicle, an air bag module assembly comprising: a) an air bag/diffuser subassembly (12) comprising, i) a diffuser (16) having, a face member (52) having a longitudinal length (66), a peripheral edge (60, 64) defined thereabout, and an integrally formed side wall (68) about at least a portion of said peripheral edge (60, 64); an outer flange (72) oppositely positioned and angularly disposed relative to at least a portion of said side wall (68); and a channel portion (73), bridging said side wall (68) and said oppositely positioned and angularly disposed outer flange (72), adapted to engage a thickened edge (90) of an air bag (14), the diffuser also comprising gas flow directing means including a plurality of apertures (70) in said face member (52) permitting gas to flow therethrough, with the longitudinal length (66) of said face member (52) being generally perpendicular to the direction of gas flow through said face member (52); and ii) an inflatable air bag (14) having a thickened edge (90) at its opening (92), said thickened edge (90) being engaged by said channel portion (73) of said diffuser (16); b) means (20) for inflating the bag (14); c) a housing (22) containing said air bag/diffuser subassembly (12) and said inflating means (20); and d) means (26, 28) for securing said housing (22) in said motor vehicle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The air bag module assembly of Claim 19 wherein said diffuser (16) additionally includes at least one baffle (85) formed onto the underside (56) of said face member (52).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The air bag module assembly of Claim 20 wherein said baffle (85) includes an edge (130) joined to an adjacent side wall (68) of the face member (52).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The air bag module assembly of any of Claims 19 to 21 wherein fastening means comprising a plurality of fasteners (96) are used to secure said air bag/diffuser subassembly (12) to said housing (22).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The air bag module assembly of Claim 22 wherein said fastening means provide a continuous equally distributed retention of the bag (14) along the thickened edge (90) thereof.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The air bag module assembly of Claims 22 or 23 wherein said fasteners (96) comprise swaging screw fasteners.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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