Reduced air bag deployment skewness with non-symmetric gas output inflators

Claim 2

The improvement of claim 1 wherein the diffuser face member (350) additionally comprises at least one inflation gas passage aperture (364A) longitudinally spaced from the lateral end (344B) of the reaction canister (316) adjacent said sufficient portion (364B) of the gas flow through area of the diffuser face member (350).

Claim 3

The improvement of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first of the lateral ends (344B) is adjacent the end of the inflator (314) having the at least one inflation gas outlet port (338) and wherein said sufficient portion (364B) of the gas flow through area of the diffuser face member (350) is adjacent said first of the lateral ends (344B).

Claim 4

The improvement of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the first of the lateral ends (344B) is adjacent the end of the inflator (314) having the at least one inflation gas outlet port (338) and wherein said sufficient portion (364B) of the gas flow through area of the diffuser face member (350) includes a first area (364B) adjacent said first of the lateral ends (344B) and a second area (364A) adjacent said second of the lateral ends (344A).

Claim 5

The improvement of claim 4 wherein said first area (364B) comprises at least 60% of the total of said first and said second areas (364B, 364A).

Claim 6

The improvement of claim 4 wherein the diffuser face member (450) additionally comprises at least one inflation gas passage aperture (466B, 466C) interposed between said first and said second areas (464B, 466A).

Claim 7

The improvement of any preceding claim wherein the inflatable restraint air bag module (10) is installed in a central region of a vehicle dashboard or panel, between upper and lower portions thereof and for which the direction of deployment of the air bag is generally directly towards an oppositely seated vehicle occupant.

Claim 8

The improvement of any preceding claim wherein the diffuser (16) is fabricated using a roll-forming process.

Claim 9

The improvement of any preceding claim wherein the inflator (214, 314, 414) is a hybrid inflator.

Claim 10

In an inflatable restraint air bag module (210) installation comprising: a) an inflatable air bag (14) having an inflation gas inlet opening (92), b) an elongated non-symmetric gas output hybrid inflator (214) having a longitudinal length and at least one inflation gas outlet port (238) at one end thereof to emit inflation gas upon actuation, c) an elongated open-mouthed reaction canister (216) forming a housing for the air bag (14) and the inflator (214), the reaction canister (216) including first and second opposed longitudinal sides and first and second opposed parallel lateral ends (244A, 244B) and forming a mouth (246) for the deployment of the air bag (14) therethrough, and d) an inflation gas diffuser including a face member (250) interposed between the at least one inflation gas outlet port (238) and the air bag inflation gas inlet opening (92), the face member (250) including a gas flow through area comprising a plurality of inflation gas passage apertures (264, 266) for conveying inflation gas from the inflator (214) to the air bag (14), the diffuser cooperating with the reaction canister longitudinal sides and lateral ends (244A, 244B) to define a cavity for housing the air bag (14) when in a stored, uninflated condition, and wherein the module (210) is installed in a central region of a vehicle dashboard or panel, between upper and lower portions thereof and for which the direction of deployment of the air bag (14) is generally directly towards an oppositely seated vehicle occupant, the improvement comprising: a first portion (264B) of the gas flow through area of the diffuser face member being adjacent the first lateral end (244B) of the reaction canister (216) and a second portion (264A) of the gas flow through area of the diffuser face member (250) being adjacent the second lateral end (244A) of the reaction canister (216) such that upon actuation of the inflator (214) at least about 70% of the gas flow passing in the air bag (14) at the mouth (246) of the reaction canister (216) is parallel to the first and second lateral ends (244A, 244B) of the reaction canister (216).

Claim 11

The improvement of claim 10 wherein the diffuser face member (250) additionally comprises at least one inflation gas passage aperture (266A, 266B, 266C) longitudinally spaced from the first and second lateral ends (244A, 244B) of the reaction canister (216).

Claim 12

The improvement of claim 10 wherein the first of the lateral ends (244B) is adjacent the end of the inflator (214) having the at least one inflation gas outlet port (238) and wherein said first portion (264B) of the gas flow through area comprises at least 60% of the total of said first and said second portions (264B, 264A) of the gas flow through area.

Claim 13

The improvement of claim 12 wherein said first and second portions (264B, 264A) of the gas flow through area comprises no more than about 75-80% and 30-40% respectively, of the gas flow through area in the diffuser face member (250).