Patent EP0798170A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0798170A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Airbag cushion having compression-deployed section
Assignee: Morton International LLC
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Filing: 1997-03-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-03-27
Abstract
Abstract An airbag module having a cushion with a compression-deployed volume (24). The module includes an inflator which produces a quantity of inflation gas. This gas inflates only a first volume (22) of the cushion, which is positioned to protect a first portion (32) of a passenger's body. Compression of the first volume by the passenger forces the gas from the first volume into a second volume (24), to thus inflate the second volume. The second volume is positioned to protect a second portion (34) of the passenger's body. The initial quantity of inflation gas is thus reused, reducing the amount of gas required. This in turn reduces the size and cost of the inflator. The module is preferred for side impact protection, and a fold arrangement suited to accurate deployment is provided. The folded cushion may be secured to the inflator by a frangible film wrap, eliminating the need for an exterior housing. The module is preferably mounted upon the side of the passenger seat back (16).
Inventors
- 👤 Kirk J. Storey
- 👤 Brent K. Olson
- 👤 Larry F. Lunt
- 👤 Davin G. Saderholm
- 👤 Daniel G. Minert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:50
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/23; B60R21/231; B60R21/2334; B60R21/2342; B60R21/20; B60R21/207; B60R21/23138; B60R2021/0002; B60R2021/0006; B60R2021/23146; B60R21/233; B60R2021/23316; B60R21/237
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of protecting an occupant (28) in a cabin of a vehicle, comprising the steps of: providing a vehicle with an inflator (58); providing said vehicle with a cushion (10), said cushion including a first volume (22) communicating with said inflator and a second volume (24) communicating with said first volume; upon sensing a collision, causing said inflator to produce a quantity of inflation gas to thus operatively inflate only said first volume (22); permitting a first portion (32) of the occupant's body to compress said first volume, said compression forcing at least a portion of said inflation gas into said second volume; and permitting a second portion (34) of the occupant's body to compress said second volume.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of causing inflation of said first volume (22) further includes causing said first volume to extend between a side (14) of said vehicle and said occupant (28).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said first portion (32) of said occupant's body is a torso, and said second portion (34) of said occupant's body is a head.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of folding an airbag cushion (10), comprising the steps of: providing a cushion having first and second sheets (36, 38) in overlying relation, at least a portion of said cushion having the general form of a rectangle with said sheets secured together along bottom, front, top and rear edges (78, 82, 80, 84); defining a line (26) extending across said cushion from said rear edge (84) to said front edge (80) intermediate said top and bottom edges (78, 82), an upper portion (24) being defined above said line; holding said sheets together in said upper portion while separating said sheets below said line; rotating said upper portion about the intersection of said line (26) and said rear edge (84), to thus place said upper portion between said sheets; and forming a series of accordion folds along lines parallel to said rear edge, in its original position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said rotating step continues until said line (26) is substantially parallel with the original position of said rear edge (84), and a portion of said front edge (80) above said line is substantially parallel with said bottom edge (78), said upper portion (24) being located between folded side edges (90') extending from a lower end (94) of said front edge to said intersection of said line and said rear edge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
124 words
A method as claimed in claim 4, further including, prior to said holding step, the steps of: defining a lower front corner at the intersection of said bottom and front edges (78, 80); separating said sheets (36, 38) at a central location within said edges, and thereafter inverting said lower front corner between said sheets such that a portion of said front edge (80) below said line (26) extends between said sheets substantially parallel to said line, and a portion of said bottom edge (78) extends upward between said sheets, folded side edges (90) being formed between remaining portions of said front and bottom edges, and wherein, in said holding step, said step of separating said sheets comprises separating said folded side edges (90).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
87 words
A side impact airbag cushion (10) comprising a first volume (22) having an inlet portion (20) for gas from an inflator and a second volume (24) adjacent the first volume, said first and second volumes being separated from one another by a demarcation line (26) having means (44, 50) for restricting the flow of gas from the first volume to the second, whereby gas from an inflator first inflates the first volume, the second volume being inflatable in turn by external compression of the inflated first volume.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A side impact airbag cushion according to claim 7 wherein a frangible seal line (50) is provided along the demarcation line (26).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A side impact airbag cushion according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the means for restricting the flow of gas comprises a baffle (44) with vent holes (48).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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