Occupant restraint system

Claim 2

An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, a source of pressure fluid, an elongated diffuser assembly communicable with the source for receipt of pressure fluid therefrom and including a plurality of axially spaced partial circumferentially extending slots providing a pressure fluid outlet from the diffuser assembly, an occupant restraint cushion of flexible material including a planar wall portion having an elongated slit therein defined by abutting edges of integral portions of the wall portion, means interconnecting the cushion and the diffuser assembly and locating the slit of the cushion in immediate adjacent transverse relationship to the slots, the integral portions of the wall portion of the cushion being deflected inwardly of the cushion by the pressure fluid from the diffuser assembly to move the edges thereof out of abutting relationship and open the slit to communicate the diffuser assembly with the cushion and inflate the cushion, and means sealing the integral portions of the wall portion of the cushion around the slit to the diffuser assembly upon inflation of the cushion and return of the edges of the integral wall portions to abutting relationships.

Claim 3

The combination recited in claim 1 including flexible inflatable passage means extending from the cushion wall around the slit to the interior thereof and inflatable from the diffuser slots to inflate the cushion, the passage means being deflatable by cushion pressure to provide a one-way valve.

Claim 4

The combination recited in claim 1 including an inflatable sleeve secured to the inner wall of the cushion and surrounding the slit to inflate the cushion from the slots, the sleeve being deflatable upon attempted passage of pressure fluid from the cushion to the diffuser assembly through the slit and slots.

Claim 5

An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, a source of pressure fluid, an elongated diffuser assembly communicable with the source for receipt of pressure fluid therefrom and including a plurality of axially spaced partial circumferentially extending slots providing a pressure fluid outlet from the diffuser assembly, an occupant restraint cushion including a wall portion of flexible material having an elongated slit therein defined by abutting edges of integral portions of the wall portion, means holding the wall portion of the cushion including the slit in planar shape, means interconnecting the cushion and the diffuser assembly and locating the planar shaped wall portion of the cushion adjacent to the diffuser with the slit of the wall portion extending in immediate adjacent transverse relationship to the slots, the integral portions of the wall portion of the cushion being deflected inwardly of the cushion by the pressure fluid from the diffuser assembly to move the edges thereof out of abutting relationship and open the slit to communicate the diffuser assembly with the cushion and inflate the cushion, and means sealing the integral portions of the wall portion of the cushion to the diffuser assembly upon inflation of the cushion and return of the edges of the integral wall portions to abutting relationship.

Claim 6

An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, a source of pressure fluid, an elongated diffuser assembly communicable with the source for receipt of pressure fluid therefrom and including a plurality of axially spaced partial circumferentially extending slots providing a pressure fluid outlet from the diffuser assembly, an occupant restraint cushion including a wall portion of flexible material having an elongated slit therein defined by abutting edges of integral portions of the wall portion, means holding the wall portion of the cushion including the slit in planar shape, means interconnecting the cushion and the diffuser assembly and locating the planar shaped wall portion of the cushion adjacent to the diffuser with the slit of the wall portion extending in immediate adjacent transverse relationship to the slots, the integral portions of the wall portion of the cushion being deflected inwardly of the cushion by the pressure fluid from the diffuser assembly to move the edges thereof out of abutting relationship and open the slit to communicate the diffuser assembly with the cushion and inflate the cushion, and means sealing the integral portions of the wall portion of the cushion to the diffuser assembly upon inflation of the cushion and return of the edges of the integral wall portions to abutting relationship.

Claim 7

An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, a source of pressure fluid, an elongated diffuser assembly communicable with the source for receipt of pressure fluid therefrom and including a plurality of axially spaced partial circumferentially extending slots providing a pressure fluid outlet from the diffuser assembly, an occupant restraint cushion including a wall of flexible material having an elongated slit therein defined by abutting edges of integral portions of the wall, bracket means enclosing the integral portions of the wall of the cushion and the slit, means mounting the bracket means on the diffuser assembly to locate the enclosed integral portions of the wall adjacent the diffuser assembly with the slit of the wall in immediate adjacent transverse relationship to the slots, the enclosed integral portions of the wall of the cushion being deflected inwardly by the pressure fluid from the diffuser assembly to move the edges thereof out of abutting relationship and open the slit to communicate the diffuser assembly with the cushion and inflate the cushion, and means sealing the integral portions of the wall of the cushion to the diffuser assembly upon inflation of the cushion and return of the edges of the integral wall portions to abutting relationship.

Claim 8

An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, a source of pressure fluid, an elongated diffuser assembly communicable with the source for receipt of pressure fluid therefrom and including a plurality of axially spaced partial circumferentially extending slots providing a pressure fluid outlet from the diffuser assembly, an occupant restraint cushion including a wall of flexible material having an elongated slit therein defined by abutting edges of integral portions of the wall, bracket means enclosing the integral portions of the wall of the cushion and the slit, means mounting the bracket means on the diffuser assembly to locate the enclosed integral portions of the wall adjacent the diffuser assembly with the slit of the wall in immediate adjacent transverse relationship to the slots, the enclosed integral portions of the wall of the cushion being deflected inwardly by the pressure fluid from the diffuser assembly to move the edges thereof out of abutting relationship and open the slit to communicate the diffuser assembly with the cushion and inflate the cushion, and means sealing the integral portions of the wall of the cushion to the diffuser assembly upon inflation of the cushion and return of the edges of the integral wall portions to abutting relationship.

Claim 9

An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, a source of pressure fluid, an elongated diffuser assembly communicable with the source for receipt of pressure fluid therefrom and including a plurality of axially spaced partial circumferentially extending slots providing a pressure fluid outlet from the diffuser assembly, an occupant restraint cushion including a wall of flexible material having an elongated slit therein defined by abutting edges of integral portions of the wall, bracket means on opposite sides of the wall of the cushion enclosing the integral portions of such wall including the slit, means securing the bracket means to each other through the wall of the cushion, means securing the bracket means to the diffuser to locate the enclosed integral portions of the cushion wall adjacent the diffuser with the slit of the cushion extending transversely of the slots, the enclosed integral portions of the wall of the cushion being deflected inwardly by pressure fluid from the diffuser assembly to move the edges thereof out of abutting relationship and open the slit to communicate the diffuser assembly with the cushion to inflate the cushion, and means sealing the integral portions of the wall of the cushion to the diffuser assembly upon inflation of the cushion and return of the edges of the integral wall portions to abutting relationship.

Claim 10

An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, a source of pressure fluid, an elongated diffuser assembly communicable with the source for receipt of pressure fluid therefrom and including a plurality of axially spaced partial circumferentially extending slots providing a pressure fluid outlet from the diffuser assembly, an occupant restraint cushion including a wall of flexible material having an elongated slit therein defined by abutting edges of integral portions of the wall, bracket means on opposite sides of the wall of the cushion enclosing the integral portions of such wall including the slit, means securing the bracket means to each other through the wall of the cushion, means securing the bracket means to the diffuser to locate the enclosed integral portions of the cushion wall adjacent the diffuser with the slit of the cushion extending transversely of the slots, the enclosed integral portions of the wall of the cushion being deflected inwardly by pressure fluid from the diffuser assembly to move the edges thereof out of abutting relationship and open the slit to communicate the diffuser assembly with the cushion to inflate the cushion, and means sealing the integral portions of the wall of the cushion to the diffuser assembly upon inflation of the cushion and return of the edges of the integral wall portions to abutting relationship.