Air bag device for vehicles

Claim 2

For use in a vehicle having collision sensing means mounted thereon to rapidly generate a signal in response to a collision, cushioning apparatus to be mounted in said vehicle and deployed upon collision to protect an occupant in said vehicle from injury, said cushioning apparatus comprising: (a) a reservoir containing prior to collision a pressurized fluid and having an outlet, (b) an inflatable cushion having an inlet, said inflatable cushion being inflated solely by said pressurized fluid from said reservoir in the event of a collision, (c) a frangible plate interposed between the outlet of said reservoir and the inlet of said inflatable cushion and preventing the passage of pressurized fluid from said reservoir to said inflatable cushion, said frangible plate having an upstream side facing the outlet of said reservoir and a downstream side opposite said upstream side, said frangible plate rapidly shattering into discrete fragments when struck, (d) first means to support said frangible plate around the periphery thereof so as to leave the major central area of said frangible plate unobstructed, (e) a striking member adjacent the downstream side of said frangible plate and having a longitudinal axis, a first end to strike said frangible plate and rapidly shatter said frangible plate, a second end opposite said first end, and a transverse cross-section substantially smaller than the major central area of said frangible plate, (f) second means mounting said striking member for movement along said longitudinal axis toward the downstream side of said frangible plate, (g) third means to rapidly apply a force to the second end of said striking member in response to a signal generated by said collision sensing means to drive said striking member along said longitudinal axis toward the downstream side of said frangible plate so that the first end of said striking member shatters said frangible plate, (h) whereby to provide a passage generally annularly disposed about said striking member and of area adequate to permit the rapid flow therethrough of said pressurized fluid from said reservoir into said inflatable cushion in response to a signal generated by said collision sensing means, said pressurized fluid being the sole fluid to inflate said cushion, (i) filter means mounted in said passage and generally annularly disposed about said striking member and interposed between said frangible plate and the inlet of said inflatable cushion.

Claim 3

Cushioning apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the first end of said striking member shatters the entire central area of said frangible plate inwardly of said first means.

Claim 4

Cushioning apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: (j) said third means applies fluid pressure to the second end of said striking member.

Claim 5

Cushioning apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: (j) the transverse cross-sectional area of the second end of said striking member is greater than the transverse cross-sectional area of the first end of said striking member, (k) said third means applies fluid pressure to the second end of said striking member.

Claim 6

Cushioning apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said pressurized fluid is air or carbon dioxide.

Claim 7

Cushioning apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said third means comprises: (j) fluid conduit means communicating between said reservoir and the second end of said striking member, (k) valve means operatively interposed in said fluid conduit means and rapidly opening upon receiving a signal from said collision sensing means, (l) whereby to permit the rapid application of pressure from the reservoir to the second end of said striking member to advance the first end of said striking member to shatter said frangible plate and inflate said cushion.

Claim 8

Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said frangible plate is glass, tempered glass, ceramic, brittle alloys, brittle sintered material or brittle polymeric materials.

Claim 9

Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the first end of said striking member strikes the center of the downstream side of said frangible plate.

Claim 10

Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the first end of said striking member is tapered substantially to a point.

Claim 11

Cushioning apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the inlet of said inflatable cushion is substantially aligned with the outlet of said reservoir.

Claim 12

Cushioning apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said third means comprises: (j) valve means having an inlet communicating with a source of pressurized fluid and an outlet communicating with the second end of said striking member, (k) said valve means rapidly opening upon receiving a signal from said collision sensing means, (l) whereby to permit the rapid application of pressure from said source of pressurized fluid to the second end of said striking member to advance the first end of said striking member to shatter said frangible plate and inflate said cushion.

Claim 13

Cushioning apparatus to be mounted in a vehicle and deployed upon collision to protect an occupant in the vehicle from injury, said cushioning apparatus comprising: (a) a reservoir containing prior to collision a pressurized fluid and having an outlet, (b) an inflatable cushion having an inlet, said inflatable cushion being inflated solely by said pressurized fluid from said reservoir in the event of a collision, (c) a frangible plate interposed between the outlet of said reservoir and the inlet of said inflatable cushion and preventing the passage of pressurized fluid from said reservoir to said inflatable cushion, said frangible plate having an upstream side facing the inlet of said reservoir and a downstream side opposite said upstream side, said frangible plate rapidly shattering into discrete fragments when struck, (d) first means to support said frangible plate around the periphery thereof so as to leave the major central area of said frangible plate unobstructed, (e) a striking member adjacent the downstream side of said frangible plate and having a longitudinal axis, a first end to strike said frangible plate and rapidly shatter said frangible plate, a second end opposite said first end, and a transverse cross-section substantially smaller than the major central area of said frangible plate, (f) second means mounting said striking member for movement along said longitudinal axis toward the downstream side of said frangible plate, (g) collision sensing means to be mounted on said vehicle and to rapidly generate a signal in response to a collision, (h) third means to rapidly apply a force to the second end of said striking member in response to a signal generated by said collision sensing means to drive said striking member along said longitudinal axis toward the downstream side of said frangible plate so that the first end of said striking member shatters said frangible plate, (i) whereby to provide a passage generally annularly disposed about said striking member and of area adequate to permit the rapid flow therethrough of said pressurized fluid, said pressurized fluid being the sole fluid to inflate said cushion, (j) filter means mounted in said passage and generally annularly disposed about said striking member and interposed between said frangible plate and the inlet of said inflatable cushion.

Claim 14

Cushioning apparatus to be mounted in a vehicle and deployed upon collision to protect an occupant in the vehicle from injury, said cushioning apparatus comprising: (a) a reservoir containing prior to collision a pressurized fluid and having an outlet, (b) an inflatable cushion having an inlet, said inflatable cushion being inflated solely by said pressurized fluid from said reservoir in the event of a collision, (c) a frangible plate interposed between the outlet of said reservoir and the inlet of said inflatable cushion and preventing the passage of pressurized fluid from said reservoir to said inflatable cushion, said frangible plate having an upstream side facing the inlet of said reservoir and a downstream side opposite said upstream side, said frangible plate rapidly shattering into discrete fragments when struck, (d) first means to support said frangible plate around the periphery thereof so as to leave the major central area of said frangible plate unobstructed, (e) a striking member adjacent the downstream side of said frangible plate and having a longitudinal axis, a first end to strike said frangible plate and rapidly shatter said frangible plate, a second end opposite said first end, and a transverse cross-section substantially smaller than the major central area of said frangible plate, (f) second means mounting said striking member for movement along said longitudinal axis toward the downstream side of said frangible plate, (g) collision sensing means to be mounted on said vehicle and to rapidly generate a signal in response to a collision, (h) third means to rapidly apply a force to the second end of said striking member in response to a signal generated by said collision sensing means to drive said striking member along said longitudinal axis toward the downstream side of said frangible plate so that the first end of said striking member shatters said frangible plate, (i) whereby to provide a passage generally annularly disposed about said striking member and of area adequate to permit the rapid flow therethrough of said pressurized fluid, said pressurized fluid being the sole fluid to inflate said cushion, (j) filter means mounted in said passage and generally annularly disposed about said striking member and interposed between said frangible plate and the inlet of said inflatable cushion.

Claim 15

Cushioning apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the first end of said striking member shatters the entire central area of said frangible plate inwardly of said first means.

Claim 16

Cushioning apparatus as in claim 12, wherein: (k) said third means applies fluid pressure to the second end of said striking member.

Claim 17

Cushioning apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: (k) the transverse cross-sectional area of the second end of said striking member is greater than the transverse cross-sectional area of the first end of said striking member, (l) said third means applies fluid pressure to the second end of said striking member.

Claim 18

Cushioning apparatus as in claim 12, wherein said pressurized fluid is air or carbon dioxide.

Claim 19

Cushioning apparatus as in claim 12, wherein said third means comprises: (k) fluid conduit means communicating between said reservoir and the second end of said striking member, (l) valve means operatively interposed in said fluid conduit means rapidly opening upon receiving a signal from said collision sensing means, (m) whereby to permit the rapid application of pressure from the reservoir to the second end of said striking member to advance the first end of said striking member to shatter said frangible plate and inflate said cushion.

Claim 20

Apparatus as in claim 12, wherein said frangible plate is glass, tempered glass, ceramic, brittle alloys, brittle sintered materials or brittle polymeric materials.

Claim 21

Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein the first end of said striking member strikes the center of the downstream side of said frangible plate.

Claim 22

Apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the first end of said striking means is tapered substantially to a point.

Claim 23

Cushioning apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the inlet of said inflatable cushion is substantially aligned with the outlet of said reservoir.

Claim 24

Cushioning apparatus to be mounted in a vehicle and deployed upon collision to protect an occupant in the vehicle from injury, said cushioning apparatus comprising: (a) a reservoir containing pressurized fluid and having an outlet, said fluid being pressurized prior to a collision, (b) an inflatable cushion having an inlet substantially aligned with the outlet of said reservoir, said inflatable cushion being inflated solely by said pressurized fluid from said reservoir in the event of a collision, (c) a passageway interposed between the outlet of said reservoir and the inlet of said inflatable cushion to conduct pressurized fluid from said reservoir to said inflatable cushion, (d) a frangible plate in said passageway interposed between the outlet of said reservoir and the inlet of said inflatable cushion and preventing the passage of pressurized fluid from said reservoir to said inflatable cushion, said frangible plate having an upstream side facing the outlet of said reservoir and a downstream side facing the inlet of said inflatable cushion, said frangible plate rapidly shattering when struck, (e) said frangible plate is glass, tempered glass, ceramic, brittle alloys, brittle sintered materials or brittle polymeric materials, (f) first means to support said frangible plate only around the periphery thereof so as to leave the major central area of said frangible plate totally unobstructed, (g) a striking member of hardened steel interposed between the downstream side of said frangible plate and the inlet of said inflatable cushion, said striking member having a longitudinal axis, a pointed first end to strike the downstream side of said frangible plate and rapidly shatter said frangible plate, a second end with enlarged face opposite said first end, and a transverse cross-section substantially smaller than the major central area of said frangible plate, (h) second means mounting said striking member for movement along its longitudinal axis toward the center of the downstream side of said frangible plate, (i) collision sensing means to be mounted on said vehicle and to rapidly generate a signal in response to a collision, (j) third means to rapidly apply fluid pressure to the enlarged face on the second end of said striking member in response to a signal generated by said collision sensing means to drive said striking member toward the downstream side of said frangible plate so that the pointed first end of said striking member completely shatters the entire central area of said frangible plate inwardly of said first means, (k) whereby to provide a passage generally annularly disposed about said striking member and of area adequate to permit the rapid flow therethrough of pressurized fluid from said reservoir into said inflatable cushion in response to a signal generated by said collision sensing means, said pressurized fluid being the sole fluid to inflate said cushion. (l) filter means mounted in said passageway and generally annularly disposed about said striking member and interposed between said frangible plate and the inlet of said inflatable cushion.

Claim 25

Cushioning apparatus to be mounted in a vehicle and deployed upon collision to protect an occupant in the vehicle from injury, said cushioning apparatus comprising: (a) a reservoir containing pressurized fluid and having an outlet, said fluid being pressurized prior to a collision, (b) an inflatable cushion having an inlet substantially aligned with the outlet of said reservoir, said inflatable cushion being inflated solely by said pressurized fluid from said reservoir in the event of a collision, (c) a passageway interposed between the outlet of said reservoir and the inlet of said inflatable cushion to conduct pressurized fluid from said reservoir to said inflatable cushion, (d) a frangible plate in said passageway interposed between the outlet of said reservoir and the inlet of said inflatable cushion and preventing the passage of pressurized fluid from said reservoir to said inflatable cushion, said frangible plate having an upstream side facing the outlet of said reservoir and a downstream side facing the inlet of said inflatable cushion, said frangible plate rapidly shattering when struck, (e) said frangible plate is glass, tempered glass, ceramic, brittle alloys, brittle sintered materials or brittle polymeric materials, (f) first means to support said frangible plate only around the periphery thereof so as to leave the major central area of said frangible plate totally unobstructed, (g) a striking member of hardened steel interposed between the downstream side of said frangible plate and the inlet of said inflatable cushion, said striking member having a longitudinal axis, a pointed first end to strike the downstream side of said frangible plate and rapidly shatter said frangible plate, a second end with enlarged face opposite said first end, and a transverse cross-section substantially smaller than the major central area of said frangible plate, (h) second means mounting said striking member for movement along its longitudinal axis toward the center of the downstream side of said frangible plate, (i) collision sensing means to be mounted on said vehicle and to rapidly generate a signal in response to a collision, (j) third means to rapidly apply fluid pressure to the enlarged face on the second end of said striking member in response to a signal generated by said collision sensing means to drive said striking member toward the downstream side of said frangible plate so that the pointed first end of said striking member completely shatters the entire central area of said frangible plate inwardly of said first means, (k) whereby to provide a passage generally annularly disposed about said striking member and of area adequate to permit the rapid flow therethrough of pressurized fluid from said reservoir into said inflatable cushion in response to a signal generated by said collision sensing means, said pressurized fluid being the sole fluid to inflate said cushion. (l) filter means mounted in said passageway and generally annularly disposed about said striking member and interposed between said frangible plate and the inlet of said inflatable cushion.

Claim 26

Cushioning apparatus as in claim 22, wherein said pressurized fluid is air or carbon dioxide.

Claim 27

Cushioning apparatus as in claim 12, wherein said third means comprises: (k) valve means having an inlet communicating with a source of pressurized fluid and an outlet communicating with the second end of said striking member, (l) said valve means rapidly opening upon receiving a signal from said collision sensing means, (m) whereby to permit the rapid application of pressure from said source of pressurized fluid to the second end of said striking member to advance the first end of said striking member to shatter said frangible plate and inflate said cushion.