Air bag diverter

Claim 2

An inflatable occupant restraint device for an automotive vehicle for restraining the movement of an occupant of the vehicle with respect to the device comprising: a gas generating device mounted on the vehicle including means for effecting the flow of gas and having gas discharge openings arranged to direct said gas flow toward said occupant; a flexible bag fixedly secured to said gas generating device and having interior surfaces in fluid communication with said gas discharge openings for effecting inflation of said flexible bag; and a fluid permeable diverter carried within said flexible bag adjacent said gas discharge openings and operative to deflect a portion of said gas flow away from said occupant.

Claim 3

An inflatable occupant restraint device as defined in claim 1, wherein said diverter is a flexible member fixedly secured to said flexible bag.

Claim 4

An inflatable occupant restraint device as defined in claim 2, wherein said flexible bag and said diverter are each fabricated from a fluid permeable fabric.

Claim 5

An inflatable occupant restraint device as defined in claim 3, wherein said diverter is sewn to said flexible bag.

Claim 6

An inflatable occupant restraint device as defined in claim 1, wherein said diverter includes means for deflecting said gas flow laterally outwardly with respect to said occupant.

Claim 7

An inflatable occupant restraint device as defined in claim 5, wherein said diverter further includes means for deflecting said gas flow vertically with respect to said occupant.

Claim 8

An inflatable occupant restraint device as defined in claim 2, wherein said diverter is a U-shaped sleeve.

Claim 9

An inflatable occupant restraint device for an automotive vehicle for restraining the movement of an occupant of the vehicle with respect to the device comprising: a gas generating device mounted on the vehicle in juxtaposition with said occupant, including means for effecting the flow of gas and having gas discharge openings arranged to direct said gas flow toward said occupant; a flexible bag fixedly secured to said gas generating device and having interior surfaces in fluid communication with said discharge openings for effecting inflation of said flexible bag; and a diverter carried within said flexible bag in juxtaposition with said occupant adjacent said gas discharge openings and including fluid permeable means operative to deflect a portion of said gas flow away from said occupant and to direct a smaller portion of said gas flow toward said occupant.

Claim 10

An inflatable occupant restraint device for an automotive vehicle for restraining the movement of an occupant of the vehicle with respect to the device comprising: a gas generating device mounted on the vehicle in juxtaposition with said occupant, including means for effecting the flow of gas and having gas discharge openings arranged to direct said gas flow toward said occupant; a flexible bag fixedly secured to said gas generating device and having interior surfaces in fluid communication with said discharge openings for effecting inflation of said flexible bag; and a diverter carried within said flexible bag in juxtaposition with said occupant adjacent said gas discharge openings and including fluid permeable means operative to deflect a portion of said gas flow away from said occupant and to direct a smaller portion of said gas flow toward said occupant.

Claim 11

An inflatable occupant restraint device as defined in claim 8, wherein said diverter is a flexible member fixedly secured to said flexible bag.

Claim 12

An inflatable occupant restraint device as defined in claim 9, wherein said flexible bag and said diverter are each fabricated from a fluid permeable fabric.

Claim 13

An inflatable occupant restraint device as defined in claim 10, wherein said diverter is sewn to said flexible bag.

Claim 14

An inflatable occupant restraint device as defined in claim 8, wherein said diverter includes means for deflecting said gas flow laterally outwardly with respect to said occupant.

Claim 15

An inflatable occupant restraint device as defined in claim 12, wherein said diverter further includes means for deflecting said gas flow vertically with respect to said occupant.

Claim 16

An inflatable occupant restraint device as defined in claim 9, wherein said diverter is a U-shaped sleeve.

Claim 17

An inflatable occupant restraint device as defined in claim 10, wherein said diverter is a U-shaped sleeve of fluid permeable fabric.

Claim 18

An inflatable occupant restraint device for an automotive vehicle for restraining the movement of an occupant of the vehicle with respect to the device comprising: a gas generating device mounted on the vehicle in juxtaposition with said occupant, including means for effecting the flow of gas and having gas discharge openings arranged to direct said gas flow toward said occupant; a flexible bag fixedly secured to said gas generating device and having interior surfaces in fluid communication with said discharge openings for effecting inflation of said flexible gag; and a fluid permeable diverter carried within said flexible bag in juxtaposition with said occupant adjacent said gas discharge openings and including means operative to deflect a portion of said gas flow away from said occupant and to direct a smaller portion of said gas flow toward said occupant.

Claim 19

An inflatable occupant restraint device for an automotive vehicle for restraining the movement of an occupant of the vehicle with respect to the device comprising: a gas generating device mounted on the vehicle in juxtaposition with said occupant, including means for effecting the flow of gas and having gas discharge openings arranged to direct said gas flow toward said occupant; a flexible bag fixedly secured to said gas generating device and having interior surfaces in fluid communication with said discharge openings for effecting inflation of said flexible gag; and a fluid permeable diverter carried within said flexible bag in juxtaposition with said occupant adjacent said gas discharge openings and including means operative to deflect a portion of said gas flow away from said occupant and to direct a smaller portion of said gas flow toward said occupant.

Claim 20

An inflatable occupant restraint device for an automotive vehicle for restraining the forward movement of an occupant of the vehicle comprising: an elongated gas generating device mounted on the vehicle for lateral extension across the vehicle in juxtaposition with said occupant, including means for effecting the flow of gas and having laterally spaced gas discharge openings arranged to direct said gas flow toward said occupant; a flexible bag fixedly secured to said gas generating device and having interior surfaces in fluid communication with said discharge openings for effecting inflation of said flexible gag; and a fluid permeable diverter carried within said flexible bag in juxtaposition with said occupant adjacent and overlying all of said gas discharge openings and including means operative to deflect a portion of said gas flow away from said occupant and to direct a smaller portion of said gas flow toward said occupant.

Claim 21

An inflatable occupant restraint device for an automotive vehicle for restraining the forward movement of an occupant of the vehicle comprising: an elongated gas generating device mounted on the vehicle for lateral extension across the vehicle in juxtaposition with said occupant, including means for effecting the flow of gas and having laterally spaced gas discharge openings arranged to direct said gas flow toward said occupant; a flexible bag fixedly secured to said gas generating device and having interior surfaces in fluid communication with said discharge openings for effecting inflation of said flexible gag; and a fluid permeable diverter carried within said flexible bag in juxtaposition with said occupant adjacent and overlying all of said gas discharge openings and including means operative to deflect a portion of said gas flow away from said occupant and to direct a smaller portion of said gas flow toward said occupant.