US6186543B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air bag system for automotive passenger seat
Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co Ltd
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Filing: 1998-12-30
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Granted: 2001-02-13
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Expires: 2018-12-30
Abstract
Abstract An air bag system for protecting a passenger seated on the front passenger seat of a vehicle. In an initial stage, the air bag is inflated mildly. In the subsequent stage, the bag is inflated also mildly. The directivity of produced gas can be reduced. The air bag can be inflated mildly while maintaining a large area. The air bag system includes an air bag case having an opening on its top side, an inflator disposed inside the air bag case, the aforementioned air bag folded in the air bag case, and a diffuser mounted between the inflator and the opening in the case. The air bag is placed in a side-by-side relation to the inflator and located behind the inflator inside the case. The diffuser is provided with numerous holes for supplying the gas. The diffuser acts to regulate flow of the gas from the inflator. At least when the gas is produced from the inflator, a space is created between the outer surface of the inflator and the diffuser.
Inventors
- 👤 Takeshi Yamaji
- 👤 Toru Ozaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:22
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/217; B60R21/2171; B60R21/205; B60R21/26; B60R21/261; B60R21/263; B60R2021/2633; B60R21/23; B60R21/237
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
An air bag system for use in a vehicle, front and back directions of said air bag system being defined with respect to an installable position of said air bag system in the vehicle and a front end and a back end of the vehicle, said air bag system comprising: an air bag case having a top side with an opening therein; an inflator for producing a gas; said inflator being disposed inside said air bag case and having an outer surface; an air bag having a compacted portion arranged in a side-by-side relation to and in back of said inflator inside said air bag case; and said air bag including a flat unfolded portion extending from said compacted portion and over said inflator and said compacted portion so as to extend across substantially all of said opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
An air bag system for use in a vehicle, front and back directions of said air bag system being defined with respect to an installable position of said air bag system in the vehicle and a front end and a back end of the vehicle, said air bag system comprising: an air bag case having a top side with an opening therein; an inflator for producing a gas; said inflator being disposed inside said air bag case and having an outer surface; an air bag having a compacted portion arranged in a side-by-side relation to and in back of said inflator inside said air bag case; and said air bag including a flat unfolded portion extending from said compacted portion and over said inflator and said compacted portion so as to extend across substantially all of said opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
The air bag system of claim 1 , further comprising: a diffuser mounted about said inflator so as to be interposed between said inflator and an interior of said air bag, said diffuser being provided with gas supply holes for regulating a flow of a gas from said inflator into said air bag; and said diffuser being mounted about said inflator so as to define a space between the outer surface of said inflator and said diffuser at least when the gas is produced from said inflator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The air bag system of claim 2 , wherein a volume of said space, a number of said gas supply holes, a total area of said gas supply holes, and positional relations among said gas supply holes are such that the gas is supplied as a regulated stream from said opening in said air bag case.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The air bag system of claim 2 , wherein said diffuser is made of one of a rigid material and a flexible material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The air bag system according to claim 1 , wherein said air bag case includes mounting structure for situating said opening in a substantially horizontal surface of an instrument panel, whereby said air bag system is a top-mounted type.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The air bag system of claim 1 , wherein said inflator has at least two squibs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
111 words
The air bag system of claim 1 , wherein Q t /A varies with time in phases as follows: t = 0 msec Q 0 / A = 0 l/cm 2 t = 5 msec Q 5 / A ≦ 0.107 l/cm 2 t = 10 msec Q 10 / A ≦ 0.215 l/cm 2 t = 20 msec Q 20 / A ≦ 0.537 l/cm 2 t = 30 msec Q 30 / A ≦ 0.934 l/cm 2 where Q t is a total amount of gas produced during a time interval between 0 and t msec, and A is an area of the opening in the air bag case.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The air bag system of claim 1 , wherein said inflator is a hybrid inflator having a gas propellant and a compressed gas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
155 words
An air bag system for use in a vehicle, front and back directions of said air bag system being defined with respect to an installable position of said air bag system in the vehicle and a front end and a back end of the vehicle, said air bag system comprising: an air bag case having a top side with an opening therein; an inflator for producing a gas; said inflator being disposed inside said air bag case and having an outer surface; an air bag having a compacted portion arranged in a side-by-side relation to and in back of said inflator inside said air bag case whereby said compacted portion has a remote side portion remote from said inflator and a remainder portion; and said air bag including a substantially flat layer portion extending from said remote side portion of said compacted portion and over said remainder portion of the compacted portion and said inflator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
155 words
An air bag system for use in a vehicle, front and back directions of said air bag system being defined with respect to an installable position of said air bag system in the vehicle and a front end and a back end of the vehicle, said air bag system comprising: an air bag case having a top side with an opening therein; an inflator for producing a gas; said inflator being disposed inside said air bag case and having an outer surface; an air bag having a compacted portion arranged in a side-by-side relation to and in back of said inflator inside said air bag case whereby said compacted portion has a remote side portion remote from said inflator and a remainder portion; and said air bag including a substantially flat layer portion extending from said remote side portion of said compacted portion and over said remainder portion of the compacted portion and said inflator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
86 words
The air bag system according to claim 9 , further comprising a diffuser mounted about said inflator so as to be interposed between said inflator and an interior of said air bag, said diffuser being provided with gas supply holes for regulating a flow of a gas from said inflator into said air bag, and being mounted about said inflator so as to define a space between the outer surface of said inflator and said diffuser at least when the gas is produced from said inflator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
The air bag system according to claim 10 , wherein a volume of said space, a number of said gas supply holes, a total area of said gas supply holes, and positional relations among said gas supply holes are such that the gas is supplied as a regulated stream from said opening in said air bag case.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The air bag system according to claim 10 , wherein said diffuser is made of one of a rigid material and a flexible material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The air bag system according to claim 9 , wherein said air bag case includes mounting structure for situating said opening in a substantially horizontal surface of an instrument panel, whereby said air bag system is a top-mounted type.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
112 words
The air bag system according to claim 9 , wherein Q t /A varies with time in phases as follows: t = 0 msec Q 0 / A = 0 l/cm 2 t = 5 msec Q 5 / A ≦ 0.107 l/cm 2 t = 10 msec Q 10 / A ≦ 0.215 l/cm 2 t = 20 msec Q 20 / A ≦ 0.537 l/cm 2 t = 30 msec Q 30 / A ≦ 0.934 l/cm 2 where Q t is a total amount of gas produced during a time interval between 0 and t msec, and A is an area of the opening in the air bag case.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The air bag system according to claim 9 , wherein said inflator is a hybrid inflator having a gas propellant and a compressed gas.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The air bag system according to claim 9 , wherein said substantially flat layer portion is a single layer non-folded portion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The air bag system according to claim 16 , wherein said substantially flat layer portion extends from a side edge of said remote side portion which is furthest removed from said inflator.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The air bag system according to claim 17 , wherein said substantially flat layer portion extends across of a substantial whole of said opening.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The air bag system according to claim 9 , wherein said substantially flat layer portion extends from a side edge of said remote side portion which is furthest removed from said inflator.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The air bag system according to claim 19 , wherein said substantially flat layer portion extends across of a substantial whole of said opening.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The air bag system according to claim 9 , wherein said substantially flat layer portion extends across of a substantial whole of said opening.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-02-13 | 2004-08-14 | 2005-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-02-13 | 2008-08-14 | 2009-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-02-13 | 2012-08-14 | 2013-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |