US6286858B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Energy absorbing air bag module
Assignee: Delphi Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1999-07-29
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Granted: 2001-09-11
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Expires: 2019-07-29
Abstract
Abstract An energy absorbing air bag module includes a housing and a mounting member integral with the housing for attaching the housing to a structural portion of the vehicle. The energy absorbing air bag module also includes an energy absorbing mechanism integral with the mounting member, wherein the energy absorbing mechanism deforms when a contact force strikes the energy absorbing air bag module to absorb energy and move away from the contact force.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey Alan Shepherd
- 👤 Mark Thomas Winters
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 00:08
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
An energy absorbing air bag module for an air bag system on a vehicle comprising: a housing; a mounting member integral with said housing for attaching said housing to a structural portion of the vehicle; an energy absorbing mechanism integral with said mounting member, wherein said energy absorbing mechanism deforms when a contact force strikes said energy absorbing air bag module to absorb energy and move away from the contact force; and wherein said mounting member includes an aperture and said energy absorbing mechanism comprises at least one breakaway bar spaced from said aperture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
An energy absorbing air bag module for an air bag system on a vehicle comprising: a housing; a mounting member integral with said housing for attaching said housing to a structural portion of the vehicle; an energy absorbing mechanism integral with said mounting member, wherein said energy absorbing mechanism deforms when a contact force strikes said energy absorbing air bag module to absorb energy and move away from the contact force; and wherein said mounting member includes an aperture and said energy absorbing mechanism comprises at least one breakaway bar spaced from said aperture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An energy absorbing air bag module as set forth in claim 1 wherein said energy absorbing mechanism includes a plurality of breakaway bars separated by a slit extending therethrough said mounting member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
93 words
An energy absorbing air bag module for an air bag system on a vehicle comprising: a housing; a mounting member integral with said housing for attaching said housing to a structural portion of the vehicle; an energy absorbing mechanism integral with said mounting member, wherein said energy absorbing mechanism deforms when a contact force strikes said energy absorbing air bag module to absorb energy and move away from the contact force; and wherein said energy absorbing mechanism includes a tapered recess in said mounting member positioned adjacent an aperture in said mounting member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
93 words
An energy absorbing air bag module for an air bag system on a vehicle comprising: a housing; a mounting member integral with said housing for attaching said housing to a structural portion of the vehicle; an energy absorbing mechanism integral with said mounting member, wherein said energy absorbing mechanism deforms when a contact force strikes said energy absorbing air bag module to absorb energy and move away from the contact force; and wherein said energy absorbing mechanism includes a tapered recess in said mounting member positioned adjacent an aperture in said mounting member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
An energy absorbing air bag module as set forth in claim 3 wherein said tapered recess has a wedge shape that is progressively narrower with a reduced cross-sectional area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
112 words
An energy absorbing air bag module for an air bag system on a vehicle comprising: a housing, a mounting member integral with said housing for attaching said housing to a structural portion of the vehicle; an energy absorbing mechanism cooperating with said mounting member, wherein said energy absorbing mechanism deforms when a contact force strikes said energy absorbing air bag module to absorb energy and move away from the contact force; wherein said mounting member includes an aperture and said energy absorbing mechanism comprises at least one breakaway bar spaced from said aperture; and wherein said energy absorbing mechanism includes an energy absorbing insert disposed within an aperture in said mounting member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
112 words
An energy absorbing air bag module for an air bag system on a vehicle comprising: a housing, a mounting member integral with said housing for attaching said housing to a structural portion of the vehicle; an energy absorbing mechanism cooperating with said mounting member, wherein said energy absorbing mechanism deforms when a contact force strikes said energy absorbing air bag module to absorb energy and move away from the contact force; wherein said mounting member includes an aperture and said energy absorbing mechanism comprises at least one breakaway bar spaced from said aperture; and wherein said energy absorbing mechanism includes an energy absorbing insert disposed within an aperture in said mounting member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
An energy absorbing air bag module as set forth in claim 5 wherein said energy absorbing insert is a grommet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
105 words
An energy absorbing air bag module for an air bag system on a vehicle comprising: a housing; a mounting member integral with said housing for attaching said housing to a structural portion of the vehicle; an energy absorbing mechanism integral with said mounting member, wherein said energy absorbing mechanism deforms when a contact force strikes said energy absorbing air bag module to absorb energy and move away from the contact force; and wherein said energy absorbing mechanism comprises a crack initiator disposed within said mounting member, wherein said mounting member includes a leg disposed within a leg receiving recess in vehicle structure of the vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
105 words
An energy absorbing air bag module for an air bag system on a vehicle comprising: a housing; a mounting member integral with said housing for attaching said housing to a structural portion of the vehicle; an energy absorbing mechanism integral with said mounting member, wherein said energy absorbing mechanism deforms when a contact force strikes said energy absorbing air bag module to absorb energy and move away from the contact force; and wherein said energy absorbing mechanism comprises a crack initiator disposed within said mounting member, wherein said mounting member includes a leg disposed within a leg receiving recess in vehicle structure of the vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
An energy absorbing air bag module as set forth in claim 7 wherein said crack initiator comprises a notch and a thinned wall section of said mounting member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
104 words
An energy absorbing air bag module for an air bag system on a vehicle comprising: a housing; a mounting member integral with said housing for attaching said housing to a structural portion of the vehicle; an energy absorbing mechanism cooperating with said mounting member, wherein said energy absorbing mechanism deforms when a contact force strikes said energy absorbing air bag module to absorb energy and move away from the contact force; wherein said energy absorbing mechanism comprises a vibration damper, and said vibration damper is disposed between said mounting member and the vehicle structure; and wherein said vibration damper is a rigid foam material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
104 words
An energy absorbing air bag module for an air bag system on a vehicle comprising: a housing; a mounting member integral with said housing for attaching said housing to a structural portion of the vehicle; an energy absorbing mechanism cooperating with said mounting member, wherein said energy absorbing mechanism deforms when a contact force strikes said energy absorbing air bag module to absorb energy and move away from the contact force; wherein said energy absorbing mechanism comprises a vibration damper, and said vibration damper is disposed between said mounting member and the vehicle structure; and wherein said vibration damper is a rigid foam material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
110 words
An energy absorbing air bag module for an air bag system on vehicle comprising: a housing; a mounting member integral with said housing and including an aperture extending therethrough; a fastener to extend through said aperture for attaching said mounting member to a structural portion of the vehicle; an energy absorbing mechanism integral with said mounting member to deform and absorb energy when a contact force strikes said housing; wherein said mounting member comprises a first mounting member having said aperture for attachment to vehicle structure of the vehicle; and wherein said energy absorbing mechanism includes at least one breakaway bar positioned adjacent said aperture in said first mounting member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
110 words
An energy absorbing air bag module for an air bag system on vehicle comprising: a housing; a mounting member integral with said housing and including an aperture extending therethrough; a fastener to extend through said aperture for attaching said mounting member to a structural portion of the vehicle; an energy absorbing mechanism integral with said mounting member to deform and absorb energy when a contact force strikes said housing; wherein said mounting member comprises a first mounting member having said aperture for attachment to vehicle structure of the vehicle; and wherein said energy absorbing mechanism includes at least one breakaway bar positioned adjacent said aperture in said first mounting member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
An energy absorbing air bag module as set forth in claim 10 wherein said energy absorbing mechanism includes a plurality of breakaway bars separated by a slit extending through said first mounting member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
112 words
An energy absorbing air bag module for an air bag system on a vehicle comprising: a housing; a mounting member integral with said housing and including an aperture extending therethrough; a fastener to extend through said aperture for attaching said mounting member to a structural portion of the vehicle; an energy absorbing mechanism integral with said mounting member to deform and absorb energy when a contact force strikes said housing; wherein said mounting member comprises a first mounting member having said aperture for attachment to the vehicle structure; and wherein said energy absorbing mechanism includes a tapered recess in said first mounting member positioned adjacent said aperture in said first mounting member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
112 words
An energy absorbing air bag module for an air bag system on a vehicle comprising: a housing; a mounting member integral with said housing and including an aperture extending therethrough; a fastener to extend through said aperture for attaching said mounting member to a structural portion of the vehicle; an energy absorbing mechanism integral with said mounting member to deform and absorb energy when a contact force strikes said housing; wherein said mounting member comprises a first mounting member having said aperture for attachment to the vehicle structure; and wherein said energy absorbing mechanism includes a tapered recess in said first mounting member positioned adjacent said aperture in said first mounting member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
An energy absorbing air bag module as set forth in claim 12 wherein said tapered recess has a wedge shape that is progressively narrower with a reduced cross-sectional area.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
118 words
An energy absorbing air bag module for an air bag system on a vehicle comprising: a housing; a mounting member integral with said housing and including an aperture extending therethrough; a fastener to extend through said aperture for attaching said mounting member to a structural portion of the vehicle; an energy absorbing mechanism cooperating with said mounting member to deform and absorb energy when a contact force strikes said housing; said mounting member comprising a first mounting member having said aperture for attachment to vehicle structure of the vehicle and said energy absorbing mechanism comprising at least one breakaway bar spaced from said aperture; and an energy absorbing insert disposed within said aperture in said first mounting member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
118 words
An energy absorbing air bag module for an air bag system on a vehicle comprising: a housing; a mounting member integral with said housing and including an aperture extending therethrough; a fastener to extend through said aperture for attaching said mounting member to a structural portion of the vehicle; an energy absorbing mechanism cooperating with said mounting member to deform and absorb energy when a contact force strikes said housing; said mounting member comprising a first mounting member having said aperture for attachment to vehicle structure of the vehicle and said energy absorbing mechanism comprising at least one breakaway bar spaced from said aperture; and an energy absorbing insert disposed within said aperture in said first mounting member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
An energy absorbing air bag module as set forth in claim 14 wherein said energy absorbing insert is a grommet.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
99 words
An energy absorbing air bag module for an air bag system on a vehicle comprising: a housing; a first mounting member integral with said housing and including an aperture extending therethrough; a fastener to extend through said aperture for attaching said first mounting member to a structural portion of the vehicle; and an energy absorbing mechanism integral with said first mounting member to deform and absorb energy when a contact force strikes said housing; and a second mounting member having a leg, wherein said leg is disposed within a leg receiving recess in the structural portion of the vehicle.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
99 words
An energy absorbing air bag module for an air bag system on a vehicle comprising: a housing; a first mounting member integral with said housing and including an aperture extending therethrough; a fastener to extend through said aperture for attaching said first mounting member to a structural portion of the vehicle; and an energy absorbing mechanism integral with said first mounting member to deform and absorb energy when a contact force strikes said housing; and a second mounting member having a leg, wherein said leg is disposed within a leg receiving recess in the structural portion of the vehicle.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
An energy absorbing air bag module as set forth in claim 16 wherein said energy absorbing mechanism comprises a crack initiator disposed within said second mounting member to breakaway said second mounting member from the structural portion of the vehicle.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
An energy absorbing air bag module as set forth in claim 17 wherein said crack initiator comprises a notch and a thinned wall section.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
109 words
An energy absorbing air bag module for an air bag system on a vehicle comprising: a housing; a first mounting member integral with said housing and including an aperture extending therethrough; a fastener to extend through said aperture for attaching said first mounting member to a structural portion of the vehicle; an energy mechanism cooperating with said first mounting member to deform and absorb energy when a contact force said housing; a second mounting member having a leg, wherein said disposed within a leg receiving recess in the structural portion of the vehicle; and a vibration damper disposed between said mounting member and the structural portion of the vehicle.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
109 words
An energy absorbing air bag module for an air bag system on a vehicle comprising: a housing; a first mounting member integral with said housing and including an aperture extending therethrough; a fastener to extend through said aperture for attaching said first mounting member to a structural portion of the vehicle; an energy mechanism cooperating with said first mounting member to deform and absorb energy when a contact force said housing; a second mounting member having a leg, wherein said disposed within a leg receiving recess in the structural portion of the vehicle; and a vibration damper disposed between said mounting member and the structural portion of the vehicle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-09-10 | 2005-03-12 | 2005-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-09-10 | 2009-03-12 | 2009-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-09-10 | 2013-03-12 | 2013-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |