US6464249B1 — Selectively buffered dual stage air bag assembly,…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 161 words

A selectively buffered dual stage air bag assembly, comprising: an outer bag member; an inner bag member disposed within the outer bag member, said inner bag member having a deployed configuration which includes an outer wall with an outwardly facing surface for deployed placement facing toward a passenger compartment of a vehicle, said outer wall of said inner bag having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough, which define gas discharge ports for discharging gas from the inner bag member to the outer bag member; wherein said inner bag member is formed from a substantially inelastic material and wherein said assembly comprises a reinforcing material attached to said outer wall of said inner bag member proximate each of said apertures said reinforcing material being selected from the group consisting of plastic, epoxy, and inserts; and wherein each of said inserts, where used comprises a collar which passes through an aperture of said inner bag member and which defines a flow channel therethrough.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 161 words

A selectively buffered dual stage air bag assembly, comprising: an outer bag member; an inner bag member disposed within the outer bag member, said inner bag member having a deployed configuration which includes an outer wall with an outwardly facing surface for deployed placement facing toward a passenger compartment of a vehicle, said outer wall of said inner bag having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough, which define gas discharge ports for discharging gas from the inner bag member to the outer bag member; wherein said inner bag member is formed from a substantially inelastic material and wherein said assembly comprises a reinforcing material attached to said outer wall of said inner bag member proximate each of said apertures said reinforcing material being selected from the group consisting of plastic, epoxy, and inserts; and wherein each of said inserts, where used comprises a collar which passes through an aperture of said inner bag member and which defines a flow channel therethrough.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

The air bag assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a porous material disposed across said apertures to affect the rate of gas flow therethrough.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 26 words

The air bag assembly of claim 1 , wherein said reinforcing material comprises inserts which include a plurality of grommets attached to acid inner bag members.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 57 words

The air bag assembly of claim 3 , wherein each of said grommets comprises a first disc member and a second disc member for attaching to the first disc member, each of said disc members having a wall contacting surface with a plurality of protrusions thereon for pinching said outer wall of said inner bag member therebetween.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 20 words

The air bag assembly of claim 4 , wherein said inner bag member is made from a flexible plastic material.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 58 words

The air bag assembly of claim 3 , wherein each of said grommets comprises a first disc member having a first collar attached thereto and a second disc member having a second collar attached thereto wherein the first collar fits slidingly and interferingly around the second collar to affix the first disc member to the second disc member.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 19 words

The air bag assembly of claim 1 , wherein said inner bag member is made from a non-woven material.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 116 words

The air bag assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an electronic theft deterrent system, comprising: a housing; said air bag assembly being folded and stored within said housing; and an electronic activator for triggering deployment of said air bag assembly, said electronic activator being in electronic communication with said air bag assembly; and sensing means for sensing disconnection of said electronic communication between said air bag assembly and said electronic activator, said sensing means being in electronic communication with said electronic activator; wherein said electronic activator is operable to initiate deployment of said air bag assembly when interruption of electronic communication between said air bag and said electronic activator is sensed by said sensing means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 12 words

The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said reinforcing material is plastic.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said reinforcing material is applied contacting both an inner surface and an outer surface of said inner bag member outer wall.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 135 words

a method of using an air bag assembly, comprising the steps of: inflating an inner bag member, said inner bag member being disposed within an outer bag member, said inner bag member having an outer wall with an inwardly facing surface for deployed placement facing toward a passenger compartment of a vehicle, said outer wall of said inner bag member having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough which define gas discharge ports wherein said assembly comprises a reinforcing material attached to said outer wall of said inner bag member proximate each of said apertures, said reinforcing material being selected from the group consisting of plastic, epoxy, and inserts; and discharging gas from said inner bag member through said apertures in a direction toward a passenger compartment of a vehicle to inflate said outer bag member.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 135 words

a method of using an air bag assembly, comprising the steps of: inflating an inner bag member, said inner bag member being disposed within an outer bag member, said inner bag member having an outer wall with an inwardly facing surface for deployed placement facing toward a passenger compartment of a vehicle, said outer wall of said inner bag member having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough which define gas discharge ports wherein said assembly comprises a reinforcing material attached to said outer wall of said inner bag member proximate each of said apertures, said reinforcing material being selected from the group consisting of plastic, epoxy, and inserts; and discharging gas from said inner bag member through said apertures in a direction toward a passenger compartment of a vehicle to inflate said outer bag member.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 11 , wherein said gas is initially discharged in a direction which is substantially normal to said outer surface of said inner bag member.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method of claim 11 , wherein said reinforcing material comprises inserts which include a plurality of reinforcing grommets attached to said outer wall of said inner bag member, and wherein said gas is discharged through flow channels formed through said grommets.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 11 , wherein said inner bag member inflates to a fully inflated configuration thereof, and subsequently retains said fully inflated configuration, and does not further expand to become larger than said fully expanded configuration.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 104 words

An electronic theft deterrent system for an air bag, comprising: a housing; an air bag folded and stored within the housing; and an electronic activator for triggering deployment of said air bag, said electronic activator being in electronic communication with said air bag; and sensing means for sensing disconnection of said electronic communication between said air bag and said electronic activator, said sensing means being in electronic communication with said electronic activator; wherein said electronic activator is operable to initiate deployment of said air bag when interruption of electronic communication between said air bag and said electronic activator is sensed by said sensing means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 104 words

An electronic theft deterrent system for an air bag, comprising: a housing; an air bag folded and stored within the housing; and an electronic activator for triggering deployment of said air bag, said electronic activator being in electronic communication with said air bag; and sensing means for sensing disconnection of said electronic communication between said air bag and said electronic activator, said sensing means being in electronic communication with said electronic activator; wherein said electronic activator is operable to initiate deployment of said air bag when interruption of electronic communication between said air bag and said electronic activator is sensed by said sensing means.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 18 words

The theft deterrent system of claim 15 , further comprising an identification tag attached to said air bag.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 21 words

The theft deterrent system of claim 16 , wherein said identification tag is also in electronic communication with said sensing means.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-10-14	2006-04-15	2006-10-15	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-10-14	2010-04-15	2010-10-15	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-10-14	2014-04-15	2014-10-15	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Selectively buffered dual stage air bag assembly, and method of using same

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