Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-07
2001-01-23
Mai, Lanna (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S732000, C280S736000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176511
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a vehicle safety apparatus and, in particular, relates to an air bag module including an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, such as an air bag, for helping to protect a vehicle occupant.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to inflate an air bag to help protect a vehicle occupant in the event of an impact to a vehicle of a magnitude above a predetermined threshold. The air bag is stored in a deflated condition, together with an inflator, in a portion of the vehicle such as the instrument panel or steering wheel of the vehicle. In the event of an impact to the vehicle of a magnitude above a predetermined threshold, the inflator is actuated, and the air bag is inflated into a position adjacent to the vehicle occupant. The air bag helps protect the vehicle occupant from forcefully striking the instrument panel or steering wheel of the vehicle.
The inflator and the air bag are commonly housed in a container fixed to the instrument panel or steering wheel of the vehicle. When the inflator is actuated, a large amount of force can be rapidly transmitted into the container. Any excess force should be dissipated in a manner so as to avoid damage to the container or to the instrument panel or steering wheel of the vehicle or injury to the vehicle occupant.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle. The apparatus comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device for, when inflated, helping to protect the occupant of the vehicle. The apparatus also comprises an inflator for, upon actuation, providing inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable device. The apparatus further comprises means for supporting the inflator on a vehicle portion for movement in a first direction relative to the vehicle portion in response to actuation of the inflator. The apparatus comprises damping means connected between the inflator and the vehicle portion for damping movement of the inflator in the first direction relative to the vehicle portion. The damping means comprises a member having an opening. The member is crushable in response to movement of the inflator in the first direction to close the opening in the member.
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Adkisson Rick A.
Crow George C.
Farquhar Dennis F.
Mai Lanna
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
To Toan C
TRW Inc.
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