Air bag module with deployment door

Details Air bag module with deployment door Air bag module with deployment door

1998-12-15

2001-02-20

Culbreth, Eric (Department: 3611)

Land vehicles

Wheeled

Attachment

C280S728200, C280S730200, C280S732000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06189916

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a vehicle safety apparatus and, in particular, to an air bag module including a deployment door for covering a deployment opening through which the air bag is inflatable.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Some known air bag modules include an air bag which surrounds an inflator to provide the module with a soft or flexible external surface. It is known to position this “soft pack” type of air bag module inside a reaction canister. A deployment door is mounted on the reaction canister to cover the air bag and the inflator. The assembly of the door and the reaction canister with the module inside is then mounted in the vehicle seat. The door preferably has a Class A exterior surface to match the seat covering material. Upon actuation of the inflator, the inflating air bag pushes open the deployment door. The reaction canister directs the flow of inflation fluid into the air bag.
If a diffuser is incorporated in the soft pack module, the need for a reaction canister for directing the flow of inflation fluid is eliminated. The reaction canister can not be eliminated, however, if it is used to support the deployment door.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a vehicle occupant safety apparatus for mounting in a portion of a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a module including an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, an inflation fluid source, a cover for the vehicle occupant protection device and the inflation fluid source, and means for mounting the module in the vehicle portion. The vehicle occupant protection device is inflatable from a deflated condition to an inflated condition to help protect an occupant of a vehicle. The inflation fluid source is actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating the protection device. The module cover encloses the inflation fluid source and the protection device when the protection device is in the deflated condition. The module cover is made from a material which is flexible and wrapped around the vehicle occupant protection device and the inflation fluid source. The safety apparatus also includes a deployment door, and means for releasably mounting the deployment door on the vehicle portion for movement relative to the vehicle portion upon inflation of the protection device. The apparatus also includes a flexible tether connecting the deployment door with the module for limiting movement of the deployment door away from the module beyond a predetermined distance upon inflation of the protection device.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5062664 (1991-11-01), Bishop et al.
patent: 5308111 (1994-05-01), Sommer
patent: 5398959 (1995-03-01), Avila
patent: 5431433 (1995-07-01), Steimke et al.
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patent: 5645295 (1997-07-01), White, Jr. et al.
patent: 5669627 (1997-09-01), Marjanski et al.
patent: 5813693 (1998-09-01), Gordon et al.

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