Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-22
2003-12-30
Dickson, Paul N. (Department: 3616)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S740000, C280S742000, C280S743100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06669229
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an automotive vehicle air bag system for deploying an air bag within an automotive vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to an automotive vehicle air bag system having one or more systems for assisting in controlling the deployment of an air bag.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Air bag systems in automotive vehicles generally include an air bag that is designed to deploy toward a seat of the automotive vehicle when triggered by a sensor signal. For example, air bag systems might be deployed upon sudden deceleration of a vehicle or upon impact of the vehicle with another object. The art continues to investigate alternative ways to deploy air bags. For example, accelerometers have been investigated to determine when a sensor signal should signal the deployment of an air bag. Inflator assemblies have been developed to control how much gas is emitted into an air bag upon deployment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is premised upon yet another alternative way to deploy air bags, which involves controlling the manner of deployment of an air bag at various locations across the air bag.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed one alternative way to deploy an air bag, which involves controlling the direction of gas flow within an air bag during deployment.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed another alternative way to deploy an air bag, which involves controlling the direction of air bag deployment by the packing of the air bag, by the air bag deployment door configuration, by additional guidance materials external to the air bag or a combination thereof.
Accordingly, whether or not employed in combination with one or more additional alternative ways to deploy air bags, the present invention offers air bag system designers additional flexibility in designing air bag systems for placement in any of a number of locations within an automotive vehicle and for different vehicle designs.
These and other objects, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description in combination with the accompanying drawings, which depict systems and components that can be used alone or in combination with each other in accordance with the present invention.
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Dickson Paul N.
General Motors Corporation
Hargitt Laura C.
To Toan C
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