Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-29
2001-09-11
Culbreth, Eric (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S732000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286858
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to inflatable restraint systems for vehicles and, more particularly, to an energy absorbing air bag module for an air bag system on a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to provide an inflatable restraint system in a vehicle, to augment protection traditionally afforded vehicle occupants through the use of seat belts. In some vehicles, the inflatable restraint system may be an air bag system disposed within an occupant compartment in the vehicle in close proximity to either a driver occupant or one or more passenger occupants. Typically, the air bag system includes an air bag module attached to vehicle structure, with an air bag disposed within the air bag module. The air bag is deployed through an opening in a cover portion of the air bag module to extend in an occupant compartment of the vehicle upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition. An example of a predetermined condition is a force of minimum magnitude and from a particular direction that is applied to the vehicle, such as an applied force resulting from an impact of an object. The air bag is deployed as a result of the occurrence of the predetermined condition, and restrains movement of the occupant to help protect the occupant during a collision.
It is desirable to help provide additional protection for an unrestrained occupant in a vehicle, regardless of whether the applied force meets the predetermined condition to deploy the air bag. Thus, there is a need in the art to provide an air bag module having an energy absorbing mechanism to help reduce any potential contact force realized by an unrestrained occupant striking the air bag module.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide an energy absorbing air bag module for an air bag system on a vehicle.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an energy absorbing air bag module for an air bag system on a vehicle, that has an energy absorbing mechanism to reduce a contact force realized by an occupant striking the air bag module, regardless of whether the applied force satisfies a predetermined condition to deploy the air bag.
To achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention is an energy absorbing air bag module for an air bag system on a vehicle. The 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.
One advantage of the present invention is that an improved energy absorbing air bag module is provided for a vehicle. Another advantage of the present invention is that the energy absorbing air bag module includes a housing and an energy absorbing mechanism that allows the housing to deflect when an object strikes the air bag module. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the energy absorbing air bag module can break away in a controlled manner, so that another portion of the vehicle can absorb the energy from an object striking the air bag module, regardless of whether a predetermined condition is right for the air bag to deploy. Still another advantage of the present invention is that the energy absorbing mechanism does not affect deployment of an air bag of the energy absorbing air bag module if the predetermined condition is right to deploy the air bag.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood after reading the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5730459 (1998-03-01), Kanda
patent: 5762359 (1998-06-01), Webber et al.
patent: 5813692 (1998-09-01), Faigle et al.
patent: 5826901 (1998-10-01), Adomeit
Shepherd Jeffrey Alan
Winters Mark Thomas
Culbreth Eric
Delphi Technologies Inc.
Marra Kathryn A.
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